Written Answers Nos. 110-129
110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when appropriate residency status will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10194/19]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that in light of the fact that the person concerned had no valid basis to remain in the State, and in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), they were, by letter dated 18 February 2019, notified of the proposal to make a Deportation Order in respect of them. They were given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making written representations to the Minister setting out the reasons as to why they should not have a Deportation Order made in respect of them.
Once the 15 working day period referred to has expired, the position in the State of the person concerned will be decided by reference to the provisions of section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended ) and all other applicable legislation. Any representations submitted will be considered before a final decision is made. Therefore, it can be taken that the person concerned is not the subject of a Deportation Order as things stand at present.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and expected position in respect of residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10196/19]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of a request for permission to reside in the State from the person concerned.
I am further informed that it is open to the person concerned to write to Unit 5, Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, INIS, P.O. Box 12695, Dublin 2, setting out their current circumstances. Alternatively the person may email INISdefacto@justice.ie for further information on how to proceed with their request.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and expected position in regard to residency and-or naturalisation status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10197/19]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there is no record of a current application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received, and every application is considered on its individual merits, regardless of whether the applicant had applied previously.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. There is no appeals process under the legislation. The fact that a person may have had an application refused does not preclude or disqualify them from submitting a fresh application in the future. Indeed, the letter advising an applicant of a negative decision also informs them that they may re-apply for the grant of a certificate of naturalisation at any time. The letter advises that, when considering making such a re-application, they should give due regard to the reasons for the refusal which were contained in the submission attached to the refusal letter and that any further application will be considered taking into account all statutory and administrative conditions applicable at the time of application.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and I know the Deputy will appreciate that it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10198/19]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, if an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State, for confidentiality reasons it is not the practice to comment on such applications and the applicant or his legal representative should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate.
The IPO may be contacted either by email to info@ipo.gov.ie, by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028008 or in writing to Customer Service Centre, International Protection Office, 79-83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal may be contacted either by email to info@protectionappeals.ie, by telephone at 01-4748400 (or Lo-Call 1890 201 458), or in writing to Corporate Services Division, The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, 6-7 Hanover Street East, Dublin D02 W320.
Following the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015 on 31 December 2016, new arrangements for the investigation and determination of applications for international protection (refugee status and subsidiary protection) and cases involving permission to remain in the State have been introduced. Such applications are now processed, as part of a single application procedure, by the International Protection Office (IPO) which has replaced the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) from that date. The staff of that Office (the Chief International Protection Officer and International Protection Officers) are independent in the performance of their protection functions.
For your information, on 27 February 2017, the Chief International Protection Officer, following consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published a statement on the Prioritisation of Applications under the International Protection Act 2015 which is available on the website of the International Protection Office (www.ipo.gov.ie).
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
114. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to ensure that economic operators comply with their obligations under the provisions of directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety in relation to menstrual products including menstrual cups; and if measures will be taken to prevent, restrict or impose specific conditions on the marketing and use of such products in cases in which deemed appropriate. [10107/19]
View answerDirective 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2001 on General Product Safety, transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 199 of 2004, places the onus on all economic operators – manufacturers, distributors, importers – to ensure that only safe products are placed on the market. If economic operators become aware that products on the market present a potential hazard they must take appropriate measures, up to and including recall of the items, to ensure that the risk is removed. Any action taken by an operator must be notified to the relevant Market Surveillance Authority: in Ireland this is the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), which is statutorily independent in the carrying out of its functions.
Where the CCPC finds unsafe products on the Irish market, it will act to ensure economic operators remove the product from the market until it is in compliance with the legislation. The CCPC is part of an EU wide network (known as Safety Gate) that allows for the rapid exchange of information between national market surveillance authorities on dangerous products found on the EU market.
Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of unsafe products. As investigations and enforcement matters generally are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC, I, as the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation have no direct function in the matter.
Should the Deputy have any information in relation to unsafe products on the Irish market, she should make contact with the CCPC directly to provide any relevant information on these matters.
115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which Ireland remains an attractive country for foreign direct investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10204/19]
View answer116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps which can be taken to ensure continued foreign direct investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10205/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.
Ireland continues to perform very strongly in terms of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), with 229,057 people now employed in IDA Ireland client companies here. FDI flows into the country have been particularly significant in recent years with pronounced growth in total job numbers and investment projects.
I am pleased to say that significant progress is also being made in increasing FDI in the regions, with 58% of all IDA employment now outside of Dublin. This represents the highest number of people employed by IDA clients outside the capital in the history of the Agency. 2018 also saw more IDA-supported jobs added in the regions than at any time over the past 17 years.
The Government is nevertheless very much conscious of our need to remain as competitive as possible in FDI terms. We are working to retain and promote our competitive advantages and to secure new investment projects. That means improving on our already compelling and attractive offering for multinationals to invest here. These include our stable and competitive corporation tax regime, the long established pro-enterprise policy environment in this jurisdiction and our country's highly-educated workforce.
Through Project Ireland 2040, Government is committed to delivering a step-up in investment in road, energy, water and broadband infrastructure and in education and research facilities. Investment levels in Ireland will continue to increase at a sustainable rate and, very importantly, our infrastructure investment will allow our companies and economy to continue to compete with the best in the world.
By reinforcing these strengths and others, I am confident we will be able to continue attracting more investment by overseas companies for years to come.
117. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of cases the Construction Contracts Adjudication Service has completed to date; the average cost of an adjunction to the subcontractors; the average length of time for payments to subcontractors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10027/19]
View answerThe Construction Contracts Act, 2013 applies to certain construction contracts entered into after the 25th July 2016. Section 6(1) of the Act provides a statutory right for a party to a relevant construction contract to refer a payment dispute arising under the contract for adjudication. When this right is exercised, the parties to the contract may jointly agree to appoint an Adjudicator of their own choice to the dispute. In circumstances where the parties cannot or do not agree as to whom to appoint, a party may apply to the Chairperson of the Construction Contracts Adjudication Panel under section 6(4) of the Act to appoint an Adjudicator to the dispute from the Ministerial-appointed Panel of Adjudicators.
The numbers of applications processed by the Construction Contracts Adjudication Service under section 6(4) of the Act since it was commenced in 2016 are set out in the table.
|
Applications under section 6(4) of the Construction Contracts Act, 2013 to the Chairperson of the Ministerial-appointed Panel of Adjudicators. |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Number of applications received |
1 |
1 |
27 |
7 |
|
Number of Adjudicators appointed |
0 |
1 |
21 |
7 |
|
Number of applications which did not satisfy application requirements |
1 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Number of applications withdrawn |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
The payment arrangements in respect of adjudications are considered as private contractual matters between the parties and the Adjudicator. Adjudicators are not required to provide details to my Department of the cost to parties of adjudications nor does my Department set the level of fees in this regard. Adjudicators likewise are not required to provide information as to the amount of, and length of time taken, for payment awards arising from adjudications to be made to subcontractors.
The second Annual Report of the Chairperson of the Ministerial-appointed Panel of Adjudicators provides information on the outcome of a number adjudications as reported by Adjudicators in those cases and this report is available on my Department’s website at www.dbei.gov.ie.
118. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the value of IDA grants provided to a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2015 to 2018; the purpose for which the funding was allocated; the specific grant scheme headings under which direct funding was granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10048/19]
View answerIDA provided employment grants to National Pen in the years 2015-2018, the value of which is set out in the table below.In order to draw down an employment grant, an IDA client company - such as National Pen - must meet performance targets that are set out in a contract between the firm and the Agency. Such contracts also provide that jobs supported by a grant must remain in place for five years from the date of the last payment.
|
Year |
Employment Grant Paid € |
|
2015 |
285,000 |
|
2016 |
907,500 |
|
2017 |
- |
|
2018 |
500,000 |
119. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will review the implications for data protection legislation of a decision to share the Eircode data of waste disposal companies with other bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10072/19]
View answerMy Department has no role in the monitoring and enforcement of data protection legislation. The Minister for Justice and Equality has informed me that responsibility for these functions lies with the Data Protection Commission, which is independent in the performance of its functions.
120. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications received under the Brexit loan scheme; the number of approved and rejected applications respectively; the number and value of loans provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10075/19]
View answerThe Brexit Loan Scheme provides affordable working capital to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees that are or will be Brexit impacted and which meet the scheme criteria. The €23 million exchequer funding announced in the 2018 Budget (€14 million from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) has been leveraged to provide a fund of up to €300 million over the lifetime of the scheme.
The scheme features a two-stage application process. First, businesses must apply to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to confirm their eligibility for the scheme. Businesses can use guidelines provided on the SBCI website to determine if they are eligible, and if so, to complete the eligibility form. As part of the process, businesses must submit a business plan, demonstrating the means by which they intend to innovate, change or adapt to meet their Brexit challenges. The SBCI assesses the applications and successful applicants receive an eligibility reference number.
Successful applicants can then apply for a loan under the scheme with one of the participating finance providers using their eligibility reference number. Participating finance providers are the Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Allied Irish Bank. Approval of loans is subject to the finance providers' own credit policies and procedures.
As of 19 February, there had been 462 applications made to the SBCI for eligibility under the scheme. Of these, 413 have been deemed eligible and 10 ineligible (the remaining 39 applications are in progress). 81 of these applications have progressed to sanction at bank level, to a total value of €17.32m.
121. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the grants available for capital purposes (details supplied) in view of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10099/19]
View answerBrexit represents a significant challenge for businesses in Ireland, which cannot be underestimated. That’s why Government, working with industry bodies and business groups, started developing supports for businesses from the time when Brexit first became a possibility. Government’s priority is to ensure that businesses around the country can manage risks and avail of any opportunities. This has informed the range of advisory and financial supports that are in place.
The €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme launched last year is open to eligible businesses of up to 499 employees which have been demonstrably impacted by Brexit, or which will be in the future. The Brexit Loan Scheme provides working capital funding to businesses to innovate, change or adapt in response to Brexit-related challenges. Loan amounts range from €25,000 up to €1.5 million, for terms of up to three years and at a maximum interest rate of 4%. Loans of up to €500,000 are available unsecured. This may be useful for businesses whose cashflow has already been impacted by Brexit.
Beyond this, my Department and its agencies are fully engaged in preparing Irish businesses for Brexit and have participated in the Government of Ireland’s series of Getting Ireland Brexit Ready events in Cork, Galway, Monaghan, Dublin, Limerick and Donegal. As part of awareness-raising activities, Enterprise Ireland continues to roll out regional Brexit Advisory clinics. To date, these clinics have been held in Letterkenny, Tralee, Portlaoise, Claremorris, Cootehill, Charleville, Dublin, Galway, Dundalk, Waterford and Limerick. Further events are planned in Galway, Cork, Letterkenny and Dublin ahead of the withdrawal date.
EI has also been running a PrepareforBrexit communications campaign, featuring the Brexit SME Scorecard and the PrepareforBrexit.ie website, which offers information on the likely impacts of Brexit on Irish businesses and how these impacts might be mitigated. The Brexit SME Scorecard is an interactive online platform that can be used by all Irish businesses to self-assess their exposure to Brexit.
Funding to the Local Enterprise Offices has been increased by 22% and they, along with InterTradeIreland, are offering a range of Brexit-focused supports to companies, including those engaged in cross-border trade with Northern Ireland. InterTradeIreland continues to offer its Brexit: Start to Plan voucher scheme, which makes available financial support of up to €2,250 towards professional advisory services to address Brexit-related challenges.
The LEOs offer Brexit supports to micro and small businesses through the 31 LEOs nationwide, including tailored mentoring to address Brexit-related business challenges, and targeted training on specific Brexit challenges.
For further information, as well as details of the information and advisory supports available, businesses should consult my Department's Getting Business Brexit Ready page at dbei.gov.ie/BrexitReady.
122. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if a review of the Succeed in Ireland programme has been undertaken; when this will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10117/19]
View answer123. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of the Succeed in Ireland programme in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of jobs created by year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10118/19]
View answer124. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the payments made to an organisation (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10119/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together.
It remains my intention to commission an independent review of the Succeed-in-Ireland (SII) programme. As I have indicated previously, a review would equip us with a thorough understanding of SII's results and its contribution to employment generation in the State.
However, there needs to be clarity on the full and final costs of the programme before any review can proceed. Determining those costs will only be possible once ConnectIreland’s dispute with the IDA regarding the previous operation of SII is resolved or otherwise concluded. I understand that the two sides are in the midst of a dispute resolution process which, once completed, should help provide the clarity needed on the costs of the programme to allow a review to proceed.
The table outlines the number of SII-related jobs created and verified by IDA Ireland. It also sets out payments made to ConnectIreland in respect of those verified jobs and for marketing support. The figures (which exclude VAT) are calculated on a quarterly basis. Figures for 2019 will be available at the end of Q1.
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
Total to Date |
|
|
Full-time Jobs Verified |
0 |
0 |
116 |
184 |
191 |
93 |
93 |
677 |
|
Payments made for Verified Jobs |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€447,500.00 |
€719,500.00 |
€758,000.00 |
€345,000.00 |
€2,270,000.00 |
|
|
Advance payments made in respect of 398 jobs yet to be created |
€1,539,500.00 |
€1,539,500.00 |
||||||
|
Payments made for Marketing Support |
€75,000.00 |
€75,000.00 |
€150,000.00 |
|||||
|
Total Paid to ConnectIreland |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€522,500.00 |
€794,500.00 |
€758,000.00 |
€1,884,500.00 |
€0.00 |
€3,959,500.00 |
125. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of companies that are a client company of IDA Ireland that were previously a client company of Údarás na Gaeltachta in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10120/19]
View answerI am informed by IDA Ireland that there are currently no companies in the Agency's client portfolio which were previously a client of Údarás na Gaeltachta.
126. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on a trade proposal by an organisation (details supplied) with respect to Brexit. [10174/19]
View answerInternational Trade Policy is a competence of the EU Commission under the EU Treaties and defined as the Common Commercial Policy (CCP). Under this architecture the Commission represents Ireland and other Member States at the WTO taking into account the needs of individual Member States and the collective good of the Union. As such, the EU is leading on all negotiations relating to Brexit.
As the Deputy will be fully aware, the EU and UK negotiators agreed in December 2018 the Withdrawal Agreement. This Agreement was the product of two years of negotiation taking into account the UK’s ‘red lines’ and the EU’s requirement to protect and support the single market and the Good Friday Agreement. It is unfortunate that the UK Parliament have been, to date, unable to pass the Withdrawal Agreement that would provide certainty and clarity as to the relationship between the UK, Ireland and the EU after March 29.
The Withdrawal Agreement provides the foundation stone to the creation of a new relationship between the EU and the UK and Ireland is fully engaged at every level within the EU regarding the negotiations. The final terms of the UK’s exit from the EU have yet to be determined and the EU continues to actively engage with all Member States, including Ireland, to achieve the best outcome possible for all Members notwithstanding the inevitable negative consequences of Brexit, once the precise terms of the UK’s exit are settled. As An Tánaiste and An Taoiseach have both said in recent days, Brexit is a lose, lose, lose scenario. Nonetheless, were the UK’s intentions for the future partnership to evolve further, the EU has made clear that the Union is prepared to reconsider our offer and adjust the content and level of ambition of the Political Declaration.
The Future Trading Relationship phase of negotiations, post March 29, is designed to ameliorate as much as possible the negative impacts on trade and employment that will arise from Brexit. All obligations and benefits of WTO rules will be considered in that context, but those considerations cannot be pre-determined at this time.
Specifically, in relation to Article XXI of GATT, there are a limited number of instances where article XXI has been invoked, most recently by the United States to enable the application of tariffs on Steel and Aluminium products imported into the US, but more usually at time of conflict, war, and so on. This action by the US has been challenged by the European Union and several other WTO members and is currently being pursued under the Dispute Settlement Framework of the WTO. As with any trade related action, the use of Article XXI, which would have to be by the EU, would be open to challenge by other WTO members, if any so chose. It could be argued that for the use of Article XXI to be effective the UK would have to adopt a similar approach.
I don't believe it is helpful for us to speculate on the use of such exceptional mechanisms, when we have concrete, worthwhile, proposals before us. The Withdrawal Agreement provides a solid legal framework for the UK to depart the European Union through the commencement of the transition phase, followed by negotiations on the Future Trading Relationship. The Government has repeatedly maintained that the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal and protect the Good Friday Agreement is to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement and this remains our priority.
Finally, I might note that the Government has, this week, brought the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019 (the ‘Omnibus Bill’) to second stage in the Dail. This piece of legislation allows the Government to amend a number of domestic laws in order to manage the negative sectoral impacts in the event the UK leaves the EU without reaching agreement on their withdrawal. Additionally, the Government on both a domestic and international level are fully engaged with preparing for Brexit. Along with our EU colleagues, our focus is on ensuring that the UK passes the Withdrawal Agreement which provides the clearest and legally unambiguous platform in which to begin talks on the future relationship, whilst, at the same time, ensuring that our most vulnerable sectors are protected from the worst impacts of Brexit. In that regard, my Department has been at the forefront of delivering, with our Enterprise Agencies, a range of measures aimed at assisting businesses navigate the economic turbulence attendant on Brexit.
127. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the recent state aid approval by the EU Commission for a company (details supplied) was within existing state rules and in line with the thresholds set out in EU Regulation No. 1407/2013. [10175/19]
View answerThe recent EU Commission approval for state aid to Carbery Food Ingredients Ltd. is individual, notifiable aid measure in the form of a direct grant for an investment project covering the processing and marketing of agricultural products (milk).
The investment is in line with State Aid rules and meets with the rural development objectives including fostering the competitiveness of agriculture and will ensure Carbery continues to guarantee a market outlet for circa. 1260 farmer suppliers and employment to 250 people in the West Cork region.
This aid measure was designed in accordance with the Guidelines for State aid in the Agricultural and Forestry Sectors and therefore is not required to comply with the thresholds of the De Minimis Regulation (EU) No 1407/2013.
128. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has submitted a request or is preparing to submit a request at EU level to revise state aid rules as set out in regulation EU Regulation No. 1407/2013 to protect exposed enterprises and exporters from a potential Brexit; the status of progress being made at EU level to increase current state aid thresholds to support enterprises here in the event of a hard no-deal Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10176/19]
View answerMy Department has been working closely with the Commission and DG Competition since November 2017 through the Irish/EU Technical Working Group on State Aid. The objective of the Group is to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with State Aid rules. Much has been achieved by this Working Group. It has examined and explored a range of opportunities within State Aid rules including the development of the Future Growth Loan Scheme under GBER rules, the expansion of Ireland’s Rescue and Restructuring Scheme to include Temporary liquidity aid and the Group is currently working closely with DG Agri to explore the range of opportunities under the Agriculture and Forestry State aid guidelines. It has looked at regionally important, exposed clients and their building resilience in their response to Brexit by using environmental and innovation aid.
On 24th January 2019, I met with the European Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager. The focus of the meeting centered around the severe challenges that Irish businesses will face when the UK leaves the EU and the need for appropriate and timely State supports. It was agreed that Irish officials will continue to work closely with the Commissioner's team in addressing any State aid issues that may arise to ensure a rapid and appropriate response as the ultimate shape of Brexit and its firm-level implications become known. 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 Group discussions. The Commissioner emphasised that the Commission stands ready to act urgently in mitigation against the impacts of Brexit on Irish firms.
129. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if funding will be allocated to repair the bus assigned to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10122/19]
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.
