Written Answers Nos. 336-353
336. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of vacant positions in the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement; the length of time these positions have been vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49284/18]
View answer338. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement has asked for additional funding, staffing or resources to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49286/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 338 together.
The ODCE currently has one vacancy (Corporate Compliance Manager). Since his appointment, the current Director has undertaken a significant restructuring of the ODCE to better reflect the organisation’s needs in the context of both its strategic shift towards deploying resources towards more serious indications of wrongdoing and the increasingly complex environment within which the ODCE operates.
That restructuring has included the seeking of sanction for the recruitment of a substantial number of additional professional staff, and following receipt of sanction, the recruitment of eight accounting professionals, three legal professionals and a digital forensics professional, together with significant investment in a digital forensics laboratory, training and development. The recruitment and assimilation of a large number of new professional staff into a multi-disciplinary organisation that undertakes complex work in a fast-moving environment is a project that requires careful management. As such, the Director is of the view that it is preferable to allow that process to fully bed down before filling the aforementioned vacancy. The Director is further conscious of the fact that the transition of the ODCE to a stand-alone Agency will give rise to additional expertise requirements and, as such, is of the view that it is prudent that those considerations should be factored into developing the role, and associated skill set, required of the appointee.
As part of the annual budgetary process, the ODCE has sought additional funding in respect of 2019. This additional funding request is related primarily to the recent appointment by the President of the High Court of Inspectors to Independent News & Media plc. Under the Companies Act 2014, the costs associated with the Inspectorship are met, in the first instance, by the ODCE. Additional funding was also sought to reflect the likely costs associated with the transition of the ODCE into an independent Agency. An additional €1m was provided for the ODCE in the Budget announced on 9 October 2018.
337. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of her plans to reform the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49285/18]
View answerOne of the actions in the Government's package of Measures to Enhance Ireland’s Corporate, Economic and Regulatory Framework, published in November 2017, is the establishment of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) as an agency.
Work on the development of the legislative framework for the establishment of the ODCE as an agency is well advanced. I intend to bring a General Scheme of a Bill to give effect to that action to Government very shortly.
Changing the structure of the ODCE from an office to a statutory agency will provide greater autonomy to the agency and ensure it is better equipped to investigate increasingly complex breaches of company law. Sourcing of expertise and specialist staff, such as forensic accountants, will be enhanced under the agency model.
This establishment of the ODCE as an Agency is intended to:
- Enhance the ODCE’s independence, by providing it with more autonomy, particularly the ability to recruit the required specialist skills and expertise;
- Build on its existing expertise and experience;
- Strengthen its capability to investigate increasingly complex breaches of company law; and
- Build on the organisational and procedural reforms that have been implemented.
339. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of meetings she held in 2017 and to date in 2018 with the Director of Corporate Enforcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49287/18]
View answerSince my appointment and to date I have not had any meetings with the Director of Corporate Enforcement.
My Department maintains regular contact with the ODCE on, inter alia, issues such as reform and modernisation, resourcing, performance and proposals for legislative change.
340. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of meetings held in 2017 and to date in 2018 between officials from her Department and officials from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49288/18]
View answerAs is the case with other Offices and Agencies under the remit of my Department, officials from my Department meet with officials from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues, including in relation to Human Resource issues, ICT matters, funding, facilities, legislation and meetings with the Department’s Management Board.
These meetings are complemented by engagement which takes place on an ongoing basis between my officials and officials of my Department and officials from the ODCE, as part of the normal day-to-day interaction to discuss operational matters relating to the Office. Communication takes place in several ways including by telephone and by way of both formal and informal meetings.
341. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of farm safety inspectors employed by the HSA; and the number of new inspectors hired in 2017 and to date in 2018 for farm safety. [49364/18]
View answerThere are currently 24 field inspectors who have been involved in farm safety inspections and campaigns throughout 2018.
In 2017 the HSA undertook a recruitment campaign for 11 Inspector posts, 6 of which were for field inspection posts. These 6 Inspectors have been involved in farm inspection campaigns during 2018 thereby helping to ensure that farm inspection targets and farm safety campaign targets are being achieved. These new inspectors were in addition to the existing cohort of 18 inspectors involved in farm inspections and farm safety campaigns.
In 2018, to date, the HSA has recruited 5 new field inspector posts. It is intended that 3 of these new inspector posts will be assigned to general inspection activities during 2019 which will include farm inspection and farm safety promotion campaigns.
342. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the fees paid and services rendered to a person (details supplied) in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49417/18]
View answerMy Department has not made any payments to, or procured any services from, the named person or the named company during the period in question.
343. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide a timeline for the development of her Department's specific climate change targets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49561/18]
View answerWhile not directly responsible for delivering climate change mitigation programmes, my Department ensures that climate change is factored into its core enterprise and innovation policy responsibilities. My Department works closely with its agencies to fund climate change related research and to deliver environmental performance improvement programmes which directly assist enterprise in reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are a central part of our policy considerations and are a key factor when developing new initiatives. For example, the Future Jobs initiative is the Government's new plan and programme of action for the next phase of Ireland's economic development. The initiative is being developed jointly by my Department and the Department of the Taoiseach and we expect to launch the initiative early next year. One of the key areas being considered under the initiative is adaptation to the ‘Low Carbon Economy’ and how enterprises can innovate and adapt to succeed in a low carbon economy. The initiative recognises that climate change impacts how we do business and requires a change to production and consumption methods.
My Department is administering the Government’s new €500m Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, one of four funds in the National Development Plan 2018-2027. Applications under the fund must align with research priority areas which include climate action related areas such as “Decarbonising the Energy System” and “Sustainable Living”. Applications under the first funding call are currently being considered.
Innovation 2020, Ireland’s strategy for research and development, science and technology, contains a series of actions to promote research and innovation in climate change related areas.
In addition to the initiatives being developed and implemented by my Department, the enterprise sector continues to participate in emission reduction efforts with accompanying obligations to reduce emissions. Irish enterprises' main contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is through the European Union Emissions Trading System which includes approximately one hundred installations of Ireland’s largest energy users, who account for more than 25% of Ireland’s emissions. The Emissions Trading System operates on a “cap and trade” basis, with the cap continuously reducing over time. Under Phase IV of the System which will commence in 2021, the sectors covered by EU ETS must reduce their emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
Two hundred of Ireland’s largest energy users are members of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s Large Industry Energy Network. Estimated energy savings of over 10% were achieved by network members in 2017 and over 300 projects were implemented covering a wide range of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
A number of companies are availing of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland initiatives such as the “Lighting Support Scheme for SMEs” and the Excellence in Energy Efficient Design, which incorporate energy efficiency into design projects. Enterprises continue to avail of the Accelerated Capital Allowances scheme for Energy Efficient Equipment to assist them in their purchase of highly energy efficient equipment.
In terms of my Department’s agency initiatives in the area of climate change, Science Foundation Ireland funds climate action related research in areas such climate change mitigation and renewable energy.
IDA’s Environmental Aid Programme assists client companies to implement major renewable energy or energy efficiency initiatives or address other environmental issues such as waste reduction.
Enterprise Ireland supports companies to improve their environmental performance, drive environmental efficiencies and achieve improved sustainability.
344. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48843/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, the Deputy's question has been forwarded to the HSE for direct reply.
345. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the details of HSE properties (details supplied). [48851/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the health care property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
346. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 365 of 23 October 2018, if a date has been set for scoliosis surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48859/18]
View answer
347. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a CT scan appointment. [48860/18]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
348. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with MS here; the number that have relapsing remitting MS; and the number that have primary progressive MS. [48861/18]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
349. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health when an organisation (details supplied) in County Wexford will be advised of the date, time and location of a meeting with a HSE employee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48883/18]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
350. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of bringing the nursing and midwifery professions in line with the pay grades of other therapeutic grades. [48603/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
351. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a scan for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48886/18]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
352. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) regarding cannabis licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48897/18]
View answerNo licences have been issued for the specific treatment of cervical cancer with medical cannabis.
The Department is not aware if any of the patients currently being treated with medical cannabis in Ireland have been affected by the Cervical Check issues.
If the Deputy would like to provide more information on this matter which has come to his attention, I will be happy to provide a further response.
353. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48908/18]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
