Results 701-720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 61 together. IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme aims to ensure the supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices and is a significant driver of regional economic development and job creation. Under...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 66 together. I published a progress report on our National AI Strategy - "AI - Here for Good" on 9 August 2023, the overarching aim of which is to drive the development and deployment of human centred, ethical, trustworthy AI tools. The Progress Report highlighted many of the achievements so far. These include the appointment of an AI...

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

Simon Coveney: It is a matter for the Deputy to progress this Private Members Bill. At the Second Stage debate on the Bill, the former Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail outlined my Department's concerns in relation to the proposed Bill and these concerns remain. To ensure that the views of all stakeholders were considered in relation to this issue, the Department ran a...

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

Simon Coveney: I am very aware of the challenges that continue to face businesses due to the cost of living, crisis. That is why the Government in budget 2024 has announced a package for business owners. As a Government, we have supported businesses with targeted interventions and supports, particularly through the extraordinary challenges of recent years. I recognise though that those challenges...

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

Simon Coveney: Budget 2024 backed businesses, in particular SMEs, in the face of ongoing challenges. There were a number of measures introduced that will support businesses in every city, region, town and village in Ireland. My Department has received sanction for a €250m Increased Cost of Business Scheme. The grant will be paid to SMEs who pay commercial rates to their local authorities. The...

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

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

Simon Coveney: Reform of the insurance sector through the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) has been a priority for me since my appointment as Minister. The focus for government remains to reduce the costs of personal injury claims and facilitate reductions in insurance premiums while ensuring that claims are efficiently and successfully resolved for those deserving. The Personal Injuries...

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

Simon Coveney: The Business Users Support Scheme for Kerosene was launched on the 6th September and will remain open for applications until the 31st October. This Scheme was developed on foot of feedback from businesses who felt it was necessary. The application process is straightforward and takes around half an hour to complete. Full details of how to apply are available online at bussk.ie. The scheme...

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

Simon Coveney: IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme aims to ensure the supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices and is a significant driver of regional economic development and job creation. A robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be a key...

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

Simon Coveney: I welcome the recent publication of Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2023 by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council. The Council continues to focus on key competitiveness and productivity issues facing the Irish economy and the report makes recommendations on policy actions required to enhance Ireland’s competitiveness position. The report acknowledges...

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

Simon Coveney: Small and Medium Enterprises are vital to the local economies in our regions, towns and villages. Recognising this and to ensure that our priorities of digitalisation and decarbonisation can continue to be addressed, the Local Enterprise Offices have been allocated an additional €9m in capital funding under Budget 2024. This represents a significant increase on the funding and...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 58 together. This has been a challenging year for firms as they grapple with the effects of global inflationary pressures and supply chain disruption. As a small, open trading economy Ireland is exposed to global inflationary pressures, including fluctuations on international markets for energy, commodities and food. Ireland is effectively a price taker...

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

Simon Coveney: IDA Ireland has been working closely with Roche since their decision to close the Clarecastle facility in 2015. IDA Ireland had actively marketed the site through its extensive overseas network to both existing and new investors as a going concern which unfortunately yielded no offers. On 26th July 2023 Roche held an event attended by stakeholders, including IDA and Enterprise Ireland,...

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

Simon Coveney: The first meeting of the newly established Responsible Business Forum took place on Wednesday 27thSeptember. This Forum is chaired by my colleague Minister Dara Calleary, with participation from various business representative bodies across different sectors. The aim of the Forum is to provide a platform to discuss responsible business initiatives that are within the remit of my Department....

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

Simon Coveney: The Local Enterprise Office in Louth contributes to several economic development projects within the county including Drogheda Digital Innovation Hub, which was approved €587,747 grant support under the Border Enterprise Development Fund to encourage high-potential future oriented tech projects seeking to start and grow and the M1 Corridor marketing initiative which promotes the region...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: An Teanga Gaeilge (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: De ghnáth is faoi shainchúram na Roinne Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán a thagann an fhreagracht as pacáistiú dátheangach. Tá tiomantas i Straitéis 20 bliain an Rialtais don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 scrúdú a dhéanamh ar an bhféidearthacht cód deonach a thabhairt isteach maidir le...

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

Simon Coveney: Enterprise Ireland collects employment data from its clients on an annual basis through its Annual Employment Survey, which is carried out over October/November. Therefore it is not possible to give employment updates on a monthly or quarterly basis. The table below provides the most recent employment performance for the relevant counties for 2022: - Net Job Gains 2021* ...

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

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, in 2021 the Government asked the Low Pay Commission to examine and provide recommendations on the introduction of a living wage. The Low Pay Commission’s recommendations were received last year and in November, Government agreed that a national living wage would be introduced and set at 60% of hourly median wages in line with the recommendations of the Low...

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

Simon Coveney: Our national digital strategy, Harnessing Digital, was published in February 2022 and reflects Ireland’s ambition to remain a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments. Our National Digital Strategy sets out a roadmap to drive and enable the digital transition across Enterprise; Infrastructure; Skills; and Public Services, in line with the EU’s...

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

Simon Coveney: A LEEF Subgroup has been established, under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Employment, Retail and Retail, to discuss in detail the recommendations contained in the LEEF Final Report on Collective Bargaining. This Group met at the end of June, and another meeting is being scheduled for the coming weeks. ICTU and Ibec are represented on the Group. In September, ahead of the last...