Results 2,101-2,120 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (25 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 590 together. The EU has successfully concluded a number of important trade agreements with trading partners and is in the process of negotiating or upgrading its agreements with many more. Free Trade Agreements are designed to create opportunities by opening new markets for goods and services thereby increasing export and investment opportunities....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Portfolio (25 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In February 2015, the Government announced, as part of the regional Action Plan for Jobs, a five year €250m investment strategy aimed at accelerating the jobs recovery in every part of the country. The plan includes the delivery of a €150m IDA Ireland property investment programme to attract foreign direct investment into different parts of Ireland and is targeted at ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (25 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 597 together. As requested by the Deputies, I will provide further information on the Constitutional requirements in relation to the ratification of the EU – Canada Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). Article 29.8 which states that the State may exercise extra-territorial jurisdiction in accordance with the generally...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Closures (25 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: On the establishment of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) in 2001, the existing functions of the Minister relating to the enforcement of the Companies Acts transferred to the Director of Corporate Enforcement. These functions included the investigation of suspected offences under the Companies Acts and prosecuting detected breaches of the Acts. I, therefore, have no...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Responsibilities (25 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: On 28th June 2016, the Government made delegation of function orders to my Department's Ministers of State at my request. Under S.I. number 333 of 2016, the Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, Mr Pat Breen T.D., was delegated responsibility for legislation relevant to employment rights and industrial relations, workplace health and safety, standards and metrology and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (25 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), which is statutorily independent in the exercise of its enforcement function, has advised me that the examination of the matter referred to in the Deputy's question is ongoing, along with a number of other consumer issues which have arisen as a result of the introduction of a pay by weight charging structure for household waste. The...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (25 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In line with Government Policy on Tobacco, Enterprise Ireland is not in a position to support companies in this sector. In this regard, the tobacco company concerned is not a current client of Enterprise Ireland and therefore I have not met with Enterprise Ireland officials concerning job losses at this company. In respect of the impending job losses referred to, my Department is in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Reviews (20 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In response to Parliamentary Question No. 659 put down by the Deputy for answer on 5 July 2016, I outlined my intention to seek Government approval for the General Scheme of a Bill in the copyright area. The main purpose of the proposed Bill is to respond to certain of the recommendations contained in a Report undertaken by the Copyright Review Committee entitled “Modernising...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies Funding (20 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: A total of €858.5 million gross has been provided for use by my Department next year as per the 2017 Expenditure Report which was published on 11 October 2016. This compares to a provision of €800.47 million in the 2016 Revised Estimates Volume. The 2017 Expenditure Report sets out the Capital expenditure allocation for my Department next year at €555 million. This...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Sector Staff Data (20 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department and our Agencies keep our staffing requirements under review both on an ongoing basis and as part of workforce planning. In addition, any plan to recruit additional staff in 2017 for my Department or any of the Agencies that operate under its aegis, is dependent on the level of funding available. In this regard, the distribution of funding for next year across the 39 subheads of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Grocery Industry Regulation (20 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the Grocery Goods Regulations (S.I. No. 35 of 2016) which came into effect on 30 April 2016. These Regulations regulate certain practices in the grocery goods sector. It is important to ensure that there is a balance in the relationship between the various players in the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Data (20 Oct 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. This is a whole of Government effort and is delivered through our integrated Action Plan for Jobs. The Action Plan for Jobs is one of the Government’s key instruments to support job creation. The Action Plan for Jobs process is working. Since the first...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Data (20 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take questions No. 300 and No. 301 together. Ireland’s return to economic growth has demonstrated our ability, through concerted efforts across Government, to focus actions on those areas that help to create jobs. We have made substantial progress since the Action Plan for Jobs process was first introduced in 2012 with the unemployment rate falling from 15.1% at the start...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Portfolio (20 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In February 2015 the Government announced the Regional Action Plan for Jobs. This is a five year €250m investment strategy aimed at accelerating the jobs recovery in every part of the country. The plan includes the delivery of a €150m IDA Ireland property investment programme. This programme is designed to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to the regions by providing an...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Funding (20 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The funding allocation for the Low Pay Commission next year will be determined during the 2017 Revised Estimates Volume process in the weeks ahead. This will be undertaken in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is expected to be concluded during November. The 2016 allocation to the Low Pay Commission totalled €474,000 in Current funding. This is split...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (20 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, I provide a range of supports to micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through my Department and its Agencies. The full range of Government supports for SMEs can be found on the supporting SMEs online tool – www.supportingsmes.ie. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first stop shop’ for small...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Relations Contracts Data (20 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department has entered into the following contracts with public relations companies since January 2015: 2015 PR Company Purpose of Contract Cost of Contract Duration of Contract Atomic Advertising Ltd Campaign to raise awareness of a range of Government provided enterprise supports among business owners, and potential start-ups. €250,000 One year contract - commencing January...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Commission (19 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Inspectors of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) have undertaken 94 inspections to date of vessels which come within the aegis of the Atypical Worker Permission Scheme launched by the Irish National Immigration Service (INIS) in February this year. I am advised by the Commission that vessel owners and skippers have in general cooperated fully with WRC inspectors. In addition, the WRC...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht an cuireadh a thabhairt dom an tseachtain seo. I am pleased to be in the House to discuss the consequences for Ireland of the result of the EU-UK referendum. I will begin by giving some details about the comprehensive series of actions my Department and I have undertaken in response to the UK referendum result. On the day of the...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Senators for their valuable contributions, which we will take on board. I have taken a note from each of them. Today's debate has provided a helpful opportunity for further engagement on the matter of key importance for Ireland and the EU. The issues raised today will help to inform my Department's policy deliberations in this sphere, as we move towards the detailed negotiations...