Results 281-300 of 4,377 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Consumer Prices (24 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: We can definitely dig in a bit more on the general use of supermarket vouchers. I could easily have given her the response that just went into the merits of breastfeeding over formula, but apart from the fact that my wife would kill me-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Consumer Prices (24 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: -----I do not think that is any use to the discussion we are having. I do not think it realises the lived experience, for want of a better phrase, for many people. I think the issue of low-cost, generic formula may be teased out in parallel to this. The Government is obviously not going to get into the business of producing baby formula. However, the Senator is right that more than...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (24 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I am grateful that Senator Cummins raised this matter. I appreciate his constant support and championing of businesses across the city and county of Waterford. It is understandable that many of those businesses are concerned about rising costs at the moment. At present, small businesses are facing several challenges due to rising energy costs, inflation and a tight labour market, which the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (24 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: Dialogue has already started with local authorities on the increased cost of business scheme. The Department of housing and local government has been working with the Department since the budget was agreed to make sure the scheme is fit for purpose. I fundamentally agree with the Senator that a massive communications campaign is needed beyond the political narrative. We will ensure that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: Those are the statistics.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Bodies (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Senator Seery Kearney, can share her notes with me if she likes. I thank Senator Malcolm Byrne, not only for raising this issue this morning but for doing so consistently throughout his time in the Upper House. The Senator is dead right. This is a really important issue for Irish businesses and inventors and so many people in Ireland and beyond who will...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Bodies (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I think we were both involved in canvassing for the fiscal stability treaty in 2012 when we were fresh-faced councillors. I remember the research from that referendum. The two biggest issues of concern that came up were in respect of the fiscal compact treaty were abortion and conscription into an EU army. Those were of absolutely no relevance to the question being put to the people but...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The 2023 Review of the Employment Permits Occupation Lists has delivered comprehensive changes to the employment permits system, with changes to 43 occupations eligible for either a General Employment Permit or a Critical Skills Employment Permit. A report which summarises the changes introduced following the review of the occupations lists can be found on the Department’s website....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Disputes (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: At the outset, it is important to emphasise that Ireland’s system of industrial relations is essentially voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers rests in the first instance with the employer, the workers and their representatives. This dispute is essentially a matter for the company and its employees to resolve. I,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Emergency Humanitarian Flooding scheme is available to businesses with up to 20 employees, (whole-time equivalents), community, voluntary and sporting bodies that through no fault of their own cannot secure flood insurance. For the purpose of this scheme a small business is defined as one with up to 20 employees (whole-time equivalents). The business premises must have been damaged by...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flood Relief Schemes (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Emergency Humanitarian Flooding scheme is available to businesses with up to 20 employees, (whole-time equivalents), community, voluntary and sporting bodies that through no fault of their own cannot secure flood insurance. For the purpose of this scheme a small business is defined as one with up to 20 employees (whole-time equivalents). The business premises must have been damaged by...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: Balanced regional development is a priority for this Government. Since 2017, my Department, through Enterprise Ireland, has approved over €134m in funding for 79 enterprise focused projects through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund and Border Enterprise Development Fund. The Regional Enterprise Innovation Scoping Scheme (REISS) supports the development of potential...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The SME Test is a regulatory impact assessment tool that encourages policymakers across Government to consider the impact new legislation or regulations may have on SMEs. The Test was designed by my Department to ease the regulatory burden on SMEs, and should be applied by all Departments to new relevant legislation. Implementation of the Test is a commitment in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: Global Ireland 2025 is a whole-of-Government strategy, led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, that aims to double Ireland’s global footprint and influence in the period 2018 to 2025. In July 2023, a review of the strategy found that implementation has brought significant benefits to Ireland, including by equipping our country to better withstand the challenges of recent years;...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: Entrepreneurs are vital to the success of the Irish economy and the continued growth of our economy is highly dependent on entrepreneurs and the businesses that they create, develop, and grow. The Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) Index, is a product of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring Report. Ireland last participated in this report in 2021/2022 and the TEA rate for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248, 249 and 258 together. To achieve sustainable, diversified growth, and enhanced economic resilience, it is vital that the Irish-owned enterprise sector fulfils its potential to scale and succeed on global markets. The White Paper on Enterprise sets out an ambition for 2,000 additional Irish-owned exporters by 2030. To help achieve this ambition,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The data sets in question are not fully available in the manner requested by the Deputy. However, the following information represents the latest data available to my Department. The most comparable statistics available are those included in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring (GEM) Report. This report includes a statistic on “New business owners” which is broken down by...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: Ireland operates a managed employment permits system, maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The regime is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills or labour shortages in the State in the short to medium term. Details and information on the current guidelines and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (23 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Health and Safety Authority has sanction for 317 staffing positions, made up of those in administration and inspector grades. The inspector grades comprise of Grade I (senior inspectors) as well as Grade II and Grade III inspectors. Inspectors operate across all of the Health and Safety Authority’s broad mandates which include occupational health and safety, chemicals,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Small and Medium Enterprises (18 Jan 2024)

Neale Richmond: A number of weeks ago I was very lucky to meet the proprietors of Wholesome Kitchen in Mullingar when I visited the local enterprise office. Deputy Troy was on paternity leave at that time so we were not able to meet together. I know it is a wonderful business providing good employment. I can tell the Deputy it is good food as well because I was in a position to sample a bit. This is why...