Results 541-560 of 40,856 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (23 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: It is understandable that businesses – particularly SMEs – are concerned about the impact of rising costs. While the Government is continuing to monitor the situation regarding the costs of doing business, no new measures are currently under consideration. Inflation in Ireland – although still elevated at 5.1 per cent in October – is generally declining. Recent...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Consultations (23 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: In June 2022, the Government reaffirmed its intention to participate in the Unitary Patent System and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and to hold a related referendum. An amendment to the Constitution is required before Ireland can ratify the Agreement on the UPC (UPCA), as the Agreement entails a transfer of jurisdiction from the Irish courts to an international court. The timing of the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Exports Growth (23 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: Enterprise Ireland, the state agency of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment responsible for helping Irish companies to enter and expand in international markets, saw exports by companies it supports increase by 19% to a record €32.1bn in 2022. This is the highest ever level of growth for Enterprise Ireland-backed companies in export value. Growth occurred across all...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Foreign Direct Investment (23 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: Ireland continues to be a location of choice for new investors and long-established companies who choose to reinvest in substantial expansions of their operations here. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) plays a significant role in Ireland’s economy and the flow of FDI into the country is strong. Numbers directly employed in the multinational sector in Ireland reached 301,475 at the end...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Inflation Rate (23 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: Many of the risks from inflation have been identified, or indeed have been realised, in particular those associated with energy costs. While the rate of inflation in these areas has declined in the past year, that is not to say that there is still not an ongoing significant cost to the Irish economy – as the level of energy prices remains higher than previously. Ultimately, the risk...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Creation (23 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department is acutely aware of the importance of innovation in the performance of Irish based firms and their capacity for growth, exports and job creation as reflected in the Enterprise Policy White Paper. Companies which invest in RD&I often achieve greater levels of growth, drive societal benefits, and produce solutions to global challenges such as climate change, sustainability,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Strategies (23 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department continues to monitor challenges to the manufacturing and services sectors of the economy. With an unemployment rate of 4.8% in September, the Irish economy has been operating at a level close to full employment for quite some time. The risks to employment will depend on the risks to the economy, more broadly. Added to this, Irish GDP grew by 13.6% in 2021, and 9.4% in 2022,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Strategies (23 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department continues to monitor risks to economic activity and employment for both the locally- traded and international sectors of the economy. With an unemployment rate of 4.8% in September, the Irish economy has been operating at a level close to full employment for quite some time. The risks to employment will depend on the risks to the economy, more broadly. Added to this, Irish GDP...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: There is an ongoing dialogue between my Department and management and unions at Tara Mines. Our objective is to get the mine open again and get people back working. A number of things need to be put in place before that can happen. The union leadership knows that and has been very responsible in how it has responded to the process so far. The situation is very difficult for the families...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: I assure the Deputy that I hear what he is saying. I spend a lot of time speaking to small businesses. That is my job. Even this morning, we were at a hub summit, which was about supporting, both financially and from a policy point of view, enterprise hubs around the country and helping small businesses to get on their feet and grow. We have never had more small businesses in the country....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: This is a Government that is pro-enterprise, pro-business, pro-start-ups, pro-enterpreneurship-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: -----and very conscious of the pressures that businesses face.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department is looking at ways in which we can respond to the court judgment from a legal perspective. It certainly is the intention of the Government to ratify CETA but we have to do it in a way that is consistent with the court judgment that has been made. We are considering that and taking advice on it as we speak.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (22 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will appreciate that these are operational matters for IDA Ireland and not ones for which I have a direct role in. IDA Ireland has informed my Department that it had successfully tendered for a part-time Israel-based Business Development Consultant during 2021 with the contract commencing in February 2022 and that this contract ended 12 months later, at the end of January 2023....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Official Engagements (21 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: I understand the Deputy is referring to multinational retailers which have headquarters in Ireland. IDA Ireland actively markets Ireland as an attractive investment location for Multi-National Companies (MNCs). In this regard, IDA Ireland’s 2021-24 strategy includes a focus on sustainable growth in all its forms, including the promotion of responsible and environmentally...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Cybersecurity Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: For operational and security reasons, public bodies are advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise cyber security measures in place in those bodies. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together. My Department has a range of contracts with external cyber security and related ICT firms which enable the provision of essential products and services required by the Department such as security advice, penetration testing, provision of security software and related services. My Department conducts ongoing security assessments and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Cybersecurity Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department adopts a defence in depth approach to cyber security. This approach uses multiple layers and disparate systems to deliver security which is not dependent on any single component. My department has several policies, plans and procedures in place to deal with significant cyber security and business continuity issues. Given the heightened level of risk, my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (21 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: One of the aims of the Growth pillar of IDA Ireland’s current strategy "Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth, 2021-2024", is to diversify its source markets for investment to enhance resilience of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Ireland. In this regard, IDA Ireland’s Growth Markets team continues to build awareness of Ireland’s value proposition in locations with...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together. My Department has not been involved in any exercise, operation, training or research which included an Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company. Furthermore, my Department does not hold any current...