Results 1-20 of 1,705 for at speaker:Peter Burke

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (16 May 2024)

Peter Burke: The latest data on funding, as at 15th May, regarding the ICOB scheme is set out in the table below. In addition, please note that I, along with my Government colleagues, have today Wednesday 15th May announced a substantial range of measures to reduce costs for small and medium sized businesses. Amongst the range of measures it was agreed that ICOB portal would be re-opened from today...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (14 May 2024)

Peter Burke: My Department serves as the national contact point at EU level on matters of State Aid policy. As part of this function, my officials collate and submit the report on the application of the State Aid rules for Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI) to the European Commission. The report is submitted every two years in accordance with the State Aid rules for SGEI. These reports are...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Support Services (14 May 2024)

Peter Burke: As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I consider that increasing the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the labour market represents a significant opportunity for employers and the enterprise sector. The development of policy measures and initiatives to support disability rights and inclusion fall, primarily, under the remit of my colleague the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Agreements (14 May 2024)

Peter Burke: The EU-Mercosur Agreement is designed to cement the close political and economic relations between the EU and Mercosur countries and represents a commitment to rules-based international trade. Since formal negotiations concluded in 2019, the global trade policy landscape has changed considerably. The rise in trade nationalism, the economic impacts of COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (8 May 2024)

Peter Burke: The table below set out the current vacancies in the Workplace Relations Commission broken down by number, grade/role and the estimated full-year cost of filling each post: Number of Vacancies Grade/Role Average full-year cost of filling the role 1 PO1 - Director of Conciliation, Arbitration and Mediation €126,256.08 ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (2 May 2024)

Peter Burke: Regional development is a key element of Government's enterprise policy, as set out in the White Paper on Enterprise and is a key focus of the work of my Department. In that regard, IDA Ireland is committed to the pursuit of balanced, compact regional development and is targeting that at least half of all investments - that is 400 of 800 - from 2021 to 2024 to regional locations. IDA has...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (1 May 2024)

Peter Burke: ...employed by my Department with salary maxima equal to or below the Clerical Officer maximum may apply for permission to engage in politics. Officers employed on particular types of work may, at the discretion of departmental management, have their applications refused. In cases where permission would otherwise be refused, my Department examines the possibility of moving an officer to a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (1 May 2024)

Peter Burke: Both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland provide innovation supports to SMEs on behalf of my Department. In the case of Enterprise Ireland, which plays a crucial role in fostering innovation among Irish SMEs, it offers a comprehensive suite of supports designed to assist small and medium enterprises in their research and innovation (R&I) efforts. These supports range from funding and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Renewable Energy Generation (1 May 2024)

Peter Burke: The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s Report on Offshore Renewable Energy is comprehensive, and forward-thinking, and sets out recommendations on diverse but connected topics. Shortly after the publication of the Report, a Memorandum for Government Decision proposing the development of an industrial strategy for offshore wind was brought forward on 9...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Labour Market (25 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: ...on their journey to employment. JobsIreland.ie is the Public Employment Service of the Department of Social Protection. The website provides jobseekers with free job search and tools to create a profile to match their skills and experience with jobs. This Government service includes a network of staff providing expert guidance and resources, who can help individuals to create their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourist Accommodation (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy and am happy to take him up on his kind invitation. It is so important we work closely with the sector he referred to. We had initiatives in the past such as The Gathering, and when our economy was on the floor, we saw how much that sector played a part in enhancing economic activity and getting employment back. It is at the forefront of our minds. As I said, it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: The Government is committed to backing business and will continue to work closely with small businesses nationwide to support their growth, help them find new markets and assist them in remaining competitive and resilient. The 31 local enterprise offices, LEOs, play an extremely important role providing assistance directly to micro, small and medium-sized businesses as well as promoting...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: I fully understand the pressures businesses are under throughout the economy at this time, not least those businesses in retail, wholesale or hospitality, which are key. We are supporting them, with €250 million through ICOB and a 9% VAT rate for electricity and gas out to October. There is the grant in respect of energy efficiency that I spoke about, at €15 million. VAT...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: I will not take any lectures from the Opposition about protecting workers. I am proud to have been a member of a Government that put €12 billion into the economy through the pandemic unemployment payment to ensure that people had certainty of income right through very difficult times in our economy. That ensured the economy was in good shape to deliver those commitments, protect...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourist Accommodation (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: ...as a Teachta Dála and in a previous ministerial role. The importance of the tourism sector to the economy and to communities in every corner of Ireland is well understood. It is recognised that the use of tourist accommodation to support the Government’s response to the humanitarian crisis has impacted on the sector. Fáilte Ireland identified that, in November 2023,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourist Accommodation (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: ...for his response and for setting out clearly the pressures the sector is under in his constituency and right across the south and west coasts. I fully understand the pressures and the acute nature of the problem. I am due to meet with the hospitality and tourist forum in May with the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. Obviously, the forum will discuss this issue. We will also frame a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: On sick pay, we are very committed as a Government to improve the rights of employees. We are in the month of April. Section 6 of the Act clearly sets out that the decision has to be made in quarter 4 and a ministerial direction has to be given on 1 January next year. I make all my policy decisions based on evidence. Through the year, I will look at how the economy is progressing and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Living Wage (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: ...for his kind words. As the Deputy will be aware, in 2021 the Low Pay Commission was asked to examine the programme for Government commitment to progress to a living wage and provide recommendations on how best to achieve this commitment. The Low Pay Commission’s recommendations were received and considered and in November 2022, the Government agreed that a national living wage...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Living Wage (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: ...On an objective analysis, last night we voted for auto enrolment to ensure pension rights to those right across our economy. The most vulnerable will benefit. We also introduced sick pay on a statutory basis, which will also help those on the margins of society. If we look at any objective analysis, from 2015 the national minimum wage has increased by 46.8%. That really shows how much...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Industrial Relations (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy O'Reilly for her question and her kind wishes. We look forward to working with all Members across the House. As we have demonstrated in previous Departments, working relationships are very important. I and the Ministers of State, Deputies Higgins and Calleary, will do our very best in our respective roles. The Labour Employer Economic Forum's sub-group on employment and...