Results 21-40 of 8,167 for speaker:Peter Burke

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tourism Schemes (10 Jun 2025)

Peter Burke: Tourism Ireland promotes regional air and sea access to Ireland in overseas tourism markets through initiatives like the Regional Cooperative Market Access Scheme, which seeks to encourage new access and maximise the potential of existing services to the regions, including with matched funding from airlines, sea carriers, airports, ports and regional tourism stakeholders including Local...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (10 Jun 2025)

Peter Burke: The sudden onset of widespread remote working during the pandemic has led to a broader acceptance by employers and workers of remote working as a viable long-term option, along with increased interest in flexible working arrangements and work life balance more broadly. Remote, hybrid and flexible working arrangements have become a new normal for many workers. The Government is committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tourism Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Peter Burke: The introduction of a visitor accommodation levy was proposed in Foundations for the Future (assets.gov.ie/static/documents/foundations-for-the-future-r eport-of-the-commission-on-taxation-and-welfare.pdf), the Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare published in September 2022 and, more recently, in Capital City (assets.gov.ie/static/documents/capital-city-dublin-city-tas...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (29 May 2025)

Peter Burke: In responding to this Parliamentary Question, the term "workforce" is interpreted to refer to the general labour force in Ireland, excluding staff employed by my Department or the agencies under its remit. Internal training initiatives are, therefore, considered outside the scope of this response. Ensuring that Irish enterprises have access to high-quality, adaptable and flexible talent is...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (29 May 2025)

Peter Burke: The Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) scheme and the Power Up grant paid out over €400 million to SMEs across the country in 2024. The ICOB grant was divided into two payments and paid out a total of €244 million to SMEs during 2024. The second ICOB payment specifically targeted businesses in the retail, hospitality and beauty sectors. The table below contains information...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (29 May 2025)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 324 together. [Attachment omitted]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (29 May 2025)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together. The Increased Cost of Business scheme and the Power Up grant successfully paid out over €400 million to SMEs across the country in 2024. The Power Up grant specifically targeted businesses in the hospitality, retail and beauty sectors and €158.7 million was paid in grants to over 39,000 businesses. The attached...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (29 May 2025)

Peter Burke: The Innovation Voucher Programme is funded by my Department under the Science and Technology Programme, through Enterprise Ireland. The Innovation Voucher Programme is designed to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers (higher education institutions and research performing bodies) and small businesses and help to create a cultural shift in the small business community's...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (29 May 2025)

Peter Burke: The ICT Unit of my Department has informed me that the total capital investment in compute and data infrastructure, which includes server and network hardware used to deliver ICT services to the public and staff in my Department; and PC's, Laptops, tablets, printers etc. used directly by staff in my Department in the performance of their duties is as follows: Year Amount...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (29 May 2025)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 332 together. The Innovation Voucher Programme is funded by my Department, though Enterprise Ireland. The current Innovation Voucher which doubled from €5,000 to €10,000 last year is a key measure to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers (higher education institutions and research performing bodies) and small...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (29 May 2025)

Peter Burke: I am aware of the findings of the ESRI SME Investment Report 2024: Developments Between 2016 and 2023, which highlight a reduction in climate and energy efficiency related investments by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in those years. The findings are, of course, concerning as it is essential that small and medium-sized businesses are supported and encouraged to become more energy...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Living Wage (29 May 2025)

Peter Burke: The Central Statistics Office advises that, as per the Labour Force Survey, in 2024 there were 157,100 employees, who reported that they earned the National Minimum Wage, with a further 38,200 employees, reporting that they earned less than the National Minimum Wage. Based on this, a total of 195,300 employees reported that they earned the National Minimum Wage or less. Employees can earn...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Living Wage (29 May 2025)

Peter Burke: The Government is committed to fair wages. The recent substantial increases in the National Minimum Wage have been ahead of inflation and have brought about real wage increases for lower-paid workers. These increases demonstrate our commitment to fair wages. I fully expect the National Minimum Wage to increase in the coming years. I want to ensure that it increases in a sustainable way...

Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (28 May 2025)

Peter Burke: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Bill makes changes to the insolvency payments scheme. This scheme fulfils a vital function. It protects workers in the event of their employer's insolvency. It covers certain pay and pension-related entitlements...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements (28 May 2025)

Peter Burke: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Members for the opportunity to address the House on the important issue of Ireland's international competitiveness and, in particular, on the approach by the Government to strengthen Ireland's competitiveness and productivity performance. This is my first time addressing the Seanad during this Dáil term and I look forward to working with all...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements (28 May 2025)

Peter Burke: I thank all nine Senators for their contributions. I appreciate the eight areas Senator Nelson Murray focused on in her contribution. She quite rightly pointed out we have a significant employment in our economy. At this point in time, we have put an additional 90,000 jobs into the economy in the past year. That is and additional 90,000 families with an income. We are trying to improve...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Priorities (28 May 2025)

Peter Burke: An assessment of the yearly cost of a new public holiday was conducted by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection as part of a broader report on the ‘Cumulative Impact of Changes to Working Conditions’ published in 2024. As there is limited historical information on the impact of an extra public holiday within an...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (28 May 2025)

Peter Burke: The funding provision to Enterprise Ireland covers two subheads on the Department’s Vote, Subheads A7 and B4, which span general supports to indigenous firms and for research and development/innovation supports. My Department has allocated a total of €383.639 million in respect of these subheads in 2025. The cost of increases of 5%, 10%, 20%, 25% and 50% are set out in the table...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (28 May 2025)

Peter Burke: IDA Ireland received an additional €15.5 million amounting to €283,083m in funding for 2025 in recognition of the increasing competition internationally for FDI. In that regard, IDA Ireland continues to target significant FDI investment in 2025, with a focus on Research Development and Innovation, Sustainability and Digitalisation. The additional funding will help IDA to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (28 May 2025)

Peter Burke: InterTradeIreland is funded jointly by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Ireland and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, with a budget allocation of €12.57m in 2025. The estimated cost of increasing InterTradeIreland funding by 5%, 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%, in set out in the table below. Percentage increase Total - Euros ...