Results 881-900 of 4,715 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Local Enterprise Office Green for Micro programme is a free programme that assists micro enterprises by providing access to two days of intensive mentoring including a sustainability audit and action plan. This programme will help businesses in preparing for the low carbon, more resource efficient economy of the future, helping them to take the first step towards becoming more...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Green Start Programme is currently a component offer of the Green Transition Fund (GTF). The GTF is funded through the EU's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) on a multi-annual basis . A total funding requirement of €55 million has been allocated through 2022 – 2026 under my Department's estimates and in accordance with the National Development Plan. From the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Official Engagements (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: Over the past 24 months, a number of meetings as set out below, have been held on the Platform Workers Directive. The then Minister of State Damien English met with officials from Deliveroo in October 2021 – in relation to enhanced benefits for their delivery riders.The then Tánaiste Leo Varadkar met with officials from Deliveroo in November 2021 – in relation to enhanced...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Official Engagements (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: A meeting took place on 9thMarch 2021 between the then Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Department officials with trade union officials from SIPTU. This meeting was regarding the general working conditions of delivery drivers not specifically regarding the EU Platform Workers Directive. A further meeting took place between the then Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Department officials and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Disputes (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: At the outset, I must emphasise I, as Minister, cannot intervene in industrial relations disputes. Ireland’s system of Industrial Relations is based on voluntarism and while the right of workers to form associations and join a trade union is enshrined in Article 40 of the Irish Constitution, there is no obligation on employers to recognise any trade union for the purposes of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Redundancy Payments (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: By law, It is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy to eligible workers. Up to 2011, the Redundancy Payments Scheme provided a rebate of 60% to employers who made statutory redundancy payments to their employees. The Government first reduced, then abolished, the rebate in Budgets 2012 and 2013 for a number of reasons. The rebate was paid to employers regardless...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equality Issues (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function, and I have no direct involvement in its day-to-day operations. However, I am informed of the following. Disability discrimination cases typically come before an Adjudication Officer under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015, which prohibit discrimination in the workplace and in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equality Issues (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: Any allegation that adjudication officers are not adhering to the fundamental principles of natural and Constitutional Justice is a matter for the High Court. Adjudications hearings are, in the main, public and written decisions issue in each case. Parties are entitled to a de novo hearing on Appeal. Adjudication officers are independent in the performance of their functions.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: Ireland’s employment permits system is managed through the operation of two occupations lists. The Critical Skills Occupations List prioritises specified in-demand professional roles, and the Ineligible Occupations List identifies occupations for which a labour supply should be available in the Irish/EEA labour market and as such are ineligible for consideration for an employment...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: European Union (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: In June 2022, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to participate in the Unitary Patent System and the Unified Patent Court, and to hold the necessary constitutional referendum to enable Ireland to do so. My Department officials are currently advancing preparations for the constitutional referendum which will enable the transfer of jurisdictional powers from Irish Courts to the new...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Revenue Commissioners (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The cost of energy is a major factor in the operation of most businesses. The impact of the very significant price increases experienced by businesses in 2022 and 2023, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was mitigated by the introduction of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme to support companies dealing with increases in the price of metered electricity and natural gas. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: European Union (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Unified Patent Court (UPC) commenced operations on 1 June 2023. Ireland was represented by senior officials at several inaugural events, with Minister of State Neale Richmond representing the Government at the inaugural event of the Court in Luxembourg on 30th May. The Unified Patent protection and the Unified Patent Court promises considerable benefits for entrepreneurs, businesses, and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Relations (11 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: At the outset, I must emphasise that the responsibility for the resolution of an employment law dispute is a matter for the WRC's adjudication service. I have no role in the administration of justice. Under Irish law, an individual has the right to join a trade union of their choice. The Unfair Dismissal Acts 1977-2016 provide for a number of grounds under which a dismissal may be...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (6 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: A Review of Economic Migration Policy undertaken in 2018 concluded that while the employment permits system provides a robust framework to supplement skills and labour needs in the State, the current legislation imposes inflexibility in its operation. In order to increase the agility and responsiveness of the system, the Review recommended that new legislation be initiated. The 2018...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (6 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: I wish to advise the Deputy that occupations included on the Critical Skills Occupations List are not subject to quota limits. Following constructive engagement with the Department of Health, the occupation of physiotherapist was added to the Critical Skills Occupations List in June 2022. This change provides priority access to Ireland’s labour market by way of the Critical Skills...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (6 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: A proposal for a Directive on improving working conditions in platform work includes, among other things, measures to determine the employment status of people working through digital labour platforms and new rights for both workers and self-employed people regarding algorithmic management. It provides for a rebuttable legal presumption which is to be applied in proceedings where the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Promotion (5 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: Enterprise Ireland officially opened a Montréal office in November 2021 as part of the Government’s first post Covid trade visit to Canada and US. There is a team of six market advisers dedicated to the support of client companies targeting the Canadian market, working in close collaboration with Team Ireland. The Toronto and Montréal offices cover the entirety of Canada,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (4 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: At the outset, I must emphasise that the responsibility for the resolution of an employment law dispute is a matter for the WRC's adjudication service. I have no role in the administration of justice. Under Irish law, an individual has the right to join a trade union of their choice. The Unfair Dismissal Acts 1977-2016 provide for a number of grounds under which a dismissal may be...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Relations (4 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function, and I have no direct involvement in its day-to-day operations. However, I am informed of the following. Disability discrimination cases typically come before an Adjudication Officer under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015, which prohibit discrimination in the workplace and in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (4 Jul 2023)

Neale Richmond: On 3 August 2022, the former Minister of State for Employment Affairs, Business and Retail announced an intention to issue an Order to give effect to a statutory recommendation of the Labour Court concerning minimum rates of remuneration and other terms and conditions in the Security Sector. The Order was to apply from 29 August 2022. On 24 August 2022, my Department was informed that...