Results 2,341-2,360 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am not aware of a letter of intent with respect to the provisional application of the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement. The question of signing such a letter does not therefore arise.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Programme for Government Implementation (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: A Programme for a Partnership Government sets a target of creating an additional 200,000 jobs by 2020, of which 135,000 jobs are to be created outside Dublin. Since 2012, the unemployment rate reduced from 15.1% to 7.8% in May this year. We have 155,000 extra people at work since 2012 and employment is growing in every region. With 45,000 jobs created last year, this leaves 200,000 to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The basis for the proposal of the European Commission published on 6 July with regard to the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement is a matter for the institution concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: UK Referendum on EU Membership (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Government has a clear plan in place to respond to the referendum outcome and has a Contingency Framework which maps the key issues that will be most important to Ireland in the coming weeks, months and years, including the future changing trading relationship between the UK and Ireland, and the protection of jobs here, both of which are of course interlinked. A summary of the key actions...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Retention (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: We have made substantial progress on growing and retaining employment. Since the Action Plan for Jobs process was first introduced in 2012, the unemployment rate has reduced from 15.1% to 7.8% in June 2016, with 155,000 extra at work. The Programme for a Partnership Government places the retention and growth of employment at the centre of our economic strategy. It sets out a target to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Ireland’s improving cost competiveness performance has been central to securing the recovery in economic growth and employment. The improved competitiveness of Ireland’s exporting sector has been one of Ireland’s greatest strengths in recent years and has been key to economic growth and job creation. Improved cost competitiveness has made Irish firms more competitive...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development Initiatives (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Government Plan is to create 200,000 jobs by 2020, including 135,000 jobs outside Dublin - my focus is to ensure that every region in the country is supported in achieving its economic potential and maximising opportunities for job creation. The Regional Action Plans for Jobs are playing a significant role in the delivery of regional enterprise and employment growth, by driving...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Ongoing monitoring of the performance of Irish companies and the range of enterprise supports available to them vis-à-vis their competition locally, regionally and internationally, is an ongoing element of the work of my Department, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices with a view to ensuring that companies in Ireland have a complete suite of supports available to them to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Kildare is home to 22 multinational companies employing a total of 10,313 people, with significant businesses such as Intel, Hewlett Packard and Procter & Gamble established in the county. The broader Mid-East region, of which Kildare forms part, has seen unemployment fall from 12.7% in early 2012 to 5.9% at the end of quarter one in 2016. This reflects the region’s strong...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Policy (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Innovation 2020, Ireland's strategy for Research and Development, Science and Technology, is based on a shared vision of Ireland becoming a Global Innovation Leader, driving a strong, sustainable, high employment economy and a better society. As recognised in the strategy, innovation plays a central role in driving productivity growth and fostering competitiveness in a global world where...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Government Plan is to create 200,000 jobs by 2020, including 135,000 jobs outside Dublin - my focus is to ensure that every region in the country is supported in achieving its economic potential and maximising opportunities for job creation. Balanced growth requires a renewed focus on building regional strengths and areas of competitive advantage to develop the environment for business...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Live Register Data (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department works closely with the enterprises, development agencies, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Education and Skills on monitoring skills availability and skill needs and ensuring that those on the live register are best placed to take up job opportunities as the economy recovers. We are working closely to achieve an unemployment rate to 6% by 2020 as set in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Youth Unemployment Measures (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Action Plan for Jobs is one of the Government's key instruments to support job creation. Since the launch of the first Plan in 2012, 155,000 more people are in employment. This surpasses the original target to have an extra 100,000 at work by the end of 2016. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to supporting 200,000 additional at work by 2020, with 135,000 of these new...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am assuming that the questions relates to the jobs gained and lost in clients of Agencies in my Department.Enterprise Ireland (EI) reported the creation of 21,118 new jobs by client companies in 2015. This translates into a net increase of 10,169 jobs (taking account of job losses) in EI supported businesses and brings total employment in these companies to 192,223 for 2015, a record high...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Titles (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There are currently no proposals to change the title of my Department and it is therefore not necessary to utilise the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939 to confirm a new title.

Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes. I understand that there is anxiety among the eBay workers. I have had a discussion with the CEO of the IDA, Mr. Martin Shanahan, on this and other matters. The IDA will continue to work with FDI companies to support them in creating jobs in Ireland, and especially in regional and rural Ireland. The IDA will not and cannot discuss publicly the circumstances of individual companies due...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (19 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The 13th formal round of the EU-US free trade negotiations took place from 11–15 July, 2016 in Brussels. The European Commission publishes a summary of the state of play after the round, which is available on its website. During the round, the negotiators discussed all three pillars of the agreement, namely market access for EU and US companies, regulatory cooperation and trade...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (19 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The 14th round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations between the EU the US took place from 11–15 July, 2016 in Brussels. During this round, negotiators discussed all three pillars of the proposed agreement namely market access for EU and US companies, regulatory cooperation and trade rules. A dedicated chapter for small and medium firms has been...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Site Visits (19 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: IDA Ireland collates data on its site visits on a quarterly basis. The latest data available is for the first quarter of 2016, during which there were 136 IDA Ireland-sponsored site visits countrywide. The breakdown is provided in the following table. Figures for the second quarter will be available early next month. It is important to note that data on site visits is not an accurate...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: UK Referendum on EU Membership (19 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: A central cross-Government co-ordination unit in regard to Brexit has been established in the Department of the Taoiseach. In regard to my own Department, given the breath and diversity of policy and operational areas that are relevant to the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union, this is a matter that impacts on, and is being monitored by, all of the Divisions...