Results 6,481-6,500 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and its agencies are working to provide extensive supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. These measures aim to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming weeks. My Department and I have been very active in the 'Getting Ireland Brexit Ready' public information...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As a small open economy, Ireland has always been exposed to factors beyond our control, impacting on our ability to prosper, and the global economic landscape is becoming more, not less, challenging to Ireland’s growth prospects. In January 2019, the IMF revised down their projections for global economic growth over the next two years, with growth projected to be 3.5% in 2019 and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit. The Employment Permits Section of my Department administers the Employment Permits system.  All applications for employment permits are processed in line with the employment permits acts and associated regulations which lay down in legislation the criteria in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Regional development is a key priority of mine and I am focused on maintaining existing jobs while also increasing the level of employment and investment in every county in Ireland.  Innovation is a critical element of regional economic sustainability and in order to grow regional firms must be enabled to achieve sales outside their region. All of Enterprise Ireland’s Research...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Action Plan for Jobs (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Since becoming Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have made jobs and enterprise in the regions my top priority. We want to have a situation where all regions are enabled to realise their potential as contributors to economic recovery and growth, and thereby reduce regional disparities. Since the launch of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs (RAPJ) there has been an increase...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The long-term response to Brexit is for companies across all sectors to become more competitive, more innovative and to diversify their export footprint into more international markets. The agencies under my Department have a wide range of supports available to enable companies to consolidate market share within the UK, and also to become more resilient by broadening their sales to other...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and I are fully committed to the continued growth and development of our small and medium indigenous enterprises. The Department is engaging and listening to the needs of small business, which account for 99.8% of all enterprises in the State. My Department through its Agencies, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, provides a range of tailored supports to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has been working closely with the Commission and DG Competition since November 2017 through the Irish/EU Technical Working Group on State Aid.  The objective of the Group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with State Aid rules.  Much has been achieved by this Working Group.  It has examined and explored a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has a strong focus of developing indigenous businesses. I am consistently engaging and listening to the needs of small businesses. I am aware of their importance as SMEs account for 99.8% of all enterprises in the State and are predominantly indigenous. We provide, principally through our Agencies, a range of tailored supports for enterprise of all types and sizes in Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I and my Department have a concerted focus on creating a business environment which will see an increase in female headed enterprises. I am ensuring that my Department is at the forefront in the provision of supports and programmes to assist women to lead businesses, whether they are established businesses or new businesses. Women make up more than half the population in Ireland....

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Members for their support for the Bill. As I stated on Second Stage last week, the Bill deals with an issue of considerable importance for consumers and businesses. Most of us have given or received a gift voucher at some stage. A great many retailers and service providers in all parts of the country issue vouchers and view them as an important element of their business....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (5 Feb 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As part of the whole of Government response to Brexit, I and my Department officials are working to support the grocery retail and distribution sector in its efforts to prepare for Brexit. My Department has had ongoing engagement with the retail sector in relation to Brexit since 2016, principally through the Retail Consultation Forum (RCF) which I chair, and also bilaterally. ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (5 Feb 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As part of the whole of Government response to Brexit, I and my Department officials are working to support the grocery retail and distribution sector in its efforts to prepare for Brexit. My Department has had ongoing engagement with the retail sector in relation to Brexit since 2016, principally through the Retail Consultation Forum (RCF) which I chair, and also bilaterally. ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Health and Safety (5 Feb 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I have been informed by the Health and Safety Authority that the Authority has acknowledged the concerns raised by a company in relation to practices at the ESB. The Authority has advised me that it has engaged extensively with both Parties on the matter and is satisfied with progress to-date. It will continue to engage with the Parties involved to ensure that all matters are adequately...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Portfolio (5 Feb 2019)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland currently has a site of 0.9 hectares in Glenamaddy that is being actively marketed to its clients through its network of offices in Ireland and overseas. This is the remaining portion of land available following the sale of property there to a company in 1997. Overseas firms continue to perform well in Galway. There are 81 IDA client companies in the County employing...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (5 Feb 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In November 2017 the then Tánaiste met with Commissioner Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition who has responsibility for EU State aid policy to discuss, amongst other things, the impact of Brexit on Irish businesses. An outcome from this meeting was the establishment of a Technical Working Group comprising representatives from DG Competition, the Department of Business,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Programme (5 Feb 2019)

Heather Humphreys: No representations have been made to me concerning the commercial, business or industrial impact of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (5 Feb 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for starting or growing your own business. The LEOs offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Action Plan for Jobs (5 Feb 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In April 2018, I asked all the Regional Action Plan for Jobs Implementation Committees to start a process to refresh and refocus all Regional Plans to ensure their relevance and impact out to 2020. The refresh and refocus of the Plans will ensure that they remain effective and that they continue to deliver jobs across the country, in every region, and can be robust to address the challenges...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Site Visits (5 Feb 2019)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland hosted 607 site visits in 2018, with over 55% of these visits taking place in regional locations. As I have said before, the IDA always does everything it can - whether through site visits or in direct engagement with potential clients - to encourage overseas firms to locate or expand in regional areas. It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to...