Results 19,601-19,620 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Protected Disclosures (13 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The number of matters raised in my Department under Protected Disclosures legislation since the Protected Disclosures Act came into effect on 15th July 2014 is set out in the following table. Year Total Issues Raised Action Taken 2014/2015 3 2 Examined to conclusion1 Referred to another Department and individual advised ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: National Economic and Social Council (13 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the publication of NESC’s report on vulnerable employment and Just Transition last month. The report is an insightful and interesting piece of work which my Department actively contributed to during its development. The vision of the report is to ensure that Ireland, in the face of economic changes, is a resilient, sustainable, thriving net zero economy that uses...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Strategies (13 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I met with the OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria in March 2018 to discuss my key priorities for the OECD Review which I commissioned on SME and Entrepreneurship Policy in Ireland. I wanted an external view of how our SME sector is performing, the strengths and weaknesses of our indigenous businesses, where the relevant programmes are working, and where we may need to consider policy...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Offices (13 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department directly employs over 900 staff, mainly located in Dublin, Carlow and Kilkenny. The Department also has a small presence, through the work of the Workplace Relations Commission, in Sligo, Cork and Ennis. The Department has no offices located in Longford or Westmeath. Currently, there are Clerical Officer vacancies in the Dublin Offices only.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (13 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Since the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, my Department and its agencies have worked to put a wide range of Brexit supports in place for businesses. The suite of enterprise and finance supports in place cover the spectrum of potential Brexit impacts and aims to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions to be taken. The...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I have spoken to all the representative bodies of the tourism industry individually at different stages over the past week or so. I know that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, is engaging with the hospitality and tourism sectors about what the Government can do to support them. Those sectors, the pubs, restaurants and hotels, have been impacted more than any other....

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Yes.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising those issues. To be clear, I announced two weeks ago €1 billion worth of liquidity and grant supports for businesses. There is a long list of various supports available. We are considering another package of supports, which we will announce in due course. I am working with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, on that. After the initial shock,...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In terms of liquidity, we have the €450 million working capital facility, which provides loans from €25,000 up to €3 million at a reduced rate of 4%. Some Deputies believe that rate should be even lower but the normal price for overdraft facilities in the market is 8%, so it is a considerably reduced price. As part of that, businesses can avail of loans of up to...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The NSAI has guidelines on how companies should operate. They are available and companies should be adhering to them. There is no doubt about that. If there are issues and concerns, they should contact the Health and Safety Authority, HSA. We are developing a much more detailed set of guidelines to cover many more issues that are going to arise, and we will publish them as soon as we can....

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the wage subsidy scheme is very successful and many more companies are taking it up. It is still available to companies that did not take it up. There are no barriers to entry into it. They can have a mix. Some companies found themselves in a position of being able to hold on to some staff and maybe lay others off. It is permitted within the scheme to have a mix...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I do not have that figure to hand but I will provide the Deputy with that information.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Several different issues were raised in the letter my Department received from the Deputy. To be clear, the HSE and the environmental health officers it employs currently have the power to close a site if that is necessary. I will revert to the Deputy on the issue of workers' living accommodation. I am not sure who is responsible for inspecting it.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The HSA has the authority to inspect any workplace. There have been many cases involving such inspections. When the pandemic started, a food company was very concerned about whether it could continue to operate. The HSA and the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, went to its premises and worked with the employers and employees. It has not had a day's bother since the pandemic...

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Yes, the HSE environmental health officers currently have the power, but I have said clearly that we will have the guidelines as a matter of urgency. A good deal of work has gone into them.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Okay. As I said to the Deputy, I will have them as a matter of urgency. It is a comprehensive document which takes on board many issues that employers and employees are rightly concerned about. We will have that document as a matter of urgency.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy's second question was about the Debenhams workers. I am sorry to hear about what happened to the Debenhams workers. It is obviously a very difficult time for them. As far as we are concerned, Debenhams should be engaging with its workers and with the unions. The Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, is available for the workers to give assistance.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: That is obviously being looked at in terms of the examinership. The Company Law Review Group is looking at all those issues and will bring recommendations to us.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The HSA.

Covid-19 (Business, Enterprise and Innovation): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The NSAI protocols dealing with what should happen in the workplace are in place. The HSA is available to go to any company or to any employee who is concerned. It will phone up, go on site, see the issue and talk. The best solution here is between employers and employees working together to get the right solution. That is the first thing. Second, if there is a...