Results 321-340 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (25 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: On the 14th June 2024, I confirmed that I intend to sign a new Employment Regulation Order for the security industry.The Order for the new ERO will commence on 1 July 2024 and will provide for a new minimum rate of pay of €14.50 per hour for workers in the sector from that date onwards. It is applicable to all workers in the specified sector. Employers are obliged to pay wage rates...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (25 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Employment Permits Bill 2022 has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and will be signed into law in the coming weeks. The Bill represents the biggest reform to employment permits legislation since the 2006 Act and will result in many positive changes to Ireland’s economic migration policy. The improvements in the Bill will allow for a more flexible employment permits...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (25 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: The company in question is at an early stage of development and is being supported by Enterprise Ireland (EI) to explore business opportunities in the nutritional powders market. Enterprise Ireland has ongoing contact with the company in this regard.I understand that the process to allow for the commencement of production at the factory is progressing. There are currently a small number of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (20 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play an extremely important role at local level, as part of a supportive ecosystem, providing their services direct to small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship within towns and communities across the country. They are the first stop shop for every business in the country and provide a signposting service for all government supports available to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Policies (20 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that all Non-EEA spouses or partners of Irish/EEA nationals who accompany their Irish/EEA spouse or partner to work and reside in Ireland should seek permission from the Department of Justice to enter and reside in the State. Non-EEA spouses or partners of Irish/EEA nationals who are intending to work and reside in Ireland and who...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (20 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: On 11th March 2024, Ministers at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) confirmed the provisional agreement reached on 8 February 2024 between the Council’s presidency and the European Parliament’s negotiators on the Directive. Ireland supported the proposal for agreement. The text of the agreement must now be formally adopted by both...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (20 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: On 11th March 2024, Ministers at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) confirmed the provisional agreement reached on 8 February 2024 between the Council’s presidency and the European Parliament’s negotiators on the Directive. Ireland supported the proposal for agreement. The text of the agreement must now be formally adopted by both...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (20 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: On 11th March 2024, Ministers at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) confirmed the provisional agreement reached on 8 February 2024 between the Council’s presidency and the European Parliament’s negotiators on the Directive. Ireland supported the proposal for agreement. The agreed Directive text strikes a balance between respecting...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (20 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the European Union was published on 19th October 2022 and must be transposed into Irish law by 15th November 2024. The Directive aims to ensure that workers across the European Union are protected by adequate minimum wages allowing for a decent living wherever they work. Article 4 of the Directive, Promotion of Collective Bargaining on Wage Setting...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (20 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages in the European Union was published on 19th October 2022 and must be transposed into Irish law by 15th November 2024. The Directive aims to ensure that workers across the European Union are protected by adequate minimum wages allowing for a decent living wherever they work. Article 4 of the Directive, Promotion of Collective Bargaining on Wage Setting...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (20 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that currently no new or renewal Employment Permit application for the person concerned in the details supplied has been received. I am also informed that the Critical Skills Employment Permit that issued to the person concerned in the details supplied is due to expire on 29th June 2024. Therefore, the person concerned will no...

Employment Permits Bill 2022: From the Seanad (19 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and Deputies for their collaboration and contributions to the Bill. It is a really important Bill and will bring benefits for economic migrants and employers. I very much appreciate the rich discussions that happened in both this House and the Seanad and in committee. This Bill represents the biggest reform to employment permits legislation since the...

Employment Permits Bill 2022: From the Seanad (19 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: My officials have actively engaged with officials in the Department of Health to ensure the proposed definition and the associated provisions will allow for a more efficient procedure for these critically important workers. My officials have also worked closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to ensure that the provisions will be fully operational and appropriate to the needs of...

Employment Permits Bill 2022: From the Seanad (19 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: These are all technical amendments to address minor grammatical and typographical corrections. I can go through them individually if required.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: From the Seanad (19 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: This technical amendment adjusts section 8 regarding the non-application of section 7 to certain foreign nationals. Its purpose is to ensure that applicants or those who have been granted status within the meaning of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018) can directly access the labour market without a requirement to hold an employment permit...

Employment Permits Bill 2022: From the Seanad (19 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: This amendment also adjusts section 8 on the non-application of section 7 to certain foreign nationals by amending subsection (1)(f) to ensure that family members of officials of international organisations assigned to work in the State under the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967 and the amending Act of 2017 are exempt from the requirements of the employment permits legislation....

Employment Permits Bill 2022: From the Seanad (19 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: This is a technical amendment to adjust the meaning of section 8(2), amending the definitions for the types of arrangements and officials included under this provision. It will ensure that reciprocal international agreements with other state and memorandums of understanding or co-operation agreements with international organisations are included in this Bill.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: From the Seanad (19 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: These are technical amendments which include textual changes and changes to cross-referencing. Amendments Nos. 24 to 26, inclusive, will amend section 39 on additional grounds for refusing renewals of employment permits. These amendments will include reference to section 31, which relates to non-consultant hospital doctors under the powers for the Minister to consider refusing the renewal...

Employment Permits Bill 2022: From the Seanad (19 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: I am pleased to have the opportunity to present these final technical amendments to the Bill for the Dáil's consideration. I thank my predecessors, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, and Deputy English for their work on this important legislation. I also thank Deputies and Senators for their engagement. I acknowledge the presence in the Public Gallery of Migrants Rights Council...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (Resumed) (19 Jun 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank the Minister, Deputy McEntee, for enabling this really important debate. I know how hard she and her officials have worked on this issue and how many hours she spent speaking with stakeholders both at an EU level and here in Ireland. I know that this pact has Ireland's best interests in mind. That is because Ireland helped to negotiate it. We are all aware of the change and...