Results 20,421-20,440 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Data (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Several of the Department’s Offices, such as the Companies Registration Office, the Patents Office and the Employment Permits area of the Department provide services to the public with a fee generation element.  These fee charges are to cover the economic cost of the State providing the service to the public. These fee charges are recorded as Appropriations-in-Aid...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Project Ireland 2040 (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 to 411, inclusive, together. Project Ireland 2040 is the overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of the country. Its foundation is the National Planning Framework (NPF) and it includes a detailed investment plan for the period 2018-2027. Project Ireland 2040, in highlighting the employment challenge, has...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Capital Expenditure Programme (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 413 together. The Capital funding provided to my Department is mainly in the way of grants to support the multi-annual programmes of our enterprise development and innovation agencies.  The following table sets out the breakdown of the capital allocation across my Department’s subheads from 2011-2019. Due to a change in the Vote...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Staff (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: With regard to my own Department, a dedicated Brexit Unit was established in 2016 and is led at Assistant Secretary level within the EU Affairs, Trade Policy and Licensing Division, to coordinate and represent the Departmental and Agencies response to Brexit and to support me in my position at the Cabinet Committee dealing with Brexit. The Unit also leads on engagement with a broad range...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Data (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As the nature of the UK's departure from the EU still remains to be determined, Brexit continues to represent a significant challenge for businesses in Ireland, one which cannot be underestimated. That is why my Department started developing supports for businesses from the time when Brexit first became a possibility. My Department and its agencies have put in place extensive supports,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Data (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is fully aware of the importance of maintaining and increasing employment rates in the labour market. Particularly, as we draw closer to full employment, it is essential we continue to provide enterprise in Ireland with a high-quality, adaptable and flexible talent pool. My Department closely monitors the trends in labour market employment rates. As of Q1 2019, the employment...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Data (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Enterprise Ireland supports companies in urban and rural areas to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future. Enterprise Ireland client exports reached €23.8bn in 2018, representing an increase of 6% on 2017. Enterprise Ireland client company exports increased in 2018 across sectors such as FinTech, Digital Technologies, Engineering,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Data (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Table 1 shows the number of goods exporting enterprises and the total number of active enterprises in Ireland for the years 2015-2017 as sourced from the CSO. It also shows the ratio of goods exporting enterprises to all active enterprises for these years. The ratio of goods exporting enterprises to total enterprises was 3.7% in 2015, 3.5% in 2016 and 3.5% in 2017. Data for 2018 and 2019 are...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: At the outset, I want to assure the Deputy that my Department and its Agencies are working proactively with Brexit exposed firms to support their contingency planning and business transformation investments in order to help them prepare for the potential impacts of Brexit, to protect jobs and to build resilience so that enterprises do not reach the stage where they need rescue and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Brexit Loan Scheme provides affordable working capital to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees that are or will be Brexit impacted and which meet the scheme criteria. The €23 million exchequer funding (€14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) has been leveraged to provide a fund of up to €300...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Future Growth Loan Scheme makes up to €300 million worth of loans available with a term of eight to ten years and is open to eligible Irish businesses, as well as the primary agriculture and seafood sectors, to support strategic long-term investment. Finance provided under the scheme is competitively priced and has favourable terms, for example, no security is required for loans up...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Growth Initiatives (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: On 10 March 2019, I, along with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, launchedFuture Jobs Ireland 2019: Preparing Now for Tomorrow's Economy.This whole-of-Government framework, which forms a key part of Ireland’s economic agenda over the medium term, aims to ensure our enterprises and workers are resilient and prepared for future challenges and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Council Meetings (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The discussions at the informal EU Competitiveness Council, which took place on 5th July, were on the theme of sustainable growth. Ministers focussed on integrating the single market, the digital economy and a modern industrial policy. In the afternoon, the Council discussed smart solutions for a competitive and climate neutral Europe. Trade matters are discussed by a different Council...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Council Meetings (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My colleague Minister Breen attended the informal EU Competitiveness Council meeting on 5 July to which the Deputy refers.  State Aid rules did not feature on the agenda of this meeting.  The Competitiveness Council is a consultative committee and is not a forum for direct representations from Member States.  Changes to State Aid rules is therefore not part of the remit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Appointments to State Boards (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The call for expressions of interest for members of the National Competitiveness Council was advertised on the State Boards website by the Public Appointments Commission (and on the DBEI and NCC websites) on 10 May. The following criteria were outlined in the Call for Expressions of Interest Booklet: “Expressions of interest are now being sought from suitably qualified persons, (for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In addition to Brexit information on the Enterprise Agency websites, my own Department’s website has a dedicated Getting Business Brexit Ready page at www.dbei.gov.ie/brexit. This page provides information on the steps companies can take to limit the impact of Brexit on their business, including information on issues such as certification, working capital and financing. Details...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and Enterprise Ireland provide a range of supports to help companies plan for both the opportunities and challenges that Brexit poses. While the outcome of the Brexit negotiations remains uncertain, the LEOs and Enterprise Ireland are actively supporting Irish companies to prepare and take action. The LEOs and Enterprise Ireland are providing companies...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The availability of and access to sufficient working capital is critical for the success of any business. Trade financing and credit insurance products can help SMEs by bridging the gap between exporters’ and importers’ differing expectations about when payment should be made. Under the 2017 Action Plan for Jobs, a High Level Group chaired by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister for Education and Skills leads on skills development in the economy and works closely with a range of stakeholders across Government, industry and the education and training sector to ensure the availability of relevant talent and skills, which is a key enabler of enterprise, especially SMEs, productivity and innovation. EI provides a range of supports tailored to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (11 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills leads on skills development in the economy and works closely with a range of stakeholders across Government, industry and the education and training sector to ensure the availability of relevant talent and skills, which is a key enabler of enterprise, especially SMEs, productivity and innovation.   Regarding the sales supports...