Results 9,701-9,720 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Zero-hour Contracts (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: Ireland’s comprehensive body of employment rights legislation protects all employees who are legally employed on an employer-employee basis. Employment rights legislation was strengthened by the commencement, on 4th March 2019, of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018. The Act delivered on the Programme for Government commitment to address the challenges of the increased...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: The Government have provided a comprehensive package to help businesses during the pandemic, details of the supports can be found here: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie). I would urge business owners to seek the supports outlined on my Department’s website if they have not already done so. In this instance, I would also suggest contact is...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Rights of People with Disabilities (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) guidance document ‘COVID-19 Shopping Centre Recovery and Protection Guide’ includes a provision for public seating for people with disabilities and the elderly under section 6.7.3, as follows; re moving seating areas (with exception of those for people with mobility or disability requirements). Where seating is retained for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 18 together. The State operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is intended to act as a conduit for key skills which are required to develop enterprise in the State for the benefit of our economy, while simultaneously...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone intending to start or grow a business.  In that regard, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: The Government recognises the sacrifices business owners, employees and their families have made over the past 18 months in order to protect their community from COVID-19. As you are aware, the Government put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic. These business supports were unprecedented. The Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: The Restart Grant scheme was launched in May 2020 and was live on all Local Authority websites. It was advertised extensively both nationally and locally as well as across social media. The Scheme was initially intended to provide grants in tandem with the phased re-opening of the economy as per the Government’s Roadmap. As the Roadmap was accelerated, so too was the scheme available...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: I and officials in my Department have continued to engage with various sectors throughout this pandemic to assess the optimal supports required. The Government have provided a comprehensive package to help businesses during the pandemic, details of the ongoing supports can be found here: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie). A new Economic...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Intellectual Property (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 to 26, inclusive, together. To enter into force, the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA) must be ratified by 13 Member States (MS) including the three largest contracting states (by number of European patents). Originally, these were France, Germany, and the UK. The UK, which had ratified in April 2018, announced in February 2020 following...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Regulation (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: Regulations that apply to all businesses can be found on the www.businessregulation.ieBusiness Regulation portal. This portal provides assistance in identifying the main regulations which affect businesses and to provide links to relevant tools and contact points.  For additional information on enforcement of any regulations relevant to this sector you may wish to contact my colleague...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Intellectual Property (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: Universal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines, diagnostics and treatments is crucial in the global fight against COVID-19. International Trade is a competence of the EU under the Treaties and in exercising that competence, the European Commission engages fully with the Member States, including Ireland, through a variety of Committees and Working Parties/Groups,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (9 Sep 2021)

Damien English: The employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, however, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one. The pilot quota-based scheme introduced in May...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Sep 2021)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for the question. On 31 August 2021, the Government published Reframing the Challenge: Continuing our Recovery and Reconnecting, containing updated guidance to take effect from 20 September 2021, as part of a gradual and careful reopening process in advance of the further planned relaxation of restrictions on 22 October. A sub-group of the Labour Employer Economic Forum,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Sep 2021)

Damien English: Again, I thank the Deputy for raising the question. He had not flagged any particular area in his question but I am happy to take on board his advice, guidance and suggestions. They will be passed on. When any advice is updated on movement restrictions, the work safety protocol in place at the time is the one to be followed. The new version that will be published in the next couple of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Sep 2021)

Damien English: On the matter of people going back to work in schools, they have been at work in schools since last autumn and have been teaching consistently throughout the period. They went back to school under the various protocols. The return to work safety protocol is the standard across all sectors. Naturally, each area — schools are a prime example — go further than that. Schools do...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Sep 2021)

Damien English: To be very clear, we have had great engagement with all employers on the wage levels set in this country. The majority of employers go well above what is required. We have protections in place in regard to employee pay and conditions, and we have rules and regulations that have to be enforced. I cannot comment on any-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Promotion (15 Sep 2021)

Damien English: I thank the Ceann Comhairle and Deputy Stanton for raising this question. We would see encouraging people to go online as a very important response to the current sutuation in retail. As the largest private sector employer, retail is a key element in providing for the needs of society and other sectors of the economy and it is vital that it continues to develop capability and remain...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Promotion (15 Sep 2021)

Damien English: The Deputy has raised an important point in that this is something we are trying to get the balance right on. We believe that the success and the future growth of the retail sector is to develop a sustainable online retail business as well as to continue with the high street presence. As a Government, under the programme for Government, our intention is to support both elements of that....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Promotion (15 Sep 2021)

Damien English: I do not have those figures on me but I will certainly get them for Deputy Stanton. What we generally see is that any business that invests in the digitalisation agenda increases its sales as well as driving its innovation or its business. To allay concerns about online versus high street, the town centre first principal and approach is highly recommended in the programme for Government,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Policy (15 Sep 2021)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this question. If it is okay, I might answer it because the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and I chair the regional enterprise strategies, on behalf of the Tánaiste. Regional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation is a key policy priority of the Government. Our Department is overseeing the development of nine new regional...