Results 20,441-20,460 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: In recent client surveys, Enterprise Ireland client companies highlighted that skills were a major challenge to their company development and growth. In response to this challenge, Enterprise Ireland, in partnership with the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation, identified the need to run Skills Analysis Workshops around the...

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

Heather Humphreys: The loyalty penalties referred to in the Deputy's question occur where long-standing customers pay significantly more than new customers for the same services. Competition among suppliers focuses on attracting new customers with lower introductory prices with the result that customers who stay with the same supplier can end up paying higher prices. As such penalties may have a...

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

Heather Humphreys: The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) plays an important institutional role in ensuring that the Government has an independent voice raising important competitiveness and productivity issues. Under the Council's Terms of Reference, it is required to prepare two annual reports, one of which - the Competitiveness Challenge - outlines the main competitiveness challenges facing the business...

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

Heather Humphreys: Since the Brexit Referendum, the then Minister for Business, Enterprise & Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, attended meetings of the Competitiveness Council on 29th September 2016, 28th November 2016 and 20th February 2017. My colleague, Minister Breen, attended meetings of the Council on 30th November 2017, 12th March 2018, 28th May 2018 and 16th July 2018. The meeting on...

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

Heather Humphreys: The €300 million Brexit loan scheme provides relatively short-term working capital of one to three years for eligible businesses with up to 499 employees to help them to innovate, change or adapt to mitigate their Brexit challenges. Businesses can confirm their eligibility with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, and, if deemed eligible, can apply to one of the...

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

Heather Humphreys: Retailing supports jobs in every city, town and village in the country and so it is critical that our retail sector is competing at the forefront of the digital revolution. As Chair of the Retail Consultation Forum, I have prioritised supporting the retail sector to develop their online capability in order for them to expand their market reach nationally and internationally and enhance their...

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

Heather Humphreys: As part of its €150m Regional Property Programme (RPP) the IDA are directly investing in a building programme to help ensure property solutions are in place for overseas companies considering investing or expanding in Ireland, thereby encouraging more foreign direct investment (FDI) in the regions.  Budget 2019 also saw the Agency allocated an additional €10m for the RPP...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, in addition to their statutory responsibilities,  both my Department and those bodies under its aegis are subject to normal Civil and Public Service Governance practices and procedures across all areas of operations including  Corporate Governance, Finance,  Human Resources, Procurement etc. As such it is standard practice that directives,...

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

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the recent publication of the Climate Action Plan 2019. The plan was published following intensive engagement between my officials and officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on the actions proposed for delivery by enterprise and by my Department and its agencies. I also met with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Personal Injuries Commission (PIC) was established by my Department in 2017 to compare Ireland’s personal injury claims processes against other jurisdictions, to benchmark international personal injury awards with those in Ireland, to report on alternative compensation and resolution models and make recommendations which could enhance the Irish claims environment. During its 18...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Motion [Private Members] (10 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Government has fought to achieve the best deal possible for our farmers. This is a deal negotiated at EU level. As a member state, Ireland has raised serious concerns over a long time on beef access. For my part, I raised these concerns at every opportunity at European Trade Council meetings. I also raised it directly with the European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström....

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Motion [Private Members] (10 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The agreement also provides a solid framework to address human rights issues, including with regard to indigenous peoples. The European Commission has begun the official mechanism at EU level to restrict concessions to Cambodia over similar concerns. It is not true to claim the EU does not act. This is far from a done deal. At this stage, member states, including Ireland, do not have...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Motion [Private Members] (10 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann:” and substitute the following: "notes:— the announcement by the European Commission on 28th June, 2019, of an agreement in principle on an EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; — the very genuine concerns expressed by our farming community in relation to the beef and other agricultural tariff rate...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: There has been significant investment in Drogheda. On Monday I met IDA Ireland with Deputy O’Dowd. There has been a significant number of visits by IDA Ireland to Drogheda.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I acknowledge those who have lost their jobs at Coca-Cola in Drogheda. All of the supports of the State will be made available to them. I have also arranged with Deputy O’Dowd to meet the Chamber of Commerce in Drogheda shortly. The Deputy can rest assured that there is a strong focus on Drogheda.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As Gaeilge, más é do thoil é.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (10 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The employment permit system is managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupations lists. In May 2018, following a comprehensive review of the data and evidence available, and consideration of a detailed business case by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as the lead policy Department for the sector, a pilot quota based scheme was introduced to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland (10 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I am informed that the IDA met with the site's new owners last December and that it has been provided with marketing information for the Liffey Business Campus. The owners are marketing the site through a third party agent. The IDA is not aware of a rebrand of the site and continues to actively market it to both existing and potential clients through its network of offices in Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development Initiatives (10 Jul 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department through Enterprise Ireland has approved funding totalling €59.5 million to 42 projects under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund to date. On 24 June last I announced Call 3 of this Fund with an additional allocation of €45m. The MERITS hub is one of the projects funded under Call 1 of this initiative announced in December 2017. The Mid East Regional...