Results 20,661-20,680 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: It is a culture in this country. When we were children if one fell in the play yard, one was dusted down and sent back to school the next day. Now people look to see if there is an opportunity here and that is a culture that we have to change. When people have an accident they have to take responsibility for their own welfare. On insurance, as I outlined earlier, the Government is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: There are a range of supports out there from the agencies, whether from Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland or the local enterprise offices, which also do great work in helping businesses. There are vouchers and there is the market discovery fund and the Be Prepared grant, so there are supports are available to businesses. A number of months ago I launched Future Jobs Ireland 2019,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: There are, of course, many challenges facing business and none greater than Brexit, which the Deputy mentioned at the outset. The Government has put in place a wide range of supports to help businesses prepare for Brexit. Businesses should be conscious that Brexit is very much on the horizon. We need to get them to prepare for the worst possible outcome, which is a hard Brexit, while we...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I did not hear Commandant Berry's comment but I understand the concerns of the Defence Forces because I know their members have contacted many Deputies to outline their concerns. The independent Public Service Pay Commission was established in 2016 to provide Government with independent advice on public service pay. On the instructions of the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, issues of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister for Defence is the Deputy's constituency colleague-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Yes, the Minister with responsibility for defence and he sits at Cabinet. I can assure the Deputy that nobody makes a stronger case for support for the Defence Forces than he does.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: We have to wait until the commission has completed its report. There is a process in place. We have to wait for that report, which we will have shortly, and we then will make a determination based on it. A number of initiatives are being developed, including commissioning from the ranks, criteria for the re-entry of former Permanent Defence Force personnel with specific skills and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The commission has completed its report which will be considered by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and for Finance. It will then be brought to Cabinet. That will happen in the coming weeks. All Members agree the Defence Forces do wonderful work. We are proud of the work they do, particularly in the peacekeeping duties they...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is fully committed to ensuring the Defence Forces have the necessary resources to deliver on all of their assigned roles, as evidenced by an allocation of more than €1 billion to the defence sector, to include Army pensions, in 2019. This allocation includes full funding for the pay and allowances of the target strength of 9,500 Permanent Defence Force personnel, as set...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I assure the Deputy that we are standing up for businesses. I am very aware of insurance costs and the impact they are having-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: -----on particular sectors, including the recreational and hospitality sectors.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I have met representatives from those sectors and I am aware of the problems. The Government-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is taking action. I know how frustrating it is for businesses. I am aware of that, especially when exaggerated or repeat claims are made. Supermarket owners have spoken to me about the matter and I wish to make clear that we are dealing with it. They do not constitute a silver bullet to fix everything but a number of measures have been taken and I am satisfied that they...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: -----chaired by a former Chief Justice.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I am aware of the impact that insurance costs have on SMEs throughout the country. It is an issue which is raised with me regularly. For that reason, this Government is committed to making sure that we continue to proceed with measures that will reduce insurance costs for businesses. In my Department, legislation was enacted in April to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Startup Funding (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Westmeath is the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports if you intend to start or grow your own business. The LEO in Westmeath provides a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Immigration Status (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that not enough information has been provided to determine whether the person (details supplied) qualifies for an employment permit. In order to work in the State all non-EEA nationals require a valid employment permit unless exempt under permission from the Department of Justice and Equality. In order to apply for an employment...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Applications (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the Deputy has been in email contact with officials in the Employment Permit Section of my Department and that the issue for this company centres on the granting of Intra-Company transfer permits. Based on the information provided by the Deputy in relation to this company, there should be no barrier to the granting of these permits. I also understand that the company...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Data (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The number of staff currently assigned to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) is 38 (35.2 full time equivalent). In addition, 5 Gardaí are assigned to the ODCE. Following his appointment in the latter half of 2012, the Director carried out a review of the ODCE’s then skills mix and operational capacity. That review, inter alia, identified certain skill...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Data (28 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The annual budget for the Office from 2001 to 2019 is set out in the following table. Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement REV Allocations (€000) Pay Non-Pay Total 2001 961 1,378 2,339 2002 1,308 2,364 3,672 2003 1,426 2,402 3,828 2004 1,686 2,564 4,250 2005 1,793 2,745 4,538 2006 1,899 2,814 4,713 2007 2,119 2,704 4,823 2008 2,681 2,276...