Results 1,161-1,180 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: Deputy Cowen raises a fair point in what has happened previously in other markets, and he has named the financial one. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, is looking closely at and is following this and I will certainly bring back to the Minister the Deputy’s concerns. It is right that we interrogate the data and try to get behind what these high prices are about as well as focusing on the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I will send a note to the Deputy with further information on this issue.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I apologise to Deputy Cowen and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for being late. It was my fault as I understood I was due to respond to the second Topical Issue matter. I thank Deputy Cowen for raising this important topic, which has informed a lot of discussion lately. I will take this matter on behalf of the Minister who is unable to attend tonight and sends his apologies. Some of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Enterprise Support Services (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this very important issue which allows me to focus on start-up businesses in Limerick and all other counties. It is important to discuss start-up businesses regularly and to highlight the support and encouragement that is available to them. This Government talks a lot about a jobs-led recovery but for that to happen, we need to support existing businesses...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Enterprise Support Services (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I thank Senator Maria Byrne on behalf of Limerick and other counties. It is important that we have such conversations. She touched on some of the programmes that are offered through LEOs. I forgot to mention in my earlier contribution the success of the mentoring programme. It is working extremely well in Limerick too. I know there is a strong panel of mentors there and I thank them for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Health and Safety (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the statutory agency tasked with the enforcement of workplace health and safety legislation in Ireland. It acts independently in carrying out its functions as set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 200, to ensure compliance with workplace health and Safety legislation. The HSA does not comment on individual employers/workplaces nor does...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: The hospitality sector falls within the remit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The funding for Tourism in Budget 2022 amounting to €288.5m represents an increase of €67.6m over the 2021 allocation. This includes €50m funding for further Tourism Business Continuity Supports to assist strategic tourism businesses with their survival...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that a standard application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit for the person concerned (details supplied) was received on 22 November 2021. Applications for employment permits are dealt with in date order. Employment Permits Section are currently processing standard applications received on 3 August 2021. Applicants can keep...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Health and Safety (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the statutory agency tasked with the enforcement of workplace health and safety legislation in Ireland. It acts independently in carrying out its functions as set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 200, to ensure compliance with workplace health and Safety legislation. I have been advised by the HSA that since 2015, they have carried out...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: The employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, in circumstances where there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one. The system is managed through the use of lists designating highly skilled and ineligible...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Measures (30 Nov 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. This process will commence as soon as possible and will involve engagement with...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: Earlier this month the Government announced new measures to protect the public and reduce the spread of COVID 19 including "household close contacts who are fully vaccinated and showing no symptoms should restrict their movements until they have 3 negative antigen test results taken within a 5-day period." This was done to interrupt the spread of the virus in the community. The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: My Department publishes statistics in relation to employment permits issued on its website at: enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employm ent-Permits/Statistics/. These include statistics relating to the number of employment permits issued on a monthly basis by economic sector requested by the Deputy. The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that a total...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Measures (30 Nov 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. This process will commence as soon as possible and will involve engagement with...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that Trusted Partner applications for Critical Skills Employment Permits in respect of the individuals (details supplied) have been submitted. In respect of application no: EP-JVU001/21, this application was received on 30 August 2021. In respect of application no: EP-JXW062/2,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Insurance Industry (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: One of the key achievements of the Government’s reform agenda is the new Office to Promote Competition in the Insurance Market within the Department of Finance. This Office, which is chaired by the Minister for State, Seán Fleming has held meetings with a wide range of stakeholders including insurance companies, representative bodies, civil society groups and state regulators on...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: The Government continues to provide an extensive package of supports for COVID-19-impacted businesses including the COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, the Brexit Loan Scheme, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Future Growth Loan Scheme. For further information, businesses are advised to view my Department’s website at enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-s...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss our Department’s Supplementary Estimate with the members of the select committee this afternoon. I have been asked by the Tánaiste to express his apologies for not being able to attend the committee today as he is abroad on Government business. The committee secretariat has been provided with the briefing by the Department’s...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: A number of supports have been provided to businesses across a range of grants to assist in their efforts to deal with Covid and Brexit. Tomorrow, a Bill relating to ventilation will be discussed in the House. While there have been numerous supports through the restart grants and the various funds, we have not detailed how that money should be spent on any individual part of the business....

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (30 Nov 2021)

Damien English: The HSA has been given extra resources in the past couple of years, mainly in response to Covid and Brexit. It has taken a leading role in that work. In 2021, 54 additional posts were sanctioned in the Health and Safety Authority as part of a phased recruitment process. Of those 54 posts, 42 were inspector grade posts. In 2020, the authority had 174 members of staff, of whom 105 were...