Results 301-320 of 2,023 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (4 Apr 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I have interpreted the Deputy’s question to relate to work undertaken by consultant firms since I took up office on 6th May 2016.  The following is the monetary value of all work undertaken, and the nature of that work, by consultant firms for my Department.  6 May 2016 – 31 December 2016 Name of Consultant Firm(s) Nature of Work Value of Work €...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Data Protection (4 Apr 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department is fully aware of its responsibilities in respect of the processing of personal data as provided for in the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. My Department’s Data Protection Policy outlines the procedures that must be followed by all staff in the Department and its Offices whose duties entail processing personal data. This Policy outlines best practice in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Jobs Initiative (4 Apr 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2017, my Department, through Enterprise Ireland, has committed to support the Regional Action Plans for Jobs and provide investment of up to €60m over the period to 2020. A Regional Competitive Funding Initiative administered by Enterprise Ireland will be launched shortly.  The overarching aim is to drive balanced regional enterprise development...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Information (4 Apr 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: No requests were received by my Department and its Offices for material to be made available in braille format in each of the years 2014 to 2016.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (4 Apr 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: On the 15th February 2017, the European Parliament voted in favour of the provisional application of EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).  Provisional application is a standard part of trade agreements and allows those parts of the agreement for which the EU has competence to come into force.  The provisions relating to investment protection and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Intellectual Property Protocol (4 Apr 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI), established by Enterprise Ireland in partnership with the Irish Universities Association, is the custodian of the national IP Protocol on behalf of my Department. The Protocol is implemented in partnership with research funding Departments and agencies and other stakeholders. The Protocol describes the ways in which enterprise can expect to work...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Defence Forces Contracts (4 Apr 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Section 6 (2) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (2005 Act) allows for an exemption from relevant statutory provisions for members of the Defence Forces in the context of certain specific criteria. The criteria cover when a member of the Defence Forces is on active service within the meaning of section 5 of the Defence Act 1954 or deemed to be on active service within the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (4 Apr 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Arising from its obligations under the Protection of Employment Act 1977, the company making the redundancies wrote to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on 7th February 2017 to give notice of proposed collective redundancies and the opening of the consultation process required under that Act. I am informed that consultations with employees are ongoing. The...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Contracts Data (4 Apr 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Payments made to the private investigation firms listed in my response were in relation to the contracting of these firms by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement to serve summonses, in instances where there were difficulties in locating the individuals to whom summonses were to be served. Public spending rules were adhered to when engaging these firms. Resolve Ireland,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (4 Apr 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I engage on an ongoing basis with overseas companies - including those with operations in the UK - regarding the possibility of new or expanded investments in Ireland. IDA Ireland also continues to identify new potential sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) for the country, whether Brexit-related or not. Overseas businesses are attracted to Ireland on account of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science and Technology Groups (30 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department is aware of The Case for Irish Membership of the European Space Observatory prepared by the Institutes of Physics in Ireland in June 2014. In December 2015, the Government launched Innovation 2020, the national strategy for science and research.  The vision in Innovation 2020 is for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader driving a strong sustainable economy and a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (30 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: A lay-off situation arises where an employee's employment ceases by reason of the employer being unable to provide work for which the employee was employed to do, and, where the employer reasonably believes that the cessation of employment will not be permanent and where the employer gives notice to that effect to the employee prior to the cessation. There is no statutory minimum period...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Joint Labour Committees (30 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together. Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) are provided for under the Industrial Relations Act 1946 and were reformed by the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act, 2012. A JLC is comprised of equal numbers of representatives of employers and workers in a sector. JLCs meet regularly, under an independent Chairperson to discuss proposals for terms...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Supports (30 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: At present, there are no plans to construct an advanced technology building in Mullingar.  However, IDA Ireland have informed me that they regularly engage with both current and prospective clients to encourage further investment in County Westmeath and the wider region. I understand that the Agency is also actively marketing its existing business...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (30 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Staffing levels of my Department, its Offices and Agencies reflect the requirement to manage the pay bill and staff numbers in accordance with Government pay policy with staff resources deployed in the most effective and efficient manner as appropriate to business needs and key priorities at any given time. An additional €3million was secured in respect of Pay in Budget 2017 and is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (30 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Staffing levels of my Department, its Offices and Agencies reflect the requirement to manage the pay bill and staff numbers in accordance with Government pay policy with staff resources deployed in the most effective and efficient manner as appropriate to business needs and key priorities at any given time. An additional €3million was secured in respect of Pay in Budget 2017 and is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Staff (30 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 257 together. Staffing levels of my Department, its Offices and Agencies reflect the requirement to manage the pay bill and staff numbers in accordance with Government pay policy with staff resources deployed in the most effective and efficient manner as appropriate to business needs and key priorities at any given time. An additional...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Council Meetings (30 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Given that Brexit is likely to represent a structural shift in the UK trading relations with partners, short, medium and long term responses are needed. These include market diversification, cost reduction, innovation and price repositioning. My Department, Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have measures in place to address these issues for client...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (30 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I have met representatives of companies, business organisations and other stakeholders throughout the country in recent months and to date none of them have indicated that they will move any of their operations to the UK as a result of the Brexit referendum in 2016. I am deeply engaged with my Department’s agencies - Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland - to ensure sufficient...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (29 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department remains focused on creating the most competitive environment for enterprise to succeed so that we can achieve our goal of sustainable employment for all. Working with our enterprise agencies and with colleagues across Government, we are committed to delivering a range of actions outlined in our National and Regional Action Plans for Jobs to ensure that quality and sustainable...