Results 221-240 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland continues to take a very active part in that global work to reform the international corporate tax system. The publication, for example, of the OECD base erosion and profit shifting, BEPS, report in October 2015 was a significant milestone in this work. From the beginning a key aim of the BEPS project has been to better align the right to tax with real economic substance. That is...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We care every bit as much as the Deputy about people who are on waiting lists, which is why we are making every effort to make sure people will spend less time on waiting lists and that the necessary resources will be given to the health service. It was an absolute priority in the budget to provide the kind of money that would make a difference and reduce waiting lists. The Deputy should...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy raises an issue about a drug that women have been prescribed during pregnancy. As she said, this is not the first time issues have arisen about drugs prescribed during pregnancy which potentially have extremely adverse effects. We have seen this happen in the case of thalidomide and numerous other drugs and women have had to fight quite hard to prove the consequences of the use...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy said, the European Medicines Agency has started a review of the approach to use of this drug. Very strict warnings are in place in prescribing it for women and girls. It is a drug that is prescribed across Europe. A review is under way and it is expected that a decision will be made by the end of the year by the European Medicines Agency on whether there should be further...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I was disturbed by and disappointed to read the decision of the Workplace Relations Commission. I read it again this morning. It is absolutely clear that the Minister of State's questions during the interview were discriminatory and unacceptable. The Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, has expressed regret for what happened. The incident should never have happened and he has accepted that....

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Dealing with these issues is a priority for the Government. It is a priority for the Minister for Health, as every action he has taken supports that. This is shown by the budget that has been given for the health service, the new initiatives, the increase in the funding for the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the €1 million per week extra that will be spent on dealing with...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy referred to individual cases. Of course, nobody wants to see anybody waiting a day longer than is necessary.

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is extremely important that the Deputy accepts that every effort is being made to deal with the waiting lists. The trend is going in the right direction. I accept that is no help for the individual to whom the Deputy referred. The point is that it is an absolute priority to deal with this issue in a variety of ways. First of all, real money is being put in to deal with the 500 more...

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: -----it seems reasonable to me that that should be done.

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Is Deputy Kelleher suggesting that they should not be told what their rights are as EU citizens? The Deputy will be aware we have always had, and encouraged, cross-Border health care initiatives. That has worked well. We would like to see that continuing.

Leaders' Questions (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: We accept that this is a huge challenge. I reiterate it is an absolute priority.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Banking Sector (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition and consumer law in the State. Section 9(5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of suspected breaches of competition law. As...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Design and Crafts Council (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland is a company limited by guarantee and is therefore established under and regulated by the Companies Act.  The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland receives funding through Enterprise Ireland for the purposes of promoting crafts and design initiatives. The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland’s Financial Statements for 2015 have been...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The World Bank’s annual Doing Business report sheds light on how easy or difficult it is for a local entrepreneur to open and run a small to medium-size business when complying with relevant regulations. The most recent report (published on October 31 2017) shows Ireland has achieved an overall ease of doing business ranking of 17th out of 190 economies, an improvement of one...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I received a report under Section 955(1)(a) of the Companies Act 2014 from the Director of Corporate Enforcement on 23 June.  This Report addresses the issues highlighted by Judge Aylmer in his ruling in the case of DPP v Sean Fitzpatrick. The report sets out the facts relating to the case and does not purport to be an investigation or an enquiry. The Report has been the subject of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Programme (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Companies (Statutory Audits) Bill 2017 was published on 6 November 2017.  The necessary requirements of the EU Audit Directive and Regulation were transposed in June 2016 to meet the EU deadline by way of statutory instrument (S.I. 312 of 2016). The Bill elevates S.I. No. 312 of 2016 and enhances it, therefore much of the draft legislation is already on the statute book but through...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is fully committed to increasing the supply of affordable and quality housing.  That is why it has published the ‘Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan’ which includes financing measures, better use of existing homes, new construction and rental sector improvements.  These steps will first and foremost ensure Irish people are better able to buy and rent...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Funding (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Further to the Deputy's question of 26October, I am informed by IDA Ireland that spending on market analysis on property solutions is covered by the IDA’s capital budget. For 2017 the capital allocation from the Exchequer to the Agency was €137m.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Planning Issues (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together. In respect of the facility referred to by the Deputy, IDA Ireland has been engaged in ongoing discussions with the company involved. This included continuous engagement regarding the initial plans to situate the investment in Athenry and throughout the subsequent planning and legal processes. The Government has also regularly...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (9 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: A Rescue and Restructure scheme was recently notified to the Directorate General for Competition as one element of my Department’s response to the challenges posed by Brexit.  The scheme was notified as a precautionary measure. Since the decision of the UK last July to exit the EU, this Department has been working with Enterprise Ireland and other stakeholders to develop a...