Results 181-200 of 5,661 for speaker:Alan Dillon

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (20 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: Family reunification policy for non-EEA nationals falls within the remit of the Department of Justice. Consequently, I can confirm that my Department does not apply conditions to family reunification through the employment permit system. I do, however, acknowledge that the minimum salaries for which an employment permit can be issued are an important factor in family reunification. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (20 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that 628 applications for Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP) were refused in 2024, and 17,168 CSEPS were granted. The Employment Permits legislation sets out the criteria which must be satisfied in order for an Employment Permit to be issued. The legislation sets out both mandatory and discretionary reasons for refusal of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (20 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Retail Forum, that I chair as Minister of State for Small Businesses and Retail, was established in 2014, and remains an important platform for engagement with the retail sector. It allows for open discussions between retail stakeholders and Government on issues of importance to it and affords members the opportunity to identify practical actions to be implemented by government, or by the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (20 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: The new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, places an emphasis on assisting Irish owned businesses to scale up and to succeed on international markets. My Department supports start-ups to scale into successful businesses by providing a comprehensive range of supports and resources through Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices, including grants and equity...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: While Ireland has several notable indigenous MNCs, there is potential to create more enterprises that are internationally impactful. The White Paper on Enterprise notes the central role of incubation and acceleration programmes in promoting the scaling of start-ups. International evidence identifies the presence of a supportive landscape for start-ups including a coherent and navigable...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (20 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that in 2024 there were 17,168 Critical Skills Employment Permits issued. The table below provides details of the Critical Skills Permits that issued by economic sector. Economic Sector Issued Grand Total 17,168 A - Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 28 ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (20 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: Health Care Assistants (HCAs) have been eligible for employment permits since 2021 and constructive engagement with the sector has been ongoing ever since. As a precondition of access to employment permits for this role, a strategic review on the impact of HCA employment permits was required. This review was conducted in 2023/24 and care home employers and their representatives...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (20 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: I have responsibility for a robust suite of employment rights legislation that protects all workers, including those employed in the film and audiovisual industry. It is important to note that all employers, regardless of sector, are responsible for ensuring that their employees receive the protections afforded to them under employment legislation. There is no exemption or separate...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (20 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that the provision to allow migrant workers to change employer while remaining on their employment permit was introduced in September 2024. The section does not currently have the facility to track the numbers of permit holders who have applied to change employer, this will be introduced when the new Employment Permits ICT system is...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (19 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: The right to request a remote working arrangement for all employees was commenced through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 on 6 March 2024. The right to a request flexible working arrangement, such as adjusted working patterns or reduced hours, is available to parents and carers under the Act. Employers are obliged to have regard to the Code of Practice...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (19 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: Trading online is an important route for retail businesses to grow and improve. Developing digital capability with a strong online presence will assist retailers to become sustainable, increase their customer base and reduce their costs. The online Retail Scheme was introduced by my Department in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland as part of the ongoing work of the Retail Forum. From...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (18 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: Textile banks located around the country are provided and managed by local authorities, the charity sector and a number of private operators. In relation to local authority textile banks, I understand that local authorities have contracts or arrangements in place with commercial operators managing the banks and there can be servicing issues, due to high volumes of material being deposited...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (18 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: My department operates the employment permits system in accordance with the Employment Permits Act 2024. The 2024 Act represents the biggest reform of employment permits legislation in over a decade, allowing for a more modern, flexible employment permits system as well as ensuring employee rights are maintained. The employment permits legislation sets out various criteria that must be...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Weather Events (18 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: Since my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for Small Business and Retail, I have been closely monitoring the situation in relation to Storm Éowyn and its impacts on the business community through regular updates from the National Emergency Coordination Group and updates from Local Enterprise Offices in the counties with the most significant and prolonged impacts. In...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (13 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: Ireland 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 vacancy led and managed through the operation of the Occupations Lists: the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) and the Ineligible Occupations List (IOL). The CSOL specifies employments in high demand for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Business Supports (12 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this important issue and for his contribution here today. I reiterate and fully appreciate the important role Irish SMEs play, and their contribution to towns and villages throughout the country. I recognise the increased pressure of doing business. I would point to the speed at which this power up grant was delivered, with more than €150 million...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Business Supports (12 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Deputy McGrath for raising the important issue. I know how important SMEs and small businesses are in his constituency in County Tipperary. I fully recognise the cost pressures SMEs are facing and the impact this is having on their ability to keep their doors open. As the Deputy stated, the programme for Government contains several important commitments, including with regard to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (11 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this important matter and for offering us the opportunity to respond. I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for children, Deputy Foley. With regard to resources through core funding, core funding is a grant to providers designed to support quality, sustainability and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (11 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: I agree with the sentiment of the matter the Deputy raised tonight. Certainly, the Department is committed to working with all core funding partner services concerned about their viability and to ensure we have oversight around case management processes. In this instance, it is between the provider, the local city and county childcare committee, and Pobal working together to assess and...

Programme for Government: Statements (Resumed) (11 Feb 2025)

Alan Dillon: I am honoured to have been appointed Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for small businesses and retail and as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for the circular economy. The programme for Government lays out an ambitious roadmap for the coming...