Results 22,881-22,900 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: State Aid (13 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Government has always been clear that its absolute preference is to maintain the closest possible trading relationship between the UK and EU, including Ireland, based on a level playing field.  This is an aim shared by the EU, and by the UK itself. Phase 2 of the Article 50 negotiations will  address how the overall framework for a future relationship between the EU and the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Promotion (13 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland is one of the world's most open, export-based economies.  For Ireland, with a small domestic market, expansion to other markets is a prerequisite for our economic prosperity.  Export growth in Ireland has been exceptionally strong in recent years, reaching a new record level of €259 billion last year. The Government is strongly committed to promoting diversified...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Promotion (13 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Promoting diversified export markets in light of the potential impacts of Brexit is a key priority for my Department and its agencies.  It is imperative that Irish companies respond to the challenges Brexit will bring now, and do not wait until the Brexit negotiations are complete.  This will include maximising opportunities to not only sustain and grow their exports to the UK, but...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Staff (13 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has not specifically recruited technical experts in legal and trade negotiations in respect of Brexit, but has drawn on the experts in these areas across the Department.  These officials are best placed to deal with the Department’s response to the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, and have been assigned to additional postings in the areas across the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Good Friday Agreement (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 provided for the establishment of several implementation bodies, including a 'Trade and Business Body'.  The British Irish Agreement Act 1999 and the equivalent UK legislation provided the statutory basis for the establishment of this body, known as InterTrade Ireland. Since its establishment, InterTrade Ireland - which is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Union Recognition (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to attention but should point out that under Irish law there is no requirement for an employer to recognise trade unions for the purpose of collective bargaining. Article 40 of the Irish Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to form associations and unions. It has been established in a number of legal cases...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Land Ownership (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the land to which the Deputy refers is currently under negotiation between IDA Ireland and an interested party that would use the property for industrial activity. The proposed sale of the property is entirely in line with the Agency's statutory obligations.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: An EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would be the EU’s largest trade deal to date, and is four times the size of the trade agreement with Japan. It aims to eliminate trade tariffs between the EU and the Mercosur region.  Irish exporters are currently subject to trade tariffs, barriers and restrictions, when exporting to Mercosur, while imports from Mercosur,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Jobs Data (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The goal under the 2016 Programme for a Partnership Government was to deliver an extra 200,000 jobs by 2020, of which 135,000 will be outside of Dublin. With a strong focus on job creation and retention, the annual Action Plans for Jobs provide a framework to achieve this objective. Between June 2015 and January 2016, my Department published eight Regional Action Plans for Jobs, aimed at...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Portfolio (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I am informed that the HP site is not in IDA Ireland ownership. I understand, from the IDA, the property was placed on the open market in July 2017 and that HP has engaged agents to handle its sale. However, the IDA is engaging closely with HP about the facility and the Agency is aware of contact between prospective buyers and the company. The IDA will continue to draw...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Data (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together. The table provides a breakdown of grants paid by IDA Ireland to its client companies between 2013 and 2016. The figure provided for Dublin includes payments to the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training. Details of grants paid in 2017 will be available early next year. It is important to note that...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Section 955(1)(a) Report from the Director of Corporate Enforcement has been the subject of detailed consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. On the advice received from the Attorney General, I do not have a legal power to publish statutory reports prepared pursuant to section 955 of the Companies Act, 2014. The Companies Act 2014 contains strict confidentiality...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Section 955(1)(a) Report from the Director of Corporate Enforcement has been the subject of detailed consultation with the Office of the Attorney General.  On the advice received from the Attorney General, I do not have a legal power to publish statutory reports prepared pursuant to section 955 of the Companies Act, 2014.  The Companies Act 2014 contains strict...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The European Commission acts as lead negotiator on behalf of the EU Member States in Trade negotiations. The EU follows closely the situation of indigenous peoples' rights in Brazil. There are regular contacts with indigenous peoples' representatives, civil society, and Brazilian authorities. Indigenous peoples' rights are addressed in the context of the EU-Brazil High Level Dialogue on...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (12 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together. The EU is currently negotiating a trade agreement with the four founding members of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay). A further round of high-level talks on the EU-Mercosur FTA took place from 29 November to 8 December 2017. The European Commission acts as lead negotiator on behalf of the EU Member States in Trade...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development Initiatives (7 Dec 2017)

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 evenly distributed across the country, including across the Midlands.    The Midlands Action Plan for Jobs remains a key policy tool for supporting employment in that area. The second progress...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies Data (7 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Enterprise Ireland is working with client companies through a network of market and sector advisers from 10 offices located throughout the country and 33 international office across the globe. 12 of these offices are located within the EU27 and another 8 EU27 counties are serviced by an Enterprise Ireland office from a nearby location. Enterprise Ireland’s Market Advisers across these...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chair for the welcome afforded to me this evening. I very much look forward to working closely with her and her committee colleagues in the period ahead on various issues of direct relevance to the Department's remit, spanning the enterprise development, innovation and regulatory areas. I convey apologies on behalf of both my ministerial colleagues who I know had confirmed their...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Some €14 million of the funding for the Brexit loan scheme will come from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, giving a total of €23 million which it is hoped will lever a total fund of €300 million. We will be working with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, and the European Investment Bank, EIB,...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: We do not have any figure in that regard. It is too early to be able to give such a figure.