Results 81-100 of 6,063 for speaker:Alan Dillon

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (25 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Employment Permits system is designed to be accessible to all non-EEA nationals, regardless of nationality, provided that the standard legislative requirements are met. These requirements include that the role in question is eligible under current policy, that a valid job offer has been secured from a prospective employer in the State, and that the application satisfies the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (24 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I can confirm that the roles of "wet trades" such as bricklaying, plastering, tiling, and painting/decorating are not listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL). However, this does not mean they are ineligible for an employment permit. These roles are eligible for a General Employment Permit (GEP). Where a role is not listed as an ineligible occupation on the Ineligible...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (24 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: Enterprise Ireland are in regular contact with the company in question regarding its operations in Ireland. While Enterprise Ireland are always keen to explore opportunities to support investment and employment, the details of any such discussions with individual client companies are commercially sensitive. I am therefore not in a position to comment on the specifics of any discussions with...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (24 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: Balanced regional enterprise development is a key focus for my Department and for the Government. I appreciate the important role of enterprise centres and remote working hubs throughout the country. They enable people to live and work in their local communities and provide a range of services to support companies and entrepreneurs to establish and grow their businesses. The Government has...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (24 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: Developing Ireland’s enterprise base remains a key focus for Government and my Department is committed to backing small businesses and start-ups, to help them to scale up and grow into exporting entities in every county across the country. The Programme for Government commits to ensuring Local Enterprise Offices are fully resourced to support local businesses. The importance of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (24 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: This Government is actively supporting food and drink manufacturers in County Meath to expand into export markets through a combination of funding, innovation support, infrastructure development, and ecosystem collaboration. My Department, through our agency Enterprise Ireland (EI), provides tailored supports for food and beverage companies, including export development funding, market...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (24 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: The employment permit scheme for the homecare sector was launched in January 2023, with an initial allocation of 1,000 General Employment Permits for care workers and home carers. In March 2025, in response to ongoing labour shortages, my department approved an additional 1,000 permits, bringing the total quota available to 2,000. Since the opening of the quota for the Homecare Sector in...

Energy Costs: Motion [Private Members] (23 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank all the Deputies for raising these important matters and allowing time to discuss them. I also welcome the opportunity to discuss the pressures Irish householders are facing as a result of high energy costs and the actions the Government is taking in response. The pressures placed on households and businesses by high energy costs remain a deep concern for the Government....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Public Procurement Contracts (23 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: In April 2024, the Department published Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027 to drive the implementation of green and circular procurement practices across the public sector. Key actions since publication include:The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published updated Green Public Procurement Guidance and Criteria sets, including a new Green...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (23 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: Producer Responsibility legislation is designed to ensure that producers of relevant goods contribute to the costs of collecting and recycling these goods when they are no longer in use. Ensuring all obligated producers pay their share is critical to the credibility and success of these schemes, known as Extended Producer Responsibility schemes (EPRs). In Ireland, the Environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Public Spending Code (23 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: In May 2009, Government Decision of 19 May 2009 put in place formal arrangements to reduce the payment period for Government Departments from 30 days to 15 calendar days. This Prompt Payment obligation was extended to the HSE, Local Authorities, State Agencies and all other public authorities (excluding commercial Semi-State bodies) in March 2011(Government Decision of 2 March 2011 and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Reports (23 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: In May 2009, Government Decision of 19 May 2009 put in place formal arrangements to reduce the payment period for Government Departments from 30 days to 15 calendar days. Since 2009 my Department on a quarterly basis compiles a consolidated report in respect of the payment performance of all Government Departments. These reports continue to be available on my Department’s website...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Relations (23 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity sets out 26 priority actions which are considered to be potentially transformative in tackling Ireland’s competitiveness challenge. The designation of ‘priority action’ within the Plan is focused on potential impact of the outcome of that action on Ireland’s competitiveness and productivity. The Action Plan on...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (23 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: Ireland operates a managed employment permits system, designed to maximise the benefits of economic migration while minimising disruption to Ireland’s labour market. The system is governed by the Employment Permits Act 2024, which provides the legislative framework for granting employment permits to non-EEA nationals seeking to work in Ireland. The case referred to in the details...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (18 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: 12 o’clock The SEAI has confirmed that it does not record applications that have been withdrawn. It only records them for homeowners who have agreed to proceed with the works through the one-stop shop. However, the SEAI has reported that over 3,500 homeowner efficiency assessments have been completed in 2025. That is the first step in the process. Approximately 44% of those...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (18 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: There has been strong demand. There were almost 70,000 applications in 2024. There have been over 40,000 so far this year. Through the national retrofit programme, we are seeing further capital funding under the national development plan. We will see an additional €264 million through the European regional development fund. Local authorities will also have an opportunity through...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (18 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Government is committed to continue delivery of the SEAI's residential and community energy upgrade scheme, which is central to achieving our national retrofit plan targets. This includes delivering more B2 home energy upgrades, revising and improving grants and financial models for homeowners, supporting group retrofits and area-based approach in enhancing energy efficiency to reduce...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Solar Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I absolutely share the Deputy's concerns about the high energy bills. That is why we want to ensure that equity is at the heart of our energy transition. The warmer homes scheme is designed to deliver maximum bill savings per euro spent for those most in need. Many of these homes, it is often said, could be cold, damp and poorly insulated. Basic installation can cut energy costs by up to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Solar Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: I can confirm to the House that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has written to the energy suppliers and is preparing to meet them over the coming weeks in regard to the challenges around costs. This Government is very much focused on responding through the warmer homes scheme. This year, we have increased the level of funding to €280 million to fully fund upgrades for those who are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Recycling Policy (18 Sep 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Deputy rightly asks the questions regarding the unredeemed deposits. I have outlined the reinvestment into the operational costs for setting up the DRS. I have also outlined-----