Brendan Griffin
Question:43. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to create jobs in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42572/13]
View answerJob Creation
Questions (43)
Written answers
One of the actions under the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 was the development of a strategy for the Construction sector to 2015. This work was undertaken by Forfás and the report, entitled Ireland’s Construction Sector: Outlook and Strategic Plan to 2015 was published in July 2013 along with the Government response to the report announcing measures to be undertaken. One such measure was the establishment of a new Construction Sector Consultation and Coordination Group. This Group will be chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and will provide a forum for engagement with industry, involving relevant Departments and agencies and focusing on key issues for the sector.
The Government recognises the need for strong and clear responsibility for the Construction Sector across Government and it has been agreed that regular ministerial level oversight is warranted. To this end, once a quarter the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Jobs will focus specifically on issues relating to the Construction and Property sectors. Within my own Department Enterprise Ireland plays a role in developing the export potential of the construction sector. While the UK continues to be the key export market for construction sector clients, Enterprise Ireland are also focusing on a number of key target markets & regions for future growth such as near European markets, Central Gulf States in the Middle East, Australia and Western Canada.
Enterprise Ireland has in place a range of direct supports to assist established client companies, including those in the construction sector, to enable them to develop and grow their business outside of Ireland. In addition to working with companies already exporting, Enterprise Ireland is now working with a broader range of companies than heretofore. The objective is to stimulate greater activity amongst pre-international companies including construction companies and to reorient those demonstrating real growth potential from the domestic to the international market place.
Question No. 44 answered with Question No. 21.
Job Creation Data
Questions (45)
Martin Ferris
Question:45. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs promoted by the Industrial Development Agency that have been filled by the relocation of existing employees. [42602/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the industrial development agencies. Data are compiled on an annualized basis and are aggregated at county level. The information is provided by companies on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only. It is, therefore, not possible to provide information sought by Deputy. However, it should be noted that figures for 2012 show there were a total of 6,570 net new jobs created in IDA Ireland client companies, the third consecutive year of growth, while job losses in IDA Ireland client companies were the lowest in a decade.
Question No. 46 answered with Question No. 36.
Overseas Development Aid Issues
Questions (47)
Billy Timmins
Question:47. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that Ireland's aid budget does not slip below the 0.5% target in budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42786/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme. This commitment was expressed and enhanced by the publication earlier this year of our new Policy on International Development, “One World, One Future” which clearly sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and our goals and areas of focus for the coming years. It also reaffirms the centrality of the aid programme to our foreign policy. The new policy states clearly our commitment to achieving the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA) when economic circumstances permit.
Over the past two years, the Government has broadly stabilised the budget for development assistance – allocating €629 million on ODA in 2012 and €622 million in 2013. These very significant allocations of public funds clearly demonstrate that we have consolidated the development assistance budget - a major achievement in light of the very difficult fiscal conditions facing the Government. Equally importantly, in terms of quality, our aid programme remains one of the best in the world and our leadership on the hunger and nutrition agendas continues to be acknowledged internationally. The Estimates process for Budget 2014 is now in its final stages and is being framed in the context of the Government’s overall fiscal consolidation strategy. The Departmental budget allocations for 2014 are a matter for Government decision and will be announced in the Budget Statement next week.
Passport Service Issues
Questions (48)
Andrew Doyle
Question:48. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the main features on the new passports that were introduced on 3 October 2013; if they contain any new security features; if he has notified other EU member states and the rest of international immigration authorities of the changes to the new Irish passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42861/13]
View answerWritten answers
Last week I launched a new Irish passport. The passport combines the latest security technology with selected imagery in order to produce a passport which represents Ireland, our culture, our history, and our people. The book includes original artwork and photographs which were commissioned solely for use on the Irish passport. For security design reasons images were selected which could be printed across consecutive pages. These include images such as the Cliffs of Moher, the Rock of Cashel and the Samuel Beckett bridge, poetry in Irish, English and Ulster-Scots and representations of Irish sports – Gaelic games, horse-racing and fishing. The security features also have a uniquely Irish flavour. For instance on the inside cover a highly secure feature used is “spark”. Its iteration on the passport book uses the Brú na Boinne stone as inspiration and has a moving image emerging when the view-angle is changed on the Newgrange stone. Another security feature used throughout the book in the form of ogham characters is thermochromic ink, which shifts colour when heat is applied to it. Each ogham letter also represents a tree and on each page the corresponding leaf to the Ogham on that page can be seen under ultra violet light. Immigration authorities worldwide have been notified of the new features on the passport through our Embassy network and an information pack detailing over 50 security features on the book has also been distributed to border agencies.