Results 7,181-7,200 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: At the outset, I want to assure the Deputy that my Department and its Agencies are working proactively with Brexit exposed firms to support their contingency planning and business transformation investments in order to help them prepare for the potential impacts of Brexit, to protect jobs and to build resilience so that enterprises do not reach the stage where they need rescue and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Brexit Loan Scheme provides affordable working capital to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees that are or will be Brexit impacted and which meet the scheme criteria. The €23 million exchequer funding (€14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) has been leveraged to provide a fund of up to €300...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Future Growth Loan Scheme makes up to €300 million worth of loans available with a term of eight to ten years and is open to eligible Irish businesses, as well as the primary agriculture and seafood sectors, to support strategic long-term investment. Finance provided under the scheme is competitively priced and has favourable terms, for example, no security is required for loans up...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Growth Initiatives (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: On 10 March 2019, I, along with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, launchedFuture Jobs Ireland 2019: Preparing Now for Tomorrow's Economy.This whole-of-Government framework, which forms a key part of Ireland’s economic agenda over the medium term, aims to ensure our enterprises and workers are resilient and prepared for future challenges and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Council Meetings (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The discussions at the informal EU Competitiveness Council, which took place on 5th July, were on the theme of sustainable growth. Ministers focussed on integrating the single market, the digital economy and a modern industrial policy. In the afternoon, the Council discussed smart solutions for a competitive and climate neutral Europe. Trade matters are discussed by a different Council...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Council Meetings (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My colleague Minister Breen attended the informal EU Competitiveness Council meeting on 5 July to which the Deputy refers.  State Aid rules did not feature on the agenda of this meeting.  The Competitiveness Council is a consultative committee and is not a forum for direct representations from Member States.  Changes to State Aid rules is therefore not part of the remit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Appointments to State Boards (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The call for expressions of interest for members of the National Competitiveness Council was advertised on the State Boards website by the Public Appointments Commission (and on the DBEI and NCC websites) on 10 May. The following criteria were outlined in the Call for Expressions of Interest Booklet: “Expressions of interest are now being sought from suitably qualified persons, (for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In addition to Brexit information on the Enterprise Agency websites, my own Department’s website has a dedicated Getting Business Brexit Ready page at www.dbei.gov.ie/brexit. This page provides information on the steps companies can take to limit the impact of Brexit on their business, including information on issues such as certification, working capital and financing. Details...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and Enterprise Ireland provide a range of supports to help companies plan for both the opportunities and challenges that Brexit poses. While the outcome of the Brexit negotiations remains uncertain, the LEOs and Enterprise Ireland are actively supporting Irish companies to prepare and take action. The LEOs and Enterprise Ireland are providing companies...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The availability of and access to sufficient working capital is critical for the success of any business. Trade financing and credit insurance products can help SMEs by bridging the gap between exporters’ and importers’ differing expectations about when payment should be made. Under the 2017 Action Plan for Jobs, a High Level Group chaired by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister for Education and Skills leads on skills development in the economy and works closely with a range of stakeholders across Government, industry and the education and training sector to ensure the availability of relevant talent and skills, which is a key enabler of enterprise, especially SMEs, productivity and innovation. EI provides a range of supports tailored to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills leads on skills development in the economy and works closely with a range of stakeholders across Government, industry and the education and training sector to ensure the availability of relevant talent and skills, which is a key enabler of enterprise, especially SMEs, productivity and innovation.   Regarding the sales supports...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Data (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In recent client surveys, Enterprise Ireland client companies highlighted that skills were a major challenge to their company development and growth. In response to this challenge, Enterprise Ireland, in partnership with the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation, identified the need to run Skills Analysis Workshops around the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The loyalty penalties referred to in the Deputy's question occur where long-standing customers pay significantly more than new customers for the same services. Competition among suppliers focuses on attracting new customers with lower introductory prices with the result that customers who stay with the same supplier can end up paying higher prices. As such penalties may have a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: National Training Fund (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) plays an important institutional role in ensuring that the Government has an independent voice raising important competitiveness and productivity issues. Under the Council's Terms of Reference, it is required to prepare two annual reports, one of which - the Competitiveness Challenge - outlines the main competitiveness challenges facing the business...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Council Meetings (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Since the Brexit Referendum, the then Minister for Business, Enterprise & Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, attended meetings of the Competitiveness Council on 29th September 2016, 28th November 2016 and 20th February 2017. My colleague, Minister Breen, attended meetings of the Council on 30th November 2017, 12th March 2018, 28th May 2018 and 16th July 2018. The meeting on...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The €300 million Brexit loan scheme provides relatively short-term working capital of one to three years for eligible businesses with up to 499 employees to help them to innovate, change or adapt to mitigate their Brexit challenges. Businesses can confirm their eligibility with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, and, if deemed eligible, can apply to one of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Future Growth Loan Scheme makes up to €300 million worth of loans available with a term of eight to ten years and is open to eligible Irish businesses, as well as the primary agriculture and seafood sectors, to support strategic long-term investment. Finance provided under the scheme is competitively priced and has favourable terms, for example, no security is required for loans up...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Retailing supports jobs in every city, town and village in the country and so it is critical that our retail sector is competing at the forefront of the digital revolution. As Chair of the Retail Consultation Forum, I have prioritised supporting the retail sector to develop their online capability in order for them to expand their market reach nationally and internationally and enhance their...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Portfolio (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As part of its €150m Regional Property Programme (RPP) the IDA are directly investing in a building programme to help ensure property solutions are in place for overseas companies considering investing or expanding in Ireland, thereby encouraging more foreign direct investment (FDI) in the regions.  Budget 2019 also saw the Agency allocated an additional €10m for the RPP...