Written Answers Nos. 259-274
259. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures taken to improve farm safety and reduce the number of farm accidents throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33379/13]
View answerThe Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the national statutory body with responsibility for enforcing occupational safety and health law, promoting and encouraging accident prevention, and providing information and advice to all companies, organisations and individuals, including farmers.
The Authority’s 2013 Programme of Work, approved by me earlier this year, was prepared against a background of the unacceptably high levels of work-related deaths and injuries in the agriculture sector and priority actions for the sector were identified in the Programme. For example, out of the 12,850 planned workplace inspections and investigations for 2013, 3,000 will be carried out in the high risk agriculture sector.
To emphasise the importance of workplace health and safety in the agriculture sector, in April this year, the Authority carried out a two-week farm safety campaign with a focus on joint involvement with farmer representative organisations. The campaign included actions such as farm walks and talks, with a particular emphasis on farmers in the 60+ age group. This age-group received particular attention as over half the 182 people killed over the last decade in agriculture were in this age-group. In an effort to focus attention on age as a risk factor, the Authority and the IFA have jointly produced a DVD entitled ‘Older, Wiser, Safer – A Practical Guide to Safety for Older Farmers.’
Partnership remains central to the Authority’s approach to improving farm safety. This approach involves the major stakeholders in the agriculture sector in the task of improving farm safety through the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee - a sub-committee of the Board of the Authority. This approach is designed to better support the identification and development of broad based actions by the primary stakeholders to assist in developing and sustaining a safety and health culture within the sector. It seeks to emulate the approach that has worked well in the construction sector.
An important element of achieving improved farm safety outcomes will be the soon-to-be-published three-year (2013-15) Action Plan for the Farm Safety Partnership. This plan will aim to deliver coordinated initiatives on awareness raising, safety promotion, research and special projects. The Plan’s key goals are:
- To establish and implement appropriate Safety and Health Training and Educational programmes for farmers and persons who are employed in the agriculture sector.
- To develop programmes to prevent accidents and injuries to vulnerable persons (children and older persons) in agriculture.
- To achieve cultural and behavioural changes related to risk taking in agriculture.
- To influence farmers to manage high risk work activities and to improve standards in the use and maintenance of Tractors, Machinery and Farm Vehicles.
- To implement programmes to assist in protecting the occupational health of persons working in agriculture.
The Farm Safety Committee’s previous 2009-2012 Action Plan set ambitious targets in health and safety and identified specific activities to achieve these targets and much was achieved during the course of this plan. In response to the serious challenges faced in agriculture, the Authority responded comprehensively with a number of initiatives including:
- On-line farm risk assessment tool www.farmsafely.com .
- A Code of Practice for Agriculture which includes a Risk Assessment Document and a Safe System of Work Plan (SWWP). The Code provides practical user-friendly guidance with respect to farmers, family members, employees, service providers, advisers, trainers and persons with a role related to safety and health. It sets out clearly the major risks in farming and provides a simple approach through the risk assessment document to managing safety at farm level.
- An extensive media campaign on national TV, national & local radio and in the print media.
In 2012 the Authority pursued an integrated farm safety media campaign, which included graphic TV advertisements, and hard-hitting radio and print ads, all with a strong focus on the shocking consequences of farm accidents for real farmers. The aim of this element of the Authority’s campaign was to drive home the terrible consequences that result from accidents in the agriculture sector.
The Authority has 20 Inspectors who carry out proactive inspection work in the agriculture sector including 5 full time specialists in the Agriculture Inspection Group. The level of awareness among farmers in relation to their duty to ensure a safe farm - based on inspection - is now estimated at 80%. It continues to be the experience of the Health and Safety Authority Inspectors that while the standard of the individual Safety Statement/Code of Practice is, in general, adequate to control the risks on the farm, the implementation of the identified controls and allocation of resources required is lower.
The Authority has, this week, commenced a ‘Farm Safety Survey’ of 3,000 randomly selected, farm households. The overall aim of the proposed research is to identify the factors most likely to influence farmers in Ireland to make long-term behavioural changes with regard to their daily farm work, to improve knowledge of methods of farm accident prevention, to inform future Authority preventive activity and to make recommendations concerning how best to make farms safer places to work and live.
Ultimately, day-to-day responsibility for workplace safety rests with those in the workplace in the first instance. In that context, it is important that we all maintain a strong focus on workplace safety as safe workplaces can ultimately only be delivered by those who control and work in them. Agriculture, by its very nature, is one of the more hazardous occupations, especially as the workplace and family home are so often one-and-the-same. In such circumstances, I would urge all involved in the agriculture sector to re-double their efforts to improve health and safety standards in their sector.
260. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline the current efforts being made by his Department and other institutions to promote Longford as a region for enterprise; if he will provide some information regarding the resources and benefits Longford has to offer to potential investors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32867/13]
View answerIDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Longford County Enterprise Board are all working to promote enterprise development in County Longford. IDA Ireland is charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions while Enterprise Ireland has responsibility for the development and promotion of Ireland’s indigenous business sector. The role of the Longford County Enterprise Board is to provide a source of support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level.
As Ireland competes for high quality investments, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading global corporations require a significant population, a pool of qualified talent, world standard physical and digital infrastructure coupled with the availability of sophisticated professional and business support services. Against this backdrop, IDA Ireland has informed me that it prioritises the marketing of Gateway locations within each Region as the areas of critical mass. Longford is marketed as part of the Midland Region together with Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Roscommon. In this region, IDA concentrates on the linked gateway of Athlone/Tullamore/ Mullingar. The Agency also promotes the towns of Longford, Portlaoise and Roscommon as part of its wider marketing efforts and in response to specific client requirements.
At present, there are 6 IDA Ireland client companies in Longford employing 632 people. IDA Ireland has strong relationships with these companies and works closely with them in order to ensure their long term sustainability and to encourage their growth, development, a broadening of their mandates and continuing re-investment in their sites.
In 2012, just over 1,557 people were employed on a full time basis in Enterprise Ireland client companies in County Longford. The Agency has informed me that, in 2012, five Innovation Vouchers were awarded to companies in Longford. This initiative, which links start-up companies with knowledge providers such as the local Institutes of Technology, continues to play an important role in supporting the development of new and existing limited smaller companies as well as strengthening ties and collaborations with the research community. There has been one call for Innovation Vouchers so far in 2013 under which two Longford companies have been awarded funding. The Innovation Voucher initiative is just one of several initiatives that the Agency is implementing to further develop and support the creation of jobs and growth in the Midlands Region, of which Longford is part.
Subject to certain eligibility criteria, Longford County Enterprise Board (CEB) supports individuals, firms and community groups provided that the proposed projects have the capacity to achieve commercial viability. This support can be in the form of financial and non-financial assistance to a project promoter. In 2012, Longford CEB provided over €250,000 in grant assistance to 31 projects and 585 people participated in Longford CEB assisted training courses. To date in 2013 Longford CEB has facilitated the establishment of a business forum group where local business persons meet to discuss proposals on how to further enhance County Longford’s business profile and promote the county as an investment location.
IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Longford CEB will continue to support enterprise development in Co Longford with a view to contributing to the achievement of the Government’s job creation targets outlined in the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs.
261. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of registered companies here in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32882/13]
View answerThe Companies Registration Office (CRO) is the statutory authority for registering companies in Ireland and is the central repository of public statutory information on Irish companies.
At the end of 2012, there were 184,549 companies on the companies register, 185,181 at end 2011 and 185,608 at end 2010. These figures do not include companies in the course of liquidation, of which there were 7,938 at end 2012, 6,680 at end 2011 and 6,287 at end 2010.
Details of the number of new companies registered with the CRO in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 are set out below.
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
14,013 |
14,615 |
14,009 |
262. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline Ireland's financial contribution to the European Space Agency each year since 2002 inclusive. [32996/13]
View answer263. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Irish companies or persons who have won contracts awarded by the European Space Agency each year since 2002 inclusive. [32997/13]
View answer264. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the proportion of Enterprise Ireland's annual budget, in percentage and actual terms, which is devoted to space related enterprise supports and activities. [32998/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 264, inclusive, together.
The following table Appendix 1 sets out Ireland’s contribution to the European Space Agency (ESA) each year from 2002 to 2012 together with the number of contracts awarded by ESA to Irish companies and other entities. The number of contracts is based on data provided by ESA.
Ireland’s investment in ESA is channelled directly through my Department’s Vote and, as such, Enterprise Ireland has no specific funding ring-fenced for space related enterprise supports and activities. However, all Enterprise Ireland R&D support programmes are available to space companies and third level institutions where any such applications meet the relevant programme criteria. Enterprise Ireland has 2.5 staff members devoted to space related enterprise supports and activities such as helping companies to secure international funding from Framework Programme 7 and European Space Agency contracts.
Appendix 1
|
Year |
M€ |
Number of ESA Contracts - Companies |
Number of ESA Contracts - 3rd Level |
Number of ESA Contracts - Other |
|
2002 |
9.3 |
18 |
2 |
0 |
|
2003 |
10.9 |
19 |
3 |
0 |
|
2004 |
10.8 |
17 |
5 |
2 |
|
2005 |
11.6 |
20 |
2 |
0 |
|
2006 |
12.3 |
25 |
5 |
0 |
|
2007 |
13.2 |
13 |
5 |
0 |
|
2008 |
13.5 |
22 |
5 |
0 |
|
2009 |
14.5 |
20 |
6 |
1 |
|
2010 |
14.4 |
23 |
5 |
1 |
|
2011 |
14.0 |
27 |
8 |
1 |
|
2012 |
14.8 |
29 |
11 |
3 |
265. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of business plans assessed by Enterprise Ireland for County Longford in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33131/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, there are discussions going on all the time between companies and Enterprise Ireland. This activity only crystallizes once an application for support has been tabled. I understand from Enterprise Ireland that the Agency would need to carry out surveys across all of its departments given that such discussions can relate to applications for the various support programmes that Enterprise Ireland provides for entrepreneurs and businesses, such as New Frontiers, Innovation Vouchers, Competitive Start Fund, Competitive Feasibility, R&D and HPSU feasibility study. In this regard, EI client and potential client companies are required to complete a business plan as part of their application for most, but not all, of Enterprise Ireland’s support programmes. In this context, I should point out, however, that such discussions have resulted in Enterprise Ireland making payments totalling €4,298,381, for 2011, 2012 and year to date in 2013, to nineteen of its client companies in County Longford.
266. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of micro finance-loan guarantee applications assessed for County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33132/13]
View answerA full progress report on the operation of the scheme from 1 October 2012 to 31 March 2013 can be found on my Department’s website (www.enterprise.gov.ie) and the Microfinance Ireland (MFI) website (www.microfinanceireland.ie). I hope to publish the second quarter progress report shortly, which will include county based information. To date there have been 2 applications received from Longford, and both were declined. MFI conducts an independent credit assessment on each application and my Department has no function in the day to day decision making of the company.
267. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of County Longford clients transferred to Enterprise Ireland by the enterprise board, Longford Community Resources Limited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33133/13]
View answerI have been informed by Enterprise Ireland that there were no clients officially transferred to Enterprise Ireland by the Longford County Enterprise Board or by Longford Community Resources Limited.
268. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way the collective rights management directive will impact here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27864/13]
View answerA proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online uses in the internal market was published in July 2012. With Council, the European Parliament has a co-decision role on the Directive so that, until the final text of the Directive is adopted, which will occur following completion of the legislative procedure in both EU institutions, it is difficult to pin down the impact of the measure.
The main objectives of the Directive are to improve the standards of governance and transparency of collective management societies (CMOs) thereby ensuring improvements in their management efficiency for the benefit of Right holders whom they represent. The Directive also seeks to facilitate multi-territorial licensing by collecting societies of authors' rights in musical works when transmitted online.
In terms of governance, the Directive proposes to set down rules in relation to the conduct of CMOs in terms of structured management arrangements such as the need to provide for a general assembly of members with certain areas of responsibility and decision making ability, the establishment of fair criteria for membership eligibility, the imposition of obligations and duties on persons who manage the business of the CMO, the need to provide for a supervisory function in CMOs etc. Requirements are also set out in relation to the timeframe for distribution to Right holders of revenue received from the use of copyrights or related rights, the deductions that can be made therefrom and, the investment and distribution of such monies. Rules on disclosure of information to Right holders, members and the general public together with the need for the preparation of annual transparency reports are also proposed.
My Department carried out an initial general consultation on the directive at the time of publication and, submissions were received from a number of Irish CMOs. I should say that, while certain technical issues were raised by them in relation to some Articles of the Directive, overall the proposal was well received. It was pointed out that it is the case that some CMOs already have in place similar rules to some of those proposed under the Directive and that in some instances these are, in fact, more stringent than what is proposed under the Directive.
I am pleased to say that during the Irish Presidency, huge progress was made in terms of advancing this proposal through first reading examination in Council to the point of reaching agreement at political level to commence Trilogue discussions with the European Parliament on the dossier. It is expected that Trilogues with the Parliament will commence on the Directive under the Lithuanian Presidency in the Autumn of this year paving the way for adoption of the Directive.
269. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has engaged in any talks recently to advance cross-Border trade on this island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30792/13]
View answerNorth South economic co-operation is and will remain a priority of mine and of the Government. To this effect, there is on-going dialogue between relevant Ministers and officials, North and South, to promote economic development, job creation and innovation on a cross-Border basis. From my own perspective, I attend meetings in the Trade and Business development sectoral format of the North South Ministerial Council and, also, of the North South Plenary, which are hosted by either the Taoiseach or the First and Deputy First Ministers. At these meetings there is full engagement with Northern Ministers, and particularly at the sectoral meetings, where I have direct discussions with my N.I. counterpart, Ms Arlene Foster MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, on a wide range of business issues of mutual interest.
In fact, I met with Minister Foster on 26 June last at a Trade and Business development meeting where we had a good exchange of views and information. We also had presentations from InterTradeIreland, the North/South Trade and Business Development Body, which were very informative, and an update on the EU Interreg Programme under which funding has been jointly provided to 28 micro enterprise projects in the border counties, North and South over the last number of years. In addition, I attended the North South Ministerial Council Plenary meeting held on 5 July last where a wide range of North/South co-operative measures were discussed between Irish Government Ministers and their N.I. counterparts.
My officials also engage in on-going dialogue with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (D’ETI). A key area of such regular engagement is on the operation of InterTradeIreland, which is co-funded by my Department and D’ETI. InterTradeIreland’s suite of programmes is designed to encourage trade and business growth across the island and create an environment where it is easier to do cross-border business. My Department, along with our enterprise development agencies, will continue to work diligently with our counterpart Department and relevant Northern Ireland Agencies to increase the economic benefits, especially on job creation, research and innovation, which can accrue from practical cross-Border co-operation.
270. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made to date in the trade talks between the EU and the USA; if he will outline the potential benefits to Ireland of a successful conclusion to those talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30789/13]
View answer275. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding talks between the EU and the US on a trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30492/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 275 together.
Following considerable preparatory work by the Irish Presidency and intensive discussions at the EU’s Trade Council that I chaired on 14 June, EU Trade ministers reached agreement on a mandate for the Commission to negotiate a comprehensive trade and investment agreement with the United States, the "transatlantic trade and investment partnership"(TTIP). The negotiations are scheduled to start on 8 July 2013. While it is far too early to anticipate the eventual negotiated outcome of the Agreement, the scope of the Council’s negotiating directives to the EU Commission is sufficiently wide to maximise the potential benefits of an Agreement for the EU and its Member States.
Studies by the EU Commission and other European bodies indicate that a comprehensive Trade and Investment Partnership could over time boost EU GDP by 0.5% per annum and help create approximately 400,000 jobs in the EU. Given the current very low level of economic growth in the EU and in Ireland, this will be a significant injection of economic activity and consequently of new job opportunities. Based on those assessments, if Ireland simply benefited in proportion to the size of our economy within the EU, a comprehensive trade and investment partnership could over time provide gains to Ireland in the order of €800million per annum in increased GDP, and 4,000 new jobs.
As formal negotiations have yet to begin, it is not possible to estimate in detail the impact on Ireland until there is greater clarity about any exchange of offers, the scale of the possible long term gains will have a positive impact on Ireland given our close trading and investment relationship with the U.S. In addition, many Irish exporters are part of European supply chains where their exports to the UK, Germany or elsewhere to the EU, feed into Europe’s exports to the U.S. While tariffs are already low on trade across the Atlantic, the objective of abolishing even these will bring benefits to business in the short term. Tariffs that average about 3% on EU/U.S. Trade may appear insignificant but even at this low level they constitute an unnecessary tax on trade with the U.S. by both foreign and indigenous companies.
The major benefits of course will arise from reform of regulatory restrictions applied by both economies. Many of these, such as the cost of having to meet two sets of technical specifications for consumer and other products, add extensive costs to exporters. In the longer term, if the TTIP brings about a regime whereby exporters would only need to meet one set of product compliance rules, it would save significant costs for exporters of medical devices, pharmaceuticals and chemicals among others. Ireland’s agribusiness sector would benefit if rules are changed that currently hold back our food exporters from being able to freely sell into the U.S. market, in the same way as they can into the EU.
271. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the recent ranking of Ireland in the top ten ranking on the Global Innovation Index 2013, a survey by the World Intellectual Property Organisation and Cornell University; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33313/13]
View answerIreland’s recent ranking of 10th in the Global Innovation Index 2013 is encouraging and a positive affirmation of our capabilities in this area. This is the 6th edition of the Global Innovation Index and it evaluated 142 economies worldwide, using 84 indicators. Ireland had relative strengths in knowledge and technology outputs, including knowledge creation, impact and diffusion; business sophistication including knowledge workers; innovation linkages and knowledge absorption; human capital and research, including education and research and development and the capacity of our institutions, in particular the favourable regulatory and business environment.
Innovation policy is about helping companies to perform better and contributing to wider social objectives such as growth, jobs and sustainability. The overall objective of the recent Action Plan for Jobs 2013 is to continue to get the economy back on the right path to sustainable, exporting, innovative and enterprise led growth and a key pillar of the Action Plan for Jobs 2013 is ‘Using Research and Innovation to Drive Job Creation’. The importance of investment in science, technology and innovation to Ireland’s on-going and future economic and social development and well-being has been well recognised by the Government. This investment in scientific excellence has, and continues to have, many positive impacts including powering an innovative and enterprising economy, creating high-value jobs, attracting, developing and nurturing business, scientists and talented people, and ensuring Ireland is connected and respected internationally.
272. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if base line employment data are provided by companies seeking support from the Industrial Development Authority, Enterprise Ireland and county enterprise boards; and if these companies are obliged to make annual employment returns to the agencies concerned as a condition of support. [33406/13]
View answerEnterprise Ireland actively works with viable companies to help them to both sustain and create jobs. All clients provide base employment data when seeking support from Enterprise Ireland. Employment data for Enterprise Ireland is collected annually as part of the Forfás Annual Employment Survey which measures the number of jobs in agency assisted clients. Clients are not obliged to make annual employment returns as part of this process.
IDA Ireland client-companies seeking grant assistance submit a detailed business plan outlining details of the project activity to be carried out including functions and responsibilities of the Irish operation. As part of the business plan, companies provide:
- staff projections for a period of three to five years,
- including employment build up by year,
- broken down by job category and,
- salary level.
A description of skills required for the project and a percentage of staff with Third Level qualifications for each year of the projections, is also included in the business plan.
In the case of an Expansion Project, the above information is provided together with a current base jobs figure.
An annual performance review is carried out by IDA Ireland for all employment grants to ensure that posts for which grant aid has been paid to clients have been filled. The reviews continue until the contingent grant liability period expires.
The role of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to develop indigenous potential and stimulate economic activity at a local level primarily through the provision of financial and technical support for the development of small and micro-enterprises. The jobs created with CEB assistance contribute greatly to the development of local economies throughout the country. In addition, the CEBs work closely with their clients both in the early start-up stages of businesses and also to ensure the sustainability of those businesses through on-going support, advice and mentoring.
In order to receive financial assistance from a CEB, a project promoter must indicate employment potential associated with the project. The CEBs ensure that all grant conditions are met and carry out employment surveys of CEB assisted companies in order to ascertain the jobs created for the period 1993 to the present day. Employment surveys are carried out on an annual basis by the CEBs and collated by the CEB Central Coordination Unit.
273. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is satisfied with the results achieved by the State in 2012 in achieving its targets under the Europe 2020 Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23667/13]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the research and development and the employment targets under the Europe 2020 Strategy. The position in respect of these targets is as follows.
Research and Development:
Ireland’s Headline Target for R&D under the Europe 2020 Strategy is to improve the conditions for research and development, in particular with the aim of raising combined public and private investment levels in this sector to 2.5% of GNP (approximately equivalent to 2.0% of GDP) by 2020. The research intensity ratio relates to Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a percentage of GNP. GERD is an internationally recognised metric which measures the total amount of expenditure on R&D in an economy. It includes all expenditure by Government and private enterprise and it measures the total amount of expenditure on all research performed in the enterprise, higher education and government sectors.
The latest available data show that the research intensity rate for 2012 is estimated at 2.11% of GNP (1.71% of GDP). The estimated research intensity rate for 2013 is 2.16% of GNP (1.73% of GDP). At this point we are on track to achieve the research intensity target by 2020.
Employment:
Ireland’s Europe 2020 Headline Target is to raise to 69%-71% the employment rate for women and men aged 20-64, including through the greater participation of young people, older workers and low-skilled workers, and the better integration of legal migrants.
The employment rate for women and men aged 20-64 was 64% in 2012, unchanged from 2011 suggesting a stabilisation in the labour market after a fall from 74% in 2007 to 71% in 2008 and 66% in 2009. Ireland has committed to review the target in 2014 in the context of a proposed mid-term review of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Ireland's National Reform Programme (NRP) for 2013 submitted by the Government to the European Commission in April indicates that the Europe 2020 medium term goals may be attained. Assuming the current 20-64 year old population cohort holds constant, attaining the targets set in the Action Plan for Jobs should have a significant positive impact for Ireland’s 2020 employment rate target, reaching 67.6% by 2016 and 70.1% by 2020, almost exactly the mid-point of Ireland’s employment rate target range of 69%-71% for 2020.
274. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether the opening of formal negotiations between the US and the EU on 8 July 2013 in Washington DC on the transatlantic trade and investment partnership will be hampered as a result of the recent disclosure of US surveillance activity on EU offices in both Washington and New York; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33459/13]
View answerAs trade negotiations are a matter of European Union (EU) competence, Ireland’s involvement in trade negotiations is as an active contributor to overall EU policy and consequently I attach great importance to promoting the EU’s external trade agenda. Regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) both the European Union and the United States have a strong interest in successfully concluding this historic agreement that will contribute significantly to encouraging greater trade and investment across the Atlantic while stimulating economic growth and employment opportunities among exporters. As the TTIP opens a huge potential for both sides these negotiations will remain a top priority on our trade policy agenda. In parallel, it is important to address concerns that have been clearly expressed on the European side on some intelligence gathering activities and also on the implication for privacy and data protection at European level.
The President of the European Commission stated on 3 July that the Commission is committed to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, but that in parallel, work will be undertaken in EU-US working groups that will analyse a range of intelligence matters that are of concern to the EU and its citizens, including the question of privacy and data protection. At the Trade Council that I chaired on 14 June, the European Commission received a unanimous mandate from Member States to start these negotiations. The Commission has confirmed that the talks will start on 8 July in Washington. I believe the talks have enormous significance and potential for our economy, but to be successful they have to take place in an atmosphere of confidence between the negotiating parties. This can be achieved if there is clarification on recent issues of serious concern at EU level.
