Results 2,401-2,420 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Applications (12 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The General Employment Permit application referred to by the Deputy was refused on 18 January 2016 as the remuneration on offer - €30,000 per annum for a 40 hour week – is less than the minimum annual remuneration prescribed for this employment permit type. Also, the requirements of the Labour Market Needs Test that apply in respect of this permit category were not met. The...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In 2015, Enterprise Ireland launched a €5 million competitive fund to support community-driven enterprise development initiatives. I understand from Enterprise Ireland that 118 applications for the Community Enterprise Initiative Competitive Fund were considered. There was strong demand for the funding and the process was highly competitive. Some 32 applications exceeded the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Applications (12 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The requirement to furnish an up-to-date Tax Clearance Certificate in the situation where an employment permit is sought for employment in a restaurant is prescribed in Regulation 5(2)(i)(II) of the Employment Permits Regulations 2014 as amended. The eTax Clearance system put in place by the Revenue Commissioners includes the capacity to print or create a PDF version of the Tax Clearance...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Functions (12 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Mitchelstown Community Enterprise Centre is located at Coolnanave, Mitchelstown, Co Cork. It comprises circa 27,000 square feet and occupies an advantageous site off the main Cork/Dublin road. It was established by Mitchelstown Community Forum Limited and financially supported by Enterprise Ireland, Cork County Council, and the Mitchelstown Community. The completed centre opened for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (12 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 804 and 805 together. On the Deputy’s invitation, I visited Mullingar in late June where I met with the local Chamber of Commerce and visited the IDA Business Park. The same day I also visited nearby Castlepollard where Enterprise Ireland client company, Mergon International, celebrated the launch of their global innovation centre. In County...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: International Agreements (12 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) is a new generation agreement that will remove over 99% of tariffs between the EU and Canada and will create sizeable new market access opportunities in services and investment. It will end limitations in access to public contracts, open-up services market, and offer predictable conditions for investors. It will save on duty...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (12 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 807 and 808 together. Volatility in exchange rates always presents challenges and the trade performance of a small open economy such as Ireland will always be conditional on the ebb and flow of global markets. The present exchange rate volatility highlights the importance of focusing on a wide spectrum of competitiveness policies, in particular policies to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Across the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation and its Offices, the only instance of use of an employment agency relates to the provision to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) of legal secretarial services. There is no equivalent civil service grade for “legal secretary”. Given the need for these specific skills in the ODCE, an employment agency...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Websites (12 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department recognises the importance of ensuring that its websites are accessible to everyone and is committed to achieving a minimum of conformance level Double-A with the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). An accessibility review of the Department’s main website (www.djei.ie) was commissioned earlier this year and is due to be completed this month. Any accessibility improvements...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: UK Referendum on EU Membership (7 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: It is important to emphasise that the UK is still an EU member, therefore our businesses can continue to trade with the UK on the same terms as before. The precise implications of the UK vote will now depend on the period of negotiation ahead, involving the UK and our EU partners. The Government has undertaken careful planning in recent months for the contingency of this result. We will...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Development (7 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In 2013, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) published a report on “Addressing Future Demand for High-Level ICT Skills”in Ireland. This report indicated a strong on-going demand for people with high-level ICT skills across many sectors of the economy – not just the ICT sector itself. The Export Group’s report suggested that 44,500 new job openings...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (7 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 318, inclusive, together. The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) is a new generation agreement that will remove over 99% of tariffs between the EU and Canada and will create sizeable new market access opportunities in services and investment. It will end limitations in access to public contracts, open-up services market, and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (7 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The details supplied pertain to a Westmeath based unit of the Irish Manufacturing Research Centre (IMR). IMR is an Enterprise Ireland/IDA Ireland Technology Centre focused on manufacturing and industrial energy efficiency research aimed at delivering solutions to manufacturing companies throughout Ireland. The Centre offers the manufacturing industry a unique environment to collaborate with...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices Expenditure (7 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Capital funding for the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) is provided by my Department via the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Enterprise Ireland, who distribute the funding to individual LEOs. The Capital allocations are for direct financial supports to the micro-enterprise sector (Measure 1 grants) and so-called “soft” supports for LEO clients, such as training and mentoring...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: UK Referendum on EU Membership (7 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In light of the breath and diversity of policy and operational areas that are relevant to the decision of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union, this is a matter that impacts on, and is being monitored by, all of the Divisions across my Department. In the immediate aftermath of the announcement of the UK referendum result on the morning of 24 June last, as part of my contingency...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consultancy Contracts Data (7 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The names of external reports commissioned by my Department and Offices of my Department, the costs, the date or expected date of publication and the name of the external consultants are set out in the following tables for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and to 5 July 2016. In some cases, the costs of the reports were shared with other bodies and these are noted below. The data in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I can advise the Deputy that the total photography costs incurred by my Department and its Offices since 6 May, 2016 are €461. The list of occasions for which photographers were booked, the photographers used and the breakdown of costs are detailed in the table below. No expenditure for photography was incurred from Ministerial allowances. Photography Costs incurred since 6 May, 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Relations Contracts Data (7 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department uses external public relations providers having regard to its business needs for specialist communications advice and technical materials assistance. In engaging such providers, the Department is mindful of the need to secure value for money and, accordingly, strives to keep costs to the minimum. The names and business addresses of the providers of public relations services...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: To clarify, I am speaking to section 1. I welcome those in the Gallery. I am listening very carefully. I believe the House can agree on the principle behind wanting to protect vulnerable self-employed workers. That is clear and that is what I am here to do. This is my second time in the House. On Report Stage, I propose to introduce amendments in respect of the later sections of the...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: This section aims to amend the Competition Act 2002 to establish rights for self-employed individuals to be represented by a trade union for the purposes of collective bargaining and price-setting. In introducing the Bill Senator Ivana Bacik highlighted the need for protection of vulnerable self-employed workers such as actors. The principle behind wanting to protect vulnerable...