Results 22,141-22,160 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 37 together. I very much regret that Apple will not be proceeding with its plans to construct a data centre in Athenry, especially as the project would have been a source of significant investment and job creation for Galway and the West of Ireland. As with all of its clients, the IDA works with Apple to support job creation and investment in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Data (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: On Monday 14th May, I announced a pilot, quota based system that will address the immediate needs of the Horticulture, Dairy and Meat Processing Sectors and is a first step in addressing some of the challenges facing the sector. The scheme will allow workers in the horticulture, meat processing and dairy sectors from non-EEA countries to access the labour market. As the economy improves...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Brexit Loan Scheme provides affordable working capital to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees that are or will be Brexit impacted and meet the scheme criteria. The €23 million exchequer funding (€14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) has been leveraged to provide a fund of up to €300...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I fully appreciate the importance of ensuring that Irish businesses, including those located in Donegal, are best able to withstand the pressures that Brexit may exert. That is why additional financial resources have been secured to support the strategic response to Brexit by our enterprise agencies, including IDA Ireland. Brexit, or more particularly the response to the challenges it...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Despite intense competition, Ireland’s competitiveness performance remains positive. Ireland moved from 16th in 2015 to 6th in 2017 in the Institute for Management Development’s World Competitiveness Yearbook. In addition, the World Bank’s most recent “Doing Business 2018” report shows Ireland is now ranked 17th out of 190 countries, an improvement of one...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Reports (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Policy responsibility for the waste sector lies with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. On 4 July 2017, a motion was passed by Dáil Éireann which called on the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to ask the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to report on the operation of the household waste collection market....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Retail Sector (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: With the increase in digitisation and internet developments, consumers are enabled to make purchases of goods from across the world that can be delivered to their doorstep. Through initiatives such as on-line vouchers, we encourage Irish based retailers to take advantage of the opportunities presented so that they too can tap into markets further afield. Concerns have recently been raised...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Exports Data (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: On 16 May 2018 the CSO released the latest data on Goods Exports from Ireland. These show that the value of goods exports rose by 4% in Quarter 1 this year when compared to Q1 in 2017. The value of goods exports in Jan-March 2018 was €33.521 billion compared to a value of €32.141 billion in Jan-March 2017. The principal categories of goods exports in the Quarter were...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Film Industry Development (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Ardmore Studios Limited has been sold to Olcott Entertainment Limited. The Ardmore site is currently zoned for Film Industry use only, and this protection is due to run for at least 5 more years under the Bray Municipal District Local Area plan. The site cannot be used for non-Film Industry development without the agreement of Wicklow County Council to alter the current zoning restriction....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Advances in technologies are taking place at an unprecedented pace. Technological advances have a pervasive impact across many, if not all, sectors of the economy. In this regard, many sectors of the economy today require technology skills and expertise – demands for high-tech skills are not merely the domain of the ICT sector. Enterprise 2025 Renewed reaffirms...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Contracts (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department, and the agencies under its aegis, comply with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's guidelines for awarding public procurement contracts. Contracts are awarded based on the most economically advantageous tender (specifying, in addition to price, various other criteria including running costs, servicing costs, level of after sales service, and technical...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Portfolio (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 96 together. As of May 2018, the IDA currently owns 1197 hectares that is available for marketing. In addition, IDA also owns circa 135 hectares in estate roads and a further 122 hectares in residual undevelopable land on various industrial estates and business parks. This land is generally held in small tracts which is undevelopable....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: IDA does not set specific land use efficiency targets. However, when IDA leases land to an overseas client for the purposes of industrial development, the conditions of the lease state that any development, or buildings erected, must be completed in accordance with plans and specifications that are first approved in writing by IDA. Each lease also outlines a timescale by which the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Portfolio (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: IDA properties are made available to the Agency's clients by way of long term leasehold agreements. These leases carry certain use restrictions, such as stipulations that the property can only be used for industrial use or services ancillary to such use.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition Law (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition law in the State.  Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the Commission is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of alleged anti-competitive...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: HPSUs are companies which have the potential to develop an innovative product or service suitable for export, and which have the potential to create 10 jobs and €1m in sales within 3 to 4 years of establishment. In 2017 Enterprise Ireland supported 90 HPSUs with an equity investment. Enterprise Ireland’s HPSU Team works with start-up companies to ensure that they can avail of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The aim of the Commercialisation Fund is to improve the competitiveness of Irish industry. This is achieved through both the creation of technology based companies and through the development of licenses.  The programme funds researchers in the higher education system to develop innovations at all stages of the commercial pipeline, to the point where they can be commercialised as new...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Enterprise Ireland supports companies across Ireland to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future.  Enterprise Ireland’s focus for 2018 is to help clients build on the strength of their 2017 performance by supporting them to innovate, be competitive and to diversify their global footprint - key attributes required to be resilient to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Enterprise Ireland supports companies across Ireland to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future.  Enterprise Ireland’s focus for 2018 is to help clients build on the strength of their 2017 performance by supporting them to innovate, be competitive and to diversify their global footprint - key attributes required to be resilient to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Enterprise Ireland offers a range of financial and non-financial supports to client companies to enable them to withstand the challenges and avail of the opportunities presented by the current economic climate. One of these supports is the Strategic Consultancy Grant, which is only available to SMEs, in line with EU State Aid guidelines.  The Grant supports the hiring of a strategic...