Results 161-180 of 2,796 for speaker:Neale Richmond in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: Ireland’s economic migration policy facilitates the entry, in the short to medium term, of non-EEA nationals to fill skills gaps in economically strategic sectors. In framing policy, consideration is given to other instruments that are also available in meeting skills shortages challenges, such as upskilling and activating the unemployed. The Employment Permits Section of my...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: Under the Housing for All plan, my Department is working to promote innovation and increased productivity in the residential construction sector, including the more widespread adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). To promote research and development and disseminate the best and most relevant innovations to the players in the construction value-chain in Ireland, my Department with...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine leads Government policy for the agri-food sector and has responsibility for undertaking the strategic review of the labour needs of the meat processing industry. Officials of my Department are actively engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to progress work on the review and I understand that terms of reference for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 419 together. The right to request remote working will be available to all employees under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. Under the Act, flexible working arrangements such as adjusted working patterns or reduced hours, will be available to parents and carers. One Code of Practice will now be developed which will provide...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Food Industry (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: I chair the Retail Forum, which provides a platform for engagement with members of the retail sector to discuss issues affecting the sector. The matters raised have not been discussed at recent Retail Forum meetings. Information about the Retail Forum, including membership and meeting minutes, can be found on my Department’s website. Neither I, nor Ministers Coveney or Calleary have...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Process (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Private Members Bill on Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) is sponsored by Deputies Bríd Smith, Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett and Gino Kenny. It is a matter for the Deputies to progress the Bill. The Joint Committee on Enterprise Trade and Employment met in public session on the 25 January 2023 to discuss detailed scrutiny of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: In 2018 government agreed (Government Decision S180/20/10/1272C of 27 November 2018) that the then Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation would undertake responsibility for the management of a standing Scheme to implement an emergency humanitarian financial grant Scheme for small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting bodies which have been unable to secure flood insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (7 Nov 2023)

Neale Richmond: Increased female participation in our workforce is vital for our economy and in the interests of our society we need to ensure that women can realise their full entrepreneurial potential. For anyone who is considering starting their own business, regardless of the sector they are operating in, I would encourage them to seek the advice and support of their Local Enterprise Office (LEO). ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (25 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Government is committed to supporting workers and has a strong record on strengthening and introducing new workers’ rights. As the Deputy is aware, the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018, came into force on 4 March 2019. This Act introduced a number of measures to strengthen employee rights and to address the problems caused by the increased casualisation of work....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (25 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: Delivering balanced regional enterprise growth and sustainable local job creation is a core objective of this Government and is a key component of my Department’s White Paper on Enterprise. To this end, my Department through its Enterprise Agencies, and together with the Local Enterprise Offices, continues to focus on supporting businesses across the country, including in south...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (24 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together. The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that they have no record of new employment permit applications having been received in respect of the persons concerned in the details supplied. They also inform me that both of the persons concerned are current holders of general employment permits that are currently valid until...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (24 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: Organisations may choose to outsource activities for a number of different reasons. In the recently published Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2023 Report, the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council found that the Irish jobs market remains particularly strong. For employers, the challenge to attract and retain the right people is growing in a digitally transforming world....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (24 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together. The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that following the receipt of an appeal in respect of the employment permit application referenced in the details supplied, a decision has been made to grant this permit. The permit issued on 18thOctober.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (24 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022 amends the Payment of Wages Act 1991. Insofar as tips/gratuities are concerned, the provisions came into force on the 1 December 2022. In this regard, employees may refer a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for adjudication in relation to any unlawful deductions from tips and gratuities; any failure to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Air Quality (24 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 to 229, inclusive, together. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, sets out the responsibilities of employers, the self-employed, employees and various other parties in relation to safety and health at work. The Act applies to all employers and employees in all places of work. Under Section 8 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (24 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Protection of Employment Act 1996 sets out different rules for young workers, depending on their age. Workers aged 14 and 15 are classed as ‘children’. Workers aged 16 and 17 are classed as ‘young persons’. Young persons aged 16 and 17 years are not permitted to start work before 6.00 a.m. They must finish work at 10.00 p.m. on days preceding a school day. They...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (24 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Employment Permits Bill sets out to consolidate the existing employment permits legislation to create a more accessible statutory basis and greater flexibility for our economic migration system. A key feature of the Bill is the proposed introduction of the Seasonal Employment Permit. The 2018 Review of Economic Migration Policy found that there is a clear role for time limited work...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Measures (24 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: The right to request remote working will be available to all employees under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. Under the Act, flexible working arrangements such as adjusted working patterns or reduced hours, will be available to parents and carers. Under the Act, employers will be obliged to have regard to a Code of Practice when considering applications for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Losses (24 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: Our first concern is for impacted staff (about 542) and their families and the local community and businesses in Limerick. Minister Coveney, officials and Enterprise Ireland met senior management and decision makers from Nestle Switzerland on Friday 20thOctober last. The Minister stressed the importance of the site in the context of the local economy and the wider sector. The company assured...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Immigration Policy (19 Oct 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Review of Economic Migration Policy undertaken in 2018 concluded that while the employment permits system provides a robust framework to supplement skills and labour needs in the State, the current legislation imposes inflexibility in its operation. In order to increase the agility and responsiveness of the system, the Review recommended that new legislation be initiated. The...