Written Answers Nos. 176-189
176. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken to ensure that all employers are adhering to public health advice to allow employees to work from home unless it is absolutely necessary particularly in relation to staff with underlying health conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43784/20]
View answerThe Government’s Living with COVID-19 Plan recognises the need for an overall incremental approach which take account of the societal and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the varying responses required.
The Living with Covid-19 Plan sets out how businesses should operate at five different levels. The Country is, at present, at Level 3 and within Level 3 people should work from home unless it is absolutely necessary to attend in person.
While an employer is responsible, in the first instance, for determining what work can be carried out at home, employers must bear in mind that the overarching public health advice is that, where possible, employees should continue to work remotely. Employers should also give due consideration, in particular, to vulnerable workers in this context.
In instances where employees have returned to the physical workplace the employer must ensure that the public health measures set out in the Work Safely Protocol are being fully adhered to. The Protocol operates in parallel with existing workplace health and safety statutory requirements and sets out in very clear terms, for all business sectors, the steps that must be taken on an ongoing basis to mitigate against the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace. In relation to workers who are in high-risk categories, but who cannot work from home, the Protocol states that employers must make sure that such workers are supported to maintain a physical distance of 2 metres from others at the workplace.
Any worker with concerns about health and safety standards at their own place of work can contact the Health and Safety Authority’s Workplace Contact Unit (WCU) for detailed advice including advice on compliance with the Work Safely Protocol. The WCU can be contacted by phone at Lo-call 1890289389 (landline) or (01) 6147000 or by email at wcu@hsa.ie.
Employers and workers should seek to resolve any matters relating to remote working at a local level through mutual dialogue and engagement. Where this is not possible a dispute may be referred to the State's workplace relations services for mediation or conciliation. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is providing services on both a face to face and virtual basis. Advice can be obtained from the Information & Customer Service of the WRC at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90 or 059 9178990 or from its website www.wrc.ie.
177. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in counties Cavan and Monaghan that have applied for a ready for customs grant. [43720/20]
View answerAs part of the Government’s €5 billion July Stimulus, I announced a new €20 million Ready for Customs support scheme. Enterprise Ireland is rolling out the scheme to help businesses prepare for the new challenges of trading with and through the UK. This scheme provides grants of up to €9,000 to help businesses as they recruit and build staff expertise in customs processes and to provide for related investment in relevant ICT.
To date, a total of 13 businesses in Co. Cavan have applied for the Ready for Customs grant, while a total of 19 businesses in Co. Monaghan have applied for the grant.
179. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties facing workers in an airline (details supplied) who are continuing to face difficulty in engaging with the human resources department of the airline regarding payments and entitlements. [43826/20]
View answerI understand how difficult it must be for Aer Lingus employees facing renegotiations, restructuring and possibly lay-offs. The aviation industry has been devastated by the pandemic and consequently workers in the industry have been severely affected and are facing great uncertainty.
In November, the Government agreed a revised €80 million funding package for Irish aviation. In recognition of the very difficult winter season being faced by the aviation sector the Government decided to provide an extra €48 million in supports for 2021, in addition to those announced in Budget 2021. This year and into 2021 the State will have provided in excess of €180m in supports for the aviation sector.
In terms of the workers' employment rights, the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994 provides that an employer must provide their employee with a written statement of the particulars of the employee’s terms of employment. It also provides that an employer must notify the employee of any changes in the particulars given in the statement. Where an employer wishes to change these terms and conditions, further written notification of the change should be provided within one month of the change. The Act provides a right of complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) where an employer fails to comply with either of the above
The Payment of Wages Act 1991, amongst other things, protects employees from unlawful deductions from their wages by employers. Non-payment or underpayment of wages has also been deemed to be a deduction from wages for the purposes of the 1991 Act. Where an employee does not receive the wages agreed in their contract of employment or if certain deductions are made from his/her wages by his/her employer, it is open to an employee to make a complaint to an Adjudication Officer of the WRC under the Payment of Wages Act 1991.
Ireland has a very advanced industrial relations framework, which includes the services of the WRC and the Labour Court. For any worker who needs help or advice, the WRC helpline is available at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90.
181. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available to publicly-licensed houses that have been prevented from trading over the Christmas period as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43914/20]
View answerI am keenly aware that publicans are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities. I am committed to ensuring that the Government offers as much assistance as possible. A comprehensive range of measures is in place for firms of all sizes, including the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, waivers of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities and details are available on my Department’s website.
The Employment Wage Support Scheme was announced as part of Budget 2021. Changes were also made to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the EWSS, increasing the top rate to €350 for those who were earning in excess of €400 per week.
My colleague, Minister Heather Humphreys T.D., Minister for Social Protection, recently announced the doubling of the PUP threshold to €960 over an eight-week period. This will help people to restart their businesses and allow self-employed people to take on intermittent jobs.
The Revenue Commissioners' COVID Restrictions Support Scheme offers a temporary sector-specific support to businesses forced to close or trade at significantly reduced levels by up to €5,000 per week. For those that unfortunately have had to stay closed, including wet pubs, three double weeks of the CRSS will be paid, as December is normally the busiest time of the year for these businesses.
Budget 2021 overall provides a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build resilience and help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors. We are providing more and cheaper loan finance through MicroFinance Ireland, SBCI and the Credit Guarantee Scheme.
The six-month reduction in VAT rates down from 23% to 21%, and from 13.5% to 9% will benefit the hospitality sector, as well as a range of additional public capital investment measures to support the domestic economy.
I will continue to work with my colleagues to identify practical actions to help businesses.
182. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans regarding the introduction of sustainability indicators for enterprises in receipt of support from their local enterprise office given that this would highlight businesses that have made a conscious effort with regard to sustainability goals and this is not considered at present as part of a grant application. [43326/20]
View answerUnder the Government's Climate Action Plan and in preparation for developing a new strategy, Enterprise Ireland is assessing further the scope and scale of supports and programmes offered to client companies in the area of sustainability and resilience in a low carbon economy. This will include an assessment of Local Enterprise Office supports.
The Local Enterprise Offices established the LEO Green Committee in October 2020 to drive implementation and build on pilot programmes such as the Going Green Project, the Green for Micro Project and the Lower Carbon Lower Cost Initiative run by various LEOs in 2020.
In the first Quarter of 2021, the Local Enterprise Offices are planning to launch a National Green for Micro initiative to help micro-enterprises incorporate sustainable practices into the day-to-day running of their businesses and to assist them in transitioning to a low carbon economy.
In their role as a ‘signposting’ service to businesses, the Local Enterprise Offices can assist enterprises in identifying the sustainability standard most appropriate to their activities, including some existing approaches which facilitate companies communicating their sustainability to employees, stakeholders and customers. These can be sector specific, such as the Origin Green program in the food sector.
My Department is collaborating with Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices Centre of Excellence and other agencies to help build a web portal to provide SMEs with relevant tools and content to address the climate action and sustainability agenda. This portal will include a carbon calculator, a template action plan and signposting to relevant agency supports and case studies.
The Local Enterprise Offices will actively promote this portal across its client base, with the objective of increasing the ability of Irish microenterprises to accurately measure their CO2 footprint and awareness of the most impactful ways to reduce emissions and improve sustainability.
184. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the future work plan of the Workplace Relations Commission. [43852/20]
View answerThe Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Work programme for 2021 was approved by the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail on 3 December 2020.
During 2021, the WRC will continue to improve remote services being provided and will also further develop the technological platforms and broader administrative and physical infrastructure within WRC offices to facilitate this.
Throughout the year, the WRC will work pro-actively with stakeholders, key influencers, companies and organisations nationally to support deeper understanding of good practice, prevent breaches, including those relating to exploitative labour practices, and embed a culture of good workplace relations.
The WRC will carry out awareness raising campaigns in 2021, including on the role of the WRC in receiving and processing equal status complaints with particular emphasis on persons from the most discriminated against minority ethnic communities, and from the LGBT+ community.
The WRC will upgrade its internal ICT platforms and will develop a Self-Service Portal which will allow users of the WRC’s services to monitor case progress, upload documents, view and accept hearing dates, or submit a postponement request. This will bring about improved customer satisfaction, efficiencies and earlier hearings.
The Work Plan recognises too that while some of the changes to delivery may be incorporated into the WRC services in the longer term, the traditional “face to face” approaches to resolving collective and individual disputes, adjudication is optimal and will be re-activated as circumstances permit.
My Department will continue to work closely with the WRC in the areas of ICT support, staff resources, legislative requirements and funding to ensure that it is adequately supported to fulfil its important role.
185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he remains satisfied as to the adequacy of measures taken to protect the economy as Brexit unfolds; his views on whether the alternative arrangements are sufficient insofar as is possible, meet all eventualities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43835/20]
View answer235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he is of the view sufficient provision has been made to compensate for losses of jobs or export markets in respect of goods or services in the aftermath of Brexit; if he remains satisfied that adequate provision has been made to withstand the initial trade shock of developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44640/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 235 together.
Brexit, in whatever shape it finally takes, will have a significant impact on the Irish economy, fundamentally changing the trading environment for businesses trading with the UK, excluding Northern Ireland. With just two weeks until the UK leaves the Single Market and the Customs Union, work to ensure Government, business and citizens are Brexit ready is of paramount importance, because change will happen from 1 January 2021.
Key elements of Brexit readiness right across all Government Departments and agencies has been progressing since the outcome of the UK referendum on Brexit in 2016. Since that time, Government has published three Brexit preparedness Action Plans, the most recent being September 2020. Since September, Brexit readiness work has being intensified across all Departments and agencies to be Brexit ready for the end of the transition period, whatever the outcome of the EU/UK negotiations. Our readiness work is supported by a major national communications campaign under the ‘Getting Ireland Brexit Ready’ brand.
Over the past number of budgets, Government has taken extensive action to mitigate the worst effects of Brexit, and in the case of businesses, has providing numerous initiatives to assist businesses get Brexit ready. These range from planning vouchers, consultancy and mentoring supports, tariff advisory services, research on new markets, and innovation supports. These are all provided through agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices and InterTradeIreland. These initiatives are monitored and adapted as necessary to ensure they effectively address the challenges of Brexit. In successive budgets, new and additional initiatives have been introduced and we will continue to support businesses and the economy as needed with the introduction of additional measures.
Customs is an area that will most immediately impact businesses on 1 January next and we have been adapting our response by putting grants and customs training programmes in place. Enterprise Ireland’s “Ready for Customs” grant provides up to €9,000 per eligible employee hired, or redeployed within the business, to a dedicated customs role. A second phase of Skillnet Ireland’s free customs training, Clear Customs Online 2020, is open for applications, to support the customs intermediary sector and businesses that trade frequently with, or through, the UK.
The Government has also put in place extensive financial and other supports for sectors to assist businesses prepare for and mitigate the worst impacts of Brexit. These include the Brexit Loan Scheme, the expanded Future Growth Loan Scheme and the €2 billion Credit Guarantee Scheme to help businesses with their finances as they reboot and rebuild both through Covid-19 and Brexit. Additional funding was provided to Microfinance Ireland to help microenterprises that can not avail of bank funding over the coming period.
In Budget 2021, Government has provided for a recovery fund of €3.4 billion for a combination of COVID-19 and Brexit and specifically earmarked a contingency fund of €100 million to assist businesses with Brexit. We will keep under review the existing measures in place for Brexit and, should additional supports prove necessary, we will use the recovery fund to protect the economy in the same manner as we have done for COVID-19.
We have also been engaged with the European Commission in the context of the €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve the proposal for which is expected to be published by the Commission shortly. This fund is aimed at protecting those Member States most impacted by Brexit and, as the Member State that stands to lose most from Brexit, Ireland is actively pursuing our share of this fund.
Separately and in parallel to the task of preparing businesses for Brexit, my Department has also, through Enterprise Ireland, been actively working on a strategy of market diversification for companies to find other markets.
Ireland's overall export performance over the last 10 years has been marked by year-on-year growth with total exports of goods and services reaching further record levels of €374 billion in 2019.
The overall scale of the Ireland-UK trade relationship can be seen through the €51 billion of goods and services we exported in 2019, while importing €41 billion from the UK. While the UK is, and will remain, a major market for Irish companies, expanding the Irish export footprint in markets beyond the UK is a key priority. In that context, Enterprise Ireland’s strategy is to support Irish exporters to be more innovative, competitive and market diversified.
The Irish exporting landscape has been strong and companies in Ireland have been succeeding in winning business worldwide for their products and services. Enterprise Ireland client companies achieved record levels of worldwide exports in 2019 of €25.6bn, against the backdrop of Brexit uncertainty. In 2019, the Eurozone region, which is a key focus of Enterprise Ireland’s diversification strategy, saw growth of 15% to €5.65bn, with Germany, France and the Netherlands each exceeding €1bn in exports. Exports to North America increased from €4.08bn in 2018 to €4.72bn, an increase of 16%.
Enterprise Ireland client companies exports to the UK amounted to €7.9 billion in 2019, which represent an increase of 2% on the 2018 figure. While the UK continues to be the top export market for Enterprise Ireland client companies, such exports now account for 31% of total exports, having fallen from 36% in 2015 in accordance with the market diversification strategy.
I am confident that through this work with Enterprise Ireland, firms will be encouraged to look to other markets and to expand their footprint outside of the UK.
186. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of all proposed EU trade agreements and Ireland’s position on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43666/20]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular format as follows:
In addition to the above the since the beginning of 2019 EU Trade Agreements have entered into force with Japan, Singapore and Vietnam. The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement has been provisionally applied since September 2017 allowing Irish companies take advantage of the all-important provisions of CETA including the elimination of tariffs on almost all key exports, access to the Canadian procurement market, the easing of regulatory barriers and more transparent rules for market access.
In terms of Ireland's position on EU Free Trade Agreements, Ireland is a strong supporter of ambitious, modern and progressive trade agreements which also project our values and high standards, such as the protection of labour rights and environmental standards. Diversifying trade is a key priority for this Government and an important part of our Brexit response and it will be an important factor in Ireland’s economic recovery post-pandemic. The best way to achieve export growth and market diversification is by improving the terms of trade for Irish firms. We need to secure greater market access and reduce the costs of entering those markets and the EU suite of Free Trade Agreements are key in that regard.
187. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work that is underway in relation to farm safety including training and other assistance to farmers in order to help reduce the number of fatal farm accidents and non-fatal accidents each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41562/20]
View answerThe Health and Safety Authority (HSA), an agency under the auspices of my Department, has consistently prioritised the farming sector in their annual programme of work. In addition to targeted inspection campaigns the HSA has also, in recent years, through high-profile media and information campaigns, and collaborative efforts with stakeholders, sought to embed a crucial mindset change in the farming community to better embrace farm safety.
In support of this prioritisation, the HSA has in place an extensive farm safety prevention programme, which focusses on the provision of advice, guidance, e-tools and educational supports for the sector, as well as targeted inspection campaigns. The HSA's initiatives and measures aim to increase awareness of the need for safer work practices to help prevent the injuries and fatalities so prevalent in the farming community.
The core of the programme is the user-friendly Farm Safety Code of Practice and half-day training program on the practical application of the Code delivered by the Teagasc advisory service and independent agricultural advisors.
The HSA carries out approximately 2,000 inspections and investigations annually, to assess safety standards on farms and to assess the need for targeted information and guidance for the sector and/or the running of specific safety initiatives.
In addition to routine inspection activity, the HSA also run topic specific Farm Safety campaigns. There are three such campaigns planned for 2021, Livestock in Quarter 1, Tractors & Machinery in Quarter 2 and a campaign in relation to Working at Height planned for Quarter 4. These campaigns will be supported by associated media publicity drives and will include support from other stakeholders through their social media platforms.
In the past few months, the HSA conducted a media campaign designed to promote the farm safety message, particularly regarding tractor and machinery safety, through TV, Radio, Farming Press and social media platforms.
Separately, my colleague Martin Heydon TD., Minister of State with special responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development will be introducing an Accelerated Capital Allowances scheme for Farm Safety and Disabilities Adaptation Equipment. This scheme will be administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and will provide for the purchase of farm safety equipment which can help prevent farm accidents.
188. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland has made a submission to the EU trade policy review; if so, the issues he is prioritising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43680/20]
View answerEU Trade Policy comes under the EU's Common Commercial Policy and is an EU competence under the Treaties. In that regard, on 16 June 2020 the European Commission launched a major review of the Union's trade policy, including a public consultation seeking input from the European Parliament, Member States, stakeholders and civil society. The Commission's aim is to build a consensus around a medium-term direction for EU trade policy, responding to a variety of new global challenges and taking into account the lessons learned from the coronavirus crisis.
There are two key objectives driving the review process. Firstly, to assess how trade policy can contribute to a swift and sustainable socio-economic recovery, reinforcing competitiveness in the post-Covid 19 environment, addressing the challenges the EU will face, and helping to promote our values and standards. Secondly, to see how trade policy can help build a stronger EU based on reaping the benefits of openness for our businesses, workers and consumers, while protecting them from unfair practices and building up EU resilience to be better equipped for future challenges.
The Trade Policy Review process is based on broad consultations with stakeholders, including through public debates undertaken across the EU Member States, seeking input from industry, civil society and other stakeholders through written submissions. The Commission had originally set a deadline of 15 September for the public consultation on the Trade Policy Review, however, this was subsequently extended by a further two months until 15 November 2020.
My Department contacted a wide range of stakeholders to make them aware of the Commission’s consultation and encouraged them to engage as part of developing and shaping Ireland’s engagement with the European Commission on this important review.
The Trade Policy Review was part of my discussions with fellow EU Trade Ministers at the September Informal Trade Council meeting in Berlin and was discussed again at the Formal Trade Council on 9 November 2020. We formally submitted our views on the Review on 24 November 2020. Although Member State submissions are confidential, I can say that many of the points we made centred on the need for our Trade Policy to focus on:
- economic growth and development and good jobs;
- support for SME internationalisation;
- ensuring the correct balance in defending EU firms against illegitimate practices by other;
- the lead role the EU can play in reforming the WTO;
- the important role of digitalisation in shaping the future of Trade; and
- the Trade Policy nexus with other EU policies.
We are anticipating that the EU would seek to adopt the new Trade Policy in the first quarter of next year.
189. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the implementation of the recommendations made in the Action Plan for Insurance Reform in relation to the Personal Injury Assessment Board; the number of recommendations that have not been implemented to date; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43849/20]
View answerOn the 8th December 2020, I launched the Government’s first Action Plan for Insurance Reform. The Plan sets out 66 actions to bring down costs for consumers and business; introduce more competition into the market; prevent fraud and reduce the burden on business, community and voluntary organisations.
Four actions in the Plan relate to enhancing and reforming the role of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The PIAB model delivers major benefits by providing a low-cost, quick and fair option in injury compensation. However, PIAB have seen decreases in their number of claim settlements in recent years and an increased number of claims are settled by litigation resulting in higher legal costs and longer times to settle.
Minister Troy has prioritised the reform of PIAB and, in line with the timeline for implementation of the second commitment in the Action Plan, has instructed his officials to work closely with PIAB to develop a roadmap for reform arising from these proposals by year end. A particular focus of this work is how to increase the number of cases which are settled by PIAB without recourse to litigation. The 2nd Motor Report from the Central Bank, published in November, clearly shows why this is necessary. It shows there is little benefit in rejecting a PIAB award, that it takes nearly twice as long to settle a case through litigation and for a similar sized settlement. Working with PIAB, officials are examining a number of potential measures to enhance PIAB’s remit and role within the overall scope of insurance reform in Ireland. These measures relate to both administrative changes within the current process as well as potential legislative changes to increase the number of cases kept within the PIAB system.
The other two commitments in the Plan relate to holding a public consultation on reform measures and delivering an enhanced role for PIAB. These are due for completion in 2021.
Insurance is a hugely significant issue for consumers and businesses in our country. The full implementation of the Action Plan for Insurance Reform will help to ensure that we have an insurance system which is both affordable and reliable and one which underpins a vibrant economy.
