Results 1,201-1,220 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I know the Deputy does not and she is not advocating its use as it is. The HAP scheme was only ever meant to be a short-term housing solution for people as they moved to more permanent housing. Without the HAP scheme, 60,000 families would not have houses. I acknowledge that the Deputy and I will never agree on that, but it is the reality. There should only ever be a short-term need for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vacant Properties (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I thank Deputies Griffin, Dillon, Carey and Stanton for raising this issue today. It brings me back to my previous role and part of the job I liked but did not make as much progress on as I would have liked to, because tackling vacancy and dereliction are essential parts of our work. Tonight, I will take this debate on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Vacant Properties (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I agree with all four Deputies. We need to add more schemes to the pot. There are also schemes that are available that could be utilised more. I accept Deputy Stanton's point that the vacancy officer cannot perform miracles out of fishes and loaves. We need to strengthen their teams. I have addressed this in many councils of all parties and I have listened to many in the Opposition over...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Industry (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Crowe and we are very much committed to leading that sustainable future. It is in the climate plan announced last week and we can see the direction of travel for Ireland. I have been involved with the research agenda for a number of years in this country and I know the potential in our research community to drive successful projects and research while tunnelling into options...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Support Services (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I had meant to address the redundancy part in the opening statement. I will deal with some of the Deputy's questions. Those who are assisted by this service will receive letters between now and December explaining the pathway for them and how they can engage with Intreo offices in future. The service will be reviewed. The Deputy asked if the contract could be secured by another party. I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Industry (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this important and pertinent issue. I am sorry that the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, cannot be here to take part in this discussion which I am taking on her behalf. It is a topic that I am very interested in. I am sorry I missed that fireside chat which I am sure was very useful with the three people the Deputy mentioned involved in the conversation....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Employment Support Services (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, who could not be present. I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for raising this issue. He is correct that the work that is carried on through the 24 providers of the EmployAbility service is essential and successful. The job coaching has been a great support for many over the years. The Department of Social...

Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2021: Motion (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 20th October, 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Health and Safety (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), along with the Health Services Executive (HSE) has been identified as a relevant body under the Indoor Dining Regulations which came into force on 26 July 2021. The Health and Safety Authority has undertaken233 Compliance Checks in businesses under these new regulations between 22ndOctober 2021 and 5thNovember 2021. The findings of the compliance...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: The results of the most recent review of the Occupations Lists were announced on 28 October 2021. The Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration considered that changes to the labour market as the economy continues to reopen over the next few months may help alleviate current shortages with an expected increase in available labour for the Pig and Poultry sector. An allocation of 100...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The employment permits regime is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages in the State, required to develop and support enterprise for the benefit of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Patent Applications (16 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 to 137, inclusive, together. The international Agreement on the Unified Patent Court (UPCA), signed in February 2013, entails the establishment of an international court that will, when operational, have exclusive competence for actions for infringement and validity in respect of European patents. To enter into force, the UPCA must be ratified by...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Labour Court (10 Nov 2021)

Damien English: On 28 April 2021, I announced my intention to issue an Order to give effect to a statutory recommendation of the Labour Court concerning minimum rates of remuneration and other terms and conditions in the Security Sector.  The Order was to apply from 1 September 2021.   An ex-parte application to initiate legal proceedings challenging the underlying legislation in the High...

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

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. 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...

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

Damien English: The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that a Standard application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit was received on the 2September in respect the person referenced in the Deputy’s question. Applications for employment permits are dealt with in date order, as Employment Permits Section are currently processing Standard applications received on 19 July 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (4 Nov 2021)

Damien English: My Department has invested in the development of enterprise/co-working hubs in every region through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, Border Enterprise Development Fund and Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme. These Schemes were open to not-for-profit DACs and CLGs, while the BEDF was also open to public bodies, and did not fund private sector hubs. Last November, the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Agreements (4 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 to 185, inclusive, together. The international Agreement on the Unified Patent Court, signed in February 2013, entails the establishment of an international court that will, when operational, have exclusive competence for actions for infringement and validity in respect of European patents. To enter into force, the Agreement on a Unified Patent...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (3 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (2 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Flaherty for raising this matter. We focused on the IDA Ireland element in an earlier question. The Department and its agencies provide assistance to businesses in all regions of Ireland, including County Longford, to help them prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the future economy. The Department's core budget increased by €103 million, or 13.2%, in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (2 Nov 2021)

Damien English: I agree with Deputy Flaherty that Longford has great opportunities open to it and our development agencies are working very hard in the county. The Deputy makes a strong case for Longford, as does the Minister of State in the Department, Deputy Robert Troy, on a daily basis, the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Peter Burke, and Senator...