Results 81-100 of 12,895 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Functions (16 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: On 26th July, the Government made orders for the delegation of Ministerial functions to Minister Halligan at my request. Minister Halligan has been delegated responsibility for Innovation, Research and Development (IRD), and will oversee implementation of the Government's national strategy in this area, Innovation 2020. He has been given responsibility for the delivery of IRD...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (16 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Enterprise Ireland is committed to assisting Irish enterprises to achieve strong export sales in global markets. In this way, they support sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment. Enterprise Ireland works to balance the needs of companies wishing to avail of their services and their commitment to ensuring a high standard of corporate governance and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Travel (16 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: My office, and the offices of the Ministers of State in my Department, are currently compiling lists of all travel and accommodation costs incurred on overseas ministerial trips during the period in question. I anticipate that this information will be available by the end of November, and I will ensure that it is published on my Department's website.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (16 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: A Rescue and Restructure scheme was recently notified to the Directorate General for Competition (DG Comp) as a contingency measure in response to Brexit. This scheme is working its way through the normal approval channels within DG Comp and we have not been advised that any issue has arisen in regards to this standard approval process. My Officials expect that this scheme will...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Law (16 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 9 of the Companies (Statutory Audits) Bill 2017 repeals section 343(7) of the Companies Act 2014.  Section 343(7) provided for a company to apply to the District Court for an extension of time to file its annual return. A consequence of getting such an Order from the Court was that the company concerned retained an exemption from audit. Section 343(7) replaced a previous...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: International Bodies Membership (16 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The increased capital allocation I secured for innovation in Budget 2018 will enable Ireland to join the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in 2018. The once-off joining fee for ESO will be approximately €14m. However, the payment of this fee can be ameliorated over 10 years. The recurrent, annual cost of membership will be approximately €3m. The exact costs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Documents (16 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Brexit will clearly present a number of different challenges for Irish businesses.  An added complexity is that the uncertainty surrounding the precise nature of the UK's future relationship with the EU makes planning and preparing for Brexit all the more difficult for companies here. This is partly why many businesses do not yet have detailed Brexit contingency plans in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Horizon 2020 Strategy Funding (16 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The following tables provide the total Horizon 2020 (EU) funding awarded to SMEs, by county, for each of the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The tables are based on the European Commission's most recent data release on Horizon 2020, which cover the period up to the 30th September 2017. Information on SMEs that have secured funding in the SME Instrument of Horizon 2020 can be...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Law (16 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Company Law Review Group (CLRG) operates on a two-year work programme which is determined by the Minister, in consultation with the CLRG under Section 961 of the Companies Act 2014.  The current CLRG Work Programme is for the period 1 June 2016 – 31 May 2018 and is available on .   Item 1 on the CLRG Work Programme requests that the CLRG examine and make recommendations...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Returns (15 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: One of the conditions for qualification for the audit exemption is that the annual returns and financial statements of the company are filed on time.  Companies have up to ten months from the end of their financial year to file their financial statements. The requirement for a company to file its annual return on time is an important transparency measure.  The financial statements...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (15 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The North East/North West Regional Action Plan for Jobs, which includes counties Cavan and Monaghan, is a key policy response for supporting employment in the Border region. The Plan is stimulating job creation and job retention across the region by facilitating collaborative initiatives between the public and private sector, in conjunction with the provision of new competitive funds, awarded...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Law (15 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The loss of audit exemption is a long-standing rule that dates back to the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 and is central to creating a culture of compliance and supporting good corporate governance practices.  Before that time compliance with filing deadlines was only 13% while today the compliance level is at 90%, a dramatic increase that is associated with the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Tribunals of Inquiry (15 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Oireachtas established the Tribunal of Inquiry earlier this year. I do not comment on the work of the Disclosures Tribunal, which is wholly independent in its work. I fully respect and support the work of the Tribunal and it is a matter for the Tribunal how it operates.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: International Agreements (14 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The main reason that there are no mutual recognition agreements on occupational first aid qualifications with other Countries is that no request to enter into such an agreement has been received from another Country to date. A request to enter into a mutual recognition agreement from another Country would require an assurance that the occupational first-aid training standard...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (14 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Brexit Loan Scheme will provide affordable working capital financing to Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit, or will be in the future. The Scheme will be delivered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) through commercial lenders to get much needed working capital into Irish businesses. The criteria for the Brexit Loan Scheme, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Severe Weather Events Response (14 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together. I would first of all like to express my condolences to the families of Fintan Goss, Clare O’Neill and Michael Pyke who tragically lost their lives during Storm Ophelia. Storm Ophelia was, of course, an unprecedented weather event in Ireland and while overall the event was well managed there are certainly lessons to be...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Retail Sector (14 Nov 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department, as part of its remit in supporting the retail sector to facilitate sustainable employment growth, is undertaking a number of initiatives aimed at supporting indigenous businesses to build their online presence. This is in acknowledgment of the increased spend of Irish consumers online, and the need to assist Irish businesses to compete in this space. The Retail Consultation...

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...