Results 741-760 of 4,708 for speaker:Neale Richmond

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...

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

Neale Richmond: I share Deputy Durkan's frustration about the removal of the ATM from this campus. We both brought it up at a finance committee meeting over MS Teams when that was how we did committee meetings. Thankfully, those days are gone.

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

Neale Richmond: Regarding the matter raised by the Deputy, first and foremost the Government would encourage any person who has experienced a repayment difficulty or has any other genuine concern about their mortgage to contact their mortgage creditor to discuss the matter in the first instance. Of course, it is also essential that the Central Bank-regulated entities, irrespective of whether they are banks,...

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

Neale Richmond: Yes.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Business Supports (26 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Deputy for the tone of the debate and indeed for the constructive proposal. It is constructive, but it will require quite a bit of reflection from the Government in relation to the abolition of PRSI for lower-paid workers. It would come at a cost, today as well as in the future, and we have to bear that in mind. I will bring it to the attention of both the Minister for Social...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Business Supports (26 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: I am grateful to the Deputy for raising this important matter and for his consistent advocacy on behalf of businesses throughout Ireland, but particularly in his home town and his home county of Longford. I empathise with many of the points he has made on behalf of the local business person in Longford. There are a few points to address. The first relates specifically to the increased cost...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (26 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this matter in the House. It is always a pleasure to come back. As the Senator will be aware, the increased cost of business scheme is worth €250 million. Not a single cent will be required from local authorities, or indeed the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to administer it. The fund has been generated by the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (26 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: We have looked at the data and the vast majority of the 13% of businesses are large multinationals making large profits. The scheme is targeted at small and medium enterprises, most of which have greater exposure for a number of reasons. These include the fact that they are commercial ratepayers and there has been a rate revaluation in the past couple of years in pretty much every local...