Results 20,741-20,760 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: Regional development remains a key priority for myself and my Department. We understand the importance of achieving the best possible spread of employment and investment across the country and my Department and its Agencies have been working hard towards that goal. Significant progress has already been made, with 58% of all IDA client-supported employment, for example, now located outside...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The State's general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the State and other EEA states. Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the State and EEA, the employment permits system offers a conduit into the Irish labour market for non-EEA nationals with in-demand skills and is operated as a vacancy led system. The system...

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

Heather Humphreys: The EU operates an export control regime designed to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to support regional stability and to protect human rights. The principal EU legal instrument underpinning these controls is Council Regulation 4028/2009 setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of Dual-use items. My Department is the...

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

Heather Humphreys: Increasing participation in the labour force is a Government priority as evidenced by its inclusion as one of the five Pillars in Future Jobs Ireland 2019, launched on 10 March last. Future Jobs Ireland focuses on five Pillars namely: 1. Embracing Innovation and Technological Change; 2. Improving SME Productivity; 3. Enhancing Skills and Developing and Attracting Talent; 4. Increasing...

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

Heather Humphreys: A total of 14,700 more people are in employment in the Mid-West at the end of 2018 than in 2015 when the Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative was first launched. Unemployment in the region has reduced from 12 percent to 5.6 percent in the same period. While we have had great success through the Action Plan for Jobs in reducing unemployment, in the context of Brexit and other global...

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

Heather Humphreys: 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 and take into account today’s new and emerging opportunities and challenges, including Brexit. I am pleased to say that implementation has commenced in all regions. Shaped...

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

Heather Humphreys: 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 and take into account today’s new and emerging opportunities and challenges, including Brexit. I am pleased to say that implementation has commenced in all regions. I...

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: IDA Ireland Site Visits (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Midlands experienced the highest level of percentage growth of any region in net new foreign direct investment (FDI) jobs in 2018, with an increase of 13% in employment by IDA client companies. While that represents significant progress in developing the enterprise potential of the region, the Government remains committed to creating more jobs and economic opportunities there in 2019. ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The State's general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the State and other EEA states. Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the State and EEA, the employment permits system offers a conduit into the Irish labour market for non-EEA nationals with in-demand skills and is operated as a vacancy led system. The system...

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

Heather Humphreys: Cork continues to be an extremely strong performer in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI). This trend is continuing, with a steady and positive increase in employment numbers in IDA Ireland client companies in the County over the past number of years. There are currently 169 IDA client companies in Cork, employing approximately 39,000 people.  In terms of recent growth, from...

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

Heather Humphreys: Brexit represents a significant challenge for businesses in Ireland, which cannot be underestimated. That is why my Department started developing supports for businesses from the time when Brexit first became a possibility. Government’s priority is to ensure that businesses around the country can manage risks and avail of any opportunities. This has informed the range of advisory and...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Local Enterprise Offices (LEO)s play a critical role in supporting microenterprises in the start-up and expansion phases throughout the country. The (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business. The LEOs...

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

Heather Humphreys: The distribution of the funding allocations across my Department’s Vote, including that of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, is determined through the annual Revised Estimates Volume (REV) process. An additional €1m was provided for the ODCE in 2019 to reflect the likely costs associated with the transition of the ODCE into a stand-alone Agency. A funding...

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

Heather Humphreys: The IDA's performance in 2018 reflects the joint emphasis the Agency and the Government have placed on increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) into regional locations. Last year, for example, 56% of all net new jobs created by IDA client firms were in locations outside Dublin. Similarly, every region in Ireland, including the Border Region, experienced FDI-supported employment growth....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Investment in innovation is an essential component in developing the economic and social infrastructure necessary to ensure a resilient and competitive enterprise base and in addressing many societal challenges. The key mission of Enterprise Ireland, our indigenous enterprise development agency, is to assist growth in exports from Irish owned companies which in turn results in the growth...

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

Heather Humphreys: The 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are located throughout the country and provide a range of supports for the micro and small business sector. The LEOs act as the “first-stop-shop” for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business. My Department and I have a clear focus on regional jobs and...

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

Heather Humphreys: Competitiveness is integral to exports, jobs growth and as a means of achieving sustainable improvements in living standards. Improving competitiveness performance is a core focus of the work of my Department and wider Government policy and is particularly vital in these volatile Global economic environments. Ireland is a competitive economy, as reflected in strong employment growth...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (14 May 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 259 together. Retaining and strengthening Ireland’s reputation as a first-class destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) remains fundamentally important to our economic model. That is why the Government and IDA Ireland work hard to promote the country abroad for FDI, particularly in the face of increasing international competition for...

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

Heather Humphreys: Since I have become Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have made regional enterprise development my top priority. In February and March of this year I launched nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2020. These new Plans build on the very strong progress made on employment creation under the Regional Action Plan for Jobs 2015-2017. Shaped from the...