Written Answers Nos 86-93
86. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to his meeting of 30 September 2015 with representatives of community employment supervisors, the progress to date on the matter; if this has potential for further knock-on claims, or if not, if he will outline his concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42005/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the reply I gave on this matter on 17th November (PQ Ref 40624/15).
On the specific issue of potential knock on claims. I wish to advise the Deputy that the Forum, in its examination of the matter, will address all relevant issues including any potential knock on effect that this claim might have.
87. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the funding available for the Enterprise Ireland community enterprise initiative competition; the number and value of the applications received; when he and Enterprise Ireland will announce the names of the successful applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41869/15]
View answerIn February 2015, as part of Government’s Action Plan for Jobs: Regional Initiative, I announced details of a 5-year strategy aimed at accelerating jobs recovery in every part of the country. In May 2015, as part of this initiative, Enterprise Ireland launched a €5 million Community Enterprise Initiative Scheme. This competitive scheme was open to new and existing organisations, groups and alliances, to collaboratively seek to promote entrepreneurship, create jobs, foster innovation and enhance export opportunities for small business.
I understand from Enterprise Ireland that 138 submissions were made under the competitive Community Enterprise Initiative Scheme. Submissions are currently subject to assessment as to eligibility, identification of eligible expenditure in line with aid and scheme guidelines and a competitive evaluation process. Based on the recommendations of an external evaluation panel reviewing all eligible submissions, Enterprise Ireland may give its approval for funding of up to €5 million. I am informed that Enterprise Ireland envisages that details of successful applicants and the value of the approved projects will be announced in the first quarter of 2016.
88. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will list all new State agencies or bodies established under the aegis of his Department since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41880/15]
View answerA substantial programme of reform has been accomplished within my Department in relation to Agencies and public bodies including the merger, reform and abolition of bodies as set out under the Government’s Agency Rationalisation Programme. The following is a list of Agencies/Bodies established under the aegis of my Department since March 2011.
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New State Agencies |
Date established |
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The Low Pay Commission |
The Low Pay Commission was established on 26 February 2015, initially on an interim basis, and subsequently on a statutory basis under the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 2015, enacted on 15 July 2015. The Commission has 9 members, one of whom acts as an independent chairman. The primary duty of the Commission is to make recommendations to me each year regarding the national minimum hourly rate of pay, but it may also examine other related matters, at my request. |
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Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) |
With effect from 1 October 2015, the activities of the Labour Relations Commission, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Equality Tribunal and the first instance functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Labour Court were merged into a new Body of First Instance, known as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). In addition, the appellate functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal are now incorporated into an expanded Labour Court. From 1 October all complaints fall to be referred to the Workplace Relations Commission in the first instance, and, on appeal, to the Labour Court. This heralds the biggest reorganisation of the State’s industrial relations and employment machinery in almost 70 years and is the result of four years of reform driven by my Department. A single Contact Portal and information service, workplacerelations.ie, a single complaint form replacing 30 individual complaint forms, and a process supported by a modern IT infrastructure ensures a better experience for all in need of assistance to resolve their employment grievances. |
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The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission |
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was established on 31 October 2014 as a result of the merger of the Competition Authority and National Consumer Agency. The Commission currently has 4 members (with one vacancy) and has a dual mandate to enforce competition and consumer protection law and will build on the work of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority to protect and strengthen competition, empower consumers to make informed decisions and protect them from harmful business practices. |
Other reforms of State Agencies or bodies under the aegis of my Department, since March 2011, have been:
The dissolution of Forfás, as a statutory body and the integration of its research capability into my Department, with effect from 1 August 2014, under the Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Act, 2014. As part of the dissolution of Forfás, the functions of the Irish National Accreditation Board were transferred from Forfás to the Health and Safety Authority.
The transfer of enterprise functions from Shannon Development to IDA, EI and tourism functions to Bord Fáilte took place during the last quarter of 2013. The legislation to merge Shannon Development and Shannon Airport into a new commercial state company, State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014, was enacted on 27 July 2014. Responsibility for the newly formed Shannon Group plc rests with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The dissolution, on 15 April 2014, of the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards, as separate statutory bodies, under the County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Act, 2014. Under the legislation, the functions, assets and liabilities of the County Enterprise Boards were transferred to Enterprise Ireland (E.I.), and these functions are now being delivered on behalf of E.I. by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), within the Local Authority structure.
In addition, following enactment of the Microenterprise Loan Fund Act 2012, Microfinance Ireland was established as a private limited company in August 2012, as a subsidiary of the Social Finance Foundation and has charitable status.
Microfinance Ireland has been funded by the Government to provide loans to newly established and growing microenterprises across all industry sectors that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by banks.
89. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount he provided for the manufacturing research centre in Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41892/15]
View answerUnder this year’s Action Plan for Jobs I have initiated the development of a business case for the possible establishment, governance and funding of an Advanced Manufacturing Centre which would enhance Ireland’s position on innovative and advanced manufacturing. This research work is being undertaken by a joint team involving IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland and is still a work in progress as there are significant strategic issues to be assessed.
In the event of the business case being established that a national centre should be developed, and, crucially, funding being available for such a facility, the question of the location of such a centre would then be addressed. I have not, at this stage, received any proposal from a group in Westmeath but in any event you will appreciate that deciding on the location of an Advanced Manufacturing Centre would be premature at this stage.
90. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the Industrial Development Agency Ireland's plans for Longford town, the county town of County Longford, and for Mullingar, the county town of County Westmeath; if the agency has initiated a feasibility study for future investment in the towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41893/15]
View answerThe Midlands Region comprises Westmeath, Longford, Laois and Offaly. According to the 2014 Annual Employment Survey, which contains the latest available figures, there are 35 multinational companies based in the Midlands, employing approximately 3,800 people across the region. 6 of those companies are located in Co. Longford employing c560 people. In Co. Westmeath, FDI has performed well and there are 16 companies employing c2,300 people. 3 of those companies are based in Mullingar, employing c150 people.
IDA Ireland’s plans for the Midlands Region, which includes the towns listed above, are incorporated into the Action Plan for Jobs: Midland Region which I launched on the 29th June. This plan sets out over 120 actions aimed to deliver enhanced employment growth in the region over the coming years with a target of increasing employment in the region by approximately 14,000 by 2020.
In June 2015, IDA Ireland appointed a dedicated Regional Manager to the Midlands Region and IDA Ireland will be targeting at least 25 additional FDI projects in the Midlands Region over the next 5 years. Supporting the increase in investment in this and all regions across the country will be a €150m property investment plan spread out over five years. The funding will be used to upgrade Ireland's business and technology parks, make investments in a number of strategic utility-intensive sites and build new advanced technology buildings in a number of regional locations. An advanced office building is planned for 2017 for Co. Westmeath as part of the programme. This is in addition to an advanced technology building, which was completed in 2014 in Athlone and is available for FDI investment.
IDA Ireland has put a digital marketing campaign in place to market the Midlands Region for potential investors and this is used overseas by IDA executives, to showcase potential locations within the Midlands Region including Mullingar and Longford. Currently, IDA Ireland positions the Midlands Region as having a strong cluster in medical technology and life sciences. The Midlands is home to key clients such as Abbott, Covidien, Integra, GeneMedix, Freund, Utah, KCI, and AMS. Examples of where the cluster effect benefits investment decisions include the announcement in 2014 by Jazz Pharmaceuticals and American Medical Systems, both located in Athlone, who are already seeking planning permission to expand after only two years. As well as the FDI sector, this cluster is supported by over 600 people employed in medical technology related industries from the indigenous sector, in areas such as manufacturing to delivery of elements of the supply chain.
Given the global economic operating environment in recent years, the existing client base has performed consistently and retained its presence. IDA Ireland actively engages with its existing client base to support them in growing their business to retain jobs and expand their existing footprint in the region. In this respect, Patterson Pumps, located in Mullingar, announced a 30-person expansion at the opening of its new manufacturing facility in September 2015.
The Succeed in Ireland initiative is supported by IDA Ireland, which partners with ConnectIreland to support any potential investors identified to locate in Ireland and Arc Consulting in Longford is an example of this in practice. IDA Ireland also has regular engagement with the Chief Executives of the local authorities of Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly to ensure that there is a continuous line of communication open and a mutually supportive approach taken, considering the role that Local Authorities now have for economic development.
91. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of his recent decision to ask the Low Pay Commission to review the impact of the minimum wage on young persons and women; the terms of reference for this review; when he expects to receive its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41948/15]
View answerThe principal function of the Low Pay Commission is, once each year, to examine the national minimum hourly rate of pay and to make a recommendation to the Minister respecting the rate. The Commission is also charged with submitting a report on the matters considered when making the recommendation.
The Report submitted to me on July 17 recommends a rate of €9.15 as the national minimum hourly rate of pay for experienced adult workers. This automatically provides an increase for those on sub-minima rates.
The increase will come into effect on 1 January 2016.
In order to obtain a better understanding of the impact of the NMW on younger people, particularly young people not in employment or education, I asked the Commission to examine the appropriateness of the sub-minima rates as currently provided for with regard, in particular, to their impact on youth unemployment rates and participation in education. I have asked the Commission to report back to me on this issue by end February 2016.
Secondly, given the preponderance of women on the national minimum wage, and in order to obtain a better understanding of the composition and profile of this group and the underlying causality, I also asked the Commission to examine this issue and report its views as to the underlying reasons for this position and make any recommendations it considers appropriate. The Commissions’ Report on this aspect of my request is due by end October 2016.
92. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the implementation of the European Union directive on consumer alternative dispute resolution, ADR; the policy decisions that he has taken following the consultation process on the directive in 2014; the actions has he taken or will take to ensure consumers have access to ADR processes for all contractual disputes, as required under the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41949/15]
View answer93. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the implementation of the European Union regulation on an online dispute resolution platform for Irish consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41950/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together.
The position in relation to the EU Directive on Alternative Dispute Resolution for consumer disputes is that I recently signed the transposing measure into domestic legislation by way of S.I. No. 343 of 2015 and S.I. No. 368 of 2015. The statutory instruments designate the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as the competent authority in the State for the purpose of the Directive and the enforcement of the regulations. They also set out the requirements which a dispute resolution entity must fulfil in order to be recognised as a qualified ADR entity and specify the information which a trader must make available to a consumer.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is currently accepting notification requests from dispute resolution bodies who are seeking to be notified as qualified ADR entities and the necessary documentation is available on their website. As required under the regulations, the Commission will establish and maintain a list of ADR entities that have been notified to it and which satisfy the quality requirements specified in the Directive.
In relation to the related Council Regulation (EU) on online dispute resolution for consumer disputes, the position is that I signed the necessary implementing regulations into national law on 9 November, 2015 (S.I. No. 500 of 2015). The statutory instrument designates the European Consumer Centre Ireland as the ODR contact point in the State for the purposes of Article 7 of the Council Regulation and specifies the functions it will carry out as the ODR contact point. The electronic online dispute resolution platform will be provided by the European Commission and is due to commence operation on 9 January, 2016.
