Written Answers Nos. 406-427
406. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason he has requested the Department of Social Protection not to proceed with the approval of pension scheme for community employment supervisors/assistant supervisors as recommended by the Labour Court; if he will explain the role of his Department in dealing with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48282/12]
View answerThe issue raised by the Deputy is not in the first instance the responsibility of my Department notwithstanding any deliberations that may have taken place with the Department of Social Protection on this matter in the context of public expenditure policy.
407. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to reduce the leaders allowance paid to independent members and ensure that it has to be vouched expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48515/12]
View answerI intend to bring proposals to Government shortly in relation to reviewing the Party Leader’s Allowance, and for any necessary amendments to the primary legislation underpinning the payment of the Allowance, the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices)(Amendment) Act, 2001.
408. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the type and frequency of North South engagement his Department undertakes; the current priorities in this area; the number of whole time equivalent staff assigned to these matters; the grades involved and the amount of time each grade spends on North South Activities as a proportion of their WTE employment; the co-ordination arrangements that have been put in place; if there are any current vacancies in North South Co-operation unites; the duration of this vacancy and the steps being taken to fill the vacancy. [48550/12]
View answerMy officials and I are directly involved in ongoing and frequent North South engagement. Officials within my Department work closely with the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) in Northern Ireland as joint sponsors of the Special EU Programmes Body, one of the North South implementation bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. Officials also work closely with the Special EU Programmes Body and DFP with regard to the management and implementation of the EU co-funded cross border programmes, PEACE III and Interreg IVA. This work is undertaken within the framework of the North South Ministerial Council and I regularly meet with my Northern Ireland counterpart at the North South Ministerial Council in Special EU Programmes format to advance this work.
My Department also works with DFP in other cross-cutting areas relating to the administration and governance of the North/South implementation bodies established under the British-Irish Agreement. I also attend the North South Ministerial Council when it meets in plenary format. The current priorities in this area are the management and implementation of the PEACE III and Interreg IVA programmes and beginning the planning for the new round of funding for the 2014-2020 period.
Responsibility for North South issues is located within my Department’s EU/North South Unit with 1 Principal Officer, 1 Assistant Principal Officer and 1 Higher Executive Officer specifically responsible for North South matters in a wider European funding context, with assistance and involvement of other officers as required on specific issues. There are no vacancies at present in the team.
409. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform regarding repeated flooding in the Kilmoyley area (details supplied) in County Kerry, if the Office of Public Works will undertake a flood risk assessment and undertaken appropriate measures to prevent flooding which is impacting on local residents as well as the church and cemetery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48671/12]
View answerThis area does not come under the remit of the Office of Public Works with regard to its maintenance responsibilities under the Arterial Drainage Acts. However, the site was visited by an OPW engineer and his assessment is that as there are no rivers or watercourses in the immediate vicinity and as the area concerned is flat and low lying, it would appear that the flooding relates to surface water drainage. It is not therefore, the responsibility of the OPW.
410. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a full, itemised list of the projects that will be advanced as part of the stimulus package announced earlier this year; the details of the work that is to be completed on each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48702/12]
View answerOn the 17th of July 2012, the Government announced its plans for an additional 2.25 billion euro stimulus package investment in public infrastructure projects in Ireland. This includes 1.4 billion euro to fund the proposed new Public Private Partnerships (PPP) programme. The list of projects selected for Phase 1 of this programme was published when the announcement was made and is available on my Department’s website www.per.gov.ie and on the PPP website www.ppp.gov.ie.
This investment is directed towards projects that meet key infrastructural needs and are in line with the priorities in the Government's Investment Framework. These projects will form the first phase of a new programme of PPP’s designed to stimulate economic growth and create employment. Ownership of the individual projects remains with the Sponsoring Department for each project. My Department chairs a PPP Steering Committee and is closely engaged with the relevant line Departments and their agencies, who are represented on the Committee, to ensure that projects are progressed promptly. Work is ongoing and a timetable of projects is currently being finalised.
This steering committee is also looking at how to streamline and shorten the PPP preparation processes and procedures to facilitate early roll out of tenders to the market. We are also seeking to maximise the job creation potential at all stages of the project lifecycle from preparation to tenders through to construction and delivery and encouraging the participation of the SME sector in the programme. To this end, the NDFA are working with Enterprise Ireland to organise awareness raising events.
411. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress he has made to update and modernise company law so that the accounting profession will be obliged to give an accurate account of the financial state of business, in view of the recent collapse of financial companies including banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47330/12]
View answerThe onus in company law is for the Directors of companies to prepare the accounts of companies on an annual basis. There is a requirement for these accounts to give a “true and fair view” of the financial position and performance of the company. Accounting rules such as International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopted by the EU are required to be used in the preparation of the consolidated accounts of companies admitted to trading on a regulated market, in order to give a true and fair view. IFRS standards are set by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) an independent standard-making body. It is the function of external auditors to express their opinion as to whether these accounts provide a true and fair view.
Aspects of an accounting standard relating to the fair valuation of financial assets has been overhauled in a new standard, while issues in relation to loan loss-recognition continue to be examined by the IASB, with the intention of revising this standard. As regards the functions of external auditors, EU Commission proposals in the aftermath of the financial crisis to improve audit quality continue to be considered at Council Working Group level in Brussels. My Department is continuing its work as regards the implementation of a Quality Assurance provision in respect of the audit of Public Interest Entities.
412. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the report by Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation entitled A review of the ICT skills demand in Ireland, seeking the introduction of a Technology Visa for IT professionals to address the present temporary skills shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47215/12]
View answer419. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to introduce a technology visa; if so the timeframe in which this may occur; and if he will outline the benefits the technology visa will be to the IT sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47445/12]
View answer420. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding job creation. [47537/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 412, 419 and 420 together.
Since 2004, Irish labour market policy has been to ensure that general labour and skills needs are met from within the workforce of the European Economic Area (EEA). Current Government policy is to issue employment permits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response to employer demand for strategic skills and labour shortages in designated occupations in key economic sectors such as healthcare, information technology and financial services.
Ireland has to compete with other countries for migrant labour, particularly in respect of high-level skills. Skills required in the high-tech sectors are in demand and in short supply globally. While increasing the supply of high-level skills from domestic sources is the most sustainable way forward in the long term, in the short term, there continues to be a need to supplement Ireland’s skills stock through employment permits and to ensure that Ireland’s employment permits system is geared towards attracting such skills.
The Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for the implementation of policy in relation to the admission of non-EEA nationals to the State and their residence in the State. However, the employment permit regime provides for control of Ireland’s labour market as well as powers for enforcement of employment rights. Deputies will be only too aware that economic migrants are a vulnerable class of people. Therefore, any actions affecting inward economic migration should be cognisant of the need to ensure that such migrants are protected and made aware of their employment rights.
The Employment Permits regime is supporting the enterprise sector and significant levels of applications are successful particularly those based on high skills levels. Figures indicate: A reduction in total applications in line with economic circumstances, but an increase in Green Card applications, in line with a greater emphasis on high value skills; An increase in the proportion of applications in respect of ICT job roles with applications in respect of ICT job roles being more successful than the norm. Over 90% of ICT related applications are successful and over 1,000 ICT related applications have been approved so far this year.
My Department has reviewed its processes with a view to attracting more ICT related applications and is confident that significant improvements can be made shortly which will greatly enhance the employment permits regime, for example: In conjunction with Forfás, a review is underway of the Green Card Employment Permit Scheme which is used by Ireland to meet labour market requirements where skills shortages have been identified by reference to analyses undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. An interim review of the four core employment permit types - Green Cards, Intra-Company Transfers, Work Permits and Spousal/Dependents - is being conducted with a view to improving the throughput and quality of employment permit applications. Such an initiative would favour the ICT sector in particular as it would include a streamlining of the documentary process, a reduction in the time it takes for applicants to prepare a successful application, and a significant reduction in processing times. Closer interactions are being cultivated with the Department of Justice and Equality with a view to providing a more coherent service across the employment permit regime and visa regime including policy convergence, greater information sharing and unified communications from both Departments in respect of labour market access.
I intend to announce a range of improvements in this regard shortly. It is also the Government’s ambition that Ireland should take advantage of the opportunities for employment in the ICT sector and that every opportunity is afforded to our graduates and unemployed to prepare them with the skills required to work in that sector. Employment Permits are but one way of increasing the level of ICT skills available in the labour market. Building Ireland’s ICT skills capability will require improving the domestic output of skilled ICT graduates and my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills has already put in place plans to establish an overarching target of doubling the annual output from honours degree ICT undergraduate programmes to 2,000 graduates by 2018. These plans involve actions to: increase the domestic supply of honours degree graduates in the short term through expansion of conversion; and boost the longer term supply and quality of graduates from the higher education system.
Finally, work is also proceeding with regard to the preparation of new employment permits legislation which will provide for more flexibility and targeted instruments in support of the economy’s evolving skills needs. Heads of Bill were approved by Government last April and since then, my Department has been engaged with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) in order to progress the drafting of the Bill. My Department is currently considering a second draft and expects to revert to the OPC shortly with a view to finalising the draft as soon as possible.
413. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details in tabular form the number of jobs announced by the Industrial Development Agency; the number of jobs created in IDA supported companies and the value of grants refunded to the IDA for each of the past 10 years. [47274/12]
View answer414. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the grants refunded to the Industrial Development Agency by client companies includes grants that were not drawn down as well as grants returned due to failure to meet contractual targets. [47275/12]
View answer415. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total levels of grants awarded that were not drawn down by Industrial Development Agency client companies for each of the past 10 years. [47276/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 413 to 415, inclusive, together.
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the industrial development agencies. The number of new jobs created in IDA client companies in each of the years 2002 to 2011 is set out in the tabular statement. Figures for 2012 will not be available until the end of the year. Details of IDA Ireland’s job and investment announcements from 2008 onwards are available on the Agency’s website – www.idaireland.ie. Details of announcements in the period 2002 to 2007 are set out on the attached tabular statement. It must be remembered, however, that not all investment and job creation projects are announced.
Information relating to grants approvals for IDA client companies is confidential between the Agency and the client company. In all instances where financial assistance is approved by IDA for a company, the agency and the client enter into a legal and binding contract. The contract, which is confidential between IDA Ireland and the company, includes conditions and milestones with which the company is required to comply before any financial assistance is paid. IDA Ireland pays grants pro rata with achieved performance so, in order to draw down grants, a company must meet the agreed performance targets as set out in the contract.
I understand from IDA Ireland that there is normally a time lag of between 2 to 3 years between a grant approval and actual payment of the first instalment of that grant. In addition, grants are usually paid over a number of years when various criteria have been met by the client company. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide accurate data relating to grants awarded in a particular year but not drawn down in that year.
Grant payments are refunded to IDA Ireland when a company fails to meet the conditions outlined in the grant agreement or in instances where companies have closed. The total amount of grants refunded annually is contained in the financial statements to the Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. IDA’s Annual Reports for each of the years 2007 to 2011 are available on the Agency’s website www.idairelad.com.
Table showing Number of Jobs created in IDA Supported Companies in each of the years 2002 to 2011 inclusive
|
Year |
Number of new jobs created |
|
2002 |
11,407 |
|
2003 |
9,357 |
|
2004 |
10,846 |
|
2005 |
12,176 |
|
2006 |
12,531 |
|
2007 |
10,401 |
|
2008 |
9,203 |
|
2009 |
5,239 |
|
2010 |
9,075 |
|
2011 |
11,594 |
|
Date Announced |
Company |
Location |
Product / Activity |
No. Jobs Announced |
|
27-Nov-07 |
FINCAD |
Dublin |
EMEA HQ |
30 |
|
Nov-07 |
Novell |
Dublin |
EMEA Teleweb |
40 |
|
Nov-07 |
Celestica |
Galway |
Automated Manufacturing Servicves |
120 |
|
Nov-07 |
Legal & General |
Dublin |
Financial Services |
20 |
|
Oct-07 |
Wyeth |
Kildare |
Phamra |
20 |
|
Oct-07 |
Nortel |
Galway |
ICT |
60 |
|
19-Sep-07 |
Blizzard |
Cork |
European Customer Centre |
50 |
|
19-Sep-07 |
KCI |
Westmeath |
Global Manufacturing Operation |
50 |
|
10-Sep-07 |
Solar Winds |
Cork |
EMEA HQ |
75 |
|
10-Sep-07 |
Apex Funds |
Cork |
European HQ |
40 |
|
11-Jul-07 |
Teleflex |
Athlone |
Customer Service |
150 |
|
Jul-07 |
Merrill Lynch |
Dublin |
Financial Services |
40 |
|
Jun-07 |
Sanmina |
Cork |
ICT |
50 |
|
Apr-07 |
Parmerica |
Donegal |
Shared Services |
80 |
|
Apr-07 |
Amazon |
Cork |
ICT |
450 |
|
17-Apr-07 |
ACI Worldwide |
Limerick |
Software |
100 |
|
17-Apr-07 |
Rovsing A/S |
Limerick |
Sofware |
30 |
|
17-Apr-07 |
AR Europe Limited |
Limerick |
ICT |
21 |
|
17-Apr-07 |
Gala Inc |
Dublin |
On-Line Games |
32 |
|
Apr-07 |
DeCare Systems |
Cork |
Financial Services |
100 |
|
12-Apr-07 |
Paragon Global Resources |
Dublin |
International Services |
100 |
|
Apr-07 |
Gilead |
Dublin |
Pharma |
80 |
|
02-Apr-07 |
Integra |
Offaly |
Medical Technology |
65 |
|
Mar-07 |
GlaxoSmithKline |
Cork |
Pharma |
150 |
|
Mar-07 |
IBM |
Cork & Galway |
ICT |
130 |
|
Mar-07 |
Equifax Inc |
Wexford |
ICT |
180 |
|
Feb-07 |
VMWare |
Cork |
ICT |
369 |
|
22-Jan-07 |
Daiwa Securities |
Dundalk |
Hedge Fund Administration |
300 |
|
04-Dec-06 |
Eli Lilly |
Cork |
Biopharmaceutical Manufacture |
200 |
|
06-Nov-06 |
Merck Sharp & Dohme |
Tipperary |
Pharma |
120 |
|
15-Nov-06 |
|
Dublin |
Internet Services |
500+ |
|
21-Nov-06 |
Cisco |
Galway |
R&D Communications Technology |
200 |
|
27-Oct-06 |
Servier |
Belview |
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility |
155 |
|
07-Sep-06 |
Northern Trust |
Limerick |
Fund Administration |
300 |
|
25-Jul-06 |
Cordis |
Cashel |
Development & Manufacturing Centre |
450 |
|
19-Jun-06 |
Trend Micro |
Cork |
ICT |
100 |
|
12-Jun-06 |
Netgear |
Cork |
Intl HQ |
100 |
|
25-Apr-06 |
Sandisk Intl |
Dublin |
EMEA HQ |
125 |
|
12-Apr-06 |
Becton Dickinson |
Louth |
Medical Devices |
125 |
|
07-Apr-06 |
Moffet Engineering |
Dundalk |
Engineering |
87 |
|
30-Mar-06 |
Pillar Data Systems |
Drogheda |
Computer Data Storage Systems |
200 |
|
21-Mar-06 |
Abbott Laboratories |
Donegal |
Healthcare Products |
155 |
|
20-Mar-06 |
Actel |
Dublin |
European IC Development Centre |
20 |
|
15-Mar-06 |
Vistakon |
Limerick |
Med Tech |
124 |
|
14-Mar-06 |
Georgia Tech Research Institute |
Athlone |
Research Institute |
50 |
|
07-Mar-06 |
HP |
Kildare |
Financial Services |
110 |
|
01-Mar-06 |
Amazon.Com Inc |
Cork |
Multi-lingual Customer Service Centre |
450 |
|
22-Feb-06 |
Sage Technologies |
Dublin |
Software |
40 |
|
09-Feb-06 |
Vesta Corporation |
Dundalk |
Financial Services |
350 |
|
09-Feb-06 |
Pop Cap Games |
Dublin |
Digital Media |
50 |
|
02-Feb-06 |
Vodafone |
Dublin |
ICT |
25 |
|
25-Jan-06 |
Citco |
Cork |
Financial Services |
250 |
|
12-Jan-06 |
USCI Ireland |
Galway |
Medical Technology |
125 |
|
12-Jan-06 |
Amgen |
Cork |
Biotechnology |
1100 |
|
14-Dec-05 |
Vmware |
Cork |
ICT |
78 |
|
13-Dec-05 |
|
Dublin |
Internet Services |
600 |
|
06-Dec-05 |
Alps Electric Co Ltd |
Cork |
Engineering |
140 |
|
02-Dec-05 |
Parsons |
Cork |
Engineering |
80 |
|
28-Oct-05 |
Palm |
Dublin |
Mobile computing & provider of smartphones |
35 |
|
29-Sep-05 |
International Fund Services |
Louth |
Financial Services |
230 |
|
22-Sep-05 |
Zeus Industrial Products |
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal |
Produce and distribute medical tubing products |
150 |
|
21-Sep-05 |
Axa Assistance SA |
Athlone, Co. Westmeath |
Assistance service centre |
300 |
|
22-Aug-05 |
BISYS Hedge Fund Services |
Waterford |
Financial Services |
250 |
|
20-Jul-05 |
Genzyme Corporation |
Waterford |
Pharmaceuticals |
12 |
|
20-Jul-05 |
Citigroup |
Dublin |
Financial Services |
8 |
|
20-Jul-05 |
Bristol Myers Squibb Company |
Dublin & Galway |
Pharmaceuticals |
32 |
|
07-Jun-05 |
Qlogic Corporation |
Dublin |
Storage Area Network Infrastructure Component Providers |
100 |
|
20-May-05 |
Waters Corporation |
Wexford |
Engineering |
125 |
|
17-May-05 |
PFPC |
Navan |
Financial Services |
290 |
|
17-May-05 |
PFPC |
Wexford |
Financial Services |
200 |
|
16-May-05 |
Siemens Business Services |
Cork |
ICT |
30 |
|
16-May-05 |
Cascade Design Inc |
Cork |
Engineering |
45 |
|
16-May-05 |
Alcon Inc |
Cork |
Engineering |
140 |
|
09-May-05 |
Ellison |
Clonakilty, Co. Cork |
Manufacture Dies & Die Cutting Equipment |
34 |
|
05-May-05 |
International Fund Services (Ireland) Limited (IFS) |
Kildare |
Financial Services |
240 |
|
12-Apr-05 |
DC Studios |
Dublin |
Video game development |
50 |
|
11-Apr-05 |
Engenoi Information Technologies |
Cork |
Information Storage Systems |
95 |
|
31-Mar-05 |
SITA Inc |
Donegal |
Air Transport Applications |
123 |
|
31-Mar-05 |
Toucan |
Sligo |
Consumer Telecoms |
300 |
|
25-Feb-05 |
Resprionics Inc |
Galway |
Medical technology |
105 |
|
25-Feb-05 |
Labcoat Ltd |
Galway |
Drug applications technologies |
68 |
|
25-Feb-05 |
Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals Inc |
Galway |
manufacture & distribute wire products for medical sector |
40 |
|
15-Feb-05 |
Yahoo! |
Dublin |
Online product & service providers |
400 |
|
03-Feb-05 |
Colgate-Palmolive |
Dublin |
Global IT Centre |
30 |
|
03-Feb-05 |
Hartford Financial Services |
Dublin |
Financial Services |
130 |
|
03-Feb-05 |
AutoEurpoe |
Dublin |
Car rental Call Centre |
60 |
|
03-Feb-05 |
MarketBoomer |
Dublin |
eProcurement Service Provider |
35 |
|
13-Jan-05 |
Amazon.com |
Dublin |
ICT |
25 |
|
29-Nov-04 |
Innocoll Inc |
Roscommon |
Healthcare R&D & Manufacturing |
60 |
|
Date Announced |
Company |
Location |
Product/Activity |
No. Jobs Announced |
|
29-Nov-04 |
Innocoll Inc |
Athlone, Co. Westmeath |
Healthcare R&D & Manufacturing |
16 |
|
29-Nov-04 |
Conor Medsystems Inc |
Athlone, Co. Westmeath |
Drug Delivery Sector |
40 |
|
29-Nov-04 |
Cooper Cameron Corporation |
Longford |
Manufacture of oil & gas exploration products |
57 |
|
26-Nov-04 |
Dell |
Dublin |
ICT |
420 |
|
18-Nov-04 |
Europ Assistance |
Navan |
Shared Services |
42 |
|
28-Oct-04 |
McAfee Incorporated |
Cork |
Security Software |
152 |
|
12-Oct-04 |
Business Objects |
Dublin |
Business Intelligence Software Solutions |
350 |
|
08-Oct-04 |
AK Pharmaceuticals |
Cork |
Pharmaceutical |
220 |
|
06-Aug-04 |
Kellogs |
Dublin |
Consumer Products |
80 |
|
05-Aug-04 |
Altera Corporation |
Cork |
Logic devices |
60 |
|
27-Jul-04 |
Centocor |
Cork |
Biopharmaceutical Manufacture |
330 |
|
30-Jun-04 |
Bell Labs |
Dublin |
ICT |
120 |
|
29-Jun-04 |
Merit Medical Systems Inc |
Galway |
Med Tech |
230 |
|
28-Jun-04 |
ECC |
Dublin |
Web Learning Centre |
30 |
|
22-Jun-04 |
Guidant Corporation |
Tipperary |
Medical Tech |
1000 |
|
21-Jun-04 |
Ecora Software |
Cork |
Software dev, research, sales and marketing |
60 |
|
14-Jun-04 |
Elan Corporation Plc |
Athlone |
Pharma |
120 |
|
20-Apr-04 |
Merck & Co. Inc |
Dublin |
Pharmaceutical |
80 |
|
05-Apr-04 |
Ubiqus SA |
Waterford |
centre for report writing |
69 |
|
05-Apr-04 |
Liebherr Container Cranes Limited |
Kerry |
Engineering |
6 |
|
05-Apr-04 |
Dollinger (Ireland) Limited |
Kerry |
Engineering |
70 |
|
23-Mar-04 |
Monster Cable |
Co. Clare |
Cable Manufacture |
50 |
|
04-Mar-04 |
Contech Medical |
Galway |
Medical Device |
80 |
|
24-Feb-04 |
TKO Software |
Dublin |
Software development & services |
40 |
|
17-Feb-04 |
Reed Executive |
Sligo |
Recruitment |
30 |
|
17-Feb-04 |
2R Kunstsofftechnik |
Sligo |
Engineering |
24 |
|
02-Feb-04 |
Merrill Lynch |
Dublin |
Financial Services |
500 |
|
20-Jan-04 |
Comprehensive Sports Information (CSI) |
Galway |
On-line sports news and statistics |
31 |
|
04-Dec-03 |
Transas Ltd |
Cork |
manufacture & supply software information technology solutions |
30 |
|
14-Oct-03 |
Affiliated Computer Services Inc. (ACS) |
Cork |
Information technology outsourcing services |
100 |
|
13-Oct-03 |
MAPICS Incorporated |
Athlone |
Software Development Centre |
55 |
|
06-Oct-03 |
Olympus Diagnostica GmbH |
Clare |
Med Tech |
22 |
|
16-Sep-03 |
eBay & PayPal |
Dublin 15 |
Secure online payments |
800 |
|
15-Sep-03 |
Pepsi-Cola |
Cork |
Soft Drinks Manufacture |
250 |
|
09-Sep-03 |
TR-Electronic GmbH |
Cork |
Software development |
30 |
|
07-Jul-03 |
BuiPin GmbH |
Waterford |
Paint Manufacture |
20 |
|
07-Jul-03 |
ABB Transformers |
Waterford |
Engineering |
70 |
|
01-Jul-03 |
Infineon Technologies |
Dublin |
Engineering |
30 |
|
08-May-03 |
Gerard Laboratories |
Dublin |
Pharma |
200 |
|
29-Apr-03 |
Inamed Corporation |
Arklow |
Med Tech |
200 |
|
23-Apr-03 |
Accenture |
Dublin |
Management Consulting |
150 |
|
14-Apr-03 |
Overture Services Inc |
Dublin |
Internet Search Operations Centre |
200 |
|
02-Apr-03 |
Guehring oHG Albstadt |
Waterford |
Coating of Metal Tools |
50 |
|
01-Apr-03 |
SAP |
Galway |
Global Technical Support and Customer Interaction Centre |
350 |
|
28-Mar-03 |
M/A COM Eurotec BV |
Cork |
Engineering |
18 |
|
28-Mar-03 |
Minelab Electroncis |
Cork |
Engineering |
48 |
|
28-Mar-03 |
Schlumberger |
Little Island, Cork |
Shared Services Centre |
150 |
|
28-Mar-03 |
ALTANA Pharma AG |
Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork |
pharmaceutical manufacturing |
150 |
|
20-Mar-03 |
CIGNA Corp |
Galway |
Medical Claims Processing |
220 |
|
12-Mar-03 |
|
Dublin |
Internet Search Operations Centre |
200 |
|
04-Mar-03 |
Abbott Laboratories |
Sligo |
Med Tech |
350 |
|
04-Mar-03 |
Abbott Laboratories |
Longford |
Med Tech |
600 |
|
12-Feb-03 |
Trend Micro |
Cork |
Anti-Virus Software & Content Security Software & Services |
100 |
|
03-Feb-03 |
Harmac Medical Products |
Roscommon |
Med Tech |
150 |
|
28-Jan-03 |
Recordati S.p.A |
Cork |
Pharmaceutical |
60 |
|
16-Jan-03 |
Pfizer Inc |
Dublin |
Pharmaceutical |
200 |
|
19-Nov-02 |
Advanced Medical Optics Inc |
Mayo |
Medical Products |
30 |
|
19-Nov-02 |
Advanced Medical Optics Inc |
Dublin |
Medical Products |
30 |
|
12-Nov-02 |
Abbott Laboratories |
Galway |
Pharmaceuticals |
600 |
|
02-Oct-02 |
McKesson Corporation |
Cork |
Medical Products |
15 |
|
02-Oct-02 |
Marriot Ownership Resorts |
Cork |
Holiday Ownership |
250 |
|
25-Sep-02 |
Oakley Inc |
Westmeath |
Medical Products |
100 |
|
23-Sep-02 |
Starwood Hotels & Resorts World |
Cork |
Hotel and Leisure Reservation Centre |
190 |
|
20-Sep-02 |
NetIQ |
Galway |
ICT |
180 |
|
18-Sep-02 |
Servier (Irl) Industries Limited |
Arklow |
Pharmaceuticals |
100 |
|
18-Sep-02 |
Quantum |
Louth |
ICT |
120 |
|
18-Sep-02 |
Symantec |
Dublin |
ICT |
250 |
|
10-Sep-02 |
AOL |
Waterford |
ICT |
125 |
|
23-Jul-02 |
Micros Systems |
Galway |
ICT |
180 |
|
22-Jul-02 |
MBNA |
Leitrim |
Financial Services |
500 |
|
17-Jul-02 |
Medtronic |
Galway |
Med Tech |
400 |
|
23-May-02 |
Takeda Chemical Industries Limited |
Dublin |
Pharma |
60 |
|
18-Apr-02 |
Churchill Insurance Group Plc |
Galway |
Insurance |
600 |
|
18-Apr-02 |
Thomson NETg |
Limerick |
ICT |
360 |
|
12-Apr-02 |
GN ReSound Limited |
Cork |
Medical Tech |
20 |
|
12-Apr-02 |
RF Integration Inc |
Cork |
ICT |
40 |
|
12-Apr-02 |
Dow Corning Corporation |
Cork |
ICT |
60 |
|
02-Apr-02 |
Guehring oHG Albstadt |
Waterford |
Engineering |
50 |
|
26-Mar-02 |
GMAC Technology |
Westmeath |
Financial Services |
100 |
|
26-Feb-02 |
Bausch & Lomb |
Waterford |
Med Tech |
30 |
|
20-Feb-02 |
Deutsche Press-Agentur GmbH |
Cork |
Consumer Products |
20 |
|
05-Feb-02 |
Fort Wayne Metal Research Products Corp |
Mayo |
Engineering |
88 |
416. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the names of each staff member within his Department that has been rehired since March 2011 and the cost involved in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47297/12]
View answerDuring the period, at the request of the Chairman of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries, my Department re-engaged, on a part-time basis, one Principal Officer who retired in February 2012 and who had represented the Department on the Committee prior to his retirement. An all-inclusive fee of €1,500 was sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure to cover the cost of completing this work, based on an estimated requirement of up to 10 working days. Any travel and subsistence costs incurred in fulfilling this role will be reimbursed by my Department.
I appointed two retired public servants to act as Civilian Drivers at my Department [€631.75pwk]. I also re-appointed the former Director of Corporate Enforcement to the post of Acting Director of Corporate Enforcement with effect from 29 February 2012 for a period of up to six months [€146,191 per annum pro rata]. One additional re-appointment of a former Assistant Principal of my Department at the first point on the Assistant Principal pay scale €61,966 has been sanctioned for the period 25/10/12 – 31/7/13 in connection with Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. The appointments were made on the basis of the relevant salary scales for the posts, with abatement as appropriate of public sector pensions in payment. No further retired public servants/civil servants were re-hired in my Department during the period.
417. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits to south Tipperary facilitated by the Industrial Development Agency and his Department in the period 1 March 2011 to 30 September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47306/12]
View answerI am informed by IDA Ireland that, in the period from the beginning of 2011 to date, there have been 2 site visits by potential investors to South Tipperary, one in 2011 and one in 2012.
One of the main challenges that IDA Ireland encounters in encouraging investment into locations outside of large urban centres is the desire of investors to locate in areas with large population bases, typically with populations in excess of 1 million people. There is intense and continual international competition to win foreign direct investment, which is mainly dominated by Metro City Regions with populations in excess of 1 million. Ireland has one Metro Region, the Greater Dublin area.
In order to achieve balanced regional development IDA Ireland focuses on marketing Gateway locations within each Region as the areas of critical mass and highlights the opportunities provided by Hub locations which are within commuting distances of these Gateways.
South Tipperary forms part of IDA Ireland’s South Economic Region along with the counties of Cork, Waterford, Kerry, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny. The locations of emphasis for IDA in this Region are the Gateways of Cork and Waterford and these are actively promoted to potential investors through IDA’s network of overseas offices. In addition, the other counties referred to, including South Tipperary, are promoted as part of the Agency’s marketing efforts and in response to specific client requirements. At present there are 9 IDA Ireland supported companies in South Tipperary employing approximately 3,400 people, while in the South Economic Region there are 207 client companies employing over 38,000 people. I have been informed by IDA that, since the beginning of 2011, there have been a total of 74 sponsored visits by potential investors to this Region. IDA Ireland has drawn my attention to the fact that, while it seeks to influence location, in the final analysis it is the investor who decides where to visit and where to locate.
418. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding a work permit in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47381/12]
View answerA Green Card permit application was received in this instance on 27th August 2012. This application was refused on 21st September 2012.
New employment permit applications are currently only considered for highly skilled, highly paid positions or for positions where there is an officially recognised scarcity of supply in relation to a particular qualification or occupation type. New and renewal applications are also considered in respect of non-EEA nationals already legally resident in the State on a valid employment permit.
It appeared from the information submitted that the proposed employee's immigration status precluded them from entering full-time employment in the State. The person was resident in the State on a Student Stamp/Visa at the time of application. Current Department of Justice and Equality policies requires this Department to only approve applications where the employee is residing outside the State. An appeal against this decision was received on 9th October 2012. Such appeals are processed in order of date of receipt.
421. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on correspondence regarding a contract in respect of a person (details supplied) [47546/12]
View answerThe Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in the day to day exercise of its functions. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to comment upon the circumstances of any individual decision of the EAT in my role as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The facts leading to the hearing of this case would be a matter for the Minister for Health as would be any impact arising from the decision.
As an independent quasi-judicial body, decisions of the EAT are appealable to the Courts. Currently, if an employee or employer wishes to appeal a decision from the EAT the court of appeal is dependent upon the type of legislation the original claim was taken under. Determinations by the Tribunal in cases under the Unfair Dismissals Acts may be appealed to the Circuit Court within six weeks of the date on which the Determinations are communicated to the parties.
422. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to reduce the number of licences that a small retailer has to obtain so that they can operate legally; his plans to streamline the application process while reducing the number of licences needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47647/12]
View answerAs part of the Action Plan for Jobs, I requested Forfás to conduct an audit and review of the multiplicity of licences required by businesses to assess the potential for discontinuing some licences and for amalgamating licences with a view to reducing the cost burden of regulations.
I have recently received the Forfás report which I am currently reviewing. The issuing of licences, including those applicable to the retail sector, cuts across a range of Government Departments and Agencies and therefore this report will require consultation with all relevant bodies before final consideration on the implementation of the recommendations set out in the report.
423. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to ratify the International Labour Organisation Convention on Domestic Workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47674/12]
View answerThe issue of ratification by Ireland of Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers is being considered in the context of our standard approach to the ratification of international instruments. Ireland does not ratify international Conventions until any such necessary amendments to domestic legislation have been identified and effected.
A preliminary assessment of the implications of ratifying the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 189 on Domestic Workers is currently being finalised by my Department. The Assessment includes an Article-by-Article examination of the extent to which Domestic legislation provisions already provide for the Rights and Entitlements enunciated in each Article, as well as the extent to which any legislative amendments will be required. This assessment will then be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General for their examination.
It is important, however, to note that domestic workers are protected by virtue of the fact that the full suite of employment rights legislation, including that of redress for violations of their employment rights, apply to domestic workers in the same way as they apply to other categories of employees in Ireland. Also it is worth pointing out that NERA has carried out a programme of inspections involving Domestic Workers as well as continuing to respond to any complaints it receives from Domestic Workers.
A voluntary Code of Practice for Persons Employed in Other People’s Homes was developed under the Industrial Relations Act 1990. The Code sets out certain employment rights and practices for persons employed in other people’s homes and encourages good practice and compliance with the law in such employment situations. In any proceedings before a court, or a workplace relations dispute resolution body, a code of practice shall be admissible in evidence and any provision of the code which appears to the court, body or officer concerned to be relevant to any question arising in the proceedings shall be taken into account in determining that question.
424. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency sponsored visits by individual potential investors for each of the past 6 years. [47693/12]
View answerI am informed by IDA Ireland that in the six year period 2006 to 2011, inclusive, there have been a total of 1,935 agency sponsored site visits by potential investors to this country. Details of the numbers of such visits in respect of each of those years are set out in the tabular statement.
Table showing the total number of IDA sponsored site visits by potential investors to Ireland in each of the years 2006 to 2011 inclusive
|
Year |
Total Number of Site Visits |
|
2011 |
341 |
|
2010 |
426 |
|
2009 |
389 |
|
2008 |
250 |
|
2007 |
263 |
|
2006 |
266 |
|
Total |
1,935 |
425. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs directly employed in the air craft leasing industry. [47694/12]
View answerI am informed by Forfás that its annual employment survey records employment in sectors according to NACE (European Industrial Activity Classification) codes. Jobs in the air craft leasing industry are included in the NACE Code for Financial Services. Forfás has informed me that, while the 2011 Employment Survey showed that there were 15,961 permanent jobs and 1,053 other jobs in the Financial Services Sector, it is not possible to identify the number of these jobs that relate to the aircraft leasing industry.
Enquiries made of the enterprise agencies that fall under the aegis of my Department namely Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development have revealed that they have 14 client companies in the aircraft leasing sector who employ approximately 420 full time employees.
426. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the fact that there is no specific youth entrepreneurship fund in Ireland, if he will consider setting up a Youth Entrepreneurship Fund on a pilot basis, to help young entrepreneurs access credit to develop business ideas and create employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47723/12]
View answer427. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will engage with private sector sources, the European Union, the European Investment Bank and the IMF to source funding for a Youth Entrepreneurship Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47724/12]
View answerI propose taking Questions Nos. 426 and 427 together.
The Government established the Microfinance Loan Fund on 27 September 2012 to improve access to credit for entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises and to facilitate the growth and expansion of viable businesses from all industry sectors which have been refused access to credit by banks. The Fund has a significant entrepreneurship focus. It will add value to other Government schemes of support for entrepreneurs and unemployed persons, such as the Back to Work Allowance, the range of training programmes and the Seed Capital Scheme.
The Fund will provide support in the form of loans of up to €25,000, available to start-up, newly established, or growing microenterprises employing less than 10 people, with viable business propositions, that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by banks. Microfinance Ireland (MFI), the company set up to operate the Fund, will work closely with the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) / Local Enterprise Offices which provide assistance with training and preparing business plans for entrepreneurs. They will carry out an initial evaluation of the quality of business proposals/loan applications from entrepreneurs before sending same on to MFI for decision. The addition of microfinance will now enable the CEBs to deliver a wider suite of services to all entrepreneurs, namely grants, mentoring, soft supports and access to loan finance.
MFI and the CEBs are very conscious of the particular difficulties the youth sector faces with regard to credit history, previous business experience etc. and where they can assist young entrepreneurs, they will. However, the potential viability of the business proposal is the dominant factor in any credit decision made by Microfinance Ireland.
In addition to MFI and the CEBs, other sources of funding are available for example, the Seed Capital Scheme, business angels, E.I.I.S etc. While access to start-up finance through the various channels outlined is important to support youth entrepreneurship, other policy actions are equally important such as fostering entrepreneurship in students while at school or in third level education. Over 20,000 students now participate annually in the various CEB–supported programmes implemented in the education sector. (see answer to PQ 47725).
Microfinance Ireland has sought European Investment Fund (EIF) accreditation under the European Progress Microfinance Facility to avail of the EIF loan book guarantee which is anticipated to cover approximately 25% of bad debts incurred. A decision is expected from the EIF in November 2012.
The Government continues to monitor the requirements of all business sectors regarding access to finance and in that context will continue to assess the needs of youth entrepreneurs in the light of the operation of the Microfinance Loan Fund and the availability of support from sources such as the EU, EIB and IMF. If there is a clearly identified need for a further targeted initiative to address market failure in this sector the matter will be addressed by relevant Departments. A guide entitled “Financial Support for Irish Business” has been published on my Department’s website at www.djei.ie under “latest publications”.
