Results 1,101-1,120 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Enterprise Policy (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for the question, which gives me an opportunity to provide an update on the report and our action plan. Ireland has a robust suite of legislation to protect and support workers facing redundancies. The Cahill Duffy report was in response to particular terms of reference that were quite narrow and specific and do not address the generality of redundancies that arise in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Enterprise Policy (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: I have to point out the Cahill Duffy report was in response to particular terms of reference that were quite narrow with regard to the case in Clerys. The authors of that report presented it to the Deputy’s committee and quite clearly said that the implementation of their report would not have prevented what happened in Debenhams. That was very loud and clear. We have allowed a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: The Trading Online Voucher Scheme offers a fifty per cent co-funded voucher of up to €2,500 to help businesses, which have been trading for at least 6 months, to develop their online trading capability. It includes training sessions that cover various topics, including developing a website, digital marketing, social media for business and search engine optimisation. The Trading...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 the Government has worked to support businesses through a wide range of financial measures including the wage subsidy scheme, Covid 19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), Small Business Assistance Scheme (SBASC), COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Future Growth Loan Scheme, commercial rates waivers and warehousing of tax...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: The Government is very supportive of hybrid working and we have taken a wide range of actions to support employees, businesses and communities. My Department published the National Remote Work Strategy on January 15th, 2021. The objective of the Strategy is to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: The Trading Online Voucher Scheme offers a 50% co-funded voucher of up to €2,500 to help businesses, which have been trading for at least 6 months, to develop their online trading capability and includes training sessions that cover various topics, including developing a website, digital marketing, social media for business and search engine optimisation. The Trading Online Voucher...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: As the largest private sector employer, and a key element in providing for the needs of society and indeed other sectors of the economy, it is vital that retail continues to develop capability and remain competitive. Trading online is a very important route for retail businesses to grow and improve and will be an important element in their recovery over the longer term. I welcome the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: The EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market 2019/790 was transposed by way of S.I. No. 567 of 2021, the EU (Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market) Regulations 2021. The Regulations strengthen the rights and protections of copyright holders in order to reflect the impact of technological advances and increased digitalisation. The new Regulations also...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: Tax matters are a matter for the Minister of Finance. I understand that in his recent Budget speech the Minister confirmed that he is introducing a new tax credit for the digital gaming sector. Details of the relief are available in the Finance Bill 2021. Ireland has a comprehensive body of employment legislation, in respect of which the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is mandated...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: Enterprise Ireland (EI) helps companies across the country, in rural and urban settings to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future. In 2020, EI assisted client companies employed 220,613 people nationally. Almost two thirds of the new jobs created in 2020 were in regions outside of Dublin. The Local Enterprise Offices continue to provide a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: The 'Plan for Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency' was published on 9th June. This sets out several commitments to safeguard further the rights of workers in these circumstances including (i) a range of amendments to company law and employment law; (ii) setting up an Employment Law Review Group on a statutory basis and (iii) the provision of an accessible guidance document...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Relations (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: Following my approval and submission of the draft Sectoral Employment Order to the Houses of the Oireachtas for consideration, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise Trade and Employment also approved the SEO on the 1stDecember 2021. This will now be noted in the Dáil and Seanad in the coming days. Once the matter has appeared on the order paper of both Houses, the Sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: State Bodies (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: The funding provided by my Department to Enterprise Ireland for the past 10 years is as follows: Enterprise Ireland Budget Allocation. Incorporating allocations across the following DETE Programme Areas: A – Jobs Enterprise Development B – Innovation Year Subhead REV Allocation(€,000) Capital Carryover(€,000) ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: As the Deputy will be aware, the Trading Online Voucher Scheme is administered by the Local Enterprise Office network on behalf of my Department. This scheme aims to assist micro-enterprises in realising the potential of online trading and offers eligible businesses a voucher of up to €2,500 (50% co-funded by the recipient) to help them develop their online capacity. This includes...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 143 together. On 27th October last, Government approved the drafting of a Bill that will prohibit the use of tips and gratuities to ‘make up’ contractual rates of pay and to require employers to clearly display their policy on how tips, gratuities and service charges are distributed. This will ensure that tips and gratuities are...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: The retail sector is the largest private sector employer in the country, with over 280,000 workers employed across the country. The rapid digital transformation of consumer trends and shopping preferences combined with competition from sophisticated international business models in recent times presents both opportunities and threats to many businesses operating in the Irish retail sector. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: Regional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation is a key policy priority of mine and this Government. My Department is currently overseeing the development of nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024. These are ‘bottom-up’ plans, developed by regional stakeholders which identify growth opportunities, recognise vulnerabilities, and enable job creation...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: The State operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is intended to act as a conduit for key skills which are required to develop enterprise in the State for the benefit of our economy, while simultaneously protecting the balance of the labour market. The system...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Pensions Reform (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: The Government has agreed to a timed amendment to the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021. This will allow time, as I outlined on the floor of the Dáil, to examine the issues carefully and to ensure that all stakeholders are consulted. I have given the matter careful consideration and to this end a consultation process will...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (9 Dec 2021)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 172 together. Applications for Employment Permits have seen a significant increase over the course of the year. As of the end of November, some 24,058 applications were received, representing a 62% increase over the same period in 2020 (14,846) and a 40% increase on 2019 (17,101), which itself represented an 11 year high in applications. My...