Results 741-760 of 4,715 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: The conditions governing the eligibility requirements for family reunification and spouses and/or dependents of employment permit holders are a matter for the Minister for Justice. The Department of Justice policy requires that the sponsor permit holder demonstrate their capacity to provide for their family member(s) if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland. The policy sets...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: Currently Ireland has a clear division between economic migration and general immigration policies. The holder of an employment permit must undergo separate application processes with the Department of Justice for immigration and visa permission to enter the State if the individual is a citizen of a visa-required country. Since my last response to the Deputy on this matter, I can confirm...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Measures (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Organisation of Working Time Act (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021 is a Private Members' Bill that proposes a period of paid leave following a miscarriage or for the purposes of availing of reproductive healthcare. The Bill was last debated at Committee (Third) Stage of the Seanad on 20 January 2022. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Redundancy Payments (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: Section 12 of the Protection of Employment Act 1977 provides that employers proposing a collective redundancy must notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of the proposed collective redundancy. Collective redundancies arise where, during any period of 30 consecutive days, the employees being made redundant are:5 employees where 21-49 are employed,10 employees where 50-99 are...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Redundancy Payments (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Protection of Employment Act 1977, as amended, imposes certain legal obligations on employers proposing collective redundancies. The Act defines a collective redundancy as where, during any period of 30 consecutive days, the employees being made redundant are: 5 employees where 21-49 are employed,10 employees where 50-99 are employed, 10% of the employees where 100-299 are employed, 30...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Creation (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: Enterprise Ireland (EI) compile annual employment figures based on their client company data and release these as part of the EI End of Year Statement in early Quarter 1 of the following year. Prior to 2017, EI accounted for permanent full-time jobs only. Figures for 2017 to 2022 include total jobs created. The table below shows all relevant EI job creation figures per county for the years...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Losses (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: Enterprise Ireland (EI) compile annual employment figures based on their client company data and release this as part of the EI End of Year Statement in early Quarter 1 of the following year. Prior to 2017, EI accounted for full-time job losses only. Figures for 2017 to 2022 include total job losses. The table below shows all relevant job losses per county for the years 2016 to 2022. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: Ireland’s economic migration policy facilitates the entry, in the short to medium term, of non-EEA nationals to fill skills gaps in economically strategic sectors. In framing policy, consideration is given to other instruments that are also available in meeting skills shortages challenges, such as upskilling and activating the unemployed. The Employment Permits Section of my...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: Under the Housing for All plan, my Department is working to promote innovation and increased productivity in the residential construction sector, including the more widespread adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). To promote research and development and disseminate the best and most relevant innovations to the players in the construction value-chain in Ireland, my Department with...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine leads Government policy for the agri-food sector and has responsibility for undertaking the strategic review of the labour needs of the meat processing industry. Officials of my Department are actively engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to progress work on the review and I understand that terms of reference for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 419 together. The right to request remote working will be available to all employees under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. Under the Act, flexible working arrangements such as adjusted working patterns or reduced hours, will be available to parents and carers. One Code of Practice will now be developed which will provide...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Food Industry (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: I chair the Retail Forum, which provides a platform for engagement with members of the retail sector to discuss issues affecting the sector. The matters raised have not been discussed at recent Retail Forum meetings. Information about the Retail Forum, including membership and meeting minutes, can be found on my Department’s website. Neither I, nor Ministers Coveney or Calleary have...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Process (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Private Members Bill on Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) is sponsored by Deputies Bríd Smith, Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett and Gino Kenny. It is a matter for the Deputies to progress the Bill. The Joint Committee on Enterprise Trade and Employment met in public session on the 25 January 2023 to discuss detailed scrutiny of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: In 2018 government agreed (Government Decision S180/20/10/1272C of 27 November 2018) that the then Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation would undertake responsibility for the management of a standing Scheme to implement an emergency humanitarian financial grant Scheme for small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting bodies which have been unable to secure flood insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: Increased female participation in our workforce is vital for our economy and in the interests of our society we need to ensure that women can realise their full entrepreneurial potential. For anyone who is considering starting their own business, regardless of the sector they are operating in, I would encourage them to seek the advice and support of their Local Enterprise Office (LEO). ...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Educational Disadvantage (26 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: Of course, I can imagine that. Everyone in this House deals with these issues every day and I have nothing but empathy and sympathy for principals, staff members, the schoolgoing children and their families and, indeed, the Deputy and his staff, who have to deal with this matter. That is why I will undertake to bring this to both the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (26 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: When it came to choosing a career in politics, I do not know if blood pressure or my front teeth were more at risk but, hopefully, neither of them are. I am sure we share this sentiment across the House. I appreciate the clarity and sincerity the Deputy brought to this debate. Being a Minister of State with responsibility for business, I know this is key for attracting inward investment...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Educational Disadvantage (26 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: I am very grateful to the Deputy for raising this case of Scoil Bhríde Lann Léire in Dunleer. I appreciate his consistent advocacy on behalf of this school and the town of Dunleer. The Department of Education provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (26 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: I will pass on the Deputy's frustrations to the relevant Ministers in the relevant Department. Having been that soldier for long enough, I know how it feels. I will do my best to give the reply justice. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I agree with him that this is an excellent report. It arrived on my desk because it relates directly to my role in the Department of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Financial Services (26 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: I am very grateful to Deputy Durkan for raising this matter and bringing it to my attention and the attention of the line Ministers responsible. As the Deputy will know, the Government is acutely aware of the pressure that the rising interest rate environment may have on borrowers. In light of this, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, convened a meeting with lenders that are...