Results 19,741-19,760 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (12 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million fund established under Project Ireland 2040 and forms a key part in the delivery of Pillar 1, embracing innovation and technological change, under the Future Jobs Ireland framework. A particular focus of the Fund is to encourage research, development and innovation collaboration between enterprises located in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Data (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: In May 2018, a pilot quota-based scheme was introduced to remove the occupations of horticulture worker, meat processing operative and dairy farm assistant from the ineligible occupations list. The scheme allows workers from non-EEA countries to access employment opportunities. The application of a quota-based system is to ensure that in the longer-term, strategies are put in place to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Retail Sector (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As Chair of the Retail Consultation Forum, I am conscious of the impact of digital transformation for the retail sector. The growth in demand for shopping online domestically and globally is driving the retail sector more broadly to develop its online capability in order to enhance its competitiveness. To enable retailers to increase their customer base and build a more resilient...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Retail Sector (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: As Chair of the Retail Consultation Forum, I am acutely aware of the transformation which the retail sector is undergoing. The growth in demand for shopping online domestically and globally is driving the retail sector more broadly to develop its online capability in order to enhance its competitiveness. Retailing supports jobs in every city, town and village in the country, with one in every...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Details of expenditure incurred by my Department during 2019 for the implementation of ongoing communications strategy initiatives which highlight schemes and programmes operated under the auspices of my Department including advertising and promotion on television, radio, newspapers and online are set out in the attached table. Many of the acquired videos are retweeted at various intervals on...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Details of expenses incurred by my Department to date in 2019 for the commissioning, development, production, promotion and online sharing of videos which highlight schemes and programmes operated by my Department are set out in the attached table. Many of the videos are retweeted at various intervals on social media platforms or shown at related events to ensure continued promotion of my...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Travel (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Details of foreign travel during the period in question by the Ministers and Ministers of State in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation are published on my Department's website at the following address:

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, and I are pleased to have the opportunity to discuss our 2019 Supplementary Estimates with the select committee this afternoon. The Minister of State will say a few words later about his area of responsibility. The Supplementary Estimate being presented is technical in its nature as it does not seek any additional allocation from the Exchequer. The...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I can verify that the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, is certainly a strong advocate for CERN. We are examining carefully joining CERN and this is because CERN activity involves data analysis, which is key to our enterprise sector. We keep it under review. As the Chairman said, associate membership is €1.25 million and full membership is €13.6 million. The committee can...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister of State will take the PRTLI one, while I will take the one on the future growth loan scheme. We will review the scheme and are happy to hear any suggestions. We have drawn down €46 million of the €300 million for the Brexit loan scheme, which is the overdraft working capital facility, and it has been sanctioned at bank level. Some 798 applications were approved...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: It has been sanctioned by the bank. It is up to the customers thereafter and it is there for them to take. The nature of an overdraft is that it is used only as it is needed, because it still has to be repaid and the interest on it still has to be paid if it is drawn down. The future growth loan scheme makes €300 million of loans available in terms of eight to ten years at a...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: That is fair enough. I have worked on the other side of it.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: No, the banks would not give us a figure for the amount drawn down on their loan books. The money has been sanctioned and is there for customers to take.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I agree that a multi-annual budget would be preferable for the IDA and that it is difficult for the agency to plan. Nevertheless, the money for this year has not been spent and it will receive the money when it needs it. The Department has made a commitment that when the IDA needs the money to fund a building programme, it will receive it. Public accounts are controlled on a cash basis and...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Enterprise Ireland savings of €8 million essentially arise as a result of that body generating its own resource income in the year beyond that sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is a result of slower than expected drawing down on a number of Enterprise Ireland programmes. Enterprise Ireland also invests equity in companies and when they become...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: It has recruited 13 additional staff and there is money available when staff for new posts are recruited. It is finding it difficult to recruit people.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: There are two vacant posts.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I do not have the figure to hand for the full number of staff in the HSA.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I will revert to the Deputy with the number. It was looking for 15 staff and it has recruited people for 13 posts. There are two posts to be filled. There may be a timing issue as well and some people may be coming on board, leading to this underspend. There was a saving of €1.4 million in the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE, and I gave extra money to it...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (11 Dec 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Yes. That will happen with the transposition of the EU directive into Irish law.