Results 241-260 of 2,796 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Neale Richmond

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Meetings (20 Sep 2023)

Neale Richmond: I have been assured that Enterprise Ireland (EI) continues to support the company referenced in the Deputy’s question and are actively encouraging them to look at wider business opportunities across the relevant market. Whilst the company are doing this, progress has been much slower than they had anticipated, driven largely by recent inflationary costs. EI are also supporting the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (20 Sep 2023)

Neale Richmond: My Department is actively pursuing all opportunities for decarbonisation across the enterprise base and integrating climate action into all aspects of the Department and its agencies’ activities. As part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Green Transition Fund (GTF) will accelerate the decarbonisation of Irish enterprise. Launched by my Department in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (13 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that the General Employment Permit application submitted in respect of the person concerned (in the details supplied) was refused on 30th March 2023. A request for a review of the refusal decision was received on 27thApril 2023, however on 24thJune 2023 the refusal decision was upheld by the Reviewing Officer. The application was...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Healthcare Policy (13 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: Following a recent meeting with representatives of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Minister Coveney asked the Board of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to consider establishing a new Health and Social Care Advisory Committee of the Board under Section 38 of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. The purpose of such Committee would be to place a particular focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Labour Market (13 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: An efficient and responsive Employment Permit system is a critical component to ensure that talent is attracted to Ireland from non-EEA countries. In June 2022, changes were introduced to the eligible occupations lists to help alleviate skills shortages in the health sector. The roles of psychologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, and therapy...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Relations (12 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: I would urge the parties involved to engage constructively with each other with a view to resolving their differences. The State's industrial relations machinery remains available to assist as appropriate. Ireland’s system of industrial relations is essentially voluntary in nature and it has been the consistent policy of successive Irish Governments to support the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (12 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: Through the Grad Start Initiative, Enterprise Ireland is supporting the recruitment and retention of graduates within its client companies. The hiring of graduates continues to bring fresh ideas and stimulate innovation by bringing a new perspective on products, processes, and business models. This Initiative allows companies to hire up to three graduates at any one time for a graduate...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equality Issues (12 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: Enterprise Ireland continues to raise LGBTI+ awareness through, among other things, its leadership development programmes and the Agency provides direct assistance to companies, which support greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace, such as New Frontiers (national entrepreneurship programme), Leadership4Growth (CEO leadership programme), Attracting & Retaining Talent,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Local Enterprise Office Green for Micro programme is a free programme that assists micro enterprises by providing access to two days of intensive mentoring including a sustainability audit and action plan. This programme will help businesses in preparing for the low carbon, more resource efficient economy of the future, helping them to take the first step towards becoming more...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Green Start Programme is currently a component offer of the Green Transition Fund (GTF). The GTF is funded through the EU's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) on a multi-annual basis . A total funding requirement of €55 million has been allocated through 2022 – 2026 under my Department's estimates and in accordance with the National Development Plan. From the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Official Engagements (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: Over the past 24 months, a number of meetings as set out below, have been held on the Platform Workers Directive. The then Minister of State Damien English met with officials from Deliveroo in October 2021 – in relation to enhanced benefits for their delivery riders.The then Tánaiste Leo Varadkar met with officials from Deliveroo in November 2021 – in relation to enhanced...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Official Engagements (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: A meeting took place on 9thMarch 2021 between the then Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Department officials with trade union officials from SIPTU. This meeting was regarding the general working conditions of delivery drivers not specifically regarding the EU Platform Workers Directive. A further meeting took place between the then Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Department officials and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Disputes (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: At the outset, I must emphasise I, as Minister, cannot intervene in industrial relations disputes. Ireland’s system of Industrial Relations is based on voluntarism and while the right of workers to form associations and join a trade union is enshrined in Article 40 of the Irish Constitution, there is no obligation on employers to recognise any trade union for the purposes of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Redundancy Payments (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: By law, It is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy to eligible workers. Up to 2011, the Redundancy Payments Scheme provided a rebate of 60% to employers who made statutory redundancy payments to their employees. The Government first reduced, then abolished, the rebate in Budgets 2012 and 2013 for a number of reasons. The rebate was paid to employers regardless...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equality Issues (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function, and I have no direct involvement in its day-to-day operations. However, I am informed of the following. Disability discrimination cases typically come before an Adjudication Officer under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015, which prohibit discrimination in the workplace and in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equality Issues (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: Any allegation that adjudication officers are not adhering to the fundamental principles of natural and Constitutional Justice is a matter for the High Court. Adjudications hearings are, in the main, public and written decisions issue in each case. Parties are entitled to a de novo hearing on Appeal. Adjudication officers are independent in the performance of their functions.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: Ireland’s employment permits system is managed through the operation of two occupations lists. The Critical Skills Occupations List prioritises specified in-demand professional roles, and the Ineligible Occupations List identifies occupations for which a labour supply should be available in the Irish/EEA labour market and as such are ineligible for consideration for an employment...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: European Union (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: In June 2022, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to participate in the Unitary Patent System and the Unified Patent Court, and to hold the necessary constitutional referendum to enable Ireland to do so. My Department officials are currently advancing preparations for the constitutional referendum which will enable the transfer of jurisdictional powers from Irish Courts to the new...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Revenue Commissioners (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The cost of energy is a major factor in the operation of most businesses. The impact of the very significant price increases experienced by businesses in 2022 and 2023, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was mitigated by the introduction of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme to support companies dealing with increases in the price of metered electricity and natural gas. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: European Union (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Unified Patent Court (UPC) commenced operations on 1 June 2023. Ireland was represented by senior officials at several inaugural events, with Minister of State Neale Richmond representing the Government at the inaugural event of the Court in Luxembourg on 30th May. The Unified Patent protection and the Unified Patent Court promises considerable benefits for entrepreneurs, businesses, and...