Results 1,101-1,120 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Law (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: In January 2016, the then Minister requested the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) to review company law with a view to recommending ways company law could be potentially amended to ensure better safeguards for employees and unsecured creditors.  An ad-hoc committee of the CLRG was formed to explore relevant issues.  It met 14 times in total and reported its findings to the 81st...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies Funding (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The distribution of exchequer funding allocations as per the 2017 Revised Estimates Volume for each Agency under the aegis of my Department and as provided through my Department’s Vote this year is set out in the table below.   Intertrade Ireland Pay €1.262m Pensions €103k Non-Pay €900k Capital €5.695m Total €7.960m IDA Ireland Pay...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Supports (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I very much regret the decision by Cameron to cease its operations in Ireland. Creating new employment opportunities in County Longford to replace the jobs that will and have been lost remains a priority for my Department and its Agencies. IDA Ireland has already been working hard to find a new investor for the site in question and the Agency continues to bring it to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I welcome the publication of this InterTrade Ireland study - which was funded by my Department - as a key contribution to our wider understanding of the potential commercial and economic implications of Brexit for Ireland. It should be emphasised that this research analyses a 'worst-case scenario' whereby WTO tariffs would be imposed in the absence of a comprehensive trade agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is responsible, under the Consumer Credit Act 1995, for the authorisation of credit intermediaries, some of whom sell Personal Contract Plans (PCPs) to consumers on behalf of a finance company. The CCPC issues licenses to credit intermediaries and keeps an online list of credit intermediaries holding a valid authorisation at the time...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Services (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Workplace Relations Act, 2015 established the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) as the body to hear all first instance claims made under a wide variety of employment legislation. The Act provides that WRC Adjudication Officers shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions. Complaints into procedural matters of the WRC can be made at any time, in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Portfolio (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: While IDA Ireland has no immediate plans to construct a building on the site in Fermoy Business Park, the property would be suitable for both manufacturing purposes and offices. The needs of companies vary significantly when it comes to investment sites. I understand that an advantage of the property in question is that it offers flexibility in terms of potential layouts...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Apart from public sector employees, where certain statutory retirement ages may apply, there is no statutory retirement age for employees in Irish legislation. A contract of employment will generally contain a retirement age but this is a matter of contract between the parties. The upper age limit for bringing claims under the Unfair Dismissals Acts was removed by a provision in the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: State Bodies Code of Conduct (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The following is the position regarding the furnishing of reports confirming compliance with tax law obligations by the state agencies under the aegis of my Department: Enterprise Ireland has included confirmation of tax compliance for 2015 in the agency’s 2016 letter to the Minister. Enterprise Ireland will again be confirming the same compliance for 2016 in the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Staff (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Two current vacancies within the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), one for Principal Solicitor and the other for Legal Advisor, have been converted to “Enforcement Portfolio Manager” posts graded at Principal level following restructuring proposals drawn up by the Director of the Office. The necessary funding for these posts is already in place.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Investigations (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The investigative shortcomings of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) identified by Judge John Aylmer in this case fell far short of the standard of impartial, unbiased and thorough investigation we expect and demand. My predecessor, Minister of State Mitchell O’Connor, wrote to the Director of Corporate Enforcement on Wednesday May 24th , requesting a report...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: In Budget 2017, additional funding was provided to Enterprise Ireland (EI) to recruit 39 new staff, located in Ireland and overseas to support clients to maintain existing markets and to diversify into new markets. EI has an established process for working with companies as they identify opportunities and begin to enter new markets. Enterprise Ireland’s overseas structure, through...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Support Services (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The decision by the company concerned to close its operation in Leixlip was very disappointing. Finding a new investor for the facility, and creating or identifying alternative employment opportunities for those affected, remain key priorities for my Department and its Agencies. My Department has also engaged with the Department of Social Protection (D/SP) to ensure all...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Staff Relocation (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The number of my Department’s staff who have notified my HR Unit of an application for a transfer to offices outside the Dublin region in the period 2014 to date is set out in tabular format below.  This includes staff seeking to move from one of my Department’s regional locations to another.  Year Number of Officers who applied for transfers outside of Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (20 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I believe that it is important to wait to see the benefits of the EU – Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) taking effect.  We can then have a fully informed, evidence based debate on the value of the Agreement to Ireland.  I would stress that following the recent Opinion 2/15 of the European Court of Justice on the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement there...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (15 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Chairman for her words of welcome and wish to say how much I am looking forward to working with the committee. Its work in the area of jobs, enterprise and innovation is extremely important. I am very excited to have been appointed Minister and very much look forward to working with the Chairman and members. Section 2 provides for amendments to section 1 of the Hallmarking...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (15 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Yes.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (15 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: They are technical because of the technical nature of the Bill. The amendments to sections 3 and 12 are mostly consequential on the amendment I have outlined to section 2.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (15 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: That is good. I understand it will also give greater protection to the consumer.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (15 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: This section provides for an amendment to section 9 of the Hallmarking Act 1981 to allow the Irish Assay Office and a sponsor to make arrangements for the sponsor's mark to be struck by the assay master or an authorised assay office as soon as is practicable after the submission of the article for the striking of an approved hallmark in accordance with section 6 of the Bill. Regarding the...