Results 6,841-6,860 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Travel (8 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Investment missions supported by IDA Ireland provide valuable opportunities to engage with businesses and secure new investment. They also further strengthen the economic relationship between Ireland and our most important trading partners. It is important to remember as well that foreign direct investment (FDI) remains an extremely competitive sector internationally. Every project is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (8 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: During the review of Economic Migration Policy published last year, I requested that the emerging labour shortages being experienced in the agri-sector be prioritised. In May 2018 a pilot quota based scheme of General employment permits for dairy farm assistants, horticulture workers and meat processing operatives was put in place to address the immediate needs of the sector. The scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Site Visits (8 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Information on IDA Ireland site visits for the period in question is set out in the table below. This includes details on the number of site visits over the first three months of 2019. Whilst site visits remain an important tool in helping showcase regional locations to investors, it is important to remember - as I have made clear before - that the final decision as to where to invest rests...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Meetings (8 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: To date I have not met with the Irish Hairdressing Federation nor have I received a request to do so.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Missions (8 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: While IDA Ireland client companies do not travel abroad as part of trade missions, 110 Enterprise Ireland supported companies participated in business development events and meetings across the US during the week of St. Patrick’s Day with the goal of advancing partnerships and driving new business.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (9 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has policy responsibility for the Employment Permit Acts and administers the granting of employment permits to non- EEA nationals to work in the State. Migrant workers from the European Union and European Economic Area (EEA) do not require an employment permit to work in Ireland. There is currently no employment permit type specifically designed for seasonal workers to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Data (9 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland remains a global leader in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) with over 1,400 multinational companies from over 40 countries choosing to invest here. While North America remains the principal source of FDI into the country, the IDA continues to diversify its portfolio of investors here. In 2018 alone, for example, 24 investments were secured from growth markets, representing...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (9 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together. The State's general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the State and other EEA states. Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the State and EEA, the employment permits system offers a conduit into the Irish labour market for non-EEA nationals with in-demand skills...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Ireland is a competitive economy, as reflected in a range of economic metrics such as high economic growth, the strong performance of the labour market across sectors and regions, strong trade figures and productivity figures. For example, the results from the Labour Force Survey show there was a 2.3% increase in employment in the year to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In the 2018 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook Ireland was ranked 12th in the world, as compared with 24th in 2011. As such, we have made substantial progress in recent years. We continue to attract high levels of foreign direct investment, FDI. IDA Ireland had another record year for job creation in 2018 in a highly competitive global market. This shows that internationally Ireland is...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In terms of the skill shortages, my Department has reviewed economic migration policies to ensure they are fully supportive of Ireland's emerging labour market needs, be they skills or labour shortages. The report of the review, which was published in September 2018, confirms that the current employment system is robust and has served the country well in recent years. An action plan has...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We have been preparing for Brexit for well over two years. The last three budgets introduced supports to help businesses prepare for Brexit. Informed by detailed research, my Department and its agencies have put in place extensive supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. These measures aim to assist...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Government has been working to raise awareness of the Brexit supports through events, including through clinics and seminars, and the Getting Ireland Brexit Ready campaign. When it comes to Brexit preparedness, it is important to note that companies are choosing from a full suite of supports available from the agencies. A wide array of different supports is in place to help businesses...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Additional funding was provided to both Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to get more boots on the ground and to diversify our markets. There have been extensive trade missions to China and Japan. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, is in China at the minute, and I myself have been there, as well as to Singapore. The Minister of State at the Department of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Job Creation (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: While recognising the challenges posed in the necessary transition to a low-carbon economy, I especially regret that individual workers, their families and the community will be negatively impacted by the job losses announced by Bord na Móna. Since I became Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have made job creation and enterprise development in the regions a top priority....

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Job Creation (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and I, along with the local authority, met with a group from the midlands regarding the Bord na Móna job losses at the time. The regional transition team was established by Offaly County Council in response to the announcement to consolidate and simplify traditional peat-harvesting operations. It aims to pursue funding...

Ceisteanna - Questions (resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Job Creation (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: There are six objectives in the regional enterprise development plan. The Government supports all the agencies to provide the necessary support in the region. Hearing that there will be job losses in a traditional industry is a big blow to any region. Much work has been done. Many of the agencies, driven especially by the local authority, have collaborated here. The regional enterprise...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits Eligibility (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am very well aware of the skills shortages currently being experienced in some sectors of the economy. The issue is all the more pressing given the strong economic growth being experienced and high demand being placed on a number of sectors to respond to a range of needs across the economy. Ireland operates a managed employment permits...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits Eligibility (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy who has raised this matter on a number of occasions. Work-riders are currently not eligible for employment permits. A submission was made by Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association to the most recent review of the occupation list and this was considered on the available evidence. The horse racing industry is recognised as a significant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits Eligibility (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The important point is that the sector needs to show it cannot get the workers in Ireland and in Europe and make the case to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I assure the Deputy that when that case is made, we will not be found wanting in terms of reviewing it positively. The Minister of State, Deputy Breen, was in Deputy Heydon's county today where he announced 80...