Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2018
317. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of her Department's stand at the National Ploughing Championship 2018; the number of staff deployed from her Department for the week; and the cost of same. [40418/18]
View answerOver the course of the week, a total of 41 staff across various areas of my Department and its offices attended the 2018 National Ploughing Championships, some on a roster basis, to engage with the public and promote various aspects of our work. These included the Workplace Relations Commission, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Patents Office, Employment Permits Unit, Finance for Growth Unit, SME Policy Unit and Enterprise Agencies Unit. The presence of these staff at the National Ploughing Championships was to:
- Promote awareness of supports available to enterprise;
- Provide advice to the public on their rights and responsibilities under employment legislation;
- Advise businesses on the protection of their intellectual property;
- Provide advice on Ireland's employment permits system;
- Provide information and guidance on company law issues.
The total cost of stands, including the cost of designing and constructing branded advertising displays, was €23,295. Much of this material will be used again at future events including the branded advertising displays promoting the range of Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Services and the "Walk Through Working Life Exhibition". I understand that €1,000 in 'litter fees' will be refunded by the Irish Ploughing Association following the adverse weather that affected the event.
Where travel and subsistence costs were incurred by staff attending the event, expenses will be paid at the normal civil service rates.
Additionally, a number of the agencies of my Department, for whom the ploughing championships are a significant opportunity to engage with the public, had a presence at the event. These included Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices, Science Foundation Ireland and the Health and Safety Authority.
