Written Answers Nos. 84-91
84. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the contracts for the construction of a public sector development (details supplied) in County Galway will be signed, given the recent contract signing of a very similar project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27895/15]
View answerEvaluation of the tenders received by the Office of Public Works (OPW) for construction of the new Regional and Divisional Headquarters for An Garda Síochána in Galway is at an advanced stage. Post tender clarifications are being pursued by the OPW with the contractor who appears to have submitted the most economically advantageous tender. Subject to a satisfactory outcome being achieved, and to no other issues arising during the final evaluation process, it is anticipated that a contract for construction will be placed in the near future. The construction period will be two years.
85. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 314 of 13 May 2014 (details supplied), if he will provide an expected time for when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27946/15]
View answerThe Commissioners of Public Works acquired a site from Wexford Borough Council in 2007 to accommodate new Government offices at Crescent Quay/Anne Street, Wexford. The acquisition of this site was in exchange for a site at King Street, Wexford owned by the Commissioners.
The Office of Public Works has conducted a review of the files relating to this property transaction and there are no material details on our files relating to the acquisition of the Crescent Quay/Anne Street property by Wexford Borough Council.
As stated in the previous response to Question No. 314 of 13 May 2014, there are a number of questions that were submitted at that time by the Deputy which are a matter for Wexford Borough Council.
86. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the financial and other supports available to assist innovators and enterprises involved in research and development towards developing and registering patents and copyrights to safeguard their intellectual property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27725/15]
View answerThe Intellectual Property Unit of my Department is responsible for intellectual property laws and policies. The Irish Patents Office (IPO) implements the system of intellectual property protection across all formal types (patent, trademark, industrial designs, copyright), and provides input in the drafting of certain legislation and in the formulation of policy. The website of the Irish Patents Office offers a range of orientation and guidance material on uses of Intellectual Property for businesses, as well as a Good Practice Guide on how to better integrate IP into business plans and strategies. There are links to a number of searchable databases for patents, trademarks and designs, though the IPO recommend taking professional assistance in doing so rather than self-searching. The IPO participates in introductory courses for people wishing to start a business organised by Local Enterprise Offices.
Patents are protected under the 1992 Irish Patents Act, with both full (20 years) and short-term (10 years) patents available by registering an application with the IPO. A process is currently underway to participate in the Unitary Patent System, with a local branch to be established in Dublin, which would facilitate businesses or inventors filing actions under patent law in a single court case to decide on the validity of patents throughout 25 EU Member States.
Copyrights enforcement is automatic (Irish Copyrights Act 2000), with no requirement to register a copyright. This places the emphasis of protection on the creator. Copyright legislation is currently under review, following the Modernising Copyright review (2013), which made recommendations to streamline and simplify the processes of protecting Copyright, from undertaking the full amount of exemptions permissible in the EU, to offering early and expeditious resolution structures.
Enterprise Ireland supports Intellectual Property (IP) activities among its client companies via the Research and Development Fund and High Potential Start-up equity support. These initiatives can cover IP activities where they represent an important part of an R&D project or the formation of a new company. Support for the preparation, filing and validation of a patent application is available as well as costs incurred in renewing the application before the patent/right has been granted. Such costs include translation and other costs incurred in order to obtain the granting or validation of the right in other appropriate countries.
Enterprise Ireland also coordinates the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), a non-financial support to assist SMEs become more innovative. The EEN helps companies in identifying licensable technologies and provides advice on best practice for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) management and through the EU IPR Helpdesk. The EEN services are specifically designed for SMEs but are also available to all businesses and Higher Education Institutions.
The EU IPR Helpdesk is the official IP service initiative of the European Commission and offers free of charge, first-line support on IP and IPR matters to beneficiaries of EU funded research projects and EU SMEs. In addition, the EU IPR Helpdesk offers free of charge training events on different aspects of IP management and IPR based on a practical and comprehensive training approach.
One of the main objectives of the EU IPR Helpdesk is to raise IP awareness and build capacities among European SMEs all across Europe.
This is done by offering on-site training events in the different European countries, by participating in awareness-raising events, by providing individual consultancy through the IPR Helpdesk and by developing and disseminating a broad range of useful publications such as guidelines, case studies and fact sheets that deal with different aspects of IP – both in business and in collaborative research.
IDA support in this area relates to the R&D activity itself rather than protection of the output of that activity by way of registering IP and patents. IDA Ireland multinational clients have well-established IP protection policies which would apply to their Irish subsidiaries. While IDA Ireland does not have a dedicated scheme to support IP protection alone, it would be expected that client companies would seek to protect IP arising from IDA Ireland grant supported R&D projects.
Indirect supports for IP are available to firms in Ireland via a variety of tax-related measures, including; tax relief for capital expenditure incurred by companies on the provision or acquisition of intangible assets for the purpose of trade; credit for foreign royalty income; withholding tax on patent royalty payments and stamp duty exemptions.
In this regard the State’s R&D Tax Credit scheme is a very important element of Ireland’s Corporation Tax regime in terms of attracting foreign direct investment to Ireland and deepening the research capabilities of firms based in Ireland. The firm commitment to the continuation and development of the R&D Tax Credit scheme is a key part of Ireland’s competitive offering for both foreign direct investment and Irish enterprises.
The Minister for Finance announced in the context of Budget 2015 that consideration is being given to the introduction of a Knowledge Development Box – a competitive income-based regime for intangible assets - along the lines of patent and innovation boxes which exist in other countries. In this light, a public consultation process has been launched to gather views on how the Knowledge Development Box should operate.
The environmental conditions for IP are considered to be good in Ireland, based on a comparative review across a number of European countries, such as Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Germany.
This review is titled - Enhancing the Intellectual Property Activities in the Firm Base in Ireland (Technopolis 2015) - and will be published on Thursday 9 July. Ireland is committed to enforcement of IP, with a strong legal base and active courts. We have a modern legislative framework that includes a Common Law jurisdiction with an independent court system and legal protections for the creators and owners of IP. Ireland is also party to the majority of international co-operations treaties and memberships, such as the EPC and TRIPS Agreement, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), European Patent Office (EPO), European Community (EU), Office for Harmonisation of the Internal Market (OHIM), the World Trade Organisation and various WIPO-administered Treaties.
87. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a list of each of the current grant schemes that are administrated by his Department and that are available to community groups or projects; the total amount paid for each of these schemes for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27785/15]
View answerThe total amount paid for the past four years for grant schemes administered by my Department which are available to community groups or projects is set out in the following tables:
1st January – 31st December 2012
|
Grant scheme title |
Purpose |
Total amount paid € |
|
Consumer Support |
A marketing campaign to improve the Consumers’ Association of Ireland’s digital presence |
46,864.90 |
|
Business Development Manager |
The maintenance and recruitment of Business Development Managers in the Community Enterprise Centres funded by Enterprise Ireland |
353,085 |
1st January – 31st December 2013
|
Grant scheme title |
Purpose |
Total amount paid € |
|
Consumer Support |
3 IT projects to be undertaken by the Consumers’ Association of Ireland |
45,000.00 |
|
Business Development Manager |
The maintenance and recruitment of Business Development Managers in the Community Enterprise Centres funded by Enterprise Ireland |
706,170 |
1st January – 31st December 2014
|
Grant scheme title |
Purpose |
Total amount paid € |
|
Business Development Manager |
The maintenance and recruitment of Business Development Managers in the Community Enterprise Centres funded by Enterprise Ireland |
353,085 |
2015 (to date)
|
Grant scheme title |
Purpose |
Total amount paid € |
|
Business Development Manager |
The maintenance and recruitment of Business Development Managers in the Community Enterprise Centres funded by Enterprise Ireland |
143,776* |
*Amount paid to date in 2015
88. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps being taken to avert the closure of a company (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [27795/15]
View answerI understand that the company concerned was started in 1886 in Scotland and is still family owned. The company bought the Clonmel based spirits business of C&C in 2010. This comprised the brands of Tullamore Dew, Carolan’s Cream and Irish Mist. They subsequently sold the last two brands. Production of the Tullamore Dew brand was enabled by long term agreements with other whiskey suppliers and the company continued to bottle Tullamore Dew in Clonmel. The company subsequently decided to set up their own distillery. The first phase completed in late 2014 is for a malt and unmalted distillery at a total investment of €35m. A second phase to build a grain distillery is currently underway. The activities concerning Tullamore Dew that have historically been located in Clonmel will now be transferred to Tullamore and integrated into the new distillery facility.
For the other two brands, a co-packing arrangement was included on the Clonmel site, bottling Carolan’s and Irish Mist. The co-packing arrangement was reviewed in September 2014 and the company lost the contract. The notice to terminate the arrangement will take effect in September 2015. Redeployment to Tullamore as well as the timing of the relocation of business are now subject to discussions with employees. On completion of the distillery and supporting services in Tullamore, it is estimated that the employment will grow on that site from a base of 66 in 2014 to 107 by 2019.
The company reiterate that they have consistently communicated with their employees about the long term future of the business.
In regard to any possible job losses, Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation, which offers extensive protections to employees. The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights legislation. NERA information personnel are available to meet staff of the affected companies, either individually or collectively, to discuss their employment rights, including matters related to redundancy. The Workplace Relations Customer Service Section can be contacted at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90. The website www.workplacerelations.ie also provides extensive information on employment rights. The industrial relations machinery of the State is available to assist the parties, if requested.
The State agencies, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, will continue to work closely with each other, and with local interests, to support an integrated approach to job creation in Clonmel and across County Tipperary.
89. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the procedures and supports his Department will, or intends to, put in place following the announcement by workers in a plant (details supplied) in County Tipperary to take strike action following the company’s decision to renege on the terms of a 2009 collective agreement regarding redundancy terms; if he is aware of the issue; if his Department has been in contact with the management on the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27857/15]
View answerI understand that members of the Unite trade union who work at the Bulmers plant in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary have voted to begin industrial action on Wednesday July 15th. I further understand that, while the dispute centres around a single employee, the core issue relates more generally to severance terms for managerial employees. I would like to assure the Deputy that the State’s industrial relations machinery is available, if requested, to assist the parties in resolving this dispute.
Ireland’s system of industrial relations is, essentially, voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers, whether in redundancy or other collective disputes, rests with the employer, the workers and their representatives. The State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement to support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences.
Even what often appears to be the most intractable of disputes is capable of resolution where both sides engage constructively and in good faith in this voluntary process. The principle of good faith implies that both sides in a dispute make every effort to reach an agreement and endeavour, through genuine and constructive negotiations, to resolve their differences.
90. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the procedures his Department will, or intends to, put in place following the announcement by a company (details supplied) in Clonmel in County Tipperary which manufactures Tullamore Dew that it intends moving operations to County Offaly, with the loss of up to 40 jobs in Clonmel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27888/15]
View answerI understand that the company concerned was started in 1886 in Scotland and is still family owned. The company bought the Clonmel based spirits business of C&C in 2010. This comprised the brands of Tullamore Dew, Carolan’s Cream and Irish Mist. They subsequently sold the last two brands. Production of the Tullamore Dew brand was enabled by long term agreements with other whiskey suppliers and the company continued to bottle Tullamore Dew in Clonmel. The company subsequently decided to set up their own distillery. The first phase completed in late 2014 is for a malt and unmalted distillery at a total investment of €35m. A second phase to build a grain distillery is currently underway. The activities concerning Tullamore Dew that have historically been located in Clonmel will now be transferred to Tullamore and integrated into the new distillery facility.
For the other two brands, a co-packing arrangement was included on the Clonmel site, bottling Carolan’s and Irish Mist. The co-packing arrangement was reviewed in September 2014 and the company lost the contract. The notice to terminate the arrangement will take effect in September 2015. Redeployment to Tullamore as well as the timing of the relocation of business are now subject to discussions with employees. On completion of the distillery and supporting services in Tullamore, it is estimated that the employment will grow on that site from a base of 66 in 2014 to 107 by 2019.
The company reiterate that they have consistently communicated with their employees about the long term future of the business.
In regard to any possible job losses, Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation, which offers extensive protections to employees. The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights legislation. NERA information personnel are available to meet staff of the affected companies, either individually or collectively, to discuss their employment rights, including matters related to redundancy. The Workplace Relations Customer Service Section can be contacted at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90. The website www.workplacerelations.ie also provides extensive information on employment rights. The industrial relations machinery of the State is available to assist the parties, if requested.
The State agencies, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, will continue to work closely with each other, and with local interests, to support an integrated approach to job creation in Clonmel and across County Tipperary.
91. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the procedures and supports his Department will, or intend to, put in place following the announcement by a company (details supplied) in County Tipperary, which has outsourced its logistics operations there, with the loss of 12 jobs, and which is seeking to shed a further 20 jobs in sales and administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27891/15]
View answerI have been informed that when C&C bought the business concerned in 2012, the transport function was split between a primary and a secondary fleet. The primary fleet employed 12 drivers and the secondary fleet was a contract haulier. In April 2015, it was decided that the contract haulier would become the transport partner for the business concerned. I have also been informed that the primary fleet drivers were offered relocation to the contract haulier. However none of the drivers accepted the positions and they were made redundant.
In regard to any job losses, Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation, which offers extensive protections to employees. The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights legislation. NERA information personnel are available to meet staff of the affected companies, either individually or collectively, to discuss their employment rights, including matters related to redundancy. The Workplace Relations Customer Service Section can be contacted at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90. The website www.workplacerelations.ie also provides extensive information on employment rights.
The industrial relations machinery of the State is also available to assist parties, if requested.
Enterprise Ireland is in ongoing interaction with C&C to support the development of the enterprise. In addition Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices will continue to work closely with each other, and with local interests, to support an integrated approach to job creation across County Tipperary.
