Results 22,661-22,680 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Supports (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland has a dedicated regional manager for the north-east-north-west region and has an office in the Cavan Innovation and Technology Centre. As part of its strategy to encourage investment to the area, the agency is focusing on sectors including agrifood, manufacturing, tourism, internationally traded services and clean tech. IDA Ireland also regularly engages with key stakeholders on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Startup Funding (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I am a huge advocate for the co-operative movement, as the Deputy knows. I worked in the credit union movement, which is one of the greatest co-operative movements across the country. Responsibility for that lies with the Department of Finance. I am responsible for the legislation but we support co-operative movements as businesses through LEOs and through Enterprise Ireland. Supports do...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Startup Funding (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The credit unions, which I am very familiar with, are regulated by the Central Bank. That proposal can go to the Minister for Finance. There is a need for a full root and branch review of the existing legislative framework that has evolved in a piecemeal fashion over the last century. That is the Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014,...

Other Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Enterprise Ireland regional enterprise development fund, REDF, launched in May 2017, is a €60 million competitive fund aimed at supporting significant regional initiatives that will build on sectoral strengths and improve enterprise capability across the regions. The REDF is intended to support the ambition, goals and implementation of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his question. I am answering on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, who has responsibility in this area but who is away on a trade mission. My Department is unaware of any alleged dispute at the company referred to by the Deputy. Having made enquiries, it would appear that the issues in question have not been brought to the attention of the relevant...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: As I indicated earlier, I am not familiar with the details of this dispute but I encourage the employees to bring it to the attention of the WRC in the first instance. I ask them to make contact with the WRC because they have rights. This type of behaviour should not be happening and the WRC is there to deal with those kind of issues because we do not want to see any employee victimised or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy that the exploitation of workers is wrong and should not be happening. I can only say that there is a very strong and robust system in place through the WRC. I strongly urge the workers to make contact with the commission.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Startup Funding (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The co-operative model is one of a number of legal options available to those considering establishing themselves in business. The different models have their own distinct characteristics. It is, of course, up to each individual operation to choose the model that best suits the nature of the business and the desired ethos of the entity. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: An account of the report into Judge Aylmer's ruling will be published. However, we had to go to court to get permission to do that. We are in that process.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I do not believe it will take that long. I outlined several prosecutions and issues which the ODCE addressed in 2017. It has improved considerably since 2012 and is doing a good job. In 2017, a person was arrested and charged with fraudulent trading based on an invoice discounting fraud and entered a plea of guilty. In 2016, an individual was convicted for failing to maintain a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: A number of reports are being prepared on the impact of Brexit on businesses and the Irish economy. They will be published in the coming weeks. I have not read the full report yet but it will be published in the next week. Actually, I believe we are publishing it next week. Regarding the European Union, my officials are speaking continually to EU officials and we are certainly making...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: On 2 November last year, the Government published a suite of measures aimed at enhancing corporate governance, increasing transparency and strengthening Ireland's response to white-collar crime. The implementation of these measures is progressing across three Departments, namely, the Departments of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Justice and Equality and Finance. With regard to my...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I will try to address just some of the issues the Deputy raised. He raised quite a number of them. The funding allocation for the ODCE for 2017 was €4.895 million, with an outturn or expenditure of €3 million. The funding allocation is €5 million for 2018. Therefore, there is a considerable increase. A significant element of the ODCE's annual funding allocation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Extensive work has been ongoing in my Department to prepare for all Brexit eventualities. This includes both research and the development of specific supports. Officials of my Department have had discussions with senior officials from DG Competition on the potential and the real difficulties encountered by Irish businesses as a result of the UK's...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is engaging with officials in DG Competition. They are putting the case forward and outlining the difficulties Brexit will present for businesses in this country. With regard to the lack of preparedness of businesses, the Deputy is correct. In a survey carried out last year, it was found that 16% of businesses had a plan and that the rest did not. Through Enterprise Ireland,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department, principally through Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs, has continued to promote the importance of businesses preparing for Brexit, and has developed a range of supports. Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the primary providers of supports to assist enterprises within the indigenous sector that are facing challenges arising from Brexit. They are...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: This Government is strongly committed to regional development and my Department and its agencies are working towards ambitious targets to ensure that employment and investment are as evenly distributed as possible across the country. IDA Ireland is focused on achieving the key development goals set out in its current strategy, including increasing investment by 30% to 40%...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Creating more and better jobs in Ireland is a priority for the Government. As the Government works to achieve balanced regional development, the LEO's will play a major role. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I do not accept that Irish business Competitiveness has disimproved. The Country continues to be an attractive location for businesses, as is evident in the IDA and EI job creation performance. Competitiveness is a cross government agenda. It requires a focus on infrastructure, research, technology, innovation, education and skills as well as our fiscal regime.   My...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Action Plan for Jobs (7 Feb 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The North-East/North-West Regional Action Plan for Jobs is a key policy response for supporting employment growth in the Border region, including Co. Louth. The Plan is stimulating job creation across the region, by facilitating collaborative initiatives between the public and private sector, and through the provision of new competitive funds, awarded through Enterprise Ireland to support...