Results 7,661-7,680 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition law in the State. Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the Commission is independent in the performance of its statutory functions. As investigation and enforcement matters are part of the day-to-day...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Reports (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In July 2019, I requested the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to carry out a study of the public liability insurance market in accordance with section 10 (4) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014. The study will focus on how the market for public liability insurance is functioning and will make recommendations as to how any identified issues may be...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, CETA has provisionally applied since 21st September 2017 meaning that duties on 98% of products (tariff lines) that the EU trades with Canada have been removed. The reduced trade barriers, tariff elimination, simplified customs procedures and more compatible technical requirements all make it easier and cheaper for Irish companies of all sizes to export to Canada....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: To date in 2019 I personally have had no formal meetings with the Director of Corporate Enforcement. As is the case with other Agencies under the remit of my Department, officials from my Department meet with officials from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues, including in relation to Human Resources, ICT,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Enterprise Development Fund Data (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Government’s €60 million Regional Enterprise Development Fund, administered by Enterprise Ireland, has the objective of supporting every region to build on its unique strengths and ultimately create sustainable jobs. Administered via two competitive calls, a total of 42 projects were approved funding totalling €59.5 million. The budget for this fund is part of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Haulage Industry (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The employment permit system is managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupation lists for the purposes of granting an employment permit. The occupation lists are reviewed twice yearly to ensure that the employment permit system is supportive of the economy by maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising any disruption to the domestic/EEA labour...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Flexible Work Practices (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I understand the opportunities presented by the increased adoption of flexible working solutions in the workplace. This is addressed under Pillar 4 of the Government’s Future Jobs Ireland strategy. Pillar 4 is focussed on increasing participation in the labour force as this will lead to a more equitable, balanced and sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Patent Applications (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Patents Office is the statutory body that deals with the registration of trade marks. The application process is straight forward and involves making an application to the Office, providing details of the applicant, an address for service, the trade mark for which registration is sought, the goods or services for which the trade mark will be used, and paying the statutory fees....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Jobs Protection (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and I are closely monitoring the ongoing situation at SK Biotek in Swords. My understanding is that the company has placed a number of its employees on protective notice. This has resulted in the temporary laying-off of up to 142 staff. Not all of the firm’s workers, however, have been similarly affected. I understand that the company’s decision followed a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Food Prices (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that a proposal to ban the below cost selling of agricultural produce including beef was submitted by the IFA to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Consequently, the Deputy’s question is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Data (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together. The statistics requested by the Deputy are contained in the following table. 2019 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct TOTAL Number of Applications Received 1,172 1,358 1,213 1,575 2,047...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Data (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The average amount of work days taken to process an employment permit application for each month in 2019, and the total number of work days per month, is set out in the following table. Average Number of Business Days to Process Applications from January 2019 to Oct 2019 January (22 working days in month) February (20 working days in month) March (21 working...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Staff Data (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: There are three staff in the Economic Migration Policy Unit of my Department responsible for economic migration policy, which is the framework within which the State’s employment permit system operates. Their key responsibilities include coordinating the implementation of the recommendations of the published review of economic migration policy, and the twice-yearly review of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I have had no meetings with ESB management with respect to the closure of the midlands power plants and I was not directly notified of the decision. The issue of redundancy measures is an operational matter for ESB.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We are all concerned about criminals being brought to justice. I am glad that good progress has been made on the Kevin Lunney case through a joint operation involving the PSNI and An Garda Síochána. The Government is absolutely committed to combating crime. In that regard, we have increased resources to An Garda Síochána....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: There is always a sense of anxiety and concern in any community regarding crime. As a result, we have provided more front-line gardaí. Deputy Micheál Martin will know that there are more gardaí on our streets than ever before. There are 1,500 more Garda members, which is 1,000 more officers assigned to front-line duties and there are 1,265 extra civilian staff. We increased...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Taoiseach was in Cork last Saturday. There is a new affordable housing investment there of €310 million for a new affordable, shared housing scheme in Cork. I have no doubt that this is welcome. Affordable homes will be included in that investment. The supply of new homes is increasing. There were 4,920 new homes completed in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: We certainly know about affordable. The houses in Cork I mentioned earlier with regard to the €310 million investment are certainly affordable at €200,000. I may give statistics but the statistics are new homes. Better figures mean more homes for more people. To go back to the O'Devaney Gardens issue, the Deputy is right that we have to be honest with people. We should...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: This needs to go ahead.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Nov 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. It is important that by doing so he is increasing awareness of the scheme, which really does benefit the farmer and the participant. At the Deputy said, it is a win-win for everybody. Like myself, the Deputy is from a rural background and he is a strong advocate for our farmers and all things rural. The social farming model is a very important...