Results 341-360 of 4,421 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The data sets in question are not fully available in the manner requested by the Deputy. However, the following information represents the latest data available to my Department. The most comparable statistics available are those included in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring (GEM) Report. This report includes a statistic on “New business owners” which is broken down by...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: Ireland operates a managed employment permits system, maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The regime is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills or labour shortages in the State in the short to medium term. Details and information on the current guidelines and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Health and Safety Authority has sanction for 317 staffing positions, made up of those in administration and inspector grades. The inspector grades comprise of Grade I (senior inspectors) as well as Grade II and Grade III inspectors. Inspectors operate across all of the Health and Safety Authority’s broad mandates which include occupational health and safety, chemicals,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Small and Medium Enterprises (18 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: A number of weeks ago I was very lucky to meet the proprietors of Wholesome Kitchen in Mullingar when I visited the local enterprise office. Deputy Troy was on paternity leave at that time so we were not able to meet together. I know it is a wonderful business providing good employment. I can tell the Deputy it is good food as well because I was in a position to sample a bit. This is why...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Small and Medium Enterprises (18 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I am very grateful to the Deputy for raising what is an extremely topical issue. It gives me an opportunity to provide an update and some clarity on what has been done and is being done, and, more importantly, what will be done. Fundamentally, we recognise that small businesses are facing a number of acute challenges, particularly those businesses in the hospitality sector and others to...

Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (18 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann resolves that the Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021 [Seanad]be deemed to be read a second time this day twelve months, so as to allow sufficient time for the development of Government legislative proposals before the end of 2024, in line...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (18 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The purpose of the Emergency Humanitarian Flood Relief Scheme administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is to provide urgent funding to small businesses (up to 20 employees), community and voluntary organisations affected by flooding who were unable, through no fault of their own, to secure flood insurance.The Scheme provides a contribution towards the costs of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (18 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: This Government and my Department are fully committed in advancing the interests of SMEs in Ireland. The White Paper on Enterprise sets out an ambitious vision for Ireland’s enterprise policy, to protect Ireland’s strong economic position, and respond to challenges and opportunities that have emerged because of the pandemic, wider economic and geo-political developments,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (18 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that the application concerned in the details supplied was refused on 4th January 2024. An appeal against the refusal reasons in relation to this application has been received. The reviewing officer will be considering the appeal shortly and a decision will be forwarded to the applicant in due course.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: Beyond the Minister, Deputy Ryan, Deputy Matthews is the expert. As a rail engineer he spent 20 years working on the railways. I am sure there is a good reason there is a gap between arrival and deployment. There is a time delay and I will make sure the Minister, Deputy Ryan, tracks-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I am sure there is a version of spinning it around the showroom but I will make sure the Minister, Deputy Ryan, provides clarity there. Deputy Matthews spent ages on this tonight and he would have known for sure. I will not repeat and reiterate things that Deputy Ó Cuív knows better than I because he has been there and has seen what the Department of Transport has been doing in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: As the Deputy can understand, I cannot give specifics on the hoof on those schools in question but I will speak to the Minister in question and make sure that is communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible by the Department's team. The following alludes in some ways to the situation in Laois in particular. Laois is a county the Deputy will know better than me. Indeed, it is the Ceann...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank Deputy Ó Cuív sincerely for raising this important topic which, he will understand, I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ryan. I clarify, as the Deputy will be well aware, that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I genuinely and sincerely thank Deputy Stanley for raising this issue and laying out very considerably what is an extremely delicate matter - I think we both accept that - not just for the students in question but particularly their families, teachers and the wider school community. At the outset, with the Deputy's indulgence, I would like to lay out a little bit of the detail with regard...

Investment Funds Trading in the Residential Property Market: Motion [Private Members] (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "welcomes: — the introduction of measures in 2021 to disincentivise the bulk purchasing of new homes by investment funds, including a higher 10 per cent stamp rate for certain bulk purchases of residential properties and planning guidelines to restrict the bulk purchase...

Ráiteas mar Eolas do Vótálaithe i ndáil leis an mBille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: Tairiscint - Statement for Information of Voters in relation to the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Motion (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: Tairgim: GO ndéanfar an ráiteas atá leagtha amach sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Rún seo a fhorordú mar eolas do vótálaithe, de bhun alt 23 d'Acht an Reifrinn, 1994 (Uimh. 12 de 1994), i ndáil leis an togra chun an Bunreacht a leasú, atá ar áireamh sa Bhille um an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023, agus is...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Deputy for a very timely remark. The increased cost of business scheme will be paid out to all businesses that paid commercial rates last year of up to €30,000, with a maximum pay-out of €5,000. It will all be completed by the end of the first quarter in 2024. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is working with the Department of housing and local...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank Deputy Lowry. I confirm that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, has just left the House to attend a meeting with representatives of the hospitality sector to discuss what we accept are increasing costs. Many of these are down to market issues, be they energy or interest rates. We accept that correct Government decisions to increase the minimum wage...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: My Department is committed to sustainable economic development through the creation and maintenance of high-quality employment across all regions of our country. We champion enterprise and ensure a competitive business base to incentivise work, enterprise, innovation and investment. The Local Enterprise Offices can help seasonal businesses to identify and market their unique selling...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Wage-setting Mechanisms (17 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department, established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services. ...