Results 1,041-1,060 of 4,715 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Workplace Relations Commission (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: I thank Deputy O'Reilly for raising this issue as well as for her engagement in committee on this issue. As we saw with the recent introduction of an SEO for the construction sector, these are important tools for our workers and must be enforced. It is the role of the WRC to inspect and I am open to further considering its role and powers to ensure SEO minimum rates of pay and terms and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: Regional development is at the centre of the Government's enterprise policy, as set out in the White Paper on enterprise, and it is the key focus of our Department's leadership of the regional enterprise plans. Similarly, the IDA’s strategy, Driving Recovery and Sustainability 2021-2024, has an ambitious target of 800 investments over the lifetime of its current strategy, and it will...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: My Department, in common with the Civil Service and public sector generally, provides a wide array of flexible working arrangements including reduced working time. I understand that the Deputy is referring to recent initiatives built around working a four-day week for 100% of pay and no loss in productivity. This type of working arrangement has not been introduced in my Department or...

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

Neale Richmond: Contractual terms of employment are a matter for agreement between the parties to the contract. Whilst it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the particulars of proposed changes to employment contracts within a company, I would note that any alterations must comply with our existing suite of employment legislation including the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Payment of Wages...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: My Department and its Agencies operate a comprehensive suite of measures and supports to nurture all start-ups, including digital start-ups. The Seed and Venture Capital Scheme, operated by Enterprise Ireland, has been a key driver of the development of an equity funding ecosystem for startups in Ireland. The Scheme provides essential finance and assistance to early-stage companies. Since...

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

Neale Richmond: The first table below sets out the number of employment permits applications that have been issued and refused to date in 2023 in respect of non-EEA home care workers since the changes announced in December 2022. The second table below provides the approximate number of applications currently awaiting processing in this category. As these applications have yet to be processed and assigned an...

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

Neale Richmond: The number of employment permit applications submitted to my Department increased significantly from 16,449 in 2020, to 27,719 in 2021 and further to 35,606 in 2022 which resulted in a backlog in applications. The Department developed a plan of action to reduce this backlog and employment permit processing times. Following the successful implementation of the plan, the Employment Permits...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Exports Growth (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: Ireland’s position as a small economy means that it is essential for our economic resilience that Irish enterprises realise opportunities in global markets. As an agency of my Department, Enterprise Ireland (EI) is responsible for helping prospective and emerging exporters to build company scale and expand their reach. In line with the Government’s White Paper on...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Food Industry (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: Deputy my officials have informed me that China reported in January 2023 that its population had fallen for the first time in 60 years. The country's strict one-child policy which was implemented from 1980 to 2015 to respond to high levels of population growth has been indicated as a reason for the decline. The decline in birth rate whilst significant is only one factor impacting on the...

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

Neale Richmond: The role of Lineworker is considered to fall under the Standard Occupational Classification code 5249 - Electrical and electronic trades which is currently on the ‘Ineligible Occupations List’ and, as such, cannot be considered for an employment permit. Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Unions (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: I note the Recommendations in the Report. The Report suggests that the concerns of employees raised in relation to technological surveillance can be addressed in two ways: through collective bargaining between employers and employee representatives, and through statutory regulation. In relation to collective bargaining, it has been the consistent policy of successive Irish Governments...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: On 4 May 2023, the Government gave approval for the priority drafting of the Plan of Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency Bill. The Bill will deliver on important Programme for Government commitments and serves to implement the remaining commitments in the Plan of Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency. The Plan of Action on Collective Redundancies following...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Unions (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: It is my understanding that a provisional liquidator has been appointed to the company. The Companies Act 2014 provides safeguards to ensure that a liquidation process, including where a provisional liquidator has been appointed, complies with the relevant statutory requirements. The Companies Act 2014 allows for any creditor, including employees, of the company to apply to the court for a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Sick Leave Act 2022, which commenced on 1 January 2023, introduced a new statutory entitlement to employer-paid sick leave. This Act provides protection to employees who do not currently have employer-paid sick pay schemes, many of whom are low-paid and cannot afford to miss work. As a starting point, the scheme provides an entitlement to 3 days of employer-paid sick leave in the case...

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

Neale Richmond: The current processing dates in respect of Employment Permit applications as of 8th May 2023 are as follows:Standard new applications 12 business days.Standard Renewal applications 14 business days.Standard Critical Skills applications 12 business days.Trusted Partner new applications 11 business days.Trusted Partner Renewal applications 10 business days.Trusted Partner Critical Skills...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Unions (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: I extend my sympathies to the former workers of Rehab who have been made redundant. I fully appreciate that this is a vulnerable cohort of the workforce and how difficult the situation is for those involved and their families. At the time of the job losses concerned, dedicated staff in the Department of Social Protection worked directly with the employees to ensure they received their...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Unions (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: Ireland’s system of industrial relations is essentially voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers rests in the first instance with the employer, the workers and their representatives. I would urge the parties to come together in an effort to resolve the issues which should hopefully lead to a resolution to the...

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

Neale Richmond: The public consultation launching the next review of the employment permits occupations lists for 2023 will take place this summer. Following the completion of the consultation process, an evidence based review of the Ineligible Occupations and the Critical Skills list will be carried out. The review will take into account the submissions made through the consultation and will also be...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Bodies (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: The current budget for Enterprise Ireland for 2023 is set out below 2023 Budget €'000 DETE Exchequer Funding 524,773 Own Resource Income (Estimated)* 82,223 Total Budget 2023 606,996 The estimated cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Bodies (11 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: In 2022, Enterprise Ireland had an investment income target, as part of its Own Resource Income (ORI) sanction, of €69m and it received €87m proceeds from investment activity. In 2023, as part of the annual Own Resource Income sanction request from DPER, Enterprise Ireland has an investment income target of €75m from investment activity. Any excess ORI generated...