Results 21,661-21,680 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Retail Sector (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: As a former employee of the credit union movement, I certainly support any efforts, arrangements, or vehicles whereby the credit union movement is allowed to support businesses. I firmly believe that it can play a very important role in that. To that extent I met one of the members of the Credit Union Managers Association, CUMA, organisation and I have asked the association to put forward...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Retail Sector (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I met representatives of the four pillar banks, in particular Ms Francesca McDonagh, CEO of Bank of Ireland, Mr. Bernard Byrne, group CEO of AIB, and Ms Jane Howard, chief executive of Ulster Bank, and we discussed the following topics: the importance of the banks in supporting enterprise resilience in the context of Brexit, access to finance, the relatively high cost of credit in Ireland...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Supports (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Kelleher for raising this matter. 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. For 2019, I am allocating an extra €8 million to the enterprise agencies and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Supports (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: We are providing an array of different supports to businesses across Departments and agencies. Ultimately, businesses have to decide themselves if they want to avail of those supports. I am not getting any indication from the businesses I meet that the schemes are too complicated or that we need to simplify them to make them more accessible. I am not hearing that. I consistently ask...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Supports (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: When I meet businesses I am asked what we are preparing for. I tell them to consider the worst-case scenario and identify and mitigate the risks. The Government is negotiating for the best possible outcome but we need businesses to prepare by considering the worst-case scenario. The working capital Brexit loan scheme is to help businesses with cashflow difficulties. Under a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Retail Sector (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for raising this issue. As chair of the retail consultation forum I understand the importance of the retail sector and its crucial role in supporting jobs in every city, town and village in the State. Recent figures from the Central Statistics Office show that more than 300,000 people are employed in the wholesale and retail sector. The retail consultation forum...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I assure the Deputy the supports are available. Those involved in the town need to work together and come forward with applications.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: There is lots of money available, but they need to come forward with applications.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I ask the Deputy to work with and encourage them to build on their strengths.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy knows what Tipperary needs. Those involved do not need to work in isolation but in collaboration. We just need to look over the border into County Limerick for an example. Limerick city has achieved wonderful success through collaboration between the university, the education sector, State agencies, the local authority-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I am giving an example to show what has been achieved-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Please, Deputy, I am giving an example to show what has worked and continues to work-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I am just trying to be helpful. Those involved in Tipperary town need to work collaboratively.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: There are many opportunities to apply and draw down funding from the various schemes, including the regional enterprise development fund. Those involved on the site of the former Lisheen Mines were very successful in making an application. It was excellent and they received funding. It is leading and cutting edge stuff.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Personal Injuries Commission (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is correct that the cost of insurance is a big issue for businesses. The Government is acutely aware of that, which is why we are acting to address it. My Department has brought forward the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill which will strengthen the powers of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board in order that it can process more claims, which will lower costs....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Personal Injuries Commission (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I agree that fraudsters and scammers should not benefit in any way from their activities. What they are doing is wrong. I have met representatives of the insurance industry and businesses on the issue. The suite of measures being taken by the Government will reduce the cost of insurance. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, is considering a dedicated Garda unit to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is committed to securing and growing quality employment in all parts of the country and I am firmly focused on delivering on A Programme for a Partnership Government target of creating 200,000 new jobs by 2020, with 135,000 of those jobs to be located outside Dublin. In addition to job creation and retention, it is important to ensure that the jobs created are of good quality...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The live register in Tipperary town has decreased by 48% since 2011. I am very conscious that certain towns across the country are not doing as well as others. Tipperary town is not unique. Other towns across the country have engaged and come together and identified a suite of Government supports for towns in need of support. Those supports have been made available because the Government...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: With regard to the Brexit loan scheme, as of 12 October 2018, of the 262 applications received, 224 had been approved by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland as being eligible and 38 had progressed to sanction at bank level, to a value of €8.5 million. There is, therefore, a good stream of applications coming in and they are being dealt with. I am glad the figure has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (18 Oct 2018)

Heather Humphreys: On the last question, the European Union has rescue and restructuring schemes in place for worst-case scenarios. We have engaged with and work very closely with the European Union. With regard to the Brexit loan schemes, the first, announced last March, has a fund of €300 million. Grants are for a working capital facility for up to three years, which involves very short-term...