Results 21,481-21,500 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Proposed Legislation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: On 12 June 2018, the Government approved the drafting of the Unfair Contract Terms (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2018. The Bill provides, first, that gift vouchers must be valid for a minimum term of five years and, secondly, that the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, would have power to set fees for the issue and replacement of gift vouchers and for inactive balances on gift vouchers...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Sector Staff Data (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not have responsibility for public sector recruitment/employment and does not have access to the statistical information requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Government recognises fully how important it is to increase the supply of affordable and quality housing across the country. That is why significant resources have been invested into this area, including through the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan which includes financing measures, new construction and rental sector improvements. These steps will, first and foremost, ensure that people...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Meetings (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Details of all engagements undertaken by me are available in my diary which is published on my Departments website; www.dbei.gov.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Personal Injury Claims (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The amount of reserves held by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) is set out in the published Annual Reports of PIAB. For ease of reference for the Deputy, I have set out the amounts held for the years 2010 to 2017 in the following table. The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) recommended to the Department that the Department and PIAB agree an appropriate level of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Contracts Data (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not have any existing contracts with the company in question, and has not awarded any contracts or tenders to the company in 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Funding (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department primarily provides supports to companies producing goods for export through IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. In line with legal constraints on its remit, IDA does not target companies producing military goods and follows Department policy regarding “dual use regulations”, under the Control of Exports Act and connected EU legislation, in its engagement with...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and its agencies are providing extensive supports to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. These supports aim to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming months. The information is set out in the following table. Scheme Uptake (as of 19 November 2018) Brexit Loan Scheme 307 applications...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and its agencies are providing 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 the practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming months. While I have seen a very positive uptake of the supports available, not everyone is engaging. With Brexit around...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Funding (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Department launched the first call of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund on 29 June 2018 and Expressions of Interest were sought by the deadline of 3pm on Friday, 17 August 2018. Information on the Fund and how to apply was provided by the Department with the support of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland. Expressions of Interest were sought for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Applications (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Employment Permits section of my Department inform me that an application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit for the person concerned was received on 3rd October 2018. The Employment Permits section is experiencing high levels of demand for employment permits this year and this has contributed to increased processing times for applications. At end October 2018, 13,953 applications...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Brexit represents the most significant economic challenge facing businesses in the last 50 years but I am satisfied that my Department, its offices and agencies are fully focused on supporting businesses to withstand the challenges presented. I am confident that the agencies under my remit have the supports available to enable companies to consolidate existing market share and build...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together. My Department recognises that innovation is key to maintaining competitiveness for Ireland in global markets, and for providing jobs and sustaining growth across the whole of the economy, as well as embedding the foreign direct investment base in Ireland. In 2018, Ireland rose to 9th place in the European Innovation Scorecard. We also...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Driving more enterprise creation by supporting the indigenous sector is a key focus of mine and I am working closely with the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and with Enterprise Ireland (EI) to achieve this. A strong and resilient indigenous sector is a crucial part of a growing economy. I recently announced a record budget allocation for my Department to help businesses, entrepreneurs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has a comprehensive and wide-ranging approach to fostering and supporting job creating enterprises that encompasses both strategic and enterprise agency led input. The Regional Action Plan for Jobs (RAPJ) initiative is a central pillar of the Government’s ambition to create 200,000 new jobs by 2020, 135,000 of which are outside of Dublin. A key objective of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Since becoming Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have made jobs and enterprise in the regions my top priority. We want to have a situation where all regions are enabled to realise their potential as contributors to economic recovery and growth, and thereby reduce regional disparities. Strategic investments within the overarching national context (Project Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Government has laid a solid foundation for businesses, allowing for jobs and growth to flourish while safeguarding against global challenges including Brexit. Innovation is an essential element to maintaining competitiveness, providing jobs and sustaining growth. My Department’s innovation budget for 2019 has been increased by €40m to almost €369m and will fund a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Exports Growth (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together. Competitiveness is key to success in international markets, to job growth and as a means of achieving sustainable improvements in living standards. Improving competitiveness performance is a core focus for Government, and as part of this work my Department, its agencies and the National Competitiveness Council are continually engaged...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Gender Balance (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I am determined to see the numbers of businesses in Ireland led by women grow and for supports to continue to be delivered to businesswomen throughout Ireland. The deputy can be assured that my Department has a strong focus on the provision of supports and programmes to assist women to lead businesses, whether they are established businesses or new businesses. The Government has to lead...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Knowledge Development Box (4 Dec 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Both Enterprise 2025 - Ireland's National Enterprise Policy, and Innovation 2020 - Ireland's national strategy for research and development, science and technology emphasise that increasing our people's standard of living requires Ireland to have a strong, innovative and internationally competitive enterprise base which grows employment, sales and exports. A key factor in achieving this is...