Results 19,861-19,880 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Health: Patient Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: 225. To ask the Minister for Health the hours during which the critical care retrieval service for children is currently available; the reason this does not operate on a 24-7 basis; the alternatives in place when this service is not available; if there are plans to extend this to a 24-7 service for the hours during which the critical care retrieval service for children is currently available;...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: 73. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way to stimulate the establishment of indigenous businesses in the renewable energy supply chain through a national renewable energy business accelerator programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9401/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: The west coast of Ireland has significant potential for the development of renewable energy. I refer, in particular, to wind and wave energy. I want to know what engagement is taking place between Government and Enterprise Ireland with regard to establishing a national renewable energy business accelerator programme to support Irish entrepreneurs and businesses in capitalising on the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister. A study commissioned by the Irish Wind Energy Association in 2020 estimates that the development of just 3 GW of offshore wind energy off the west coast, approximately 4% of the actual energy potential off our coast, could lead to the creation of 2,500 jobs during the construction phase and a further 600 permanent jobs once the wind farms are in operation. The study...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: As the Minister knows well, when everyone is in charge, no one is in charge. This is a cross-Government issue. I am aware of the Minister's commitment in respect of this matter. I am asking him to take ownership and to take a leadership role. We need to see investment in key infrastructure that will serve as the pillar to support the Gael Offshore Network, to anchor additional foreign...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: 77. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to support existing levels of employment in regional towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2049/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: Thanks to the Covid pandemic, there has been a realisation that the delivery of broadband to every home across Ireland has the potential to transform our economy, and no more so than in rural Ireland. If this is going to happen, though, then we need a new strategic approach to supporting our provincial towns around the country and encouraging that type of investment. What are we doing to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: Not yet, Dara.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister of State for his response. As he is aware, Project Ireland 2040 refers to a hub and spoke strategy. One of the towns identified in that regard is Athlone, which is doing very well and has become, in effect, the silicon heartland of northern Europe, with more tech jobs per capitathan anywhere else in our region. However, that is not spinning out to other towns such as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: Although IDA Ireland is achieving its target of 50% of its jobs being outside Dublin, we all know the big difficulty is revealed if you take the likes of Cork and Galway, the latter of which is in my region and that of the Minister of State, out of those figures. The figures are very skewed outside of the major cities. The Minister of State mentioned the town of Roscommon, which has not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: 80. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to extend financial supports to businesses involved in import substitution from outside the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2050/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: With Britain leaving the European Union, many supply chains have been disrupted. This has been compounded by Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine. The State should be supporting Irish companies that are substituting products or components that are being imported from outside the European Union but its development agencies have a blinkered approach to any businesses involved in this area. That...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: I am not talking about at the issue at that level. I have raised this previously in the House. The reality is that despite all the supply chain difficulties and the challenges in respect of currency fluctuation and general inflation impacting on competitiveness which are causing difficulties, particularly in certain sectors, there is no focus whatsoever on how those issues can be addressed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: That is the very point I am making. I am not looking for any tariffs to be put up. Tariffs have not suited our economy. All we have to do is look at history to see that. One indigenous crop with huge potential is hemp. There are issues regarding the regulation and licensing of that in this country. I am talking about developing and supporting businesses in this country that are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: 81. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to make grants available to SMEs to ensure their websites are accessible for those with disabilities; if it will become a requirement of the trading online voucher scheme that websites are accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2047/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: The European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 lay responsibility on public bodies to make their websites and mobile apps accessible to people with disabilities. The next phase of this will involve the private sector and SMEs. I want us to get ahead of the curve and adapt our trading online vouchers for those who have already...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister for his last comment. That is my objective in this matter. Inclusion and Accessibility Labs gave a presentation in the Houses of the Oireachtas recently. It pointed out that of 41 websites it audited, only 16 were considered usable by people with a disability. This does not just concern people with a disability. Many more people, for different reasons, find websites...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: We do not need an extra grant. Sufficient money is there within the budget. To return to Inclusion and Accessibility Labs presentation to the Oireachtas, its handout pointed out that on websites such as Facebook, Jobs.ie, Dunnes Stores, Free Now, Aer Lingus and Dublin Bus, there are difficulties for people with disabilities in accessing and using their interfaces. Yet, the websites of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flexible Work Practices (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: 99. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to assist private sector employers to support employees working from home and digital co-working hubs in local towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2048/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flexible Work Practices (23 Feb 2023)

Denis Naughten: We are running through questions at an awful rate. What are we doing to assist workers to work from home and in co-working hubs?