Results 7,401-7,420 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Action Plan for Jobs (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Enterprise development and sustainable job creation in the regions is a key policy priority of this Government. A total of 17,000 more people in the South-East are in employment in Q2 2019 than in Q1 2015 when the Regional Action Plan for Jobs started and unemployment in the South East has reduced from 11.7 percent to 8.1 percent in the same period. While we have had great success...

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

Heather Humphreys: As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, a central objective of mine has been to create the best possible environment for enterprise, entrepreneurship and innovation. Attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI), and supporting the growth and expansion of overseas firms already located here, is an important part of that. Our country is performing very...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Enterprise Offices are the primary providers of supports to assist micro-enterprises within the indigenous sector that are facing challenges arising from Brexit. My Department through the LEOs, has continued to promote the importance of local businesses preparing for Brexit, and has developed a range of supports to help them achieve this. The LEOs are working vigorously to enable...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Market Access (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The long-term response to ensuring exporters have access to alternative markets 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 their existing market share and also to become more...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: There has been extensive engagement with the Office of the Attorney General on the publication of the Report of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) prepared under section 955(1)(a) of the Companies Act 2014. Because of section 956 of the Companies Act 2014 the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation is prohibited from publishing reports prepared pursuant to Section 955...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Enterprise Development Fund (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) is a competitive Fund that has been introduced to co-finance the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative enterprise projects that can make a significant impact on enterprise development in the regions so as to help sustain and add to employment at county, regional and national level. The Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has a strong focus on developing the most appropriate conditions for SMEs and entrepreneurs to grow and prosper. In March 2018, I as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation commissioned the OECD to conduct a Country Review of SME and Entrepreneurship Policies in Ireland. This 18-month project aims to provide tailored analysis and recommendations to my Department and the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Exports Data (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Total exports of goods for the second quarter to June 2019 amounted to €37.6 billion which represents an increase of 8.6% on the second quarter of 2018.  Total exports for the 6 months period to June 2019 amounted to €76.5 billion which represents an increase of 10.3% compared to the same period in 2018. While the UK is and will remain a major market for Irish...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the economy improves and we approach full employment, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) has experienced a high volume of employment permit applications which has led to some delays in processing applications. The current level of demand is due to our economic success, growing labour market and reduced labour surplus. At end September 2019, 13,835...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Reports (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I am very aware of the serious impacts on businesses of public liability insurance costs. It is important that businesses can obtain insurance cover at a reasonable and fair price.   In August I requested that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) undertake a study into how the public liability insurance market...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Irish National Accreditation Board (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) is Irelands national accreditation body appointed under EU Regulation 765/2008. INAB was established in 1985. Following the dissolution of Forfás in June 2014, INAB, which has statutory independence, became part of the Health and Safety Authority for administrative purposes. INAB is the national body with responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The economy is in a strong position having recovered impressively from the financial crisis and the subsequent recession. At its peak in early 2012, the unemployment rate was 16% and almost 50,000 Irish people emigrated that year. Currently, the unemployment rate is down to 5.3% in September 2019 and there are more people employed in Ireland than ever before. Since the launch of the first...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Organisational reforms in the ODCE were commenced in 2012 to enhance the capability of the Office to investigate complex breaches of company law and to ensure a more efficient and effective use of its resources.  These include: - Reorganising the structure of the Office; - Recruiting additional expertise, including 8 Forensic Accountants, a Digital Forensic Specialist, 2 Enforcement...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Common Commercial Policy, including trade, is an exclusive competence of the European Union under the EU Treaties. The European Commission acts as lead negotiator on behalf of all EU countries in relation to trade agreements with non-EU countries. Member States, in Council, approve negotiating directives (or mandates) before negotiations begin, are consulted with as the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Since 2016, my Department has worked with the enterprise development agencies, businesses and representative bodies to ensure we have the appropriate mix of supports for businesses to prepare and manage through whatever Brexit we may face over the coming period.  The most immediate consequences of a hard Brexit are likely to be currency movements, supply chain constraints,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Capital Expenditure Programme (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I would advise the Deputy that my Department does not provide any direct funding to support State infrastructure projects. Capital expenditure by my Department is mainly by way of grants to support the multi-annual capital investment programmes of our Enterprise Development and Innovation Agencies.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and its agencies have put in place extensive supports, schemes and advisory resources to ensure that businesses nationwide are prepared for Brexit. While we cannot yet know the form that Brexit will take, these measures aim to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and practical preparatory actions regardless of the circumstances of the UK’s withdrawal from the...

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

Heather Humphreys: Regional development has been a top priority of mine ever since becoming Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Together with my Department and its enterprise Agencies, I have been focused on strengthening investment and job creation all over the country. That was the case in 2018 and 2019 and our collective emphasis on regional development will continue in 2020. With...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Enterprise Development Fund Data (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) is a competitive Fund that has been introduced to co-finance the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative enterprise projects that can make a significant impact on enterprise development in the regions so as to help sustain and add to employment at county, regional and national level. The Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: State Aid (9 Oct 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has been working closely with the EU Commission and DG Competition since November 2017 through the Irish/EU Technical Working Group on State Aid.  The Group comprises representatives from DG Comp, my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Enterprise Ireland.  The objective of the Group has been to scope and design schemes to support...