Results 22,641-22,660 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (8 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The quality of our economic and social infrastructure is undeniably important when it comes to foreign direct investment (FDI). That is because businesses need to know that a jurisdiction has the necessary transport networks, connectivity, telecommunications systems, affordable childcare provision, schools, universities and housing stock to sustain investment and the jobs that go with it....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Freedom of Information Data (8 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The total number of FOI requests received by my Department and its Offices in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and the average time taken to complete these requests are set out in the table. I can confirm that all of the FOI requests received were decided upon within the prescribed timeframes prescribed in the Freedom of Information Acts 1997, 2003 and 2014. Year Total Number of FOI...

Other Questions: Waste Disposal (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy that competition is good for business and the consumer. The authority is an independent body under my remit, and I will certainly raise his concerns with it.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has had extensive engagement with businesses to understand what they need to help them adapt to the challenges posed by Brexit, and to provide support for diversification, development and innovation. My Department is putting in place a package of measures that will allow us to respond to the needs of businesses including a Brexit loan scheme to provide affordable financing...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Additional resources have been provided to Enterprise Ireland and ITI to deal with Brexit. There are many supports available, especially through Enterprise Ireland. I encourage companies to engage with Enterprise Ireland and their local enterprise offices. Workshops are taking place across the country and there is a huge awareness campaign on the challenges facing companies due to Brexit....

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: It is important to remember that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential. At least 70% of all new foreign direct investment comes from existing IDA Ireland client companies. Donegal is now home to 12 IDA Ireland companies, employing 3,389 people. If one comes from Cavan and Monaghan, like Deputy Brendan Smith and me, one would be very envious. The figure for...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I said earlier that many companies looking at Ireland for potential investment do much of the research themselves. They have looked at the different areas and they want to see what suits them best. I assure the Deputy that IDA Ireland is doing everything it can to get investors into the regions. It has a target of between 30% and 40% of all investment being in the regions. I am very...

Other Questions: Waste Disposal (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. 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 that called on the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to ask the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, to report on the...

Other Questions: Waste Disposal (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and European Union competition law in the State. Section 9(5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions. As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have no direct function...

Other Questions: Workplace Relations Commission (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 39 together. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I am addressing on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, who is out of the country. Lead policy responsibility for the fishing sector rests with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, and the Health and Safety...

Other Questions: Workplace Relations Commission (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Of the fleet, 95% - 165 vessels - has been inspected. This entailed 239 inspections. There are 181 whitefish vessels of over 15 m in length, but only 174 of these are operational. On this basis, 95% of the target fleet had been inspected by the end of 2017. The objective of WRC inspections is to determine compliance with a range of employment rights, entitlements and obligations,...

Other Questions: Workplace Relations Commission (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: To reiterate, 95% of the fleet has been inspected and good work has been done. The WRC acts independently of my office. There are processes for employees to report situations to the WRC, which will be followed up on and checked.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy McConalogue for raising this issue. He is right, in that I am conscious of the challenges that Brexit will present in the Border region. I 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...

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Supports (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy about the number of visits to Cavan and Monaghan. I want to support Cavan and Monaghan, but I also want to support the Border region in every way I can. There will certainly be a strong focus on job creation in the region. Last week, I met the CEs of Monaghan, Cavan, Louth and Meath county councils along with senior officials from IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and...

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Site Visits (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. IDA Ireland is leading our efforts to attract even more foreign direct investment to regional areas. The agency continues to work towards key development targets set out in its 2015-19 strategy, including increasing investment by 30% to 40% in every region. Since the launch of that strategy, half of all jobs created by its client companies have...

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Site Visits (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland cannot direct companies to go to a particular place. It competes in a very competitive global market. To get some of those companies to come to Ireland is quite an achievement. IDA Ireland is focused on the regions and is doing its utmost to increase regional investment. The goal is to increase investment in every region by 2019 by 30% to 40%. For example, Northern Trust...

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Site Visits (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Most of the companies seeking to locate in this country carry out their own assessments first. That is why sometimes people may be talking down regions, which is not a good idea because that negativity can influence companies' decisions. IDA Ireland is committed to the regions. It has informed me that it is doing everything it can to increase investment across the regions. The Deputy can...

Other Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: There were two successful applications in the mid-west region. Emerald Aero Cluster Group was the successful applicant under call one of stream four. Stream four is to support significant industry clustering initiatives with grants of €50,000 to €250,000 per project. Emerald Aero Cluster Group is a cluster of 14 indigenous manufacturing companies brought together with the...

Other Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Some applications were not successful. It is a competitive process but there are some who did not receive funding. There are other initiatives and ideas that have yet to come forward for the second tranche of the funding. I encourage applicants to consider coming forward under the second call which I will launch in the springtime. All successful applicants under the first call can receive...

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Supports (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for her question and for her good wishes. As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and as a Deputy from Cavan-Monaghan, this topic is very close to my heart. Regional development is a key priority of mine and I am focused on increasing investment in every county in Ireland. IDA Ireland shares this objective and I am pleased that its results for 2017 show that...