Results 481-500 of 12,895 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ireland’s competitiveness performance is particularly vital in light of the challenges posed by Brexit. The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook published this month shows Ireland’s competitiveness ranking has improved for the third year in a row. We are now ranked the 6th most competitive economy in the world and 2nd most competitive in the Euro area.  This is our...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Inspection and Enforcement Services of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) monitor employment conditions to ensure compliance with and, where necessary, the enforcement of employment rights legislation. This includes redress for the employees concerned and payment of any unpaid wages arising from breaches of employment rights. The Industrial Relations Act 2012 provides for the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Cost Per Job Sustained (CPJS) is the mechanism used by IDA Ireland to assess the cost of each job sustained and supported by the Agency. Tax reliefs are not included in the calculation. The CPJS measures the level of first time jobs created during a seven year period against IDA Ireland grants paid over that same period of time.  Only jobs created during and sustained to the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 38 together. As Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, I am fully committed to the creation of high-quality and sustainable employment across Ireland, including in County Meath. Significant progress has already been made towards achieving the IDA's regional development targets of a 30% to 40% increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) in every...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Given the extent of North-South trade, I am very conscious of the challenges faced by companies operating in close proximity to the border, many of which trade freely on both sides of the border.  Since the UK referendum, the State agencies under my remit - Enterprise Ireland (EI), the Local Enterprise Offices and Inter Trade Ireland - have been active in supporting companies in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Staff (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Members of An Garda Síochána are seconded to assist the Director of Corporate Enforcement in his statutory mandate. The ODCE has an approved complement of seven members of An Garda Síochána, comprising of one Detective Inspector, two Detective Sergeants and four Detective Gardaí. A Detective Sergeant vacancy was filled recently. The Detective Inspector retired last...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: An additional €3million was secured in respect of Pay in Budget 2017 and is being targeted specifically to assist in our response to the evolving Brexit scenario. It is enabling the Department and, primarily, our Agencies recruit some 40 to 50 additional staff to supplement existing staffing numbers.  These numbers may grow as Agencies allocate additional Own Resource Income, by...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that this House already had a comprehensive debate on the value of trade and free trade agreements on the 20 June 2017.  This debate covered the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).  Contributors to the debate overwhelmingly supported Free Trade Agreements and recognise the important role they play in supporting economic growth and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Military Exports (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: In 2016, my Department issued one military export licence with a value of €202,000 where the United Arab Emirates was the ultimate destination and six military export licences with a value of €742,429 where Saudi Arabia was the ultimate destination. This was in respect of category ML5 Military products, which includes electronic control devices and components. No licence...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As regards the employment of non-EEA nationals, the State's general policy is to promote the sourcing of skills needs from within the workforce of Ireland and the European Economic Area (EEA is made up of the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). The employment permits system is intended to offer a solution for employers where specific skills prove difficult to source within the EEA....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies Funding (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: An additional €3million was secured in respect of Pay in Budget 2017 and is being targeted specifically to assist in our response to the evolving Brexit scenario. It is enabling the Department and, primarily, our Agencies recruit some 40 to 50 additional staff to supplement existing staffing numbers.  These numbers may grow as Agencies allocate additional Own Resource Income, by...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Given the extent of North-South trade, I am very conscious of the challenges faced by companies operating in close proximity to the border, many of which trade freely on both sides of the border. Since the UK referendum, the State agencies under my remit - Enterprise Ireland (EI), the Local Enterprise Offices and Inter Trade Ireland - have been active in supporting companies in assessing and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Site Visits (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Regional development remains a priority for the Government. I am very much aware that an important part of unlocking the potential of regional Ireland is ensuring that foreign direct investment (FDI) is spread as evenly as possible across the country. The IDA is committed to increasing FDI in each region of Ireland and I welcome the progress made so far in boosting FDI-driven job creation...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy will be aware that on the 30 October 2016, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) was signed by representatives from Canada, the EU and its Member States.  On the 15 February 2017, the European Parliament voted in support of the provisional application of CETA.  We expect the Agreement to take effect on a provisional basis in the coming months. ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Disputes (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am aware of the dispute that is currently underway involving crane drivers on construction sites in Dublin. I am also aware that there are a number of complex issues involved in this particular dispute. I understand that the CIF and SIPTU had reached an agreement. I further understand that Unite the union has lodged a pay claim for its members. I understand Unite served...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Reports (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I received the report under section 955(1)(a) of the Companies Act 2014 from the Director of Corporate Enforcement on 23 June. I have sought advice from the Attorney General on the report. Upon receipt of advice from the Attorney General, I will be in a better position to determine next steps. It is important that any actions we take are done with full knowledge and in line with fair...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Staff Recruitment (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Following the decision of the UK to leave the EU, voted by Referendum in June, 2016, I have tasked officials in my Department and Agencies with making Brexit their number one priority. To support this effort I secured a 10% increase in capital funding allocated to my Department for 2017. I also secured €3m additional current funding to support the appointment of at least 50...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative is a central pillar of the Government’s ambition to create 200,000 new jobs by 2020, 135,000 of which are outside of Dublin. A key objective of each of the plans is to have a further 10 to 15 per cent at work in each region by 2020, with the unemployment rate of each region within one per cent of the national average.  Progress to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Initiatives (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Government policy to reduce unemployment is two-fold.  First, through policies set out in the national Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs and second, through Pathways to work to ensure that as many of the new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register. The South East...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (29 Jun 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government is investing heavily in promoting and supporting the need for businesses to become Brexit-ready. Ever since the result of the UK Referendum, the agencies under my remit have been highly engaged in encouraging and supporting companies to prepare for Brexit. In June 2016, Enterprise Ireland created a UK Export Website featuring documents, videos and webinars addressing...