Monday, 11 Sep 2017

Employment Support Services

Questions (46)

Niall Collins

Question:

46. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of Exchequer and European moneys invested in the employment subsidy scheme in each of the years 2009 to 2011; the number of businesses that received funding from the scheme; the average amount of funding per enterprise; the amount of funding drawn down under the scheme; the number of part-time and full-time jobs that were supported, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38312/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

The Employment Subsidy Scheme (ESS) was launched in August 2009 to help employees retain jobs and employers to retain productive capacity. The objective was to provide an employment subsidy to vulnerable but viable manufacturing and/or internationally traded services enterprises engaged in exporting. The ESS was administered by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of my Department and the funds were provided from the Vote for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation with an allocation of €115.8m from the Department and the remaining €200k being met from Enterprise Ireland's operational budget.

The scheme entailed the payment of a subsidy of €9,100 per annum towards full time employees (working an average of 35 hours or more per week) or €6,370 for part time employees (working an average of 21 hours or more per week). A key aspect of the scheme was the multiplier effect. This saw qualifying companies commit to retaining additional jobs.

Companies declared, at the time of application, the number of employees that were at risk of being made redundant and employee subsidies could not exceed this number. As part of the scheme, employers committed to retain a defined number of jobs for each job subsidised.

Overall, the State subsidised 14,124 jobs (full time and part time) at a cost of €116 million. This led to a commitment to retain those jobs and an additional 79,234 (a total of 93,358). The subsidies were paid to 1,521 companies where 34,681 jobs were declared to be at risk with an average payment of €76.3k per company.

Table 1 shows the total grants paid under the Employment Subsidy Scheme from 2009-2011.

Table 1: total grants paid under the Employment Subsidy Scheme from 2009-2011.

Year	2009 (€m)	2010 (€m)	2011 (€m)	Total
ESS grants paid	18.2	95.7	2.1	116.0m

Please note: While the ESS ended in 2010, Enterprise Ireland paid claim applications up to March 2011 in cases where full supporting claim documentation was not received until after the closing date.

Enterprise Support Services Expenditure

Questions (47)

Niall Collins

Question:

47. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Irish enterprises that have applied for funding under the SME window provided by the European fund for strategic investments; the number of Irish enterprises that have drawn down funds to date; and the amount of funding drawn down by Irish enterprises in euro. [38313/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

The European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) is a joint initiative of the European Investment Bank, European Investment Fund and the European Commission, established to help overcome the current investment gap in the EU by mobilising private financing for strategic investments.

While the Minister for Finance is responsible for the Irish political and policy input on the shape of EFSI, including its ongoing review, it is in fact EFSI itself which is charged with day to day operations independent of all EU Governments including the Irish Government.

EFSI does however publish project lists on its website, and, in this regard, I would direct the Deputy's attention towards this information, which can be filtered by country and by sector, including under the heading of 'smaller companies.

The website address is www.eib.org/efsi/efsi-projects/index.htm

Enterprise Support Services Expenditure

Questions (48)

Niall Collins

Question:

48. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Irish enterprises that have applied for funding under the infrastructure and innovation window provided by the European fund for strategic investments; the number of Irish enterprises that have drawn down funds to date; and the amount of funding drawn down by Irish enterprises in euro. [38314/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) is an initiative launched jointly by the EIB Group (European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund) and the European Commission to help overcome the current investment gap in the EU by mobilising private financing for strategic investments. EFSI is one of the three pillars of the Investment Plan for Europe that aims to revive investment in strategic projects around Europe to ensure that money reaches the real economy. EFSI has been integrated into the EIB Group and projects supported by EFSI are subject to the normal EIB project cycle and governance.

My Department has no direct role in applying for, or securing, funding from EFSI for SMEs or commercial enterprises operating in Ireland.

EFSI has two specific windows: the SME Window and the Infrastructure & Innovation Window. The latter is managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) whilst the former is managed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), through financial intermediaries. Each Window has a ring-fenced budget.

Under the SME Window, SMEs and mid-caps seeking loans and equity capital under EFSI must contact EIF-approved financial intermediaries directly.

Such financial intermediaries are Financial, Credit & Guarantee Institutions, and Loan Funds established and operating in one or more of the EU Member States duly authorised to carry out lending/leasing activities to SMEs and Small Mid-Caps, as well as Fund management companies targeting SMEs and Small Mid-Caps. They apply to the EIF to become approved financial intermediaries and to secure EFSI financing, deployed through EIF.

Under the Infrastructure & Innovation Window, large corporates, special purpose vehicles or Midcap companies (with up to 3,000 employees) can apply directly to the EIB for project loans or loans to finance research and innovation. These loans have a minimum size of €25 million. Such projects undergo the standard EIB due diligence process, in order to verify their eligibility for EIB financing and for EFSI backing.

The EIB provides a partial list of approved projects with companies in Ireland on the following webpage:

http://www.eib.org/efsi/efsi-projects/index?c=IE

Note that details of projects that are commercially sensitive may be withheld by the EIB.

Brexit Issues

Questions (49)

Niall Collins

Question:

49. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the tools being developed for firms with an exposure to the UK market in line with state aid rules; and if tools are being developed to cater for increased flexibility on state aid rules. [38316/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

The Government is conscious of the need to consider the types of supports that Irish businesses may require to address challenges arising as a result of the Brexit Referendum, which is likely to represent a structural shift in the UK trading relations. Short, medium and long term responses from market diversification through to price repositioning will be needed.

My Department has been working with the Department of Finance, EI, SBCI and Department of Agriculture to develop potential supports to respond to the needs of businesses impacted by Brexit. In particular work is progressing on the development of a proposed Brexit related Working Capital Guarantee Scheme and also scoping out the need for a longer term Business Development Loan Scheme which would assist firms in investing for a post-Brexit environment. Development of these proposed responses is subject to resources being agreed as part of the annual budgetary process.

My Department’s agencies are continuing to actively supporting companies to prepare for Brexit using a number of different tools. Some examples include:

- Enterprise Ireland’s (EI) #PrepareforBrexit communications campaign featuring the ‘Brexit SME Scorecard’ was launched in March. The Scorecard is an interactive online platform which can be used by all Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit under six business pillars. EI also ran a series of events featuring expert speakers throughout the country to encourage companies to prepare for Brexit.

- EI has introduced a ‘Be Prepared Grant’ which offers up to €5,000 for exporting client companies to conduct further research and use external expertise to develop a Brexit Action Plan. EI is also delivering various supports to reduce supply-chain costs and drive efficiencies as a means of improving operating margins, thereby increasing competitiveness.

- The Local Enterprise Office Brexit-focused supports include the roll out of a national Lean for Micro initiative to improve competitiveness; mentoring and training initiatives; and awareness raising including workshops and cross-border business networking.

- InterTradeIreland is also undertaking a range of initiatives for SMEs trading across the border including the provision of advice and supports for capability building.

A lot of that can be done within the existing EU State Aid Framework. We are confident that the measures currently in development will be State Aid compliant, and we are taking steps to ensure that we can use all options available under the State aid framework to provide support to companies impacted by Brexit.

Should issues arise that require an approach that does not fit within the existing rules, we will move quickly to advance this with the EU Commission.

Departmental Functions

Questions (50)

Niall Collins

Question:

50. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the transfer of labour affairs functions in her Department to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; and the impact on legislative Bills already drafted in this area. [38317/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

The transfer of functions in question came into effect on 1 September 2017 pursuant to the Labour Affairs and Labour Law (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2017, S.I. No. 361 of 2017.

The employment policy and legislative functions listed beneath transferred from the former Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Work on relevant draft legislation will not be impacted as a result of the transfer of functions but will fall to be progressed by my colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

At a national level:

- Lead on Employment Rights Policy and Legislation. This covers responsibility for eleven primary Acts governing employment rights in Ireland and related policy issues.

- Lead on the Low Pay Commission, established to make recommendations annually to the Minister on the appropriate level of the National Minimum wage and related areas.

- Lead on legislation in relation to the national minimum wage and related areas. This entails the transfer of Ministerial responsibility for the national minimum wage under the NMW Act 2000 and the Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 2015.

At EU/International level:

- Lead role and co-ordination of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council.

- Lead responsibility for the Treaty-based Employment Committee (EMCO) and the EU Semester process.

- Lead responsibility for Ireland’s response and input on the EU Pillar of Social Rights.

- Lead responsibility for Ireland’s engagement with Eurofound, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

- Lead responsibility for the Council of Europe Social Charter and co-ordination of responses on the Social Charter.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (51, 52)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

51. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the annual percentage of non-commercial State-sponsored bodies staff under the remit of her Department who were women in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [38356/17]

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Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

52. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the annual percentage of public service staff that were women under the remit of her department in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [38379/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form, as requested.

Body	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Personal Injuries Assessment Board	53%	53%	48%	52%	52%	50%	54%	54%
IAASA	46%	50%	54%	54%	54%	65%	65%	73%
IDA Ireland	57%	61%	65%	64%	62%	55%	56%	59%
NSAI	38%	39%	41%	41%	40%	39%	42%	42%
Enterprise Ireland	52%	54%	54%	54%	55%	54%	55%	57%
SFI	63%	66%	73%	70%	71%	71%	74%	70%
CCPC*	-	-	-	-	49%	48%	52%	53%
NCA	47%	42%	40%	57%	-	-	-	-
Competition Authority	40%	43%	36%	37%	-	-	-	-
H.S.A.**								53%

* The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) was established on 31 October 2014, as a result of the amalgamation of the National Consumer Agency (NCA) and the Competition Authority.

** The HSA have been unable in the time available to gather all the information requested. When the totality of the information has been collated I will convey the information to Deputy McDonald.

In relation to my own Department the figures are:

2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
59%	59%	60%	60%	60%	60%	60%	59%

Question No. 53 answered with Question No. 31.

Brexit Staff

Questions (54)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

54. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff in the dedicated Brexit unit within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38456/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

A dedicated Brexit Unit was established in 2016 and is led at Assistant Secretary level within the EU Affairs and Trade Policy Division of my Department. Its main focus is to co-ordinate and represent the Departmental and Agencies response to Brexit and to support me in my position at the Cabinet Committee dealing with Brexit. The designated official, at Assistant Secretary level, is supported by 1 Principal, 2 Assistant Principals, 1 Higher Executive Officer and 1 Clerical Officer. An additional staffing resource is currently being recruited to support the Brexit Unit.

Of course, the work of very many Business Units is impacted by Brexit and the Department as a whole has prioritised the Brexit challenges across all its Divisions and actively keeps this under review. In this regard is intended to review the Department's workforce plan (2017-2019) as part of the Department's business planning processes for 2018 where the Brexit Agenda will be a priority.

Science Foundation Ireland

Questions (55)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

55. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the budget allocation of Science Foundation Ireland in each of the years 2007 to 2017, in tabular form. [38499/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

The budget allocations from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation to Science Foundation Ireland for the years 2007 – 2017 are set out in the following Table:

Year	Revised Estimates Volume allocation €000	Plus sanctioned Deferred Surrender (Capital Carryover) €000	Supplementary Estimate €000	Total annual allocation €000
2007	165,772	X	X	165,772
2008	183,643	2,226	X	185,869
2009	170,524	5,500	X	176,024
2010	159,833	X	X	159,833
2011	175,142	X	X	175,142
2012	169,669	X	X	169,669
2013	157,300	7,000	X	162,300
2014	153,840	9,000	X	162,840
2015	163,230	X	5,000	168,230
2016	166,662	X	27,000	193,662
2017	172,631	X		172,631

Capital carryover may be permitted from one financial year to the next and requires the formal approval of the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform each year. As is evidenced from the table above Science Foundation Ireland’s allocations were enhanced in the years 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014 with the provision of capital carryover amounts from unspent capital moneys arising elsewhere on the Department’s Vote.

In 2015 and 2016, additional capital moneys were also provided to Science Foundation Ireland through the approved Supplementary Estimates by the Houses of the Oireachtas in those years.

Brexit Negotiations

Questions (56)

Niall Collins

Question:

56. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the detail of each specific EU Competitiveness Council Ministers meeting in which she or her predecessor made the case for the need of a revision of state aid rules to protect Irish enterprises and related jobs during the UK's two-year exit phase from the EU and subsequent transition phase; the date of each meeting in which this was raised, in tabular form; the progress made at EU level to increase state aid thresholds to support Irish enterprises from a hard Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38512/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

Since the Brexit Referendum, my predecessor, Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor, attended three meetings of the Competitiveness Council on 29th September 2016, 28th November 2016 and 20th February 2017. State Aid rules did not feature on the agenda. However, in our engagements with both EU Commissioners and Ministers from other Member States since the UK decision, Brexit has been a central part of the discussions at these meetings. Last autumn, officials of my Department initiated discussions with DG Competition to sensitise the Commission to potential difficulties likely to be encountered by Irish firms from the Brexit referendum result. I also informed Michael Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, of these discussions when I met him in Brussels on 10th July 2017. These discussions continue at the highest levels to address all relevant issues relating to any proposals emerging from our work with industry.

The Government is conscious of the need to consider the types of supports that Irish businesses may require to address challenges arising as a result of the Brexit Referendum, which is likely to represent a structural shift in the UK trading relations. Short, medium and long term responses from market diversification through to price repositioning will be needed.

On foot of extensive engagement with industry, my Department is working with the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Enterprise Ireland and the SBCI to develop appropriate, tailored and targeted responses. This work, along with market developments as a result of Brexit, and ongoing engagement with the business community, will inform further discussions with the Commission and the development of any further initiatives to business.

A lot of that can be done within the existing EU State Aid Framework. We are confident that the measures currently in development will be State Aid compliant, and we are taking steps to ensure that we can use all options available under the State aid framework to provide support to companies impacted by Brexit.

Should issues arise that require an approach that does not fit within the existing rules, we will move quickly to advance this with the EU Commission.

Brexit Staff

Questions (57)

Niall Collins

Question:

57. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff in the dedicated Brexit unit within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38513/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

A dedicated Brexit Unit was established in 2016 and is led at Assistant Secretary level within the EU Affairs and Trade Policy Division, to co-ordinate and represent the Departmental and Agencies response to Brexit and to support me in my position at the Cabinet Committee dealing with Brexit. The designated official, at Assistant Secretary level, is supported by 1 Principal, 2 Assistant Principals, 1 Higher Executive Officer and 1 Clerical Officer. An additional staffing resource is currently being recruited to support the Brexit Unit.

Of course, the work of very many Business Units is impacted by Brexit and the Department as a whole has prioritised the Brexit challenges across all its Divisions and actively keeps requirements in this regard under review. Additionally, it is intended to review the Department's workforce plan (2017-2019) as part of the Department's business planning processes for 2018 and naturally the demands attendant on servicing the Brexit agenda will continue to be a priority.

Question No. 58 answered with Question No. 7.

Third Level Institutions

Questions (59)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

59. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the decision by University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology to withdraw staffing and funding from the Irish marine and energy research cluster IMERC in Ringaskiddy, County Cork (details supplied); and the future of the research facility, in view of this withdrawal by same. [38530/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

I am aware of the decision by University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology to withdraw staff and funding from the Irish Maritime and Energy Research Cluster (IMERC) and to effectively dissolve the tripartite alliance with the Irish Naval Service. However, neither my Department, nor my agencies, were consulted on this decision either in advance of it being announced, or subsequently.

My Department has policy responsibility for the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) and my officials have verified that no funding was paid to IMERC from this programme. The PRTLI Cycle 5 project ERI@MErC (Maritime and Energy Research Campus and Commercial Cluster), also known as the Beaufort Building, is unaffected by this decision.

While the consultants did have brief, informal phone contact with representatives of my agencies during the conduct of the review, neither my department nor my agencies were consulted on the findings or the recommendations either prior to the completion of the report or subsequently.

My department is committed to supporting research and innovation in the marine sector in order to exploit the potential for enterprise development and job creation in the sector.

To this end in 2013 my department, through Science Foundation Ireland, established MaREI, the Marine and Renewable Energy research, development and Innovation Centre. This represents an investment of over €30 million with€18.9 million of SFI funding, combined with over €10.5 million in contributions from the 45 industry partners.

MaREI is located in UCC and the research team comprises internationally recognised experts from UCC, NUIG, UL, MU, UCD, and CIT, who have complementary research backgrounds key to providing the underpinning research necessary for Ireland to develop commercially successful marine and renewable energy industries.

A further demonstration of my department's engagement with the sector is that Enterprise Ireland, in conjunction with the Irish Maritime Development Office, launched the Irish Marine Industry Network in 2016. The marine sector is both diverse and diffuse and the purpose of the Network is to increase the cohesion of the sector, to provide a visible identity and forum to increase collaboration. It will also provide a "one-stop-shop" for showcasing our national capability in the sector.

In addition, following on from the Harnessing our Ocean Wealth strategy, Enterprise Ireland has a current open call for the provision of Marine Incubator facilities. There have been a number of applicants but the outcome from this process is not yet concluded.

Scientific Research

Questions (60)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

60. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to travel to CERN in Switzerland; and if she has given consideration to the State becoming a member of CERN. [38532/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

Innovation 2020, the national strategy for research and innovation, recognises that in order for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader, our research and innovation system must be open with strong international collaboration links. Membership of leading International Research Organisations is an important mechanism for facilitating this engagement. For this reason, the Government gave a specific commitment in Innovation 2020 to initiate negotiations with CERN on Ireland's membership options.

Discussions with CERN commenced in 2016 and senior officials from my department, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland visited CERN in Geneva in July 2016. The Director-General of CERN, Dr. Fabiola Gianotti, visited Dublin in October 2016 and met with the former Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. The information gathered during these engagements has provided my officials with a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits of membership of CERN. While these benefits are significant, the cost of membership is also significant. Therefore, the case for membership of CERN is being assessed in the context of other investment priorities.

The case for membership of CERN is being considered in the context of the Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan, which covers the period 2018-2021. The Mid-Term Review will be completed before the end of 2017 at which point I will be in a position to make a recommendation regarding Ireland's membership of CERN.

In view of the visit by my officials to CERN and the visit of the Director-General to Dublin, I have no plans to visit CERN in Geneva prior to the completion of the Review process.

Scientific Research

Questions (61)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

61. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs that have been created as a result of the State's membership of the European Space Agency, ESA; the amount allocated to the ESA for membership since 2012; the number of visits made by her or Ministers of State; the travel costs associated with same; the number of officials that have travelled to facilities operated under the remit of the ESA in 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [38533/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

Ireland is a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) since 1975. Since joining, Ireland has used ESA programmes to develop an industrial sector in space technologies and equipment for the European and global space market.

ESA provides the sole means of providing critical space technology development and qualification to enable Irish industry access to the global space market. Unlike their international competitors, Irish companies do not have access to national space development or procurement programmes and without ESA support would be at a major disadvantage to their international competitors.

The Irish Government’s investment in the space sector is generating significant economic impact, particularly in terms of jobs, exports and new company formation. The number of Irish companies active in space related activities has grown by 100% from 30 to 60 in the period 2010 to 2016. These companies employed 2,000 people in Ireland in 2016 and employment is expected to grow to over 5,000 by 2020.

Ireland’s contributions to ESA are set out in the following table.

Year	Investment in ESA (€’000)
2012	14,779
2013	17,279
2014	17,279
2015	17,279
2016	19,279
2017	17,779

In the period 2015 to date, there has been one visit to an ESA operated facility by a Minister or Minister of State at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI). On 24 April 2017, John Halligan TD, Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development led an Enterprise Ireland trade visit to ESTEC, the European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands. The Minister was accompanied on the visit by ten Enterprise Ireland client companies, three of which announced contracts totalling almost €2 million with ESA on the day.

In December 2016, ESA hosted its Ministerial Council in Lucerne, Switzerland. Minister Halligan represented Ireland at Council, where multiannual budgets were agreed and decisions were made on a range of policy and programmes covering the period to 2020.

The Minister’s expenses for both visits are set out in the following table.

Date

Purpose of Travel

Travel Details

Amount Paid

Total

December 2016

ESA Ministerial Council in Lucerne, Switzerland

Return Flights

Hotel

Other Expenses

€300.98

€544.00

€85.44

€930.42

April 2017

Enterprise Ireland trade visit to ESTEC, Netherlands

Return Flights

Hotel

Expenses

€128.98

€99.50

€206.06

€434.54

The only other State visit to an ESA facility in the period 2015 to 2017 occurred in January 2016 when An Taoiseach led a delegation to ESTEC. Enterprise Ireland Chief Executive, Julie Sinnamon and officials from DBEI and Enterprise Ireland also took part in the trade mission. During the visit, Enterprise Ireland signed an agreement with the ESA to develop a Space Business Incubation Centre in Ireland (ESA BIC Ireland), which is now established and has already seen two companies benefit from this agreement.

In addition to formal State visits, Ireland’s space policy interests in the European Space Agency are advanced through various ESA committees and programme boards by two officials from DBEI, with support from three Enterprise Ireland officials who advise on technical and scientific matters. The meetings are primarily held at ESA’s headquarters in Paris.

Retail Sector

Questions (62)

Brendan Smith

Question:

62. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the measures she plans to implement to assist the retail sector due to the difficulties that have arisen from the weakening of the value of sterling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38596/17]

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Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

The Retail Consultation Forum was established by my Department in 2014 as a response to the challenges experienced by the sector during the recession. The Forum provides a platform for structured engagement between the retail sector and Government to identify practical actions which could be taken by Government, or by industry itself, to support sustainable growth, in particular employment growth, in the sector. Membership includes the main retail representative bodies, retailers themselves and representatives from relevant Government Departments and public bodies.

One of the most immediate concerns facing the Sector is the impact of Brexit and how this might influence exchange rates and consumer sentiment in the short term and impact matters such as customs, logistics and supply chains in the longer terms.

In recognition of these matters, Brexit has become a standing item on the agenda for discussion at meetings of the Retail Consultation Forum. My Department has also ensured that Retail representative bodies have been included in stakeholder engagements on the impact of Brexit and in a pilot study into the firm-level impact for enterprise of Brexit, to ensure that the impact of Brexit on the sector is understood. The retail sector also has access to supports such as the Enterprise Ireland Brexit SME Scorecard to assist with planning and preparation for Brexit.

A number of initiatives from the Retail Consultation Forum, my Department and other Government Departments will strengthen the capability and resilience of the retail sector to meet the challenges resulting from Brexit, including:

- Building digital capability to increase the competitiveness of the retail sector in an increasingly digital world through addressing digital skills gaps and supporting retailers to trade on line through initiatives such as the Trading Online Voucher scheme.

- Addressing the demise of the high street in towns and villages around the country with the launch in April 2017 of “A Framework for Town Centre Renewal”. The Framework includes a step- by-step Town Action Plan for key stakeholders and will support the “Town and Village Renewal” scheme launched earlier this year;

-Addressing energy, waste and water costs with the development, in consultation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, of a pilot Retail programme to reduce such costs and consumption.

Engagement with the retail sector will continue through the Retail Consultation Forum, bilateral engagements with representatives of the sector and Brexit-focused stakeholder engagement.

Retail Sector

Questions (63)

Joan Burton

Question:

63. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps her Department is taking to assist retailers to deal with the impact in the fall in value of sterling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38613/17]