Written Answers Nos 210-216
210. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to include signage for Killarney in County Kerry on road signs along the N69; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11068/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual road projects is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
211. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to what extent he has studied plans for the provision of improvements and the realignment or relocation of a bridge crossing the River Liffey at Celbridge, County Kildare and particularly the need to achieve optimum benefit by choosing the most appropriate solution in line with the locally expressed views of the people of the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11120/16]
View answerAs I outlined in my reply to the Deputy in PQ 8623/16 of 27 April 2016, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Kildare is the statutory responsibility of Kildare County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993 -2015. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council. Assessment of options in relation to a new bridge at Celbridge is, therefore, a matter for consideration by Kildare County Council.
212. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide funding to upgrade Thomastown railway station in County Kilkenny as it is in a run-down state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11157/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Iarnród Éireann has responsibility for developing rail infrastructure and for the maintenance of stations across the network, including Thomastown Station in Kilkenny.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
213. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide funding to Irish Rail for the use of a lift for passengers wishing to access McDonagh Station in Kilkenny; and his views that although this lift has been provided Irish Rail will not pay the cost of operating it and therefore the elderly and infirm are faced with a steep climb by foot to access the platform. [11158/16]
View answerThe provision and maintenance of facilities at railway stations, including accessibility lifts, is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann. With regard to the issue concerning the lift at McDonagh Rail Station in Kilkenny, I understand that a lift was installed by the developer of the McDonagh Junction Shopping Centre on the assumption that there would be an accessibility demand from the city as well as from the proposed shopping centre and hotel developments. Since the hotel development has not progressed the developer has not commissioned the lift.
In the event that the lift is commissioned at some future date and agreement is reached between the owner of the lift and Iarnród Éireann, regarding its use for Iarnród Éireann passengers, the issue of funding for the operation of the lift can then be considered in the context of the Accessibility Grants Programme which is a scheme implemented by the National Transport Authority on behalf of my Department. In the meantime I am assured by Iarnród Éireann that Kilkenny Station remains fully accessible.
Noting their responsibility in the matter, I have referred your question to Iarnród Éireann for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
214. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to amend section 279(2) of the Companies Act 2014 to extend the deadline to use the modified US generally accepted accounting principles by three years; the time frame he envisages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11069/16]
View answerSection 279 of the Companies Act 2014 provides that US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles may be used by companies for a particular transitional period, subject to compliance with Irish company law and to the company meeting certain criteria. That transitional period runs to 31 December 2020.
My Department intends to carry out a public consultation on this matter in the second half of this year. If it is considered that the existing exemption period should be extended, it will be necessary to introduce this by way of primary legislation, which ultimately will be a matter for the Oireachtas.
215. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding administrative processes of the Workplace Relations Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11147/16]
View answerWith 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 were merged into a new body of first instance, known as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). From 1 October 2015, all complaints fall to be referred to the Workplace Relations Commission in the first instance, and on appeal, to the Labour Court.
The WRC’s core services include the provision of early resolution, mediation, conciliation, facilitation and advisory services, adjudication on employment and equality complaints, the monitoring of employment conditions to ensure the compliance and enforcement of employment rights legislation, the provision of information, and the processing of employment agency and protection of young persons (employment) licences.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in its day to day operations. It is established practice that Ministers do not get involved with its adjudication function. The Workplace Relations Act 2015 directs that hearings are heard in private.
However, I understand that the administrative procedures of the WRC place emphasis on ensuring that the correct respondent is on notice of the hearing and that linked cases are listed together where feasible. I have been informed that the WRC has been in contact with the parties to this end.
Separately, as set out in its Statement of Strategy, the WRC Adjudication Division will meet with key stakeholder organisations over the coming weeks to identify particular issues of concern around service delivery.
216. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation how she will tackle the severe competitiveness challenges identified by the National Competitiveness Council report, Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2016, and Ireland’s position as a high cost location for business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11148/16]
View answerImproving Ireland’s competitiveness position is a key economic priority for Government. As set out in 'A Programme for a Partnership Government', our objective is to protect our national competitiveness from unsustainable cost growth and to deliver a job-fit business environment which ranks in the top tier globally.
The Costs of Doing Business Report published by the National Competitiveness Council on 21 April provides an assessment of Ireland's cost competitiveness performance vis-a-vis a range of competitor countries. The report, which has been noted by Government, concentrates on the costs that are largely domestically determined such as labour, property, transport, energy, water, waste, communications, credit /financial, and business service. It finds that Ireland’s cost base has improved across a range of metrics over the last five years. This has made Irish firms more competitive internationally and made Ireland a more attractive location for firms to base their operations in. However, despite these improvements, Ireland remains a relatively high cost location for a range of key business inputs and there is upward cost pressure evident in property, business services and the labour market. The Council warns that Ireland is particularly vulnerable to external shocks beyond our control – external risks at the moment include in particular Brexit, oil prices and exchange rate movements.
The report is a timely reminder of the risks of complacency regarding our cost competitiveness performance. The improved competitiveness of Ireland’s exporting sector has been one of Ireland’s greatest strengths in recent years and has been central to economic growth and job creation. It has been critical to the success of Irish based exporters, allowing them to maximise the opportunities arising from increases in global demand. Even with improvements in competitiveness, threats to continued economic success abound. While the Irish economy is experiencing rapid growth, the global economic outlook is less certain, with growth prospects in emerging and advanced economics far from certain.
I share the Council’s view that to protect the gains achieved to date, to further embed and sustain the recovery, and to ultimately spread the benefits of economic growth to all, we must continue to enhance all aspects of our competitiveness.
Addressing Ireland’s international cost competitiveness is a key economic policy priority for Government and as set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, a range of initiatives are in train across Government Departments to support cost competitiveness. To date, the National Competitiveness Council has reported regularly to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Jobs where its recommendations are progressed by relevant line Departments. This facilitates timely attention to areas of opportunity for improvement.
In addition, the Council and my Department and its agencies are continually engaged with relevant stakeholders on the particular policy needs required to support cost competitiveness. These stakeholders include other Government Departments, regulatory bodies and public and private bodies. In this regard, there is a role for both the public and private sectors alike to proactively manage their cost base and drive efficiency, thus creating a virtuous circle between the costs of living, wage expectations and cost competitiveness. Measures that ensure open and competitive markets are also essential. The policy implications of the Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2016 report’s analysis, and associated structural reforms required to address Ireland’s cost base, will be included in the Council’s annual Competitiveness Challenge report which will be brought to Government published later this year.
