Skip to main content
Normal View

Wednesday, 1 Feb 2017

Written Answers Nos. 324-333

Brexit Issues

Questions (324)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

324. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a post-Brexit environment. [4806/17]

View answer

Written answers

The impact of Brexit on Ireland's economic and trading arrangements has been identified by Government as one of the key priorities in preparing for the EU/UK negotiations.

As part of the comprehensive preparatory process undertaken across Government there has been deep analysis of the challenges facing both transport and tourism as a result of the outcome UK Referendum.

In relation to tourism, there was a commitment in the Government's Tourism Policy Statement People, Place and Policy - Growing Tourism to 2025" to prioritising tourism marketing efforts towards those markets providing higher revenue returns. The Programme for Government commits to implementing the policy objectives in the policy statement and achieving the targets for Irish tourism contained therein. The UK vote does not change this.

A key element of Tourism Ireland's strategy since 2014 has been market diversification which has seen Mainland Europe become the largest contributor of overseas tourism revenue and will see the United States overtake Great Britain as the number two contributor of tourism revenue over the next few years.

On 23 January 2017 Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan and I hosted an All-Island Dialogue on the impact of Brexit on the tourism and hospitality sector in Dundalk. The feedback from tourism industry participants at this event reaffirmed the Government's analysis in relation to the implications of Brexit for tourism.

I also hosted an All-Island transport dialogue in the morning of 23 January, which included representatives from the retail and logistics sectors, and which considered the implications for the retail sector in Ireland should there be disruption to transport services as a result of Brexit. I and my officials will feed the outcome of these dialogues and stakeholder consultations into overall Government planning in order to inform Ireland's position in the upcoming negotiations.

Question No. 325 answered with Question No. 318.

Road Safety

Questions (326)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

326. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding lorry and bus drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4894/17]

View answer

Written answers

A commercial vehicle, as with any other vehicle must be roadworthy at all times when being used on the public road. Commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing (CVRT) is only one component of the preventative road safety measures we need to have in place in order to ensure safer vehicles on our roads.

Given that the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the CVRT, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days. 

The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.

Brexit Issues

Questions (327, 328)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

327. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4748/17]

View answer

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

328. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4830/17]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 328 together.

I secured additional monies for 2017 to provide for 39 targeted posts in Enterprise Ireland to enable it to support its clients across all markets.

Extra staff will be placed in EI's overseas offices with sectoral knowledge and expertise such as in engineering, food, life sciences and construction. This will drive export growth to other international markets where there are known opportunities and reduce reliance on the UK.

With regard to export diversification, the future relative importance and forecasted growth rates of China, India, Asean, the Gulf, Latin America and Africa combined with the scale of these markets provide a compelling imperative for us to support Irish companies to continue to work to build exports in these markets.

However we will not reduce our efforts in the hard won established export markets of the UK, France, Benelux, Germany, USA, and the Nordics where Irish companies already have substantial exports. We will have a major focus on directing resources and expertise to the Eurozone markets, targeting a 50 % increase in exports by 2020.

The UK will continue to be a priority market due to Ireland's size, geographic proximity and cultural ties. In the UK market, Enterprise Ireland is particularly working with companies who are most exposed in areas such as engineering, food, construction and timber to maintain their market share.

EI will be implementing a UK Market Development plan which focuses on sustaining exports in key sectors such as construction, agritech, aerospace and engineering and also identifying new growth opportunities in financial services, infrastructure/public sector, as well as a renewed focus on Scotland.

Enterprise Ireland's Irish based team will also be enhanced with additional staff to provide various targeted supports and programmes to assist companies before they enter the market. Training and supports in terms of management capability, leadership, marketing/sales skills, innovation and R&D will help companies to build market share and create new market opportunities. Enterprise Ireland will also deliver a suite of supports that help clients reduce supply-chain costs and drive efficiencies and cost reductions as a means of improving operating margins, thereby increasing competitiveness.

In 2017, EI will also roll out the 'Global Ambition Campaign' which is a communications campaign to promote Irish companies and their products and services to international buyers.

A key element of the 2017 drive for expanding our global export footprint include an enhanced programme of trade and investment missions, market study visits and inwards buyer visits from markets with specific sectoral opportunities.

The plans have a specific emphasis on markets including the Eurozone, USA, Canada, Asia and the Middle East. EI's 2017 trade mission programme also outlines a number of trade missions to the UK focusing on key sectors including construction, engineering, consumer products and Agritech.

Enterprise Ireland Expenditure

Questions (329)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

329. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of capital investment or grant assistance towards capital works by Enterprise Ireland on a location basis in County Donegal for each of the years 2007 to 2017, in tabular form. [4727/17]

View answer

Written answers

The 5,000 manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland and are spread across a wide range of sectors.

In 2016, Enterprise Ireland supported companies employed 201,108 people. Within this, 19,244 new jobs were created resulting in a net gain of 9,117 jobs.  In 2016, Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Donegal employed 3,581 people.

Table 1 identifies grant and equity payments made by Enterprise Ireland to companies in Donegal during the period 2007 -2017.

Table 2 identifies all capital payments (e.g. machinery, buildings) made by Enterprise Ireland to companies in Donegal for the same period.

Through the implementation of the Action Plan for Jobs for the Border Region and Enterprise Ireland's Strategy 2017-2020, the Agency will continue to work with enterprise players and client companies in Donegal to support job creation in the county.

Table 1 - Payments by Enterprise Ireland to companies in Donegal. (includes grant and equity payments)

Year

Payment

2007

€2,359,811

2008

€2,621,725

2009

€2,819,042

2010

€2,809,944

2011

€2,458,832

2012

€1,580,614

2013

€2,972,771

2014

€1,050,675

2015

€2,080,968

2016

€539,654

2017

  €78,436

Grand Total

€21,372,471

Please note that the table excludes infrastructural clients (Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and Community Enterprise Centres (CECs), and recipients of Employment Subsidy Schemes I and II,

Table 2 - Capita (only) Payments by Enterprise Ireland to companies in Donegal (e.g. machinery. buildings)

Year

Payment

2007

€212,473

2008

€666,633

2009

€584,594

2010

€1,307,577

2011

€639,942

2012

€269,754

2013

€1,985,957

2014

€248,468

2015

€372,949

2016

€73,500

2017

€0

Grand Total

€6,361,847

Please note that the table excludes infrastructural clients (Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and Community Enterprise Centres (CECs), recipients of Employment Subsidy Schemes I and II, and Shannon Free Zone transfer companies.

IDA Expenditure

Questions (330)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

330. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of capital investment or grant assistance towards capital works by IDA Ireland on a location basis in County Donegal for each of the years 1996 to 2017, in tabular form. [4728/17]

View answer

Written answers

The amount of information requested is considerable and will require some time to collate. IDA Ireland is preparing a response which I will furnish to the Deputy as soon as practicable.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:

I refer to Parliamentary Question 4728/17 which I answered on 1st February 2017 . My Officials have now extracted the data sought by the Deputy . Please find in the tables the amount of capital investment and grant assistance towards capital works by the IDA in County Donegal for each of the years 1996 to 2017.

Please note that the Capital payments figure only goes back to 1999. This is due to a changeover of systems at that time so historical information only goes back to this date.

GRANTS PAID IN DONEGAL 1997 -2015

County

Year

Euro €

Donegal

1997

112,005

Donegal

1998

147,874

Donegal

1999

467,496

Donegal

2000

1,284,660

Donegal

2001

151,979

Donegal

2002

1,670,751

Donegal

2003

203,140

Donegal

2004

908,797

Donegal

2005

709,502

Donegal

2006

142,514

Donegal

2007

2,334,893

Donegal

2008

281,200

Donegal

2009

1,253,200

Donegal

2010

2,353,385

Donegal

2011

354,746

Donegal

2012

6,221,146

Donegal

2013

3,071,490

Donegal

2014

1,889,800

Donegal

2015

1,697,150

DONEGAL PROPERTY CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

County

Year

Euro €

Donegal

1999

841,260

Donegal

2000

4,948,835

Donegal

2001

4,887,108

Donegal

2002

2,333,160

Donegal

2003

1,580,963

Donegal

2004

359,764

Donegal

2005

694,863

Donegal

2006

981,862

Donegal

2007

74,841

Donegal

2008

93,609

Donegal

2009

970,092

Donegal

2010

1,753,916

Donegal

2011

708,970

Donegal

2012

105,350

Donegal

2013

Nil

Donegal

2014

Nil

Donegal

2015

417,952

Brexit Issues

Questions (331)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

331. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has conducted a scoping exercise to analyse the potential for exporters to fill the potential void left by British exporters to the EU, post Brexit, assuming they will face restricted access to the EU market, in particular in the area of agrifood; if this analysis has been conducted, the details of specific areas in which potential opportunities may lie for exporters to the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4769/17]

View answer

Written answers

The UK's exit negotiations from the EU will not commence until Article 50 has been triggered, which the UK Government have indicated they intend to do no later than the end of March 2017. These negotiations could take the maximum allowed period of two years to complete. Ultimately any deal on Article 50 will require the agreement of the EU Commission, Council and Parliament.

There is a whole of Government approach in place focusing on Brexit issues and my Department and its agencies are to the forefront of this effort. In advance of the UK Referendum my Department conducted a contingency risk assessment of the potential impacts of Brexit across policy areas of my Department. We have refined our analysis post-Referendum and we have been working with Agencies to put in place actions to mitigate risks and maximise opportunities.

It is hard to predict at this stage the full impact of Brexit. Much will depend on the nature of the future trade deal that will be negotiated between the EU and the UK. These negotiations are likely to be complex and multifaceted. The extent of the impact which Brexit would have on the Irish agrifood sector would depend on a range of factors. Of these, the UK's future trading relationship with the EU is a key factor for the agri-food sector in Ireland and an area of high focus for the Government.  Promoting diversified export markets in light of the potential impacts of Brexit is a key priority for my Department. This includes markets that are growing and have scale as well as markets where we are already well established but with potential for further growth. The programme of trade missions and trade events for 2017 includes a substantive focus on the EU and third country markets. In 2017 we have 42 Minister led trade missions to existing and emerging markets.

We continue to work to promote Irish trade in the UK and Europe, our most traditional markets that still account for 65-70% of all Irish food exports. Irish exports to mainland Europe have grown steadily and this market will continue to provide a destination for agri products and other categories of exports that may be challenged by exposure to the UK market. These have been reoriented to reflect an increased focus on EU markets.

In addition the recently signed Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada provides for a significant opening up of agrifood trade which will provide full unrestricted access for Irish beef and other meat products to the Canadian market. Over the years, Ireland has developed an important pig-meat export trade to Canada and now there is potential to develop the export business for Irish beef and lamb also. The removal of the Canadian import tariff of 26.5% will benefit Irish meat exporters. CETA also provides significant new opportunities for the Irish dairy industry.

The value of agriculture exports to emerging markets in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central/South America stood at almost €2.2 billion in 2015. The value of trade to these markets increased by 82% in the period 2010 to 2015. Exports to these markets now accounts for 21% of total food and drink exports compared to 16% in 2010. This growth in share of exports occurred during a period when total food and drink exports jumped by more than 45%.

Growth to emerging markets has been led by Asia with trade growing by more than 250% to €955 million led by China, which recorded a fourfold increase. Exports to other Asian markets more than doubled over the period to €300 million. Exports to the Middle East jumped by a third to €380 million.

My Department through Enterprise Ireland is engaged in ongoing Trade Missions to these markets in co-operation with Bord Bia, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and representatives from the agrifood sector.

European Fund for Strategic Investments

Questions (332)

Barry Cowen

Question:

332. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the potential investment projects her Department put forward to the Department of Finance task force report for the European Fund for Strategic Investments. [4868/17]

View answer

Written answers

The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) is an EU initiative launched jointly by the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the European Commission to help overcome the current investment gap in the European Union by mobilising private financing for strategic investments.

The new EIB office in Dublin, opened in December 2016, will provide a one-stop-shop for project promoters seeking EIB finance and in particular, it will be the gateway for funding from the EFSI. To coincide with the opening of the EIB office, the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan T.D. established a new high-level EIB-Ireland Financing Group, to help tailor the EIB's involvement in the Irish market to match requirements of both the public and private sector.

This Group, with membership from relevant Government Departments as well as EIB senior management, will have a key role in raising awareness in Ireland of new EIB products and encouraging a strong pipeline of projects from Ireland to benefit from EIB financing, including the EFSI. The Group will be supported by three working groups at official level:

1. Financing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (including agribusiness),

2. Financing Connectivity (including ports, airports, road, rail, broadband and energy),

3. Financing Social and Economic Infrastructure (schools, healthcare, universities).

My Department is maintaining close liaison with both the Department of Finance and Andrew McDowell, Vice-President of EIB with responsibility for Ireland, to ensure that Ireland can maximise the opportunity presented by EFSI. Future opportunities will be considered in due course.

Commissions of Investigation

Questions (333)

Robert Troy

Question:

333. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the final costs to the Exchequer of each commission of investigation that has been completed to date in her Department, in addition to the estimated costs to date of ongoing commissions of investigation. [5308/17]

View answer

Written answers

Since my appointment as Minister, there have been no costs incurred by my Department in relation to completed or ongoing commissions of investigations.

Top
Share