Results 61-80 of 27,654 for speaker:Simon Coveney in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 50 together. Achieving balanced regional enterprise development is a priority for this Government and is reflected in the White Paper on Enterprise. My Department aims to achieve this goal through the work of the Enterprise Agencies, Local Enterprise Offices and the development, implementation and oversight of nine Regional Enterprise Plans. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Energy Conservation (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Climate Action Plan sets out our level of ambition for decarbonising the commercial built environment. A detailed roadmap is currently being finalised, led by my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which is also supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Low Pay (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: Currently, the minimum wage for those aged under 20 is less than the minimum wage for those aged 20 and over. The minimum wage for those aged 19 is 90% of the prevailing rate, for those aged 18 it is 80% and for those aged 17 and under it is 70%. As the Deputy will be aware, in 2022, the then Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment requested the Low Pay Commission to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Agreements (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The 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: Industrial Development (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: My Department, together with the enterprise agencies, plays an integral role in supporting a robust economy and the development of resilient, sustainable enterprises and well-paid employment opportunities across the country. In this regard, balanced regional development remains a priority for IDA Ireland, with 132 of a total of 248 investments - or 54% of investments won last year - choosing...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Programme (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: My Department is currently progressing multiple pieces of legislation through the Oireachtas. I have three priority pieces of legislation for the upcoming Spring Dáil session sand seven other bills published in the Spring Legislation Programme for 2024 details of which have been listed below. Legislation for Priority PublicationForty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Unified Patent...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Construction Industry (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: Modern methods of construction, or MMC, is a key way of helping to address Ireland’s housing needs. MMC has the potential to increase productivity and efficiency, improve delivery, and reduce cost and waste in construction. My Department, alongside the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, published the ‘Roadmap for increased adoption of Modern Methods of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 48, 54, 61, 63, 70, 72, 73 and 83 together. The Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant was announced as part of the Budget 2024 package and is intended to particularly benefit small and medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises. The grant is only available to businesses who operate from a rateable premises and will not be available to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to facilitating remote and flexible working in a way which maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. The expansion of remote and hybrid working in recent years has significant potential to help create a more inclusive labour market, to widen access to talent for employers and to improve regional balance in the economy, including the Border region. I...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Government is acutely aware that businesses in all sectors are concerned about the impact of rising costs. As you are aware, I co-chair the Hospitality and Tourism Forum with my colleague Ms Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The most recent meeting was held on 24 January, where many issues affecting the sector were discussed...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: IDA Ireland's strategy, Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024, identifies opportunities for sustainable growth among its established base of clients and new investments. The strategy is delivered through a focus on five pillars: Growth, Transformation, Regions, Sustainability, and Impact, through a focus on transformative investments to increase the productivity of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Creation (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: 16,843 new jobs were created in IDA client companies in 2023. IDA Ireland now has over 1,800 client companies within its portfolio employing 300,583, accounting for 11.3% of national employment. IDA client companies reported an additional 248 investments in Ireland during 2023 with 83 of these being new name investments by companies investing in Ireland for the very first time and 67...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regional Development (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan is overseen and monitored at a regional level by a Steering Committee made up of stakeholders from Counties Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. Dr Anne Cusack is the Chair of the Plan, with Sarah Morgan as Programme Manager. My officials attended the last meeting of the Midlands Steering Committee on 24 November in Tullamore. At that meeting an update...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Export Controls (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 58 together. My Department is the National Competent Authority with responsibility for Export Controls, including Controls on defence-related exports and exports of Dual-Use goods. Controls on the export of Dual-use items are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: Following the appalling events of Thursday, 23 November, in Dublin City Centre, I, along with Ministers Richmond and Calleary met with business and retail representative bodies, alongside Dublin City Council, on Tuesday 28 November 2023, to discuss how to best support the continued operation of businesses in the city centre. Also, at the Retail Forum meeting in December 2023, concerns around...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Government published Making Remote Work, the National Remote Work Strategy, in January 2021. The Strategy sought to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature of the Irish workplace in a way which maximises its economic, social and environmental benefits. My Department led the development and implementation of the Strategy through the Remote Work Interdepartmental Group during 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Data (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) compiles statistical data in relation to Goods Exports and Imports. According to the CSO, the value of our total goods exports was €166 billion in 2021 and €209 billion in 2022 which was the highest figure on record. The value of goods exports for the period January to November 2023 was valued at €183 billion. Statistics for the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regional Development (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: Balanced regional enterprise development continues to be a key focus of mine and this Government and is reaffirmed in the White Paper on Enterprise. My Department contributes to this agenda in several ways, including through the development, implementation and oversight of nine Regional Enterprise Plans. The South-East Regional Enterprise Plan is overseen and monitored at a regional level...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The purpose of the Emergency Humanitarian Flood Relief Scheme administered by my Department is to provide urgent funding to small businesses (up to 20 employees), community and voluntary organisations affected by flooding who were unable, through no fault of their own, to secure flood insurance. The Scheme provides a contribution towards the costs of returning such premises to their pre-flood...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (8 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 64 and 75 together. Although not unique to Ireland, it is understandable that businesses are concerned about the impact of rising costs. It is also important to acknowledge that SMEs, and in particular the retail and hospitality sectors, are key employment generators for Ireland, particularly in more rural areas. While input costs have gone up for...