Results 201-220 of 12,895 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Competitiveness is integral to exports, jobs growth and as a means of achieving sustainable improvements in living standards. Improving competitiveness performance is a core focus of the work of my Department and wider Government policy and is particularly vital in light of the challenges posed by Brexit. The 2017/2018 Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to maintaining the OECD endorsed Action Plan for Jobs process; that Government will on an annual basis consult with all relevant stakeholders to draft a Plan that contains the best ideas for job creation and retention within available resources. The Action Plan for Jobs is one of the Government’s key instruments to support job...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The EU–Canada Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force provisionally from the 21st September 2017.  This means that Irish companies may now take advantage of the provisions of CETA including the elimination of tariffs on almost all key exports, access to the Canadian procurement market, the easing of regulatory barriers and more transparent rules for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Competition for foreign direct investment (FDI) remains intense. Ireland nevertheless attracts global FDI that helps to fuel employment creation and economic growth across the country. Multinational companies continue to invest and re-invest here with leading global firms from many sectors - including life sciences, ICT, engineering and digital media - all based in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Action Plan for Jobs is the Government’s key instruments to support job creation. The Action Plan for Jobs is working. 225,000 extra people are at work today than in 2012 when the first Plan was launched. 18,000 new jobs were created in the first six months of 2017. While the Action Plan is a whole of Government approach to support job creation, I am responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Given my Department’s responsibility for growing and internationalising business, we will actively contribute to developing a plan to deliver on our ambition to double our global footprint. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland already have significant presence in overseas markets which has delivered results over many years. Both are keen to deepen and strengthen that presence to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department recognises the key role that innovation has played in Ireland’s economic recovery to date. It contributes significantly to job creation, exports and investment and the competitiveness of the indigenous enterprise base. Innovation also contributes to embedding the foreign direct investment base in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland, an agency of my Department, supports companies...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation I recognise that investing in education, training and upskilling is vital for a strong workforce and to ensure a stable and healthy economy. This Government has shown its commitment to this through the Action Plan for Jobs 2017 which recognises the need for upskilling and reskilling jobseekers and the importance of providing training...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Portfolio (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The availability of an adequate supply of marketable land, office and industrial or technology buildings in advance of demand is a key element in IDA Ireland’s ability to compete for mobile foreign direct investment. The availability of property solutions eliminates the lead times normally associated with acquiring property, enables clients to plan their property needs with a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Online Business Voucher Scheme (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Cavan is the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other ‘soft’ supports such as training and mentoring.   The LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies including Revenue, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The company in question announced plans in 2015 to establish a facility in the IDA Business Park in Roscommon Town to manufacture ophthalmic products. A total of 50 jobs were announced at the time, to be created over a seven year period. I understand that 12 staff are now employed at the facility and that the company remains on track to create the remainder of the planned...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Even in advance of the UK referendum result the analytical capacity of Government had been set in motion, identifying risks and preparing responses that would best protect the interests of Irish citizens and enterprises, regardless of out the outcome.  The Government is intensifying its focus on the economic implications of Brexit, including on domestic policy measures to reinforce...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, through the Expert Group on Future Skills (EGFSN), continuously monitors and advises the Government on future skills requirements and associated labour market issues that impact on the national potential for employment growth. The EGFSN is an independent, non-statutory body, which includes representatives from the business...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: On identifying impediments, one of the primary tools I have as Minister to hear from SMEs, who account for 99.8% of enterprises in Ireland, is through the Advisory Group on Small Business (AGSB). The AGSB was set up to give a greater voice in the development of policy to SMEs. Issues negatively affecting the growth and development of SMEs are identified, and possible solutions are suggested...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Enterprise Ireland supports companies in regional and rural areas to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future. The 5,000 manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland. In 2016, Enterprise Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Supports (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) is globally recognised as the key economic differentiator and, as such, a very important feature of enterprise and investment in Ireland.Put simply, RDI enables Irish companies to make products and services that are innovative, competitive and more novel than those in global markets. This continued innovation helps to insulate us from market shocks,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business Regulation (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Good regulation aims to provide a stable base for economic activity and a level playing field for all businesses, while also protecting workers, consumers and the environment.  Better Regulation Policy aims to ensure that the processes for generating new regulation, and for evaluating existing regulation, are as effective and efficient as possible.  Regulation should achieve the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since the Brexit vote outcome, my Department has had extensive engagement with business to understand what they need to help them adapt to the challenges posed by Brexit, and to provide support for diversification, development and innovation.   Brexit presents the most significant economic challenge of the past 50 years and long-term, structural and disruptive change will...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are both agencies of my Department and each has a specific and very different role to play in the context of innovation and technology.  Enterprise Ireland is primarily focussed on SMEs and indigenous enterprises, while IDA Ireland’s main objective is to encourage investment into Ireland by foreign owned companies, in the form of foreign direct...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Despite increasing international competition from across the EU and further afield for foreign direct investment (FDI), overseas companies continue to be attracted to Ireland. That is because multinational businesses value our talented workforce, membership of the EU and Eurozone as well as our proven track record as a home to FDI. The Government is very much...