Results 21,401-21,420 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: And so does the report.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I am not hiding behind it. If I could publish this report, I would happily do so but if I did, I would be breaking the law and I have no desire to break the law. That is fact.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: This investigation is now historic. It is crucial to understand the factors that led to the shortcomings identified by the judge so we can take measures to address them. Does Deputy Wallace know the measures we must take to address them? They involve strengthening the ODCE and giving it increased powers. This was the largest investigation that took place between 2008 and 2012. At that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: It will have more powers such as search and entry powers and powers that enhance its ability to gather evidence that is held electronically. The legislation will bring about improvements in the supervision of liquidators and more simplified systems when the ODCE is going to the High Court to access phone records. I want to make sure that what happened will not happen again.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland continues to attract a pipeline of investments into the country. I want to see investment in the regions and IDA Ireland has targets to ensure they will attract as much investment as possible, but its main work when abroad is to try to attract companies to Ireland. If they decide-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland brings companies to different locations across the country.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. One of the most complex and largest investigations in the history of the State commenced in 2008 with the investigation by the ODCE into Anglo Irish Bank. The trial in the case ended when Judge Aylmer directed the acquittal of the defendant on all charges. Following Judge Aylmer's ruling on 23 May 2017, the then Minister for Business, Enterprise...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: It does.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Schemes (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Enterprise Ireland and the local enterprise offices are the main agencies for supporting new start-up businesses across every region. Up to October 2018, 38 companies were supported through the Enterprise Ireland competitive start fund. This year Enterprise Ireland ran nine competitive start fund calls targeting a range of areas of focus, such as international entrepreneurs, graduates,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Schemes (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: We are doing much work in supporting firms to prepare for Brexit. We have the €300 million working capital facility for companies, which allows them to borrow over three years at competitive rates. This was announced by me and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I am bringing through legislation for a €300 million long-term loan scheme which will facilitate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Schemes (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: We continue to support businesses to trade and innovate, as well as look at their productivity and competitiveness. I have just launched the new initiative, Future Jobs, which will help companies to look at investing. We need to bring up the competitiveness of our small and medium-sized enterprise sector, SMEs. Sometimes it is masked by a competitive foreign direct investment sector which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Since becoming Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have made jobs and enterprise in the regions one of my top priorities. 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. My Department and enterprise agencies are playing a key role in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Actually unemployment is going down. The live register figures out today show another reduction in unemployment.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: No, the Deputy might have that wrong. The unemployment rate is being reduced. We have a target of 200,000 jobs by 2020, of which 135,000 jobs will be in the regions. We are well ahead with 93% of the target already achieved. People are back at work. It is reflected in the fact that I am getting representations about labour shortages. I am being asked by employers to issue work permits...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: There is much employment out there. The south-east plan covers counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford. Key sectors targeted as part of the plan include agrifood, tourism, the life sciences, manufacturing, retail and financial and business services. The local enterprise offices are working hard to support indigenous companies.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: IDA Ireland Data (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I understand the wish to see continued investment from new overseas firms. It is always encouraging when a multinational company decides to locate in Ireland. That is particularly the case when it is in a region for the first time. We should not, however, allow our enthusiasm for new name investors, which I assure the Deputy the IDA is working daily to attract to Ireland, to cloud the fact...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: IDA Ireland Data (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: All counties in the country are a priority. I have a particular priority for regional investment and that is why I announced successful applicants to the regional enterprise investment fund on Monday. It is a €60 million fund and almost €29 million was allocated on Monday. That fund is to help the regions to develop new initiatives. It is about clustering, investing in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Enterprise Development Fund (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: On Monday morning in Navan I was delighted to announce just over €29 million in funding by my Department through Enterprise Ireland under the second call of the regional enterprise development fund, REDF. This funding has been awarded to 21 regional projects throughout the country, bringing the total amount of funding awarded under the two calls of this scheme to €60 million...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Enterprise Development Fund (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy McLoughlin for his kind remarks. On Monday, under the second call of the regional enterprise development fund, I announced more than €25 million in funding. Some 21 projects from all over the country received funding. This is in addition to the €30 million in funding in the first call of the regional enterprise development fund that I announced in December...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: A great deal of work is being done. As I said, there are 16 IDA Ireland supported companies employing 4,462 people in County Mayo. That is an impressive figure.