Results 20,721-20,740 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Staff Remuneration (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Remuneration for staff within my Department is set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in line with Government policy. I have no remit in this area. Based on the Civil Service 37-hour standard net working week, the suggested living wage equates to an annual salary of €22,975. There is a total of 7 staff in my Department currently on an annual salary less than the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Initiatives (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In April 2018, I asked all the Regional Action Plan for Jobs Implementation Committees to start a process to refresh and refocus all Regional Plans to ensure their relevance and impact out to 2020, so that they continue to deliver jobs across the country, in every region, and can be robust to address the challenges we face, including Brexit. The outcome of this refresh process is nine new...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Organisational reforms in the ODCE were commenced in 2012 to enhance the capability of the Office to investigate complex suspected breaches of company law and to ensure a more efficient and effective use of its resources. These include: - Reorganising the structure of the Office; - Recruiting additional expertise, including 8 Forensic Accountants, a Digital Forensic Specialist, 2...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Data (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and its agencies are working to provide extensive supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. These measures aim to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and to facilitate the practical actions to be taken in response to the UK's exit from the EU. The Brexit Loan Scheme provides affordable working capital to eligible businesses...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department launched the €500 million Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund in June 2018. Information on the Fund and how to apply was provided by my Department with the support of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland. Expressions of Interest were sought for funding commencing in 2019. In December 2018, I was delighted to announce the 27 projects...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Policy (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 87 together. On 10 March 2019, I, along with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, launched Future Jobs Ireland 2019: Preparing Now for Tomorrow's Economy. The launch included an exhibition of technologies developed in Ireland that have the potential to have significant impact on work in the future. These...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in Border counties are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone intending to start or grow their own business. In 2019, additional capital funding of €5m for local enterprise development was allocated as part of the Budget 2019. The LEOs provide a ‘signposting’...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Export Controls (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is responsible for administering controls on the export of Military equipment and Dual-Use items from Ireland. Military equipment is defined in the EU Common Military List. Dual-Use items are defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items. All applications for export...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Enterprise Development Fund (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) is a competitive fund introduced by my Department in 2017 and administered by Enterprise Ireland. It is aimed at supporting collaborative and innovative projects that can help to sustain and add to employment at a national, regional and county level. To date, 42 projects have been awarded funding over two completed Calls worth a total of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Proposed Legislation (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on the preparation of amendments to the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2018 which provides, among other things, for a minimum five-year term for gift vouchers. While I am not in a position to provide a precise time frame for the enactment of the Bill, I hope to ensure that it can be enacted before the summer recess.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, on 30th October 2016, the EU and Canada signed a free trade agreement - the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). CETA has provisionally applied since 21st September 2017 meaning that duties on 98% of products (tariff lines) that the EU trades with Canada have been removed. The reduced trade barriers, tariff elimination, simplified customs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: State Aid (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and I are engaged in ongoing dialogue with colleagues in the European Commission DG Competition in relation to the issues arising for Ireland in the context of various Brexit scenarios and the potential severe impacts on the Irish enterprise base, jobs and regional economies. Specifically, on 24thJanuary 2019 I met with Commissioner Vestager, the European Commissioner for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Financial Forum (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The European Financial Forum took place at Dublin Castle on the 13thof February. This was the fourth year of the Forum and it represented a valuable opportunity to showcase to international financial services providers the benefits of doing business in Ireland. The Forum brings together international and Irish industry executives, policy makers, regulators and thought leaders to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Since the appointment of the current Director, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) has been engaged in a process of organisational reform to ensure that the organisation is suitably equipped to discharge its mandate in an effective manner. Steps taken in that regard over recent years have included the recruitment of a number of specialist staff to enhance key skills...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: National Broadband Plan (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The National Broadband Plan is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and is a core component of Project Ireland 2040 which is the overarching vision for the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and the National Planning Framework. The National Broadband Plan will be vital for the delivery of strategies such as Future Jobs Ireland as we prepare for the next stage of our economic...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: State Aid (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has been working closely with the EU Commission and DG Competition since November 2017 through the Irish/EU Technical Working Group on State Aid. The Group comprises representatives from DG Comp, my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Farming and the Marine and Enterprise Ireland. Its objective has been to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland is clearly performing strongly. Total employment in the Agency's client companies now stands at over 230,000 with 2018 representing a record year in terms of employment growth and new investment projects. Moreover, real progress is being made in deepening and growing regional investment. For example, 58% of all IDA-supported jobs are outside of Dublin. This represents the highest...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Action Plan for Rural Development comes under the remit of Minister Michael Ring and has the stated target to support the creation of 135,000 new jobs in rural Ireland by 2020. During February and March this year, I launched nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2020, which build on the very strong progress made on employment creation under the Regional Action Plan for Jobs 2015-2017...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and its agencies have put in place a full range of supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses across the country are prepared for the UK’s exit from the EU. These measures aim to assist businesses in identifying the key risk areas and practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming weeks and months. An additional €5 million capital...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and its agencies have put in place a full range of supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses across the country are prepared for the UK’s exit from the EU. These measures aim to assist businesses in identifying the key risk areas and practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming weeks and months. An additional €5 million capital funding...