Results 1,401-1,420 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: -----working group. Under its auspices, three working groups were convened last year to drive actions in the retail forum work programme, the Future of Retail, which is effectively what the Deputy is talking about. These include one examining the town centre first policy and the night-time economy. The focus is on considering whether the supports are relevant, the policy implementation of...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: Most of this is schemes.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: As we came out of some of the schemes previously linked to Covid-19 supports, companies very much came out of the mindset of looking to draw down funds.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: There were other schemes then that eventually did not get the take-up we thought they might have. I think this explains most of the underspending. We have carried over much of the capital underspending into this year and this money must be spent first. This is how the carryover works. The IDA has a clear plan in terms of land acquisitions and development. For good strategic reasons,...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: I can get a note for the Deputy on this matter if that would be helpful.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: We have just done all three with Deputy O'Reilly.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: What was that one?

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: Regarding regional enterprise development and what IDA Ireland, the regional property programme will see 19 advanced building solutions delivered in regional locations across Ireland during the lifetime of IDA Ireland's current strategy. Three buildings have been constructed. They include an advanced technology building for Monaghan, an advanced technology solution for Dundalk, an advanced...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: The economy created 300,000 jobs last year. That is an extraordinary performance given some of the headwinds, uncertainty and pressures businesses have been under. The combined number of those jobs that relate to agency clients, whether IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland or the LEOs, equated to about 50,000 additional jobs. I have a note that breaks this down county by county. For all three...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: No, I just have the overall numbers. If a data centre were applying, there are ceilings whereby a company cannot get more than €10,000 per month under the TBESS at the moment. The answer to the question is that I do not know. I do not have a list of the 22,000 or so companies that have applied.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: Yes, absolutely.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: That is the scheme for companies that have been impacted by the war in Ukraine in terms of the cost of their energy. A total of 14 companies have applied for that scheme: one in each of counties Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath and Wicklow, and two in counties Sligo and Dublin. So far, there is a grant aid total of just under €3.9 million. It is not a huge...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: I have given the Deputy the information I have-----

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: Not that we are aware of. I do not have the names of the companies - even if I did, I would not be providing that information - I just have the data in respect of their locations. The companies in question had to meet the criteria.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: I do not see why they should be excluded, to be honest.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: In case there is any misunderstanding, that is the Deputy's terminology; it is not the terminology of the Government.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: I cannot do that as I do not have a note on it but I will happily revert to the Deputy if he has specific questions. I was not here yesterday and was not aware the joint committee was to hold a meeting on the matter. I do not want to move onto an area on which I do not have a note.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: There are metrics in respect of staffing numbers. We discussed them earlier. We have committed to increasing the number of inspectors linked to the WRC so that they can do their job effectively, and likewise with the HSA. We are increasing the budget of both agencies to increase their capacity to meet their obligations. I referred to the number of inspections, which I suspect are probably...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: They are here. I have just read them out to the Deputy in terms of the targets for the HSA.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (9 Feb 2023)

Simon Coveney: It is probably a matter of not having enough space to include that information. I have just read out targets relating to the HSA. I am sure there is a similar series of metrics and targets for the WRC. If it is helpful to the committee, we can provide that information.