Results 2,041-2,060 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Deputy Quinlivan for his question. Sustaining and increasing employment and economic opportunity in the regions remains a key priority, especially in light of the Brexit vote. As Minister with responsibility for jobs and enterprise, I wish to assure Deputy Quinlivan that I have placed Brexit at the top of the agenda for my Department and the agenda of the enterprise development...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Deputy Quinlivan keeps talking about €3 million. Actually, the relevant figures are €52 million and €3 million. The €3 million figure is a current allocation and the €52 million figure is a capital allocation. The allocations are to help IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland to deal with Brexit. I am keen to clear that up.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The allocation is for IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland to help them to deal with Brexit and save jobs in this country as well as to explore opportunities that are available. Deputy Quinlivan asked about meetings with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. My Department is represented on the national planning framework steering...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am not going to repeat it. The relevant figures are €3 million and €52 million to help towards Brexit and to help the enterprise companies. This is the first time that we have secured a 10% increase in the budget in the past 15 years. I cannot spell it out in a stronger way. Deputy Quinlivan referred to InterTradeIreland. Obviously, the company has a major role in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Site Visits (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I have a question before me which was sent in formally by Deputy Collins and I will answer it. Regional development is a priority of mine and a priority of this Government. Growing and sustaining foreign direct investment outside the country's main urban areas is a key part of our efforts in this context. To achieve this, we are continuing to make the case to prospective investors that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am deeply engaged with the enterprise agencies - Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland - to ensure sufficient supports are in place to safeguard Irish jobs and exports following the Brexit referendum. I am in ongoing communication with these agencies through my chairing of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation's Brexit co-ordination group, which includes the chief executives of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The €3 million mentioned by the Deputy will be used by the enterprise agencies to employ approximately 50 people. It is not the case that this is the only money we have secured. As I said in my answer, we got an extra 10% in the budget. That money will be of assistance in the context of Brexit. I am fully aware of the challenges for the Irish small and medium-sized enterprise...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: When I was in the UK yesterday, I met a number of people who are negotiating the Brexit deal for the UK. I wish to tell the Deputy that they do not know what they are doing and they do not know when they will be invoking Article 50. That is the first thing. It would be very irresponsible of me to give the Deputy chapter and verse about some fund today when it might be out of date tomorrow....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Support Services (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The JobPath scheme falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar TD. The conditions of the various Government supports under JobPath are therefore a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Conditions attached to the grants made by my Department’s agencies do not preclude participation in JobPath; agency client companies are...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, my focus is on improving Ireland’s competitiveness performance. Ensuring Ireland is a competitive location to establish and run a business is essential for job creation. Brexit means we must do more across a wide range of policy areas to enhance our attractiveness as a location to start and locate a business relative to the UK. The...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Jobs Data (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My priority is to deliver on the Government’s goal to help create 200,000 additional jobs by 2020, including 135,000 jobs outside Dublin. I am working closely with the Minister for Social Protection to ensure we can provide every opportunity for those unemployed to secure a job. In September 2013, in the context of maximising the employment of appropriately skilled people from the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU Directives (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Some provisions of Directive 2014/104/EU on certain rules governing actions for damages under national law for infringements of competition law provisions already exist in national legislation or in existing court rules. The other provisions of the Directive that need to be transposed are being addressed in the transposing legislation and by amending certain court rules. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Film Industry Development (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Ardmore Studios is a commercial concern owned 68.33% by private shareholders. Enterprise Ireland’s 31.67% stake in the ownership of Ardmore Studios is a legacy shareholding acquired as a result of an equity investment and a loan by Nadcorp (a predecessor State Agency) under an Agreement that dates back to 27 August 1986. The sale of the Ardmore Studios is a commercial decision by...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There is a whole of Government approach in place focusing on Brexit issues and my Department and its agencies are to the forefront of this effort. We are very much at the start of a process that will lead to the UK renegotiating its relationship with the EU and it is unclear how, or when, this will be finalised. What is clear is that any changes in the UK’s relationship with the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: CETA was discussed at the Informal Trade Council meeting in Bratislava on 23 September 2016. Member States highlighted the high quality of the Agreement reached with Canada and reaffirmed their desire to work towards signature. To meet the political concerns of certain Member States, the European Commission and Canada have agreed a Joint Interpretative Instrument to provide further...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Meetings (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I have met with a wide range of representative organisations since the result of the UK referendum in June In early October I met with ICTU senior executives and other Union representatives in the context of my preparation of the Action Plan for Jobs for 2017. At that meeting we did discuss the concerns of ICTU in relation to Brexit, and the issues raised are being considered in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Taxi Regulations (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Since taking office neither I nor my officials have been specifically lobbied by the company referred to in relation to the regulations that govern the Irish taxi industry. I should make clear as well that my Department has no function or responsibilities in relation to the regulation of that industry in this country. It is well known that the company in question has established a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Tax Code (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The goal of this Government is to support the creation of an additional 200,000 jobs by 2020 with 135,000 outside Dublin, achieve sustainable full employment and attract back 70,000 emigrants. The Action Plan for Job is delivering on these targets. There is demand for a range of skills and experienced professionals across the economy. But recent analysis by the Irish Tax Institute...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition and consumer law in the State. Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the Commission is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of alleged...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies Funding (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Through Budget 2017 I have secured an Exchequer Capital allocation of €555 million for distribution across the Department’s Vote in 2017. This is the largest capital provision made to the Department over the past fifteen years. It is a 10% increase over the 2016 Revised Estimates Volume capital provision of €503 million. This capital funding through my Department and...