Results 19,581-19,600 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is investing heavily in promoting and supporting the need for businesses to become Brexit-ready. I agree with the Deputy that we need companies to think very clearly about the challenges posed by Brexit. Ever since the result of the UK referendum, the agencies under my remit have been highly engaged in encouraging and supporting companies to prepare for Brexit. Enterprise...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is much work to be done by all stakeholders, including the Government and organisations representing businesses. Judging from my experience yesterday with many of these groups and from a meeting I attended in Enterprise Ireland last week with a range of businesses, there is a wide variation in companies' preparedness for Brexit and awareness of it. Companies totally dependent on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have made it clear that we will be supporting InterTradeIreland and increasing its budget. The Department and I have been working on further measures targeted at the needs of companies in terms of working capital, which is an issue, and business development. We will be surveying companies again in the near future. The Deputy is correct in terms of the impact on trade between North and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Legal Cases (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The shortcomings and investigative practices of the ODCE highlighted by Judge John Aylmer in the case of the DPP v. Sean Fitzpatrick are completely unacceptable.  They fell far short of the standard impartial, unbiased and thorough investigation we expect and demand. My predecessor, the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Mitchell O’Connor, wrote to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Legal Cases (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is very important that any action taken is in line with fair procedures, due process and natural justice and with full knowledge. I must be very aware of that. I do not want to take any action that would exacerbate the situation. The rights of persons named in the report would have to be respected and legal advice in respect of publication will have to be obtained. However, my...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Legal Cases (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We have to learn the lessons from what has happened here. We have to be clear about the applicability of what happened here and whether that is more widespread. This was a hugely important case. Was it confined to this case? If so, how and why did this happen? What are the facts that surrounded the particular approach to the issues that I have outlined, that the judge spoke about and to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Site Visits (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: IDA Ireland remains firmly committed, as do I, to increasing regional development. That is why the agency has targeted a minimum increase in investment of 30% to 40% in each region outside of Dublin by the conclusion of its current strategy in 2019. Progress is being made towards that goal. Sometimes this is not reflected properly, and I will provide some statistics that support what...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Site Visits (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the Deputy has any suggestions about increased transparency he should give them to me. There is nothing secret about the kind of work that IDA Ireland has been doing. I can give the statistics on the site visits which show that good progress is being made toward the goal that IDA Ireland has set for itself. It is clear that there is a goal of a 30% to 40% increase in FDI in every region...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Site Visits (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I take the Deputy's point and will ask IDA Ireland to consider his points because we need the support of Deputies and Senators and all local stakeholders in order to advance jobs investment. If there are initiatives that Deputies think could be taken in their areas, I want to hear about them, particularly as we now have regional action plans. I assume the Deputy is linking with the regional...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Site Visits (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: If that is the case, he can direct some of these questions to the regional action committee-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Site Visits (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The regional action plans are very important in the context of the points the Deputy makes. As they become more powerful and attuned to the needs of their areas - they will have a certain level of familiarity in this regard already - Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland will listen to them and their recommendations will guide where the sites are located and where the jobs go. It does depend...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Wallace is everywhere.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: There is a very straightforward answer to the point the Deputy has made. He has made it several times, for example, in respect of Germany. The latter has a shorter list than Ireland and it is important to note that the German list is prepared by the 16 Länder while Ireland's is a single national list. That is the first point to explain the disparity between the two lists. Ireland...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I ask the Deputy to do the very same. He should look under the bonnet of CETA as well to see the huge advantages it offers in Ireland. It covers virtually all aspects of economic activity. The Deputy should consider the new market opportunities which are very significant for many Irish firms and in the context of Brexit they will welcome those opportunities. Irish companies will now be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: While Irish meat export volumes to Canada are low, there is a real prospect of growing business with that country. That is important for producers here. I am not saying there are no difficulties with these international trade agreements - I accept there can be aspects - but I am asking the Deputy to have a more comprehensive approach to it because there are huge opportunities. The removal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I appreciate the urgency of this. My Department received recently the first draft of the Bill from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and, subject to Government approval, I envisage the publication of the Bill at an early date once the drafting process is complete. The joint committee has confirmed it does not wish to engage in pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft legislation. As...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is clear that good progress has been made. This was only referred to the Office of the Attorney General on 4 May, but there has already been a first draft from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. While I cannot provide the Deputy with a precise date, all the indications are that the Bill will be published at an early date once the drafting process is finalised. I appreciate the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Data (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have already stated here today that the Government is committed to regional development. The Deputy can see from the IDA Ireland figures the percentage of new jobs that are being created and the investment made outside of Dublin. We are working towards ambitious targets to ensure that employment and investment are fairly distributed, if one likes, as much as possible throughout the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Data (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy makes relevant points about the development of the infrastructure that is needed to sustain foreign direct investment and to create jobs. In every county we are looking at both the foreign direct investment and the indigenous companies that we want to support because small and medium enterprises are the backbone of job creation in the country. I take the points the Deputy is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Data (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have no doubt the IDA will look at the transcripts of this discussion and note the points the Deputy has made very persuasively, as Deputies from every county also have. I reassure the Deputy the regional focus is a very important one for the IDA. It is a very serious one. The job creation that is happening outside Dublin is testament to that, with over 52% of jobs that have been created...