Written Answers Nos. 230-250
230. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 294 of 23 January 2018, 90 and 95 of 25 January 2018, and 223 of 20 February 2018, when the promised reports from An Garda Síochána will be issued; the reason for the delay in the issuing of these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14898/18]
View answerI have requested again a report from An Garda Síochána in relation to the information sought by the Deputy and I will be in contact with the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.
231. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has been provided with a copy of the findings of the counsel led review of his Department; the steps he will take on foot of this report; if he plans to publish this report; the timeframe in which he will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14899/18]
View answerThe report of the Independent Review of the response of the Department of Justice and Equality to requests for documents from the Disclosures Tribunal was published by the Taoiseach earlier this week.
I want to again thank Michael Collins SC for undertaking this task, and for the comprehensive, efficient and professional way in which he carried out his review.
I welcome Mr. Collins’s central conclusion that there was no attempt by the Department of Justice and Equality to conceal information from the Tribunal in any way and that my predecessor and Department officials acted at all times in good faith and believed that they were acting reasonably in the manner in which they conducted searches for documentation. Mr. Collins also stated that he found no evidence of any failure to comply with Orders from the Tribunal.
I am of course concerned that emails of potential relevance to the Tribunal’s considerations were not located as part of the Department’s discovery process. My Department is putting new measures in place that are aimed at ensuring that an oversight of this kind could not happen in future. These plans are referred to and endorsed by Mr. Collins in his report. These new measures include the use of specialist IT consultants, where needed, for discovery and the establishment of a separate unit to interact with Tribunals and Commissions. There is a Civil-service wide initiative underway in relation to electronic file management and this will help to ensure that electronic documents, including emails, can more easily be associated with relevant files.
My full statement on the matter can be found on my Department's website, www.justice.ie.
232. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the additional in-market supports now available to Irish small and medium enterprises, SMEs, to prepare for or mitigate the impact of Brexit which were not available 12 months ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14710/18]
View answerThe Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation is central to the Government wide effort to prepare Irish SMEs and our wider business ecosystem for Brexit. Steps already taken include Budget 2018 (and 2017), our Trade and Investment Strategy published in March 2017 and through the Action Plan for Jobs 2017 and 2018.
“Building Stronger Business” sets out work underway, and planned, by DBEI and its Agencies in response to Brexit, including supports available to companies, inclusive of SMEs, to help them prepare for Brexit. It also describes our research programme designed to inform that response.
The following is a list of supports available to Irish SMEs to help alleviate the impact of Brexit on their businesses:
€300m Brexit Loan Scheme
In March 2018, the Government launched a new Brexit Loan Scheme for eligible businesses with up to 499 employees. Loan amounts range from €25,000 up to €1.5m, for terms of up to 3 years and a maximum interest rate of 4%.
SME Scorecard Online Tool
Any business can quickly self-diagnose whether they are ready for Brexit. This Enterprise Ireland (EI) scorecard is a first step in developing a robust Brexit plan. It will help to stimulate thinking about the key areas that may be impacted in your business and to self-assess your level of preparedness. www.prepareforbrexit.ie
Awareness Sessions & Advisory Clinics
There are a range of awareness sessions and Advisory Clinics being convened by EI, InterTrade Ireland (ITI) and the LEOs to provide information and support to companies all around the country on actions to address exposure to Brexit. The key focus of advisory clinics are Financial and Currency Management, Strategic Sourcing and Customs, Transport and Logistics.
Be Prepared Grant
For businesses that need external support in planning for Brexit, Enterprise Ireland offers up to €5,000 to assist client companies develop a plan.
EI Market Discovery Fund
Diversifying to new markets is one option for many businesses in preparing for Brexit. EI supports businesses to research viable and sustainable new market entry strategies.
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs)
Brexit supports from LEOs in every county include:
LEO Brexit Mentor Programme: supporting Owner/Managers identify key Brexit exposures and develop robust strategies to address issues and maximise potential opportunities.
Technical Assistance for Micro-Exporters (TAME): Financial assistance to support market diversification in qualifying businesses to develop new and export market opportunities.
Lean for Micro: helping businesses adopt LEAN business practices to increase competitiveness.
LEO Innovation and Investment Fund (LIIF): Support for innovative developments in micro-enterprises by getting them investor ready.
InterTradeIreland (ITI) Brexit ‘Start to Plan’ Vouchers
ITI provides a Brexit Advisory Service to help businesses with practical advice, support and information on Brexit related issues. ITI also provides vouchers to enable companies to get professional advice on Brexit, including likely tariffs, currency management, regulatory and customs issues and movement of labour, goods and services.
FDI Brexit Supports
IDA Ireland offers support to client companies as they grow and diversify their Irish footprint. The IDA offers practical assistance, such as information and advice on Brexit risks and opportunities, and financial assistance across R&D, training, employment and capital investment.
Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
The HSA’s Chemicals Helpdesk provides a support service for Irish chemical companies and SMEs on meeting legislative duties and ensuring they can source chemicals and sell in the EU.
Certification, Standards and Metrology
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) provides advice on how best to ensure businesses are certified to appropriate standards to access markets.
A number of Brexit alleviation supports are also available from Government Agencies outside of my Department that are involved in specific business sectors:
Tourism and Hospitality
Fáilte Ireland offers a suite of supports for hospitality and tourism businesses, including an online Brexit Readiness Check, to assess Brexit risks and to respond to current challenges.
Bord Bia Brexit Barometer
Bord Bia’s Brexit Barometer is designed to help businesses assess their readiness for Brexit and also provides information on supply chain, currency, customs and international market diversification opportunities.
My Department is leading on a range of Brexit research projects, which will provide an extensive evidence base and valuable analysis to inform and guide Ireland’s position within the EU-27. The Department’s actions are set out in more detail in the publication Building Stronger Business: Responding to Brexit.
233. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount that her Department has spent on social media training and consultancy in each year since 2016. [14561/18]
View answer234. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if training has been delivered in her Department on the use of social media (details supplied); the frequency and cost of this training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14577/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.
Earlier this year two members of my Department’s Communications and Press Unit attended a one day training course on mobile journalism, which was run by the Department of An Taoiseach. The course covered: an overview of mobile content production; photography presentations and practical exercises; and video recording/production presentations and practical exercises. There were associated costs to my Department in the purchase of mobile phone apps in advance of the course, totalling €73.80.
In addition, since 2016 eight members of staff have attended social media conferences at a total cost of €2,055.50. The conferences provided an insight into how social media can be used effectively to communicate with stakeholders and customers through the application of best practice and latest trends from industry experts. The following table provides a breakdown on the frequency and cost.
There has been no expenditure on Social Media Consulting.
Social Media training in each year since 2016.
|
Year |
No. of Conferences |
No. of Staff trained |
Cost |
|
2016 |
2 |
5 |
€1274.35 |
|
2017 |
1 |
1 |
€ 276.75 |
|
2018 |
1 |
2 |
€ 504.40 |
|
Total |
€2055.50 |
235. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Enterprise Ireland clients in Dublin and by county; the number in Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and south County Dublin; the number in Cork city and County Cork in each of the years 2014 to 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14608/18]
View answerOn 3rd January 2018, Enterprise Ireland (EI) announced its 2017 end year results. The 2017 performance was strong, reporting the highest employment in the history of the agency, the highest net job creation in the history of the agency and the lowest number of job losses since 1998.
In 2017 EI supported client companies employed 209,338 people. 19,332 new jobs were created by EI backed companies in 2017.
This represents a net increase of 10,309 jobs for 2017, taking account of job losses. The job creation figures are up on 2016, despite the uncertainty that Irish businesses faced in 2017 in the context of Brexit.
Job creation was evenly spread across the country, with every county seeing job increases. Two thirds (64%) of the new jobs created were outside of Dublin. The West, Mid-West and North West saw the largest level of increases at 7% in 2017.
Table 1 presents the number of EI clients on a county basis. Table 2 presents the number of EI clients in each of the four Dublin boroughs.
Table 1: Number of EI client companies on a county basis
|
County |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Carlow |
84 |
85 |
85 |
82 |
|
Cavan |
80 |
78 |
79 |
78 |
|
Clare |
146 |
139 |
143 |
131 |
|
Cork |
598 |
599 |
580 |
568 |
|
Donegal |
144 |
142 |
139 |
125 |
|
Dublin |
2,081 |
2,073 |
2,104 |
2,197 |
|
Galway |
253 |
246 |
257 |
257 |
|
Kerry |
119 |
117 |
114 |
127 |
|
Kildare |
182 |
174 |
182 |
192 |
|
Kilkenny |
108 |
111 |
114 |
116 |
|
Laois |
55 |
56 |
54 |
55 |
|
Leitrim |
35 |
33 |
29 |
25 |
|
Limerick |
242 |
240 |
245 |
250 |
|
Longford |
46 |
45 |
49 |
50 |
|
Louth |
159 |
156 |
156 |
154 |
|
Mayo |
113 |
110 |
114 |
115 |
|
Meath |
159 |
164 |
169 |
170 |
|
Monaghan |
107 |
107 |
106 |
104 |
|
Offaly |
70 |
67 |
67 |
69 |
|
Roscommon |
53 |
51 |
53 |
51 |
|
Sligo |
76 |
69 |
69 |
69 |
|
Tipperary |
118 |
122 |
117 |
123 |
|
Waterford |
134 |
135 |
138 |
143 |
|
Westmeath |
103 |
100 |
99 |
114 |
|
Wexford |
123 |
123 |
123 |
122 |
|
Wicklow |
165 |
163 |
166 |
161 |
|
Total |
5,553 |
5,505 |
5,551 |
5,648 |
Source: Corresponding Year's Annual Employment survey results 2014-2017
Table 2: Number of EI client companies in Dublin by Borough
|
Dublin Boroughs |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Dublin City |
1,087 |
1,089 |
1,109 |
1,174 |
|
Dublin Fingal |
278 |
282 |
281 |
289 |
|
Dublin South County |
322 |
336 |
350 |
370 |
|
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown |
391 |
366 |
364 |
364 |
|
Dublin |
2,081 (2,078*) |
2,073 |
2,104 |
2,197 |
2017 was the first year of EI’s strategy, Build Scale, Expand Reach 2017 – 2020. This Strategy is focused on:
- Assisting clients to create 60,000 new jobs by 2020 while sustaining the existing record level of jobs;
- Growing the annual exports of client companies by €5bn to €26bn per annum;
- Increasing the level of spend made by client companies in the Irish economy by €4bn to €27bn per annum by 2020; and
- Inspiring more Irish owned companies to have global ambition.
I am committed to work closely with Enterprise Ireland to drive this Strategy, to ensure that it continues to support companies in urban and rural areas to start, innovate, increase our exports and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future.
Note: re: 2014 Dublin Borough Breakdown. Please note that Enterprise Ireland’s database records the current number of clients. Therefore, a retrospective breakdown of clients (e.g. for a specific year is not possible with the system and the required data can only be provided for those years for which the data was extracted and saved at that time). Enterprise Ireland broke the Dublin Borough data down in this manner in 2015, 2016 and 2017. However, the 2014 data was not saved using this format (i.e. with City & borough breakdowns). Using 2015 records Enterprise Ireland is able to provide the breakdown by borough for 2,078 of the 2,081 plants recorded in Dublin in 2014. Between 2014 and 2015 three companies previously located in Dublin relocated to Meath (2) and Waterford(1).
Retrospective data broken down by Cork City & County is not available - as per above please note that Enterprise Ireland’s database recordsthe current number of clients and their current location (i.e. as of 27th March2018). Therefore, a retrospective breakdown of clients and where they were located in a given year, is not possible with the system and the required data can only be provided where the data was extracted and saved at that time.
236. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created in 2017 by companies that received financial support from the local enterprise offices by county; the number in Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and south County Dublin; the number in Cork city and County Cork in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14609/18]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business.
The LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant state supports available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland. The LEOs also offer advice and guidance in areas such as local authority rates, public procurement and other regulations affecting business.
Details of the number of new full- and part-time jobs created in gross terms amongst LEO supported companies in 2017 are set out in the following table.
|
LEO NAME |
Number of LEO Clients |
Number of Gross Jobs |
|
Carlow |
216 |
187 |
|
Cavan |
206 |
207 |
|
Clare |
224 |
251 |
|
Cork City |
156 |
128 |
|
Cork North & West |
261 |
154 |
|
Cork South |
203 |
209 |
|
Donegal |
200 |
255 |
|
Dublin City |
397 |
445 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
256 |
338 |
|
Fingal |
211 |
226 |
|
South Dublin |
285 |
351 |
|
Galway County/City |
254 |
192 |
|
Kerry |
425 |
267 |
|
Kildare |
171 |
282 |
|
Kilkenny |
254 |
232 |
|
Laois |
115 |
93 |
|
Leitrim |
155 |
104 |
|
Limerick |
299 |
279 |
|
Longford |
243 |
177 |
|
Louth |
235 |
200 |
|
Mayo |
207 |
242 |
|
Meath |
242 |
284 |
|
Monaghan |
152 |
207 |
|
Offaly |
196 |
193 |
|
Roscommon |
167 |
131 |
|
Sligo |
231 |
152 |
|
Tipperary |
297 |
467 |
|
Waterford |
319 |
182 |
|
WestMeath |
265 |
300 |
|
Wexford |
213 |
238 |
|
Wicklow |
127 |
162 |
|
Total |
7182 |
7135 |
237. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the investment by local enterprise offices in client companies by local authority area in 2015, 2016 and 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14610/18]
View answerThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring to anyone wishing to start or grow a business.
The LEOs can offer direct grant aid to microenterprises (10 employees or fewer) in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within three main categories: Feasibility Grants (investigating the potential of a business idea); Priming Grants (to part-fund a start-up); and Business Development Grants for existing businesses that want to expand.
Details of investment by LEOs to client companies under the above schemes from 2015 to 2017 are shown in the table below. [Note – The LEOs can also provide ‘soft’ supports e.g. training, mentoring, advice etc. to business operators.]
LEO Payments 2015 – 2017
|
LEO |
2015 Payments |
2016 Payments |
2017 Payments |
|
Carlow |
195,636 |
193,753 |
294,363 |
|
Cavan |
303,796 |
215,046 |
295,299 |
|
Clare |
351,182 |
404,676 |
605,230 |
|
Cork City |
199,041 |
292,056 |
335,810 |
|
Cork North/West |
298,678 |
535,495 |
347,738 |
|
Cork South |
425,156 |
491,247 |
311,484 |
|
Donegal |
233,088 |
393,798 |
458,896 |
|
Dublin City |
602,065 |
788,647 |
665,324 |
|
DLR |
390,449 |
506,909 |
488,954 |
|
Fingal |
698,616 |
549,190 |
461,301 |
|
South Dublin |
375,977 |
334,996 |
443,311 |
|
Galway |
223,870 |
393,686 |
433,596 |
|
Kerry |
285,394 |
299,856 |
284,498 |
|
Kildare |
214,422 |
355,485 |
456,436 |
|
Kilkenny |
243,868 |
313,638 |
346,981 |
|
Laois |
244,659 |
254,909 |
178,970 |
|
Leitrim |
213,628 |
130,325 |
166,140 |
|
Limerick |
725,223 |
683,676 |
482,436 |
|
Longford |
182,677 |
194,467 |
147,150 |
|
Louth |
195,023 |
227,426 |
209,493 |
|
Mayo |
279,505 |
416,782 |
117,921 |
|
Meath |
166,085 |
177,278 |
307,349 |
|
Monaghan |
208,518 |
374,863 |
387,597 |
|
Offaly |
292,979 |
210,161 |
316,825 |
|
Roscommon |
225,659 |
125,498 |
263,112 |
|
Sligo |
170,702 |
387,160 |
247,074 |
|
Tipperary |
686,295 |
720,627 |
659,341 |
|
Waterford |
396,950 |
496,233 |
388,802 |
|
WestMeath |
321,587 |
457,135 |
292,230 |
|
Wexford |
303,780 |
285,151 |
220,012 |
|
Wicklow |
393,945 |
207,261 |
308,334 |
|
Total |
10,048,453 |
11,417,429 |
10,922,007 |
238. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the value of contracts for services awarded to a company (details supplied) by her Department since 2010, in tabular form; and the type of work undertaken by the company. [14622/18]
View answerMy Department had one contract with the company in question in the specified time period.
The services of the company in question were used by the HR Unit of my Department in 2017, following their success in a public procurement mini-competition for the provision of specified External Workplace Investigative Services. The total value of services provided during 2017 was €17,492.56 including VAT at 23%.
239. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the impact of the sale of a studio (details supplied); the impact on the State's position in relation to the studios; the impact on employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14706/18]
View answer240. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has met with representatives of a studio (details supplied) in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14707/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
Olcott Entertainment Limited (Olcott) has completed the acquisition of Ireland’s leading film studios, Ardmore Studios Ltd (Ardmore Studios/Ardmore) located in Bray, Co. Wicklow. Under the deal, Olcott has acquired the full share capital of Ardmore Studios International. Prior to the sale of Ardmore Studios, it was owned 68.33% by private interests and 31.67% by the State. The State’s shareholding is managed by Enterprise Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland inherited the stake from NADCORP, the former State investment agency, in 1986. As a passive investor, Enterprise Ireland had no enterprise development role in Ardmore or any involvement in its day-to-day operations.
The sale of the Ardmore Studios was a commercial decision by the majority owners of the studios.
Wicklow County Council has in the past confirmed to my Department that it agrees to maintain the film-only zoning as a matter of policy.
Enterprise Ireland negotiated the sale of its shareholding with the benefit of due diligence undertaken by independent consultants and are satisfied that they realised full market value, and on a par with the other parties. As the sale is a commercial transaction relating to a private company, the terms cannot be revealed for reasons of business confidentiality.
Investment is required in the Ardmore studios' facilities to secure its long term commercial future and the Olcott Entertainment deal provides the potential to breathe new life into the company at a time when the market for film production in Ireland is again showing good growth potential.
I therefore welcome the Olcott plans to develop and expand the Ardmore Studio offering, and other related entertainment projects which I believe is in the best commercial interests of the studios, the skilled workers in the area, and in Ireland as a location for international film production. Olcott also intends to retain the current experienced Ardmore management and staff.
I have not met with representatives of the purchasers. However, Enterprise Ireland has remained engaged with the company and their representatives at all stages of this process. Any proposals requiring a decision were reviewed by the Agency in consultation with me, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. In turn, I have consulted with the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
241. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of businesses choosing not to take out employer and or public liability insurance by the latest data available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14836/18]
View answerMy Department has no role or function in relation to business insurance namely, employer or public liability insurance. Apart from motor insurance which is the policy responsibility for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, policy responsibility for insurance is a matter for the Minister for Finance and is regulated by the Central Bank.
My Department does not have any data on the number of businesses choosing not to take out employer or public liability insurance.
242. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the actions and deadline agreed following the first meeting of the farm safety task force in tabular form; and the number of meetings the task force has planned in 2018. [14852/18]
View answerIn view of the ongoing high rate of accidents and fatalities on Irish farms in May 2017 I convened a Roundtable Meeting of the main farming representative organisations along with officials from my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Health and Safety Authority. I co-chaired that meeting with my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD.
Following that meeting a range of suggestions and proposals were received from the farming and agricultural sector organisations on how farm safety might be improved. As some of these suggestions relate to the policy areas of other Government Departments and State Agencies I have set up a Farm Safety Task Force to see how these suggestions can be progressed where possible.
The inaugural meeting of Farm Safety Task Force took place on Tuesday 13th March 2018.
The members of the Task Force have undertaken to carry out a comprehensive review of the suggestions, specific to their respective Departmental and Agency policy areas, with a view to identifying and developing viable and workable action points.
I have asked the Members to report back to me within a few weeks with a view to reconvening the Task Force shortly afterwards to conduct a more detailed analysis of potential actions and the way forward.
It would be premature of me to comment further on the matter at this stage as I do not wish to pre-empt the deliberations of the individual Task Force members by commenting on any potential actions that might yet be undertaken.
243. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the Consumer Rights Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14901/18]
View answerWhile I am anxious to progress the Scheme of the Consumer Rights Bill published by my Department in May 2015, I have to take account of current European Union legislative proposals for Directives on consumer contracts for the supply of digital content and consumer contracts for the online and other distance sale of goods. These proposals which were announced in May 2015 and published in December 2015 overlap very substantially with two of the main parts of the draft Scheme of the Consumer Rights Bill. In this situation, I and my predecessors have had to consider the advisability of bringing forward a legislative proposal to the Oireachtas when directly related and fully harmonised legislative proposals were progressing through the European Union legislative process. The wisdom of introducing legislation in the Oireachtas if large parts of that legislation would have to be repealed or substantially amended within a relatively short space of time is obviously open to question.
A general approach was agreed on the proposed Digital Content Directive at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in June 2017. The proposal is now the subject of trilogues between the European Parliament, Council and Commission and is likely to be adopted later this year. Four trilogues have been held to date and a fifth meeting is scheduled to take place on 26 April. An amended proposal for a Directive covering all consumer contracts for the sales of goods was published on 31 October 2017. To date, there have been six meetings on the proposal at working party level and a first reading is close to completion. On 22 February 2018, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee adopted a report on the proposed Directive and agreed a mandate to enter into inter-institutional negotiations on it. I would hope that agreement on a general approach on the proposed Directive can be reached this year. When both Directives have been adopted, my Department will commence work on the necessary changes to the Scheme of the Consumer Rights Bill with a view to bringing a memorandum to Government on the Bill at the earliest possible date.
244. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of meetings her Department officials and advisers have had with the IDA regarding an IDA sponsored opinion piece (details supplied); the number of such opinion pieces by her and her predecessors in regional and national newspapers in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018 that a State agency under her remit sponsored; and the costs to date. [14907/18]
View answerIDA Ireland’s “Local Impact” initiative forms part of the Agency’s normal marketing activity and is aimed at promoting regional foreign investment by showcasing the availability of property, talent and regional capabilities across the country.
Since November 2017, IDA Ireland and the Irish Times have worked together on the initiative to create content with clients and stakeholders in regional locations. These stakeholders come from regions across Ireland and include the Mid-West, Border and Midlands areas.
Individual locations that have been highlighted through IDA Ireland’s work on this campaign include FDI activity in Drogheda, Co.Louth; Raheen, Co.Limerick; Shannon, Co.Clare; Letterkenny, Co.Donegal, Nenagh, Co.Tipperary; Westport, Co.Mayo.
The overall commercial international marketing package negotiated with the Irish Times included:
- A physical supplement in the Irish Times;
- Creation of all content, images and graphics;
- All of the research and interviews conducted with companies throughout Ireland;
- 90,000 distributed hard copies of the supplement;
- A dedicated microsite live for two months aimed at domestic and international audiences;
- All promotion including three print ads and digital promotion that is ongoing.
Two more premium articles and a video will also follow, which were created and produced by the Irish Times. This package was achieved for €70,000 - the advertising rate card value was significantly higher.
IDA Ireland has had no specific meetings with my Department regarding the sponsored opinion piece which featured in the Irish Times supplement. IDA Ireland requested that I would be interviewed for this supplement as the relevant office holder in order to give a Ministerial perspective on regional jobs growth in Ireland.
No other State Agency under my Department’s remit has sponsored opinion pieces in the period referenced.
245. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the findings of the research commissioned by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, (details supplied); the steps she is taking to protect consumers from increased costs due to Brexit; and if the Action Plan for Jobs 2018 and the revised Enterprise 2025 strategy has a specific section indicating the actions the Government will take to protect customers in this regard. [14909/18]
View answerMy Department is central to the Government wide effort underway for almost two years now to respond to the implications of the UK decision to leave the EU. These efforts include extensive contingency planning at a domestic level and influencing the EU approach to the negotiations with the UK. In order to provide an evidence base to inform our approach to our domestic response, and to the negotiations, my Department has led and/or been involved in a broad range of research and analysis. One such study was that commissioned from the ESRI by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commissions (CCPC): this study was designed to provide us with evidence of the potential impacts of particular Brexit scenarios on consumers in Ireland.
The research examined two Brexit scenarios on a “no policy change” basis. The first, where there is a trade deal and tariffs are avoided, but where there still could be significant non-tariff barriers such as costs arising from additional time spent at customs, or due to changes in labelling rules and other regulatory standards. The second, a “harder” scenario with the imposition of World Trade Organisation tariffs in addition to non-tariff barriers.
Depending on the scenario, the analysis finds an increase in the cost of living of between €892 and €1,360 per year for the average household. The increases would be unevenly distributed across households, with lower income households most affected by price rises.
The CCPC has brought the report’s findings to the attention of the relevant enterprise agencies (and other stakeholders) with a view to their consideration of potential future actions. However, it is important to recall that the actual impact will depend not only on the eventual Brexit deal reached, but also on the level of domestic competition, the availability of alternatives to particular products and consumers’ responses to changes in prices.
Government has, of course, already put a whole host of policy and operational measures in place to respond to Brexit including supporting and encouraging companies, including retailers, to plan for Brexit now. A key tool which is available to all companies is the SME Brexit Scorecard which is online and free to access. It is a diagnostic tool which points to areas companies could consider in starting to prepare a Brexit plan. These include operational issues like reviewing sourcing, supply chains, transport and logistics more generally as well as more strategic issues such as lean initiatives, diversification and investing in innovation.
Supporting companies to prepare for Brexit can also ultimately help to protect consumers from possible negative impacts of Brexit as companies make alternative sourcing arrangements to underpin security of supply and cut costs to keep prices for consumers down. The CCPC study points to some opportunities presented by Brexit for domestic business particularly in the area of import substitution. Although the study points to the potential for considerable increased costs arising for consumers as well as the possibility of reduced product choice, it also points to the fact that actions by business and consumer behaviour can help mitigate the actual impact which will also be dependent on the level of domestic competition in various sectors, the availability of alternatives and the willingness of consumers to move away from certain products.
In relation to the Action Plan for Jobs 2018 and Enterprise 2025, neither contain specific consumer related actions as they are primarily focused on job creation and improving the business environment.
One of the most effective mitigation actions we can take in responding to Brexit is to negotiate the closest possible future relationship between the EU and the UK. The Government has been seized of that since the negotiations started and will continue to remain central in shaping the EU approach to the negotiations with the UK with a view to getting the best deal, minimising risks and maximising opportunities associated with Brexit.
246. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide an overview of the revised research priority areas in each of the years 2018 to 2023; the details of each revised action committed to in tabular form; the deadline for this action to be completed; and the budget funding to be made available to priority areas. [14911/18]
View answerInnovation 2020, Ireland’s strategy for research and development, science and technology, committed to refreshing and revising the priority areas which were introduced under Research Prioritisation in 2012 to ensure that they are still valid in light of changed circumstances.
A rigorous exercise including extensive consultation was undertaken to develop the evidence base to inform the refresh exercise. While the evidence demonstrated that for many of the priority areas, the focus remains as relevant in 2018 as it was for the 2012 -2017 cycle, there have been several revisions and updates to both the themes and the priority areas to reflect changing circumstances in that period.
- The ICT priority areas have been broadened to reflect the changes in technology since 2012 and now include Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (including Machine Learning), Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.
- With the focus on preventive health measures and the increasing emphasis on well-being, which is evident across all the health-related priority areas, the Health theme has been evolved to reflect these drivers and is renamed Health and Well-being.
- The Sustainable Food Production and Processing priority area is broadened to reflect the evolution in technology since 2012 and the key emerging priorities in the EU initiative Food 2030, particularly the need for climate smart and environmentally sustainable food systems and the need for circularity and resources efficiency of food systems and is renamed Smart and Sustainable Food Production and Processing.
- The most significant changes have been to the Energy theme. Based on developments since 2012, including the increased urgency to address climate change and sustainability challenges, alongside the increased opportunities for enterprise within this wider context, the Research Priority theme has evolved to reflect these drivers and is renamed Energy, Climate Action and Sustainability, and the two priority areas have been updated to Decarbonising the Energy System; and Sustainable Living.
- To reflect the impact of technological change and the digitisation of manufacturing since 2012, the Manufacturing Competitiveness priority area is renamed Advanced and Smart Manufacturing (which will also include Processing Technologies) and Processing Technologies and Novel Materials is renamed Manufacturing and Novel Materials, acknowledging that Novel Materials underpin and enable other priority areas, presenting particular challenges for the manufacturing sector.
- The services sector in Ireland is a major part of Ireland’s economy and is increasingly participating in innovative activities and the Innovation in Services and Business Processes research priority remains unchanged.
The revised priority areas are as follows:
|
Theme |
Priority Area |
|
ICT |
- Future Networks, Communications and Internet of Things - Data Analytics, Management, Security, Privacy, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (including Machine Learning) - Digital Platforms, Content and Applications, and Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality |
|
Health and Wellbeing |
- Connected Health and Independent Living - Medical Devices - Diagnostics - Therapeutics |
|
Food |
- Food for Health - Smart and Sustainable Food Production and Processing |
|
Energy, Climate Action and Sustainability |
- Decarbonising and Energy System - Sustainable Living |
|
Manufacturing and Materials |
- Advanced and Smart Manufacturing - Manufacturing and Novel Materials |
|
Services and Business Processes |
- Innovation in Services and Business Processes |
These priority areas will apply for the years 2018 to 2023. While there are no specific actions prescribed to each of the priority areas, the Government’s policy is to align the majority of competitively awarded public investment in research with these areas.
Implementation will be driven through the Innovation 2020 Implementation Group, which is chaired by my Department and comprises membership from each of the research funding Departments and Agencies and the Chief Scientific Adviser.
The revised priority areas will be of particular relevance in the context of the new €500 million Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund announced by the Government as part of the National Development Plan 2018-2027.
247. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the Government and her predecessor did not support the proposal submitted by the CEO of Enterprise Ireland prior to budget 2018 to reinstate an enterprise stabilisation fund as was done during the financial crisis to provide direct supports to vulnerable but viable businesses as a Brexit business mitigation measure in view of confirmation (details supplied). [14912/18]
View answer248. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the analysis by the CEO of Enterprise Ireland to her predecessor that the Brexit loan scheme may not meet the needs of all Enterprise Ireland client companies; the steps she has taken to adapt the loan scheme in view of confirmation (details supplied); and when the loan scheme will be launched. [14913/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.
The €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme was launched yesterday, and aims to mitigate the effects of Brexit on exposed and vulnerable companies. It will be available to businesses who employ less than 500 staff. Businesses will be able to borrow monies to support and fund their Brexit stabilisation strategies and growth plans.
My Department worked very closely with Enterprise Ireland (EI) during the development of this scheme to ensure that it would adequately meet the needs of its client companies, although the scheme is also open to non-EI companies. EI has welcomed the Brexit Loan Scheme and will work with its client companies to help them to avail of the finance available.
While the Brexit Loan Scheme is an extremely important aspect of my Department’s Brexit strategy, it is not the only action that we are taking. EI provides a suite of supports to enable companies to prepare for Brexit. These include, but are not limited to, the Brexit Scorecard, the Be Prepared Grant, the Market Discovery Fund and the Brexit Advisory Clinics.
Yet another measure to mitigate against the effects of Brexit, is the Rescue and Restructuring (R&R) Scheme which was approved by the EU Commission in late November 2017. This scheme has been put in place as it is considered prudent to have contingency measures in place so that we can respond swiftly to changing circumstances as necessary.
In addition, my Department more widely is taking steps to address other mitigating measures, such as examining current State Aid legislation. In November 2017, the then Tánaiste met with Commissioner Vestager (who has responsibility for EU State aid policy). An outcome from this meeting was the establishment of a Working Group comprising representatives from DG Competition, the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The objective of the Group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with State Aid rules. Should issues arise that require an approach that does not fit within the existing State Aid rules, this will be raised as part of the Working Group discussions.
My Department is also examining proposals for a new longer-term Business Investment Loan Scheme to support businesses to invest strategically in response to Brexit. The scheme will apply to SMEs, small mid caps and innovative mid caps and will operate within existing State Aid rules.
We will continue to monitor the challenges faced by businesses, and continue to develop robust policies to help combat them. I feel confident, however, that our Brexit Loan Scheme will provide Brexit exposed companies with the necessary capital to develop strong stability and growth strategies to enable them to not only combat challenges, but to avail of the opportunities that Brexit presents.
249. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on a proposal by an organisation (details supplied). [14914/18]
View answerAs Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have a deep focus on indigenous enterprises in Ireland. My Department is also keen to review relevant policy and to work towards a new SME policy fit for SMEs in the modern era. Earlier this month, I met with Secretary General of the OECD, Angel Gurria, here in Dublin, to launch the upcoming collaboration of DBEI and the wider Government with the OECD on the Review of SME and Entrepreneurship issues and policies in Ireland.
This will be a seminal 18-month project which will see a comprehensive review of the SME business ecosystem and policies, using OECD expertise in a structured and defined process. The resulting recommendations and issues identified by the report will then form the basis of a long term DBEI led SME Strategy for Ireland. Areas covered include taxation, the regulatory environment, productivity challenges and skills and human resource management. It also includes an assessment of the main SME-targeted programme areas, including SME workforce and management skills, internationalisation, financing and innovation. Specific attention will focus on productivity through innovation and digitalisation in SMEs, the ability for Irish SMEs to scale and to internationalise and how SMEs can increase high quality labour retention.
In relation to a wider industrial policy, Enterprise 2025 Renewed was launched on 9th March 2018. The review of our policies was undertaken in light of significant global challenges that include Brexit, international developments in taxation, new policies under US administration and the relentless pace of change driven by advances in technologies. The Review reaffirms our commitment to export-led growth, underpinned by innovation and talent. Enterprise 2025 highlights the need to place a greater emphasis on supporting the establishment and scaling of Irish owned enterprises- a significant proportion of which are SMEs.
250. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on an analysis by an organisation (details supplied). [14915/18]
View answerEnterprise and job creation in the State is influenced by many aspects of Government policy – the national and international economic climate, the domestic business environment, including the regulatory regime, the taxation regime, competition policy, access to business finance, the availability of skills in the economy and so forth.
My Department advocates in favour of pro-business policies across all these areas in order to encourage the start-up and development of businesses across the entire spectrum of the business population in the State.
More immediately, the annual Action Plan for Jobs is a series of initiatives, across Government Departments and Agencies designed to support business and job creation from all sources.
Enterprise 2025, which was recently revised and published by my Department, is a longer term strategy to ensure that we continue to build resilient enterprises that can compete in the face of the various international economic challenges.
My Department is also currently leading on a Country Review of entrepreneurship and SME policies being developed in conjunction with the OECD. This eighteen-month project will review the entire SME business ecosystem and provide key recommendations that will provide the structure with which this Government can push forward into the future with a coherent and inclusive SME Strategy. Through this Review and subsequent Strategy, I, and my Department, will further increase our efforts to support SMEs, especially indigenous enterprises, and create the most vibrant ecosystem for businesses.
In terms of indigenous companies, my Department’s agencies are primarily focussed on directly supporting start-ups and existing businesses that can scale and compete internationally.
Enterprise Ireland supports companies in urban and rural areas to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future. At the centre of the agency’s strategy, Build Scale, Expand Reach 2017 - 2020, are strategic targets focused on:
- Assisting clients to create 60,000 new jobs by 2020 while sustaining the existing record level of jobs;
- Growing the annual exports of client companies by €5bn to €26bn per annum;
- Increasing the level of spend made by client companies in the Irish economy by €4bn to €27bn per annum by 2020; and
- Inspiring more Irish owned companies to have global ambition
On an annual basis Enterprise Ireland works with approximately 5,000 companies through a network of market and sector advisers based across 10 national offices and 33 international offices. These manufacturing and internationally traded services companies are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland.
However, many businesses are not involved in sectors or exporting that fall under the remit of EI. For those businesses, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance on business issues, including signposting to sources of support, available through agencies such as Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland. The LEOs also offer advice and guidance in areas such as local authority rates, public procurement and other regulations affecting business.
This support is available to micro-businesses i.e. those businesses that employ less than 10 people which represent the vast majority of businesses in the State.
For eligible businesses, financial assistance and ‘soft’ supports in the form of training and mentoring may also be available through the LEOs.
LEO Highlights from 2017 show that -
- 7,135 new jobs (gross) and 3,760 jobs (net) created by LEO backed client companies, with jobs growth across every county
- 30,373 people participated in business training programmes
- 8,393 mentoring assignments were provided to small business owners to give guidance and advice around key business issues.
- 1,179 business projects received direct financial assistance.
