Written Answers Nos. 113-121
113. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his assessment regarding the level of unemployment among recent graduates in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24135/15]
View answerAction Plan for Jobs (APJ) 2015 was published in January this year and is the fourth in the multi-annual series of a whole of government approach to economic recovery, export growth and job creation. The Action Plan for Jobs set a target to increase employment by 100,000 by 2016 and this target was achieved 21 months ahead of the target. Much work remains to be done however to replace all the jobs lost in the downturn, and we are determined as set out in the Action Plan for Jobs and the Spring Economic Statement to have 2.1 million at work by 2018 and to get the unemployment rate below 8 per cent.
Our focus will continue to be on ensuring that there are rewarding employment opportunities for all those who lost their jobs during the recession and for those new to the labour market in to the future. Each quarterly progress report published on my Department’s website of the Action Plan for Jobs contains within its commentary section an update on employment data. This year we have also embedded a new assessment framework, which will improve monitoring associated with our employment policies. This is in response to a suggestion by the OECD that one area of improvement for APJ was to more clearly link actions to outcomes.
It is important to record that over 104,000 more people are at work since the launch of the first Action Plan for Jobs in 2012. In the case of Dublin, the unemployment rate has been brought down from 13.2% in the first Quarter of 2012 to 8.8% in the first Quarter of 2015 and there were 584,900 at work in the Dublin region, an increase of 43,400 since 2012.
My Department, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices work closely with the Department of Social Protection to provide opportunities for all those seeking employment in Dublin, including graduates. According to the HEA publication “What do graduates do – the Class of 2013” (published Dec 2014), Dublin is the Region with the most employment opportunities for graduates across all levels of qualifications with 34% Honours Bachelor Degree, 32% of Higher Diploma, 27% of Graduate Diploma, 43% of Taught masters, 37% Research Masters and 32% of Doctorates employed in the Region. One third of the population live in Dublin.
Overall the HEA data indicates that in 2013 the proportion of university graduates with an Honours Bachelor Degree seeking employment after nine months of graduation was 6%. Similarly, the proportion of graduates with a Higher & Postgraduate Diploma seeking employment after 9 months was 9%, while for Masters/Doctorates holders the proportion seeking employment 9 months after graduation was 11%. Our aim is to further increase job vacancies especially for new entrants to the labour market.
114. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; his views regarding the investor state dispute settlement therein; his views that this new court-arbitration system for disputes is going to be inaccessible to the small and medium enterprises sector due to costs and affordability issues; if he will ensure that this issue is addressed in the ongoing negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24204/15]
View answerAccording to assessments made by the EU Commission, a comprehensive TTIP could over time boost EU GDP by 0.5% per annum bringing significant economic gains as a whole for the EU. This converts into 400,000 jobs across the EU. A study commissioned by my Department estimates that these benefits in Ireland will be proportionally greater than in the EU as a whole. It suggests growth in Irish exports of almost 4%, increases in investment of 1% and increase in real wages of 1.5%. It estimates somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 additional export related jobs.
The last formal round of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, which was the ninth since negotiations began in 2013, took place in New York during the week beginning 20 April, 2015. The tenth formal round is scheduled to take place in Brussels during the week beginning 13 July, 2015. Work has advanced in all three pillars of the negotiations, namely, market access, regulatory cooperation and rules.
One of the general principles set out in the EU’s negotiating mandate is the objective to take into account the particular challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises in contributing to the development of trade and investment. TTIP will include a specific chapter on SMEs which is aimed at making the terms of TTIP more accessible by providing information which in turn will help to identify opportunities to trade and invest.
Insofar as negotiations on investment is concerned, the stated aim of EU’s negotiating mandate is to negotiate investment liberalisation and protection provisions on the basis of the highest levels of liberalisation and highest standards of protection that both sides have negotiated to date. The mandate makes it clear that, ultimately, the decision to include investment protection and ISDS in TTIP will depend on EU interests being met and on the final balance of the Agreement. Negotiations on investment protection including ISDS are on hold pending further work being undertaken by the EU Commission.
The EU’s aim is to overhaul investment protection provisions and the ISDS in international agreements, learning from experience of others under existing agreements globally. Significant progress in this regard has already been made under the EU-Canada (CETA) free trade and investment agreement. The Commission’s Concept Paper on reforming ISDS “Investment in TTIP and beyond – the path for reform”, builds on this progress and sets out ideas to further improve four key issues, namely, Governments’ right to regulate, establishment and functioning of tribunals, relationship between national judicial systems and an ISDS system, and an appellate mechanism.
As regards accessibility of SMEs to arbitration, some of the improved provisions included in CETA were introduced with SMEs in mind and should provide the basis for similar provisions in TTIP. These include specific provisions on mediation, to encourage an amicable solution between parties and avoid a longer and costlier formal arbitration process. CETA also introduces the possibility of a sole arbitrator when both parties agree, which would reduce costs, and also introduces limits on the fees paid to arbitrators.
I am open to considering proposals that can achieve a reasonable and workable arbitration system that is fair, transparent and efficient and addresses the shortcomings of historic models of investment arbitration which have given rise to concern.
115. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware of impending job losses at a company (details supplied) in County Clare, despite the Government's announcement last year that the company intended to create 100 additional jobs over the next year; if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual number of full-time jobs announced by the Government, via the regular jobs announcements Government statements; and of these, the actual number of jobs delivered. [24218/15]
View answerIn 2014, this company announced the expansion of its facility in Shannon, County Clare, with the creation of approximately 100 new jobs over the 200 jobs already in place with the company. These 100 jobs were created and are currently in situ. Any further announcement about its future is a matter for the company.
So far this year IDA Ireland has announced four new projects for the Mid-West Region (Shannon and Limerick) with a job potential of over 600 people at full operation. These companies are Amax, Viagogo, Northern Trust and Dell.
In relation to the Deputy’s query on new job announcements, 2014 was a record year for IDA Ireland with 197 investments being secured for Ireland and 15,012 gross new jobs being created in IDA Ireland client companies. There was a notable rise in new name investments with 88 new name investments being secured in 2014. For a variety of reasons many companies do not seek any publicity on proposed investments and many projects proceed without being publicly announced. During 2014, there were only 66 investment announcements, of which 38 were new projects with the balance being made up of expansion projects.
In relation to expansion of the Irish–owned sector, it is noteworthy that client companies of Enterprise Ireland created 19,705 jobs in 2014, which represented a net increase of 8,476 people employed in EI supported companies, the highest net gain in the history of that Agency.
It is important to acknowledge the natural time lag between an announcement of an investment and the coming on stream of that project, which can be between 3 and 5 years in some cases. That time is required for such activities as locating and acquiring a suitable site for the company’s operations, constructing a facility, installing machinery, the recruitment and training of suitable staff and a natural developmental phase.
Because of the time lag it is not possible to compare the numbers of jobs announced with the numbers of jobs created. In any given year the number of jobs created exceeds the number of jobs announced. Taking 2014 as an example, the IDA job announcements indicated a potential job creation figure in the region of 7,000 jobs whereas the actual number of new jobs created in IDA Ireland client companies in 2014 was in fact 15,012.
The level of investments coming on stream is best measured by the number of new jobs created in any given year as recorded in the Annual Employment Survey carried out by my Department.
116. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Natura lands with an area of 69.931 hectares have been accepted in an application under the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23991/15]
View answerA GLAS application for the person named was received on my Department’s online application system on the 19th May 2015. Almost 27,000 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is a testament to the level of interest which this new scheme has generated in a very short time. All GLAS applications received on or before the closing date of the 26th May 2015, including the application of the person-named, will now be assessed and approved in line with the terms and conditions of the Scheme, confirming also all priority environmental assets such as Natura land which have been claimed by applicants. This process must be carried out as a single exercise, comparing and ranking all applications against each other. Accordingly, I am unable to comment on individual applications at this point in time.
All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their applications and I anticipate contracts commencing in October.
117. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a special area of conservation totalling 17.3 hectares has been recognised in an application under the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23997/15]
View answerA GLAS application for the person named was received on my Department’s online application system on the 19th May 2015. Almost 27,000 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is a testament to the level of interest which this new scheme has generated in a very short time. All GLAS applications received on or before the closing date of the 26th May 2015, including the application of the person-named, will now be assessed and approved in line with the terms and conditions of the Scheme, confirming also all priority environmental assets such as Special Areas of Conservation which have been claimed by applicants. This process must be carried out as a single exercise, comparing and ranking all applications against each other. Accordingly, I am unable to comment on individual applications at this point in time.
All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their applications and I anticipate contracts commencing in October.
118. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a special area of conservation totalling 4.63 hectares has been recognised in an application under the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23998/15]
View answerA GLAS application for the person named was received on my Department’s online application system on the 21st May 2015. Almost 27,000 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is a testament to the level of interest which this new scheme has generated in a very short time. All GLAS applications received on or before the closing date of the 26th May 2015, including the application of the person-named, will now be assessed and approved in line with the terms and conditions of the Scheme, confirming also all priority environmental assets such as Special Areas of Conservation which have been claimed by applicants. This process must be carried out as a single exercise, comparing and ranking all applications against each other. Accordingly, I am unable to comment on individual applications at this point in time.
All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their applications and I anticipate contracts commencing in October.
119. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the last beef forum meeting; when the forum is due to meet again; and the main items on the agenda. [24005/15]
View answerI established the Beef Forum last year in order to bring all relevant stakeholders together and to facilitate open discussion between industry, farming organisations and others on the strategic path forward for the beef sector. The Forum has met on 5 occasions, including in November last year when the stakeholders agreed to a broad range of outcomes which address issues of concern for the sector in areas such as weight and age specifications, the Quality Payment system, live exports and producer organisations. The Forum allows stakeholders to engage in a positive way on strategic goals for the sector. As an example, the most recent meeting of the Forum held in February proposed the preparation of written guidelines for beef farmers which would act as a blueprint for those currently producing bull beef or those considering developing bull and other beef production systems, taking into account production efficiency and market dynamics. There was also general consensus at February’s Forum meeting that good progress was being made in delivering on the outcomes agreed at the November meeting, accompanied by a commitment from all participants to continue this work.
We have seen the benefits that the forum can bring with positive co-operation from all of the stakeholders. In order to build on the progress made, another meeting of the Beef Roundtable is scheduled and I expect to be able to confirm the date in the coming days. The meeting includes a discussion on Producer Organisations, and the current market situation, and I am finalising other elements of the agenda at present.
120. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new farmers charter will be agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24006/15]
View answerI am pleased to advise that negotiations between my Department and the main farming organisations on a new Farmers Charter concluded on Thursday 11th June 2015. I welcome the achievement of consensus on the Charter and commend all parties involved for their positive engagement over the last number of months.
The Charter is effectively an agreement between my Department and the main farming organisations on improving the standards and delivery targets for the Department’s schemes and services, including on-farm inspections, and brings clarity to the arrangements around inspections which I am particularly pleased about. The Charter sets out, in very clear language, the timelines, application, payment and appeals processes and is a very useful reference for farmers.
The new Charter will remain in place until 2020 coinciding with the lifetime of the current Pillar I and Pillar II schemes.
A Charter Monitoring Committee will be established under an independent chairman to monitor agreed targets and standards. This Committee will be composed of representatives of the farm organisations and staff of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
121. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, BSE, on a farm in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24009/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a cow on a farm in County Louth has tested positively for BSE. The animal was not presented for slaughter and did not enter the food or feed chain. The case was identified through the ongoing surveillance system of my Department. This surveillance system is part of the overall control systems in place to protect the food and feed chain. A series of confirmatory tests is now being undertaken and the final results will be available shortly.
Ireland’s BSE surveillance and controls are effective and consistent with legal requirements and best international practice. These controls are applied at different stages along the feed and food supply chain, supplementing and reinforcing each other to ensure the safety of the food and feed chain. The effective and systematic application of these controls, in accordance with EU and OIE rules, means that beef and beef products may be safely traded internationally.
The OIE has this week stated that it very much respects the integrity and transparency demonstrated by Ireland in providing preliminary information on this suspect case. It further commends the commitment to the protection of animal and human health as demonstrated by the effectiveness of the ongoing BSE surveillance program and the controls in place that prevented any part of the animal from entering the human food or animal feed chain.
In accordance with normal procedure, cases of BSE are subject to a full epidemiological investigation. The investigation of this particular case is now underway and will be concluded as soon as possible. The birth cohorts - animals born and reared in the herd of birth, around the same time as the positive animal - and progeny of the infected animal have been traced and will be sent for destruction and tested as a precaution.
I am confident that the controls being applied by my Department are among the best in the world. The record of Irish agriculture in producing beef and other products to such a high standard will continue to be important to us and the proven success of our control and monitoring regime will continue to enhance our reputation as one of the best food producers in the world.
