Tuesday, 3 Nov 2015

Written Replies Nos. 354 to 370

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (354)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

354. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will indicate, in respect of State boards under his Department's remit, the name of each appointee from 7 March 2011 to date in 2015; the date of appointment; whether or not each appointee came through an advertised public application process; the number of vacancies which currently exist on State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37365/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Since 7 March 2011, I have made 138 appointments to the Boards of Agencies under my Department’s remit. Of these 70 were within my discretion. 40 were as a result of a nomination process and 27 were by virtue of the office held and were not appropriate, therefore, for public advertisement. 1 was initially appointed prior to 2011 and was outside the process. Of the 70 appointments made within my discretion, 37 applied through an advertised process. Details of all appointments made to the Boards under my Department’s remit since March 2011 are listed below. The current position in relation to the composition and future vacancies in all such boards, may be accessed through the website www.stateboards.ie, administered by the Public Appointments Service.

Labour Relations Commission

Membership	Method of appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment Since 2011	Expiration of appointment	Applied through an advertised process
Breege O'Donoghue, Chairperson	Ministerial- Nominated by the Government	01/04/2003	07/07/2015 To 01/10/2015	Expired 1/10/2015	N|A- Appointed through a nomination process
Brendan McGinty	Ministerial -Nominated by IBEC	06/11/2000	07/07/2015 To 01/10/2015	Expired 1/10/2015	N|A- Appointed through a nomination process
Fergus Whelan	Ministerial – Nominated by ICTU	05/07/2009	07/07/2015 To 01/10/2015	Expired 1/10/2015	N|A- Appointed through a nomination process
Gerard Barry	Ministerial	01/04/2006	07/07/2013 To 06/07/2014	Expired 06/07/2014	No
Iarla Duffy	Ministerial	05/07/2009	07/07/2013 To 06/07/2014	Expired 06/07/2014	No
John Hennessy	Ministerial -Nominated by IBEC	05/07/2009	07/07/2015 To 01/10/2015	Expired 1/10/2015	N|A- Appointed through a nomination process
Peter McCloone	Ministerial – Nominated by ICTU	29/03/2000	07/07/2015 To 01/10/2015	Expired 1/10/2015	N|A- Appointed through a nomination process

Forfás

Membership	Method of appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment	Expiry of appointment	Applied through an advertised process
Professor Mark Ferguson	Ex Officio (DG of SFI)	18/01/2012	No	1st August 2014	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
John Murphy	Ministerial -Dept Rep (Sec Gen)	18/01/2012	No	1st August 2014	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
Eoin O’Driscoll Chair	Ministerial. Original app.	13/07/04	Yes 1/1/2013	1st August 2014	Appointed before 2011
Julie Sinnamon	Ex Officio (New CEO)	07/11/2013	No	1st August 2014	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held

Forfás was dissolved on 1 August 2014.

Enterprise Ireland

Membership	Method of Appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment	Expiry of appointment	Applied through an advertised process
Julie Sinnamon CEO	Ex Officio	29/08/2013	No	N/A	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
Terence O’ Rourke Chairman of EI Board	Ministerial	01/08/02013	No	31/07/2018	No
Amanda Pratt	Ministerial	10/10/2012	No		No
Clare Dunne	Ministerial – Dept. Rep (Assistant Secretary)	10/10/2012 01/07/2015	Yes	*see note	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
Colum Horgan	Ministerial	15/10/2012	No	*see note	No
Geoff Meagher	PAS	15/10/2012	No	*see note	Yes
Helen Ryan	Ministerial	26/03/2014	No	*see note	No
John McMahon	PAS	26/03/2014	No	*see note	Yes
Elaine Coughlan	Ministerial	12/05/2014	No	*see note	No
Patrick Flynn	Ministerial	08/07/2014	No	*see note	No
David Walsh	PAS	23/10/2015	No	*see note	Yes
Dave Shanahan	PAS	23/10/2015	No	*see note	Yes

There is currently one vacancy. An appointment is imminent. The candidate applied through PAS.

*In accordance with Section 9 of the Industrial Development Act, (Enterprise Ireland) 1998, on each anniversary of the establishment day (23 July, 1998), two members of the Board (other than the chairperson and the chief executive officer) shall retire from office. The members to retire in any year shall be those who have been longest in office since their appointment.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Membership	Method of appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment	Expiry of appointment	Applied through an advertised process
Dermot Divilly Chair	Minister’s nominee	16/07/2014	No	15/07/2018	Position filled by Expression of interest
Conor O’Brien	Chief Executive Designated member	1 Oct 2015	No	30/09/2020	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
Breda Power	Ministerial -Dept Rep (Asst Sec)	26/10/2011	No	25/10/2016	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
Ann Fitzgerald	Ministerial	12/09/2006	Yes 08/09/2011	17/10/2012	No
Sean Murphy	Designated member Interim CEO	20/12/2012	No	March 2013	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
	Designated Member – CEO of NCA	11/04/2013	No	30/10/2014	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
Karen O’Leary	Designated Member – Competition and Consumer Protection Commission	16/12/2014	Yes 16/06/2015	15/09/2018	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
Martin Naughton	Designated member - ICTU nominee	05/04/2012	No	04/04/2017	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Dr. Fionnuala O'Loughlin	Ministerial	01/08/2012	Yes 01/08/2015	31/07/2018	Position filled by Expression of interest
John Lynch	Ministerial	01/08/2012	Yes 01/08/2015	31/07/2018	Position filled by Expression of interest
Bernard Sheridan	Designated member -Central Bank Nominee	27/01/2011	Yes 15/02/2013	Resigned 31/12/2013	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Mick Stewart	Designated member -Central Bank Nominee	01/01/2014	No	31/12/2016	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Margot Slattery	Designated member – IBEC nominee	30/04/2014	No	29/04/2016	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Walter Cullen	Designated member – ICTU nominee	30/04/2014	No	29/04/2016	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Dermot Gorman	Ministerial	26 /09/2014	No	25/09/2017	No

Health and Safety Authority

Membership	Method of appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment	Expiry of appointment	Applied through an advertised process
John Newham	Ministerial- Dept Rep (Principal Officer)	10/04/12	No	09/07/13* *	Not Applicable DJEI Representative
Michael Horgan**(chair)	Ministerial	20/12/13 (initial appointment 20/12/10)	Yes	19/12/16	No
Michael Gillen, IBEC	Ministerial - Nominated by IBEC	20/12/13	No	19/12/16	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
George Brett,	Ministerial -Nominated by IBEC	20/12/13 (initial appointment 20/12/10)	Yes	19/12/16	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Robert Butler, CIF	Ministerial -Nominated by IBEC	20/12/13	No	19/12/16	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Christine Rowland, SIPTU	Ministerial -Nominated by ICTU	20/12/13	No	19/12/16	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Pat Kenny, CWU (Deputy Chair since 14.05.2014)	Ministerial -Nominated by ICTU	20/12/13	No	19/12/16	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Frank Vaughan, ICTU	Ministerial -Nominated by ICTU	20/12/13	No	19/12/16	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Paul Cullen	Ministerial -Dept Rep	20/12/13	No	19/12/16	Not applicable DJEI Representative
Ms Carol Bolger	Ministerial (through PAS)	26/02/14	No	25/02/17	Yes
Dr John McCartney	Ministerial (through PAS)	26/02/14	No	25/02/17	Yes
Ms Vicki O'Reilly	Ministerial (through PAS)	26/02/14	No	25/02/17	Yes
Professor James Phelan	Ministerial (through PAS)	26/02/14	No	25/02/17	Yes

* Official resigned as he transferred to another post in the Civil Service.

** The Chairperson was re-appointed to that position by the Minister, having appeared before the JEI Joint Oireachtas Committee.

National Standards Authority of Ireland

Membership	Method of appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment	Expiry of appointment	Applied through an advertised process
Terry Landers	Ministerial	06/03/2012 28/03/2014	Yes	*see attached note	No
Barbara O'Leary	Ministerial	06/03/2012	No	13/04/2015	Yes
Anne Clarke	Ministerial -Staff Rep by internal vote	14/04/2012	No	14/02/2013	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Kieran Cox	Ministerial -Staff Rep by internal vote	14/04/2012 14/04/2015	Yes	*see attached note	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Deirdre O’Hara	Ministerial	31/01/2013	No	see attached note	Yes
Aedin Goggin	Ministerial	31/01/2013	No	see attached note	Yes
Kieran Ryan	Ministerial	15/04/2009 27/06/2013	Yes	See attached note	No
Peter Oates	Ministerial -Staff Rep by internal vote	27/06/2013	No	13/04/2015	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Julie O’Neill (Chairperson)	Ministerial	16/07/2013	No	See attached note	Yes
Eugene Forde	Ministerial – Dept Rep	22/10/2013	No		N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
Dr Aidan O’Boyle	Ministerial	12/05/2014		N/A	No
Valerie Bowens	Ministerial	12/05/2014		N/A	Yes
Deirdre Smith	Ministerial	12/05/2014		N/A	Yes
Maurice Buckley- Chief Executive	Ex Officio	01/03/2007		28/02/2017	N/A- Appointed by virtue of Office held
Jacinta Kenneally	Ministerial -Staff Rep by internal vote	14/04/2015	No	07/08/2015 - resignation	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Kevin Early	Ministerial -Staff Rep by internal vote	01/10/2015	No	See attached note	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process

There is currently 1 vacancy

* 3 longest serving members resign each year on April 14

National Consumer Agency (The NCA merged with the Competition Authority on 31 October 2015 to become the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.)

Membership	Method of appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment	Expiry of contract	Applied through an advertised process
Stephen Costello	Ministerial	01/05/2007	Yes 01/05/2012	NCA now merged into the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission	No
Sean Murphy	Appointed by the Board (CEO of NCA)	18/10/2012	No	ditto	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Karen O’Leary	Appointed by the Board (CEO of NCA)	19/03/2013	No	ditto	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Isolde Goggin	Ministerial – Competition Authority Rep (Chair of Competition Authority)	30/11/2011	No	ditto	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Robin O'Sullivan	Ministerial	01/05/2007	Yes 06/05/2012	ditto	No
Colleen Savage	Ministerial	06/05/2012	No	ditto	Yes
Eugene Gallagher	Ministerial	06/05/2012	No	ditto	Yes
Tina Leonard	Ministerial	31/01/2013	No	ditto	Yes
Fergus J. Gallagher	Ministerial	23 March 2010	1 May 2014	ditto	No
David Pierce	Ministerial	23 March 2010	1 May 2014	ditto	No

IDA Ireland

Membership	Method of appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment	Expiry of contract	Applied through an advertised process
Frank Ryan (Chairperson)	Ministerial	01/01/2014	No	*See note below	No
Alan W. Gray	Ministerial	25/01/2012	No	*See note below	No
Mary Campbell	Ministerial	23/05/2012	No	*See note below	No
Peter Cassels	Ministerial	23/05/2012	No	*See note below	No
Dr Geraldine McGinty	Ministerial	08/08/14	no	*See note below	No
Martin D. Shanahan	CEO of IDA Ex Officio	01/09/14	No	*See note below	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Lionel Alexander	Ministerial	19/03/2008	04/02/2013	*See note below	No
Paul Duffy	Ministerial	08/02/2011	No	*See note below	No
John Murphy	Ministerial	06/05/2015	No	*See note below	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Barry O’Sullivan	Ministerial	04/09/2015	No	*See note below	Yes
Caroline Dowling	Ministerial	04/09/2015	No	*See note below	Yes.
Denis Collins	Ministerial	04/09/2015	No	*See note below	Yes.
Dermot Curran	Assistant Secretary DJEI	09/07/2012	No	Resigned 17/06/2015	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held

- On 31 December 2015, anniversary of the establishment day, 2 members of the board shall be due for retirement or reappointment. The members to retire each year are those who have been longest in office since the previous appointment.

- Dermot Curran transferred from DJEI to Department of An Taoiseach in April 2015. He was succeeded by John Murphy.

Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority

Membership	Method of appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment	Expiry of contract	Applied through an advertised process
Karen Erwin	Minister	03/01/2006	Yes	02/01/2013	No
Chair - Brendan Walsh	Minister	03/01/2013	No	02/01/2017	No
Ex officio- Ian Drennan CEO	Directors of IAASA	03/01/2006	Yes	28/08/2012	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Ex officio - Helen Hall- CEO	Directors of IAASA CEO	18/12/2012	No	17/12/2017	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Brian Sheils	Minister	03/01/2009	No	02/01/2012	Yes
Muireann O'Neill	Minister	01/09/2012	No	31/08/2015	Yes
Paul Appleby	ODCE	03/01/2006	Yes	01/03/2012	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Conor O'Mahony	ODCE	01/03/2012	Yes	02/01/2017	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Mairead Devine	Central Bank	03/01/2012	YES	09/09/2015	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Mary Burke	Central Bank	14/10/2015	No	02/01/2018	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Sean Hawkshaw	Irish Association of Investment Managers	03/01/2006	Yes	02/01/2018	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Marie Daly	Irish Business & Employer Federation	03/01/2006	Yes	02/01/2018	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Joe O'Toole	Irish Congress of Trade Unions	03/01/2007	Yes	02/01/20013	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Paddy Keating	Irish Congress of Trade Unions	03/01/2013	No	02/01/2016	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Gerard Scully	Irish Stock Exchange	03/01/2011	No	02/01/2014	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Aileen O'Donoghue	Irish Stock Exchange	03/01/2014	No	02/01/2017	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Michael Quinlan	Law Society of Ireland	03/01/2011	Yes	02/01/2017	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Brendan Kennedy	Pensions Board	08/06/2007	Yes	02/01/2012	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Sylvia McNeece	Pensions Board	03/01/2012	Yes	02/01/2018	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Tadgh O'Connell	Revenue Commissioners	03/01/2009	No	02/01/2012	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Deirdre Behan	Revenue Commissioners	03/01/2012	Yes	02/01/2018	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Tony Kelly	Prescribed Accountancy Body	03/01/2010	NO	02/01/2013	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Bernadette Mc Grory Farrell	Prescribed Accountancy Body	03/01/2013	No	02/01/2016	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
David Martin	Prescribed Accountancy Body	30/05/2011	No	29/05/2014	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Etain Doyle	Prescribed Accountancy Body	30/05/2014	No	29/05/2017	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
Kevin O'Donovan	Prescribed Accountancy Body	30/05/2011	No	29/05/2014	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process
David Devlin	Prescribed Accountancy Body	30/05/2014	No	29/05/2017	N/A- Appointed through a nomination process

Science Foundation Ireland

Membership	Method of appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment	Expiry of contract	App through and advertised process
Professor Mark Ferguson	Ex Officio (DG of SFI)	16/01/2012	No	*see attached note	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Dermot Mulligan	Ministerial- Dept Rep (Asst Sec)	12/09/2015	No	*see attached note	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Mary Doyle	Ministerial – Nominated by Minister for Education	05/12/2012	No	*see attached note	N/A – Appointed by virtue of Office held
Dr. Rita Colwell	Ministerial	31/03/2008	Yes 26 July 2011	*see attached note	No
Liam Madden	Ministerial	31/01/2013	No	see attached note	Yes
Ann Riordan (Chair)	Ministerial	05/12/2013			No
Aidan Donnelly	Ministerial	05/12/2013			Yes
Geraldine Ruane	Ministerial	05/12/2013			Yes
Professor Sir Tom Blundell	Ministerial	19/11/2014	No	see attached note	No
Mr Barry O’Sullivan	Ministerial on Application	19/11/2014	No	see attached note	Yes
Ms Bernie Cullinan (Deputy Chair)	Ministerial	01/12/2009	25/07/2015		No
Dr Pat Duane	Ministerial	01/12/2009	25/07/2015		No

*Section 9.3 of the 2003 Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Act 2003 determines that each year (on anniversary of formal establishment of SFI – 25th July 2003) that the two longest serving members of the Board shall retire from the Board with effect from July 24th each year. However, there is also a stipulation in the legislation that a member cannot serve more than ten years in succession.

Workplace Relations Commission

Membership	Method of appointment	Date of appointment	Re-appointment	Expiry of term	App through and advertised process
Paul Duffy Chair	Ministerial	1/10/2015	n/a	30/09/2020	no
Deirdre O’Brien	Ministerial	1/10/2015	n/a	30/09/2017	Yes
Maeve Mc Elwee	Ministerial	1/10/2015	n/a	30/09/2017	Yes
Liam Berney	Ministerial	1/10/2015	n/a	30/09/2017	Yes
Shay Cody	Ministerial	1/10/2015	n/a	30/09/2017	Yes
Geraldine Hynes	Ministerial	1/10/2015	n/a	30/09/2017	Yes
Audrey Cahill	Ministerial	1/10/2015	n/a	30/09/2018	Yes
Richard Devereux	Ministerial	1/10/2015	n/a	30/09/2018	Yes
Michelle O’Sullivan	Ministerial	1/10/2015	n/a	30/09/2018	Yes

Job Creation

Questions (355)

Seán Kenny

Question:

355. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps Enterprise Ireland and the Industrial Development Agency Ireland are taking to create employment in Clonshaugh Business and Technology Park in Dublin 17; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37490/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The goal of this Government has been to replace all of the jobs lost during the economic crisis and deliver sustainable full employment by the end of 2018.

The Government introduced the Action Plan for Jobs process in 2012, where annually we have mapped out a significant number of targets to support the maintenance and creation of jobs. We are on track to exceed our target of 100,000 additional jobs by 2016.

Earlier this year, I announced funding for a competitive process to drive enterprise growth and new employment in all regions. As part of this initiative, Enterprise Ireland has launched two competitive funds in 2015:

- A €5 million Community Enterprise Initiative Scheme to support collaborative proposals to promote entrepreneurship, create jobs, foster innovation and enhance export opportunities for small business.

- A €5 million Competitive Fund for Local Enterprise Offices to fund initiatives impacting on and supporting micro-enterprise throughout the country.

- A €40m open competitive call for strategic, sectorally focused and regionally based projects will also be launched by Enterprise Ireland over the coming months. To inform the design of this formal open competitive call, submissions were invited in August that will help to identify potential areas of enterprise and sectoral opportunities. These submissions are currently being examined by Enterprise Ireland.

The Clonshaugh Business and Technology Park is currently the location of IDA Ireland clients such as Forest Labs and Amazon. There are no marketable lands remaining in the Park but there are, however, a number of vacant large-scale industrial units and, as part of its value proposition for Dublin, IDA Ireland markets these large facilities to suitable potential clients.

As is evidenced with IDA Ireland investment announcements over the past number of years, a significant number locate in Dublin so it is reasonable to expect that this trend will continue and, while significant progress has been made in supporting job creation and in reducing unemployment rates in all regions of the country, this Government is not complacent about the challenge of achieving sustainable full employment over the medium term, in all regions including Clonshaugh Industrial Park.

Dublin is recognised as one of Europe’s leading business locations and is now an internationally renowned cluster for technology and financial services companies. The city has been a spectacular success in terms of Foreign Direct Investment as it hosts many of the world’s leading companies such as Google, eBay, PayPal, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Oracle, Pfizer, Amgen, IBM, Citi and Accenture, BNY Mellon, Takeda and Bristol Myers Squibb. All of these multinationals use the abundance of infrastructure and utilities available in the capital to run their operations.

As Ireland competes for high quality investments, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading global corporations require a significant population pool, access to qualified talent, world class physical and digital infrastructure in addition to the availability of sophisticated professional and business support services.

IDA Ireland’s strategy for Dublin is aimed at progressing the business infrastructure, including the development of a knowledge economy, in order that the region can compete both nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment. The Agency continues to work with the existing client base in Dublin to encourage them to expand and diversify into higher value added goods and services. They also act as a broker between the Higher Education Authorities, key client companies and Science Foundation Ireland, to encourage further research and development. Dublin is already global in the scale of its education and research infrastructure and is well positioned as a “knowledge” city which competes successfully on the global stage.

Exchequer Payments

Questions (356)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

356. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for a list of the cost to the Exchequer of Oifig Uachtarán na hÉireann; the main expenditure categories including staff number, maintenance, capital improvements, etc.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37504/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation I have no responsibility in relation to Oifig Uactharán Na hÉireann. Article 13 (8) (1) of the Constitution reads: The President shall not be answerable to either House of the Oireachtas or to any court for the exercise and performance of his office or for any act done or purporting to be done by him in the exercise and performance of these powers and functions.

Industrial Development

Questions (357)

Tom Fleming

Question:

357. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will direct the Industrial Development Agency Ireland to refurbish and upgrade the run-down industrial estates in County Kerry and to commence a programme of building new, more advanced properties to attract and locate potential enterprises, in line with the budget announcement to ensure the continuation of the agency's regional advanced facilities programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37528/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

In April of this year, IDA Ireland launched its new five-year strategy entitled Winning – Foreign Direct Investment 2015-2019. The strategy has a strong focus on regional development, setting forth aims and strategies to achieve a significant increase in investment going into regional locations. To support that aim, IDA Ireland is rolling out a €150million capital investment programme to help attract more multinational jobs into each region over a 5-year period. This programme will include investments over the coming years in building advanced technology buildings and office facilities in a number of regional locations to provide state-of-the-art property solutions for clients. Tralee is to be the site of one such advanced technology building. IDA Ireland markets Kerry as part of its South West region, along with Cork. There are 12 IDA Ireland client companies, employing 1,874 people. Companies supported by IDA Ireland in Kerry have added 361 additional new jobs between 2011 – 2014 (a 24% increase) compared to 502 job losses in the period 2008 – 2010 (a 25% decrease). It should be noted that 70% of new IDA jobs come from existing client companies, not from new investments.

Marketing of any regional area, including Kerry, for Foreign Direct Investment is done through IDA Ireland’s network of overseas offices. IDA Ireland actively incentivises and encourages investors to consider a range of potential locations in Ireland although the ultimate locations selected are always decided by the companies themselves.

Finally, a further boost to the county is the reinstatement of Regional Aid for Co. Kerry under the new Regional Aid Guidelines, which came into force on 1 July, 2014. The RAGs enable the State to grant State Aid, at enhanced rates, to businesses in order to support new investment and new employment in productive projects in Ireland's most disadvantaged regions. The funding for this comes from the Exchequer. This means that the full range of Regional Aid assistance options are available in Kerry.

Back to Education Allowance Applications

Questions (358)

Tom Fleming

Question:

358. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if an application for a back to education allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reviewed, given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37673/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the Back to Education Allowance is not under my remit. The Deputy may wish to contact Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection who has responsibility for this area.

Work Permits Applications

Questions (359)

James Bannon

Question:

359. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for an update on a general work permit application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37713/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

My Department reviews and up-dates the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations Lists (HSEOL) and the Ineligible Categories of Employment Lists (ICEL) on a biannual basis. This process involves obtaining and considering advice from, amongst others the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit in SOLAS, as well as other Government Departments, Agencies and industry, as necessary. In September, on foot of the most recent review, I removed Chiropractors who are members of the Chiropractic Association of Ireland (CAI), from the Ineligible Categories of Employment Lists (ICEL).

I understand that an application in respect of the person referred to in the Deputy’s question was received in Employment Permits Section on 15 October 2015 and that payment of the prescribed fee is awaited. On receipt of the correct fee this application will be processed.

Black Economy

Questions (360)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

360. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the crackdown on exploitation of construction workers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37886/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I understand that the Deputy’s question relates to concerns regarding bogus self-employment in the construction sector.

Ireland has a well resourced and proactive labour inspectorate, which now forms part of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Inspections are undertaken on the basis of risk analysis which identifies certain sectors, and as a result of complaints received.

Where the WRC inspection service (formerly NERA) receive complaints in relation to bogus self-employment or bogus sub-contracting, they are forwarded to the Revenue Commissioners and/or the Department of Social Protection (Scope Section) for investigation either solely by the recipient, or jointly with the Workplace Relations Commission. Complaints regarding the abuse of the sub-contracting or the Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT) system are followed up by the Revenue Commissioners.

In most cases it will be clear whether an individual is employed or self-employed. Where there is doubt in relation to the employment status of an individual the relevant Departments and Agencies will have regard to the Code of Practice for Determining Employment or Self-Employment Status of Individuals. This Code was drawn up and agreed in 2007 by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Social and Family Affairs, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Irish Business and Employers Federation.

The Workplace Relations Commission has statutory authority to share information with both the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection. Such information sharing takes place regularly between the Workplace Relations Commission inspectors and their counterparts in these bodies. In cases of mutual interest, joint operations and/or inspections may also be carried out. This exchange and sharing of information, together with the joint operations, is a valuable element of the inspection process and contributes to uncovering non-compliance in the areas covered by the relevant bodies.

In the course of 2014 a total of 353 joint investigations took place with the Revenue Commissioners and /or the Department of Social Protection. These inspections may involve all or a combination of the three parties and in some instances may also involve the Gardaí.

The Workplace Relations Commission provides information on employment, equality & industrial relations legislation, through the Workplace Relations Customer Service and Information Unit. It can be contacted at Lo-call:1890 80 80 90 or via its website www.workplacerelations.ie.

Housing Issues

Questions (361)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

361. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the impact of increasingly high rental prices in urban areas, specifically in the commuter belt areas of Kildare North, Meath and Wicklow, on employees' accessibility and availability to take up new employment roles in Dublin city centre; the control measures he plans to implement with regard to the cost of living in these areas; the studies that have been carried out on the increased operating and salary costs to new and existing employers; the impact assessments that have been completed on the effect on innovation and start-ups commencing in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37903/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, which is co-ordinated and developed by my Department since 2012, has set out a comprehensive set of measures to rebuild a sustainable enterprise economy, based on innovation, entrepreneurship, talent and exports. The Action Plan process is working. Over 126,000 more people are at work since the launch of the first Action Plan for Jobs in 2012, exceeding the original target of an additional 100,000 jobs by 2016, 21 months ahead of target. The rate of unemployment has declined from a peak of 15.1 per cent at the start of 2012 to below 9.3 per cent in September 2015. We are not complacent about the requirements to sustain the momentum of job creation across the range of policy areas that impact on the environment for business and competitiveness and efficient labour market operation, including issues relating to the property market.

The adequate supply of quality, affordable housing, in the right locations, is a contributing factor to Ireland’s overall competitiveness. For example, it contributes to Ireland’s attractiveness for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), for mobile talent, and house price inflation can feed into wage pressures which in turn can impact on our competitiveness. This is particularly true in urban areas where employment growth is especially strong, and housing supply is still suffering from the impact of the property crash.

Following several years of significant cost reductions – in terms of both construction and rental/purchase costs, property costs are again emerging as an issue to sustained cost competitiveness. The link between house prices and wage expectations means that developments in the residential property sector do impact on international competitiveness.

The Government is addressing the shortage of supply in a number of ways. Construction 2020: A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector , which was published last year and drew on analysis and research by Forfás for my Department, is aimed at addressing issues in the property and construction sectors and ensuring that any bottlenecks that might impede the sector in meeting residential and non-residential demand are addressed.

The regulation of the rental market raises many complex economic and legal issues. Measures proposed have to be balanced and have the desired effect on the rental market while being fair to landlords and tenants alike. I understand that my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government intends to bring proposals in relation to the rental sector to Government for decision as soon as possible. Ultimately, any decision in relation to this issue is a matter for Government.

The Government has also prioritised social housing, as set out in the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020 and the €2.9 billion in funding under the Government’s capital plan. In Budget 2016 investment in housing infrastructure was given priority with a total housing provision in 2016 of €923 million. NAMA is aiming to deliver a target of 20,000 residential units before the end of 2020 with 90 per cent of these units to be in the greater Dublin area.

In addition, the Regional Action Plans for Jobs, which my Department is developing with stakeholders in all regions this year, has placed a strong emphasis on creating attractive places where people can live and work, with consequent links to the competitiveness of the environment for start-ups, innovation and entrepreneurship. The progress in creating attractive and competitive environments for business in the regions, across all the key dimensions including property solutions, will be part of the work of the stakeholder Implementation Groups for the Plans at regional level.

Jobs Protection

Questions (362)

Dara Calleary

Question:

362. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action he has taken to protect jobs in companies (details supplied) due to a planned acquisition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37913/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

This planned acquisition was announced just last month and the formal legal processes to complete the sale have not yet been finalised. Both companies have very substantial operations in Ireland, encompassing a wide range of activities, one of the companies employs about 2,300 staff and the other has a workforce here of about 3,200. These are quality jobs, and mostly in regional locations, which makes their presence in this country of significant strategic value. The proposed acquisition is not yet complete and no decisions have been announced as to the future business direction of the enlarged company. Accordingly it is not possible at this stage to give an indication of any likely outcomes for the Irish businesses. I have asked IDA Ireland to engage closely with the local and head office management of the two companies in order to emphasise the value of their Irish operations and to seek to secure and embed their operations in this country. In addition, I myself have met senior management of both companies in the recent past and I will continue to engage with them into the future, to highlight the importance of their operations here and the advantages and attractions which Ireland can offer to contribute to their ongoing development.

Action Plan for Jobs

Questions (363)

Dara Calleary

Question:

363. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the annual spend on each regional action plan for jobs; for a breakdown on specific spending plans; the anticipated procurement plan for each regional project; the persons and bodies responsible for implementing each regional plan; the deadlines and targets for each plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37914/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

In launching the Action Plan for Jobs Regional initiative earlier this year, the Government announced that funding of up to €250 million will be made available over the next five years to support job creation through enterprise growth in the regions. It is the intention that IDA Ireland will deliver a Regional Property Programme of €150 million and a further sum of up to €100 million will be made available through Enterprise Ireland over the next five years to support innovative and collaborative approaches to support job creation across the regions. The Enterprise Ireland funds will be distributed through three new competitive calls.

- A €5m Community Enterprise Initiative, to stimulate and support enterprise and job creation throughout the country at local, community and regional level. This competitive call has closed and applications are currently being assessed.

- A €5m fund open to groups of Local Enterprise Offices who come together to bid for funding for projects to support job-creation initiatives in their areas. This competitive call has closed and applications are currently being assessed.

- A third, broader, competitive regional call, will support significant projects or initiatives to improve or leverage identified enterprise capability in the regions. An expressions of interest phase for this call has concluded and is informing the development of the competitive call, to be launched shortly.

In the case of all three funding calls, a collaborative approach, tangible jobs impact, enterprise start-up and scaling are amongst the criteria against which applications will be measured. There will be a ramp up period associated with the drawdown of this spend, particularly in the case of the third call, which will involve larger scale projects.

IDA Ireland is investing in a €150m Regional Property Programme over the five year period to ensure that there is sufficient availability of utility intensive Strategic Sites, quality Business Parks and Advance Building Solutions to attract investment to the Regions. So far this year, Advance Technology Buildings have been completed in both Waterford and Athlone and the construction of buildings in Sligo, Castlebar and Tralee is at an advanced stage of procurement. Next year, IDA Ireland will continue this programme of advance builds with projects in Galway, Dundalk and Limerick. Investment in IDA Ireland’s portfolio of Business and Technology Parks around the country is also underway.

The Regional Action Plans will cover the three-year period 2015-2017 to allow for the process to take hold and develop, and to capture a more medium-term ambition for the regions. However, the Regional Action Plans will also be flexible and dynamic to allow additional actions and ideas to be added as they emerge over the period of the Plan.

The success of the regional Action Plans will lie in the delivery of the actions on schedule. The process will underpinned by robust reporting arrangements, with twice yearly updates to be published in each region setting out the progress on each of the actions due for delivery. Implementation of each Plan will be overseen by a Regional Implementation Committee, established within each region, which will involve the key stakeholders in the region, Given that strong business representation is also required to drive the enterprise and jobs focus of the Plan, I am appointing locally-based Enterprise Champions in each region to participate on the Implementation Committee.

Knowledge Development Box

Questions (364)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

364. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for the information available on the planned knowledge development box initiative, as referred to in budget 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38025/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

A key objective of the Action Plan for Jobs process, which this Government commenced in 2012, was to rebuild our economy based on enterprise and entrepreneurship, talent, innovation and exports and provide a solid foundation for future growth. The enterprise sector has led the economic recovery, with our enterprises and entrepreneurs innovating, developing and improving their products and services to meet the needs of customers in markets across the globe.

The goal of this Government has been to replace all of the jobs lost during the economic crisis and deliver sustainable full employment by the end of 2018. This whole of Government effort has been integrated into the Action Plan for Jobs process which aims to strengthen the enterprise base, support entrepreneurship, improve competitiveness and support regional development. Since the launch of the first plan in Q1 2012, 126,000 more people are at work - exceeding the original target of an additional 100,000 jobs by 2016.

The recovery in jobs and exports to date is in large part due to the considerable improvements in the business environment for enterprise that have taken place in recent years. The measures announced by the Minister for Finance in Budget 2016 last month will further strengthened the attractiveness of Ireland as a place for innovation, entrepreneurship and investment – delivering sustainable job creation and growth. A competitive, innovative enterprise base is at the core of Ireland’s future economic development and growth.

Ireland is the first country world-wide to offer an OECD compliant Knowledge Development Box (KDB) offering certainty to global and Irish owned enterprises. The OECD nexus approach sets out the principles and guidelines under which income arising from IP assets can qualify for a lower rate of tax under a KDB initiative. Ireland’s KDB rate is 6.25 percent (half of the corporation tax rate of 12.5 percent) and is internationally competitive.

The Knowledge Box, as announced in the 2016 Budget speech, will support and encourage investment in research and development in Ireland and the increased the protection and exploitation of intellectual property arising.

The Finance Bill also allows for the introduction of a provision pertaining to ‘Companies with income arising from intellectual property of less than €7,500,000’ which will be introduced during 2016 when the necessary legislation to give it effect is enacted and will be of direct benefit to companies of a relatively lower scale, with global income of less than €50 million. [Section 30, 769R]

The other eligible assets sought are reflected in the Finance Bill:

i. Copyrighted software permitted under the OECD guidelines is reflected under the computer program definition.

ii. Supplementary protection certificates and paediatric protection under EU regulations.

iii. Plant rights under EU regulation.

iv. Breeders’ rights within the meaning of Plant Varieties (Proprietary Rights) Act 1980.

Information and advisory notes will be available from Revenue in due course.

The KDB complements the existing suite of initiatives and supports available to companies that undertake R&D activities in Ireland across the lifecycle of research and development – including R&D tax credits, RD&I grant supports, support for technology acquisition (S291A), significant state investments in National Research Centres and knowledge transfer infrastructures, and advisory supports for accessing Horizon 2020 funding – providing a competitive proposition for business investment.

Action Plan for Jobs

Questions (365)

Seán Kyne

Question:

365. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action his Department has taken on delivering the regional potential strand of the 2015 Action Plan for Jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37157/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Since the start of the Action Plan for Jobs process in 2012, employment has increased by over 133,000 across the economy as a whole and has exceeded the initial target set by the Government for 2016. However, not all regions are yet fully experiencing the benefits of economic recovery. The 2015 Action Plan for Jobs includes a Disruptive Reform to develop the potential of the regions to support enterprise growth and job creation. A key element of this disruptive reform involves the development of 8 Regional Action Plans for Jobs, to include actions to be taken across a range of Departments and agencies to ensure that all regions of the country can fulfil their enterprise and jobs potential.

The objective of the Regional Action Plans is to strengthen and develop regional collaboration by encouraging local authorities, regional bodies, higher education institutions, the private sector and communities to come forward with innovative ideas to boost job creation in their area. The aim is to capitalise on regional strengths, assets and areas of competitive advantage in order to support businesses in each region to start-up, succeed, expand, and export.

To date four plans (Midlands, South West, South East and Mid West have been published, The West plan will be launched in November, with the remaining three (Border, Mid East, Dublin) currently in development and due for launch as soon as possible.

Each regional Action Plan includes a series of practical actions to support enterprise growth and job creation in the region, within clear timelines for delivery. The Action Plans seek to capitalise on the particular strengths and opportunities of each region and have been developed by my Department with the support of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, in close consultation with regional stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

As is the case with the national Action Plan process, it is the cumulative effect of delivering the actions in the regional Plans that will make a real and lasting impact on the business environment and jobs in the regions. While there is already a lot of collaboration between public bodies, Higher Education Institutions, the private sector and communities at local level, a central aim of the regional Action Plans for Jobs is to deepen collaboration at regional level to boost job creation.

The Regional Action Plans will cover the three-year period 2015-2017 to allow for the process to take hold and develop, and to capture a more medium-term ambition for the regions. However, the Regional Action Plans need to be flexible and dynamic to allow additional actions and ideas to be added as they emerge over the period of the Plan. Additional actions will arise, for example, from the competitive funding calls announced by Enterprise Ireland.

The success of the regional Action Plans will lie in the delivery of the actions on schedule. At national level, the Action Plan for Jobs has achieved the delivery of over 90% of actions since the process commenced in 2012. The process is underpinned by robust reporting arrangements, with the publication by the Government of Quarterly reports, setting out the progress on each of the actions due for delivery. It is intended to replicate the monitoring model in respect of the regional Action Plans for Jobs, with some modifications and simplifications. For example, given the longer timeframe of the regional Plans, actions will be monitored on a 6 monthly basis (rather than Quarterly), with twice yearly updates to be published in each region.

Employment Rights

Questions (366, 371)

Dara Calleary

Question:

366. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for an outline of the forthcoming legislation for enhancing the job security of those on short hour and zero hour contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38150/15]

Robert Dowds

Question:

371. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action he will take to tackle the problem of zero hour contracts. [38302/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 371 together.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, following a decision by Government this morning, I am today publishing the study by the University of Limerick (UL) on the prevalence of zero hour contracts and low hour contracts in the Irish economy. I am also launching a public consultation process to give all interested parties an opportunity to consider and respond to the conclusions being drawn in the report and the recommendations being made by UL.

The University of Limerick conducted stakeholder interviews with 30 bodies as part of the study, including 13 employer/business organisations, 8 trade unions, 4 NGOs and 5 Government Departments/agencies.

It is important to point out that this is an independent study and the conclusions being drawn and the recommendations being made in the study are those of the University of Limerick. Therefore, it is essential that the various stakeholders who contributed to the study and indeed other interested parties who may not have had an opportunity to engage with the University of Limerick, are given an opportunity to consider and respond to the findings and recommendations in the UL report. This will allow me to be more fully informed before formulating my own views on the policy recommendations that I should bring to Government arising from the study.

I would urge all interested parties to consider carefully the findings and recommendations of this study and would welcome submissions in response to the study.

Patent Applications Data

Questions (367)

Dara Calleary

Question:

367. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason for the significant decline of national full-term patent filings received, following the publication of its annual report for 2014 by the Irish Patents Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38151/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

In 2008 national patent filings reached a peak with 1007 applications but by 2014 this had declined to just 321. Inevitably the financial crisis and economic collapse experienced by Ireland after 2008 led many companies to adapt their innovation strategies with a consequent decline in patent filings. The revision of the patent royalty tax exemption in 2006 and its ultimate abolition in 2011 may also have impacted the level of patent applications.

However, 2015 has seen a significant increase with 367 national applications received up to the end of September – an increase of almost 50% over the same period in 2014. Whilst this has to be seen in the context of a lower baseline figure in 2014, it appears to signal an upturn in activity by Irish-based applicants in particular, as they typically account for over 70% of national patent filings.

It is important however to note that the presence in Ireland of high-tech multinational companies availing of the supportive environment for innovation does not necessarily result in high levels of national patent filings. Irish-based foreign-owned companies who develop Intellectual Property (IP) in Ireland often have a policy of filing patent applications through their parent company headquartered abroad. In such cases, even though the R&D which has given rise to the IP may have been carried out in Ireland, any resulting applications might not necessarily be recorded as filings by Irish-resident firms. In this respect, over the same period from 2008 to 2014, the number of patents granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) and which take effect in Ireland increased by 57% from 36,825 to 57,749. Patent filings at the EPO by Irish resident firms remained relatively stable during the same period with 712 in 2008 and 709 in 2014.

The measures announced by the Minister for Finance in Budget 2016 relating to the Knowledge Development Box for qualifying intellectual property assets should act as a further R&D stimulus for the Irish enterprise base potentially leading to an increase in the volume of patent applications filed in Ireland.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Questions (368)

Dara Calleary

Question:

368. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for an update on the discussions on the transatlantic trade and investment partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38152/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I am pleased to report that negotiations between the EU and the US on trade and investment have accelerated and solid progress has been made.

The 11th round in these negotiations took place in Miami from 19th – 23rd October, 2015.

During this round negotiators discussed all three pillars of the proposed agreement namely market access for EU and US companies, regulatory cooperation and trade rules.

There was substantial progress on market access for EU and US companies in all three areas including tariffs, services and public procurement. A second tariff offer was exchanged and both sides have now arrived at a level of proposal in terms of tariff line coverage which will assist and benefit further negotiations. There was also discussion in relation to public procurement and it is envisaged that there will be an exchange of market access proposals on public procurement by February 2016.

The negotiations also provided an opportunity to clarify some of the main principles of regulatory cooperation. These included the fact that any cooperation is possible only if the level of protection for consumers stays the same or improves and any form of regulatory cooperation will not change or affect the EU regulatory and democratic process.

In line with the new EU Trade Strategy, the EU also tabled its proposal for sustainable development, including on labour and the environment and also discussed rules for trade facilitation, competition, energy and raw materials and others. Negotiators on both sides remain positive and expect further substantial progress by early next year.

According to assessments made by the EU Commission, a comprehensive EU-US trade agreement could over time boost EU GDP by 0.5% bringing significant economic gains as a whole for the EU. This converts into 400,000 jobs across the EU. An independent study commissioned by my Department, carried out by Copenhagen Economics, estimates that these benefits in Ireland will be proportionally greater than in the EU as a whole. It suggests a boost to GDP of 1.1%, growth in Irish exports of almost 4%, increases in investment of 1.5%, and an increase in real wages of 1.5%. It estimates somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 additional export related jobs.

It also suggests that Irish SMEs will be particular beneficiaries. Many of these 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. In these negotiations, Ireland will seek to have opportunities created in the agreement where we have clear strengths, and we will seek to defend our interests where we have sensitivities.

As an economy that lives and grows by the freedom to trade, we have first-hand experience of how trade liberalisation has continually shaped and reshaped our economy. We have used openness to trade in the past, and will continue to use it, as an instrument for structural reform, modernisation and development, creating new opportunities for innovation and stronger productivity growth with higher skilled jobs throughout the economy.

At the Council of Trade Ministers scheduled to meet on 27 November in Brussels, I will have the opportunity to discuss progress on these negotiations with Commissioner Malmström and with EU Council colleagues.

Construction Contracts

Questions (369)

Tom Fleming

Question:

369. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures he will take to implement the Construction Contracts Act 2013 at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38165/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Government is committed to the earliest possible implementation of the Construction Contracts Act, 2013 and in order to achieve this, approved the delegation of responsibility for its implementation to me as Minister for Business and Employment, late last year.

I am taking all the necessary steps to bring about implementation of the legislation and significant progress has been made to date.

I appointed Dr. Nael G. Bunni as Chairperson of the Construction Contracts Adjudication Panel in July this year. In addition, the Public Appointments Service is, at my request, conducting an open competitive process for the selection of members of the Panel of Adjudicators. I will shortly appoint suitably qualified candidates to the Panel following the completion of the assessment process by the Public Appointments Service.

I am also reviewing a draft Code of Practice for the conduct of adjudications which is required under the legislation and the relevant stakeholders will be consulted prior to the publication of the Code by Statutory Instrument.

Once these preparatory arrangements have been completed, a date for implementation of the Act will be announced in advance in order to provide sufficient notice to those affected by its provisions.

Jobs Protection

Questions (370)

Dara Calleary

Question:

370. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action he has taken to protect jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38266/15]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

My first thoughts are with the workers and their families as they received this very difficult news that the company is formally initiating a 30 day consultation period on possible closure, which would result in the loss of 79 of the 106 workers currently employed there. This situation arises as a result of a review by the parent company of its global manufacturing operations, in the context of increased competitive pressures. IDA has worked with the company intensively in an effort to minimise the impact of this process for the Irish operations. I myself have spoken directly to senior executives of the company both globally and in Ireland and urged them to reconsider their decision. However the competitive pressures facing the company appear to be very significant. IDA Ireland will continue to engage with the company in an effort to explore all possible routes that could mitigate the impact of this process and, in the event of a decision being made to cease operations, I have asked that agency to intensify its efforts to pursue a replacement project. In addition, supports from the relevant State bodies to the affected employees will be put in place as and when required.

I have also urged the company to provide as generous as possible a package for departing workers.

You will appreciate that while I and my Agencies seek to mitigate any potential loss of jobs, the final decision rests with the company, which will come to a conclusion based on the wider interest of their business.

Job creation in the Mid-East Region of which County Meath is a part, has improved considerably and the most recent data shows that at the end of Quarter 2 of this year the unemployment rate in that region stood at 8.7%, compared to 14.5% just two years previously. While this is still too high, it represents a very significant achievement.