Written Answers Nos. 66-73
66. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works owns the premises in Newbridge, County Kildare from which social protection services are currently delivered; his Department's proposals for future use; if his Department will make the building available to the local authorities or the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4208/15]
View answer67. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department or the Department of Social Protection owns the premises in Newbridge, County Kildare from which social protection services are currently delivered; his Department's proposals for future use; if his Department will make the building available to the local authorities or the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4209/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.
The Commissioners of Public Works own the premises off Eyre Street in Newbridge from which the Social Protection services are currently delivered. When the Department of Social Protection relocate to their new premises in Newbridge, the Eyre Street property will be refurbished and allocated to another State service.
68. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of representations in written or oral form he or his officials or advisers have received from a person (details supplied) seeking persons to be appointed to positions that fall under his remit since March 2011; if he will provide the details of these persons for whom the Member made representations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4279/15]
View answerI have not received any representations from the individual concerned seeking persons to be appointed to any position that falls under my Department's remit.
69. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his position on the proposed transatlantic trade and investment partnership. [4085/15]
View answerTogether the EU and the US account for almost half of world GDP and 30% of world trade. The purpose of the negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is to reduce barriers to trade and investment in order to generate jobs and growth in the EU and the US. The government fully supports this objective.
According to assessments made by the European Commission and other European bodies, a comprehensive TTIP could over time boost the EU's GDP by 0.5% per annum, resulting in 400,000 additional jobs across the EU.
Ireland has particularly strong economic links with the US, with over 118,000 people employed in 585 US companies here. The total level of trade (imports and exports) between Ireland and the US in 2012 was €55 billion. The US is Ireland biggest merchandise export market. The most recent data from the CSO shows that Ireland’s services exports to the US increased by 40% in 2012. Notwithstanding the present high level of trade, significant benefits could be derived from a comprehensive and ambitious TTIP.
My Department commissioned a study on the potential impact of the TTIP for Ireland. This study is intended to assist in guiding the Irish position in the negotiations. The study is expected to be finalised shortly and published in early 2015.
The initial findings of the study show that the benefit to Ireland would be more than double the EU average, with 1.1% added to GDP. Other preliminary findings include increased exports (2.7%), increases in real wages (1.4%) and investment (1.6%). Opportunities are expected mainly in manufacturing – pharmaceutical and chemical industry, electrical machinery and other advanced machinery; in certain services and in processed foods.
The European Commission has been taking a much more open and transparent approach to these negotiations, which I believe is important and which I welcome.
The important question of investment protection in the TTIP was the subject of a public consultation by the EU Commission, the results of which were published on 13 January, 2015. http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1234.] The EU Commission has stated that it will be discussing the report with Member States and the European Parliament, and with different stakeholders, and that following these consultations, it will develop specific proposals for the TTIP negotiations. I very much welcome this approach, and I believe that it is important to take time to have open and constructive discussion following the Commission’s report that will inform the next steps.
70. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions that will be taken to ensure that every effort is made to have Bose Corporation reverse its decision to close its manufacturing facility in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan; if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concern in the local community regarding the possible loss of 140 jobs; if he will ensure that the State's industrial promotion agencies ensure this much-needed employment is retained in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4161/15]
View answerMy first thoughts are with the workers at Bose and their families as they face into an extremely difficult time. All the supports of the State will be made available for the workers affected by the announcement of the pending closure of the Bose plant in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
After the announcement was made I spoke directly with company management. I expressed my regret at the way in which this announcement was handled, in particular the lack of notice given to workers and to the Enterprise Agencies. I asked the company if they would reconsider their decision or extend the period of notice that has been given to workers. Unfortunately, both options look unlikely.
For my part as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, I will do everything possible, together with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, to market the facility abroad through IDA’s global network of overseas offices. Our aim will be to secure alternative investment. The building itself and the skilled workforce there are both strong selling points and will help IDA when talking to overseas investors.
More generally, IDA will continue to highlight the strengths of the Border and North East regions to potential investors, and Enterprise Ireland will continue to develop expansion projects by Irish companies in the area. I have asked the Enterprise Agencies under my remit to redouble their efforts to drive job creation and utilise the skill-set of the employees affected by this announcement to find alternative employment.
I am working directly with IDA and Enterprise Ireland to secure projects for the Cavan – Monaghan area which will deliver investment and jobs.
While we have seen much positive news on the jobs front in recent days, weeks and months, affecting every area of the country, this setback is a reminder that we must fight continually to ensure that Ireland is a location of choice for companies, to win new investments and jobs but just as importantly to maintain the ones we have. Monaghan, like many other regions, has seen positive trends in recent years, with employment in agency-supported companies expanding by 11% (or 450 jobs), and substantial improvement in the live register. However we must do more. Through the Action Plan for Jobs 2015 and the development of new Regional Strategies over the coming months, we will intensify our efforts to sustain and ensure continued job growth in the regions and throughout the country.
71. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 24 September 2014, the progress to date on the Industrial Development Agency pipeline project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4235/15]
View answerI am informed by IDA Ireland that it is confident that it will be in a position to make an announcement relating to the above pipeline project before the end of the second quarter of 2015. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
72. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of representations in written or oral form he or his officials or advisers have received from a person (details supplied) seeking persons to be appointed to positions that fall under his remit since March 2011; if he will provide the details of these persons for whom the Member made representations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4277/15]
View answerNeither I nor my Department have received any representations from the Deputy seeking to have persons appointed to positions under the remit of my Department in the period in question.
73. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of the grassland sheep scheme for 2014 and single farm payment for 2013 will issue in respect a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4110/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2014. Processing of this application has only recently been completed with payment due to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named. An application under the 2013 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received on 25 February 2013 from the late owner of this herd number. The person named was executor of this estate. The late herd owner died on 13 December 2013. Payments under the Single Payment Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the late herd owner on 18 October 2013 and 2 December 2013. A payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme also issued directly to the nominated bank account of the late herd owner on 24 September 2013.
