Results 7,981-8,000 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Standing Orders 21 and 22: Motion (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I move: That, with effect from 5th May, 2020, where Standing Orders 21 and 22 require a quorum of 20, that quorum shall at all times be reduced to ten, until further notice in the 33rd Dáil.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the opportunity to address the Chamber and update Deputies on the work under way in my Department to help the enterprise sector meet the business challenges presented by Covid-19. Clearly, Covid-19 has resulted in a profound impact across the economy with unprecedented speed. Figures from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection indicate that it had issued...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputies for raising these various matters. Many issues have been raised so I will try to get through them as quickly as I can. Regarding worker protection, the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, plays a key role alongside the HSE. We are preparing a document, which we will publish shortly. It will include specific guidance around how to implement physical distancing in the...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am sorry.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising that issue. The Taoiseach announced earlier that a comprehensive plan is being developed for how restrictions will be eased and what that will look like. Unfortunately, it will not be like flicking on a switch that means everything can go back to normal. However, we will have the roadmap and supports in place. We are engaging with businesses on protocols....

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his question. There are lots of things that businesses can do now, while they remain closed, to prepare to go back to work. Any businesses on the wage subsidy scheme can bring in their staff and start to talk to them and look at how they can plan to go back to work. The NSAI guidelines on retail protection and improvement are available online. I recommend that...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Minister of State. I will take the last question first. All of the preparation that we did for Brexit has been extremely useful in how we are responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many structures were in place and we had many different supports. We have been able to expand and improve on them. We certainly have not forgotten about Brexit. Although, I will be honest: all our...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising those issues. I welcome the publication of the NESC report on vulnerable employment. My Department is already engaged in a number of activities outlined in the report as key drivers of the response to the just transition. The Department has been engaged in the process and we are committed to it. The regional enterprise plans are all focused on climate...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for the questions and will start with the last question first. Regarding commercial rents and landlords, I outlined where many of them are giving that latitude and are working with their tenants, and rightly so. There always will be, however, a cohort that does not do that. I spoke to the Minister for Justice and Equality about this issue and I requested the...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I will do that. The HSA is available today and anybody with concerns about a workplace should contact it. The NSAI guidelines the Deputy referred to are also available. The HSA and the HSE are working together-----

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The HSA is working with the HSE on this. It is detailed and complex work. I hope to have that work completed and published shortly. It will set out clearly what is expected of both employers and employees. We have other protocols in place now and these guidelines set out a range of measures. I hope to have the next set of guidelines shortly for publication. We are working with unions...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As I stated, the HSA and the HSE are working together with different employers and unions to bring about a document that everybody can work with. That should be ready shortly.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: With respect to companies not complying with regulations, environmental health officers already have the power to close companies not complying with rules. That power exists.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Yes, the HSE environmental health officers currently have the power, but I have said clearly that we will have the guidelines as a matter of urgency. A good deal of work has gone into them.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Okay. As I said to the Deputy, I will have them as a matter of urgency. It is a comprehensive document which takes on board many issues that employers and employees are rightly concerned about. We will have that document as a matter of urgency.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy's second question was about the Debenhams workers. I am sorry to hear about what happened to the Debenhams workers. It is obviously a very difficult time for them. As far as we are concerned, Debenhams should be engaging with its workers and with the unions. The Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, is available for the workers to give assistance.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: That is obviously being looked at in terms of the examinership. The Company Law Review Group is looking at all those issues and will bring recommendations to us.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The HSA.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The NSAI protocols dealing with what should happen in the workplace are in place. The HSA is available to go to any company or to any employee who is concerned. It will phone up, go on site, see the issue and talk. The best solution here is between employers and employees working together to get the right solution. That is the first thing. Second, if there is a...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I do not have that figure to hand but I will provide the Deputy with that information.