Results 141-160 of 27,654 for speaker:Simon Coveney in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (23 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: Further to the information provided to the Deputy last week, I wish to clarify that both aggregated data and person-specific data sets are transferred by my Department to other departments, State bodies and local authorities. These transfers only occur where validation of data sets is required in order to deliver my Department's official functions. For example, a weekly transfer of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant was announced as part of the Budget 2024 package and will be particularly targeted at Small and Medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises. Firms who do not have a rateable premises are not within the scope of this scheme. The total allocation for the ICOB grant is €257m. Officials in my Department are currently working with...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: It is understandable that businesses – particularly SMEs – are concerned about the impact of rising costs. Inflation for consumer prices – although still elevated at 4.6 per cent in December – is generally declining. There have also been reductions in wholesale price inflation throughout much of 2023. Wholesale electricity prices are down. The latest forecasts from...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: As part of the Budget 2024 package, the Government announced the introduction of the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant. While this grant is intended to aid firms with the challenge posed by increased costs, it is not intended to directly compensate for all increases in wages, or other costs, for every business. It is important that I be clear that this scheme is not related to the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Promotion (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: IDA Ireland, the agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment to Ireland, actively manages the Taiwanese market from its Singapore office. IDA Ireland’s decision to close its Taiwan office on 31 December 2011 was solely based on business reasons. There have been no new IDA investment projects from Taiwan for several years despite active marketing programmes in the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Promotion (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, adheres to the One China Policy. This means that we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and that we recognise the People's Republic of China as the legal representative of China. This does not preclude the development of economic, cultural, and people-to-people connections with Taiwan; nor the meaningful participation of Taiwan in relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme aims to ensure the supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices and is a significant contributor to regional economic development and job creation. In this regard, the Kilbarry Business & Technology Park...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy is aware, IDA Ireland provides a range of financial supports to FDI companies in the form of employment, capital, research and development, environmental and training grants. In this regard, IDA Ireland provided a total of €4,047,964 in grant support of VMWare’s Cork operation since 2005. This sum is broken down as follows: Year Approved ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Research and Development (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: InterTradeIreland is one of six North-South Implementation Bodies established under the 1998 Belfast-Good Friday Agreement that works on an all-island basis. InterTradeIreland’s remit is to promote trade and business development on an all island and cross border basis. InterTradeIreland is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Ireland and the Department for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: IDA Ireland's 2023 results announced on 15thDecember last, showed 248 investments were won, with just under 19,000 associated jobs. 83 of these were new name investments from companies investing in Ireland for the very first time and 67 were expansions by companies already established here. Total employment in IDA client-companies in 2023 remained over the 300,000 mark. Nevertheless, the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the formalisation of data sharing arrangements was introduced by the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 and was supplemented by the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019, with the commencement of final sections of that Act coming into effect on 16th December last year. Schedules of personal or person-specific data are therefore not available for the last 20 years. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 to 428, inclusive, together. As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I cannot develop plans for public sector appointments or for the training of public sector interviewers as I do not have policy responsibility in this area. I note the report on Autism recommends a range of initiatives regarding public sector recruitment and employment...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I cannot develop plans related to the monitoring of targets for the employment of autistic and disabled persons in all public bodies as I do not have policy responsibility in this area. Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 details the obligations public bodies have to promote and support the employment of persons with disabilities. Part 5 of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Missions (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: Each year, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland prepare a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to grow business overseas and increase domestic employment, and showcasing opportunities for foreign direct investment in support of high-quality jobs and regional development throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 454 together. I understand that the Deputies are referring to the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant, which was announced as part of the Budget 2024 package and which will be particularly targeted at Small and Medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises. Firms who do not have a rateable premises are not within the scope of this...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: European Council (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: The next meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade Formation) will take place in Brussels on 22 and 23 January 2024. I will attend this meeting as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The event is hosted by the Belgian Presidency who will be represented by Ms. Hadja Lahbib, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade and Federal Cultural Institutions. The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: Section 4A of the Credit Guarantee Act 2012, provides me with the power to give guarantees in accordance with the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme. As guarantor of the Covid-19 Credit Guarantee scheme (CCGS) my Department bears 80% of the risk should a loan under this scheme default; with the financial provider bearing the remaining 20%. I have signed legal guarantee agreements to this...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Export Controls (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: I, like all my colleagues in the government are extremely concerned with the destruction evident in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Ireland has a robust export control system in place. An authorisation is required to export dual use items to a third country and for transfers of military equipment within the EU, as a well as for export to a third country. Exports of dual use and military goods to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Economic Sanctions (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for implementing trade related restrictive measures or “sanctions”. Trade sanctions are increasingly used by the international community as a means of exerting influence on various issues of international concern. Ireland fully subscribes to its international obligations in this regard. Ireland does not impose...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (17 Jan 2024)

Simon Coveney: IDA Ireland's 2023 results announced on 15thDecember last, showed 248 investments were won, with just under 19,000 associated jobs. 83 of these were new name investments from companies investing in Ireland for the very first time and 67 were expansions by companies already established here. Total employment in IDA clients in 2023 remains over the 300,000 mark, although the 2023 figure of...