Results 20,941-20,960 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The rescue and restructuring fund, with a pot of €200 million, is already in place and applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If something untoward occurs and companies need assistance, that fund will be there to support them. We are still engaging with the Commission to secure further flexibility in any schemes that we may have to roll out. We are very happy that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. My Department, with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has been working closely with the Commission and DG Competition since November 2017 through the Irish-EU technical working group on state aid. The objective of the group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with state aid...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In November 2017, the Commission approved a rescue and restructuring scheme for Ireland for undertakings in difficulty, with an undertaking considered to be in difficulty when, without intervention by the State, it will almost certainly be condemned to going out of business in the short or medium term. They are viable but vulnerable companies. The scheme was put in place and, in May 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Project Ireland 2040 Funding (7 Mar 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 that...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development Policy (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Regional development remains an absolute priority of the Government and my Department. I am focused on both supporting and sustaining existing employment levels in regional Ireland while also working to create new economic opportunities and jobs in every county of Ireland. My Department and its agencies are working to ensure that employment and investment are distributed as evenly as possible...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Data (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Since the launch of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs (RAPJ) there has been an increase of 266,900 people in employment across the State since Q1 2015 to Q4 2018, with 166,400 people in the regions outside of Co. Dublin entering employment in that period. The recently published Q4 2018 CSO Labour Force Survey employment figures are overall very positive. Figures show that employment...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU Legislation (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: A document entitled “A French-German manifesto for a European industrial policy fit for the 21st century” was launched in Berlin on 19 February 2019 by the Ministers of the Economy of both France and Germany which includes their proposals for reforms of EU competition law. The document has not, as yet, been officially communicated to me, or to my officials by our French or...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Expenditure (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Brexit represents a significant challenge for businesses in Ireland, which cannot be underestimated. That’s 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...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Across Government Departments significant work is ongoing to ensure all necessary supports will be available to enterprise regarding a wide variety of Brexit implications. Provision in the revised estimates for financial support is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. In relation to State Aid, my Department and its agencies have been...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development Policy (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and its agencies are working towards ambitious targets to ensure that employment and investment are spread as evenly as possible across the country. I am firmly focused on delivering on the Programme for a Partnership Government target, to create 200,000 new jobs by 2020, with 135,000 of these jobs to be located outside of Dublin. Co. Wexford forms part of the South-East...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: This Government has a clear focus on regional jobs and investment and the LEOs play a crucial role in this effort. Funding through my Department enables the LEOs to respond with impressive jobs growth and initiatives to stimulate new ideas and new ventures locally. In 2018 clients supported through the LEOs increased employment by 8,007 gross new jobs which resulted in 3,656 nets jobs being...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As Minister, regional development is one of my absolute priorities. I am focused both on sustaining existing employment in the regions whilst also working to significantly grow both job creation and investment in every county of the country. The recent annual results of the IDA have shown that we are making significant progress in increasing foreign direct investment supported jobs in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I do not have plans at present to establish a task force to tackle unemployment blackspots. We have made extraordinary progress in reducing unemployment in recent years and there are a number of major initiatives currently underway to build on this success. Employment continues to grow strongly with 49,900 jobs created in 2018, bringing total employment to 2,272,200, an all-time high....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (7 Mar 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: IDA Ireland Jobs Data (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Regional development remains an absolute priority of mine. I am focused on both supporting and sustaining current regional employers and working to create new economic and job opportunities across the country. The recent performance of IDA Ireland, the State Agency tasked with promoting inward investment into Ireland, demonstrates the progress we are making in this context. By the end of last...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Productivity measures the efficiency with which an economy transforms inputs (labour and capital) into outputs. As such, productivity is a key factor of national competitiveness. Ultimately, productivity is the main engine of economic growth in the medium to longer run and the main driver of improvements in living standards by determining sustainable wage levels and financing of public...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland’s overall competitiveness performance remains positive. Our improved fiscal position and increased cost competitiveness have contributed to Ireland’s improved international competitiveness. This improvement is reflected in a range of metrics, notably economic growth, increased employment, falling unemployment and a strong trade performance. Ireland’s inflation...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Jobs Data (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Regional development, not just in the Border area but across Ireland, remains a key priority. Together with my Department and its enterprise Agencies, I am focused on strengthening investment and job creation all over the country. The recent annual results of the IDA demonstrate that we are making significant strides. In 2018, for example, 56% of all net new jobs created by the Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Proposed Legislation (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2018 completed Second Stage in Seanad Éireann on 23 January 2019 and Committee and Remaining Stages on 31 January 2019. The Bill completed Second Stage in Dáil Éireann on 14 February 2019 and was referred to the Select Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation. The Bill will benefit consumers by requiring gift vouchers to be...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (7 Mar 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Being prepared for Brexit is critical for companies, therefore to support companies navigate potential emerging challenges, my Department and its agencies has engaged in a programme of: - Building resilience in Irish exporting companies focused on innovation, market diversification and competitiveness; and - Addressing the awareness and preparedness of companies to Brexit. As part of this,...