Results 681-700 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: We hope we will be able to support many of those kinds of companies in moving to new digital platforms and new online sales processes. These are the kinds of things for which we can potentially give grant aid. In the latest round of the online retail scheme, 98 retailers received €2.3 million in funding, with 79% of successful applicant companies based outside of Dublin. There are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Market (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I will set out changes that we have made in response to some of the pressures the Deputy outlined. For example, the quota restriction on permits for bricklayers and plasterers, which was first introduced as part of a package in 2019, was eliminated in June 2022, giving those occupations unrestricted access to the general employment permit system. In October of the previous year, a package...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Market (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I do not have a recommendation on my desk yet, but when I do, we will take decisions quickly because many businesses are waiting on them.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Market (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Minister, Deputy Harris, is doing a great deal of work on apprenticeships and dramatically increasing numbers, but the Deputy is right in that there are certain trades where the numbers are not increasing to the extent required. We need to examine how to achieve that. We believe there will be an extra 9,000 apprentices this year. That was the target for the end of 2025 but will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Work Permits (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: With respect, it is not the Deputy's office that will turn them around, it is the work permits system. Of course, any Deputy's office has the right to ask questions as to the status of the applications. Last year, this took months; it now takes a short number of weeks. There may be problems with individual applications. It may be the case that some work permits need extra consideration,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Work Permits (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for responding in a constructive way. It is not straightforward to streamline a work permits process and a visa process. What the Department of Justice has to do around visas in terms of security checks and so on can be quite complicated and time consuming. It relies on authorities in the countries people come from and, therefore, it does not always control the timelines...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Labour Market (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: We are in the process of looking at that right now. The construction sector has been the subject of reviews in recent years. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is part of the discussions with my Department to try to get right the critical skills list, which is about to be updated. We have taken the view that many of the skills in construction, from engineering to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Work Permits (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: 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. In framing policy, consideration is given to other...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy O’Reilly for raising this issue. Increased female participation in our workforce is vital for our economy and, in the interests of our society, we need to ensure women can realise their full entrepreneurial potential. This is an issue on which the Government is focused. In fact, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, as late as last week, met an organisation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I have no problem trying to collate more data and publishing it. The motivation here is probably the same on this side of the House as on the Deputy's. I have met a number of groups that are specifically focused on providing more angel funding, for example, through female angel funders, and more venture capital, VC, for women founders. I have met a number of women in business groups to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure what the Deputy means by saying it is a sad day when the US is leading. The US leads in many areas. We try to lead in many areas too. Clearly, this is an area where we have made significant improvements but we are not where we need to be. That is why we need to encourage more young girls as well as women into tech and tech-based subjects through education. There are a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Corporate Governance (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I recognise the importance of businesses having a focus on human rights. It is now expected by society that businesses consider how their operations can impact on human rights. Businesses have reacted well since Ireland launched its first National Plan on Business and Human Rights (2017 -2020) towards the end of 2017. Ireland became the 19th state in the world to develop a National Plan....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to facilitating remote and flexible working in a way which maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. The expansion of remote and hybrid working in recent years has significant potential to help create a more inclusive labour market, to widen access to talent for employers and to improve regional balance in the economy, including the Border region. I...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: Since 2017, Enterprise Ireland on behalf of government has administered a number of successful schemes supporting the expansion of our regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. To date over a €130m has been invested, resulting in a network of EI supported projects, in such sectors as agri-food, food-innovation, digital innovation, entrepreneurship, energy and the bioeconomy. EI is committed...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I am very aware of the challenges that SMEs, in particular those operating in certain sectors, continue to face due to the cost of living, crisis. That is why the Government in budget 2024 has announced a package for business owners. For example, we are introducing the Increased Cost of Business Scheme (ICOB) which will benefit up to 130,000 Small and Medium enterprises. The aim of the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The tech sector plays a pivotal role to the Irish economy, with 320 IDA client companies in the sector employing over 64,000 people. I regularly engage with tech companies through my own office and through officials in my Department and our agencies. IDA Ireland has strong engagement with its technology client base to actively support clients through new mandates, expansions,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Energy Prices (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I and my Department are extremely conscious of the cost pressures and competitiveness challenges facing businesses as a result of high energy prices. The Government has been consistent in its focus on mitigating the worst of these impacts for businesses in the short term, while investing in the long-term resilience and sustainability of our energy system so that we are not so exposed in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, along with its enterprise agencies, works closely with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the availability across the economy of relevant talent and skills, which are key enablers of enterprise productivity and innovation. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Film Industry (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: On the 12 November 2021, Directive (EU) 2019/790 was transposed into Irish law by way of S.I. No. 567/2021 - European Union (Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market) Regulations 2021. The Regulations strengthen the rights and protections of right holders in order to reflect the impact of technological advances and increased digitalisation. The Regulations also provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Policies (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Climate Action Plan sets out a Public Service Mandate under which public bodies are required to adhere to and report on under four headings; our targets, our people, our way of working and our buildings & vehicles. In accordance with the Public Service Mandate my Department published its Climate Action Roadmap 2023 in September 2023. The Roadmap sets out how the Department...