Written Answers Nos. 249-267
249. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which the European Union can influence international trade in a way that avoids trade wars; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17805/19]
View answer250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps likely to be taken at EU level to influence trade relations in such a way as to avoid trade wars; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17806/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 250 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, International Trade Policy is a competence of the EU Commission under the EU Treaties and defined as the Common Commercial Policy (CCP). The Lisbon Treaty extended this competence to cover foreign direct investment, as well as making the European Parliament a co-legislator alongside the Council on trade matters.
Under this architecture the European Commission acts as lead negotiator on behalf of all EU countries regarding trade agreements with non-EU countries. Member States (in Council) approve negotiating directives (or mandates) before negotiations begin, are consulted as the negotiations proceed and have final approval at Council as has the European Parliament. In addition, the EU Commission represents Ireland and other EU Member States at the WTO, taking into account the needs of individual Member States and the collective good of the Union.
The current international trade environment has seen a rise of protectionism, which is an unwelcome development for Ireland, given our open and globalised economy and has the potential to harm market sentiment and disrupt global supply chains should the situation escalate.
Ireland and the EU are strong supporters of multilateral approaches to solving a range of global challenges. In that context, we see the WTO as the forum by which the international community can successfully promote economic development and free trade in support of good jobs for our people. Importantly, it provides a bulwark against damaging trade disputes and remains as relevant today as it was at its inception in 1995, albeit reforms to meet the challenges of the 21st Century are required as some Countries have identified. In this regard, Ireland is strongly supportive of the EU Commission’s very active role in the WTO reform discussions, including the tabling of specific proposals for reform of the operations and "rulebook" of the WTO, as well as engaging in the important trilateral co-operation with the US and Japan as well as the “Ottawa” process led by Canada.
Key to dependable rules-based trade for Irish and EU businesses is the EU’s suite of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), which has evolved over time, from the ‘First Generation’ FTAs dating back to the 1970s which focused on tariffs for goods, to the current ‘New Generation’ of FTAs which go beyond the reduction or elimination of conventional tariff barriers to include; non-tariff and regulatory barriers, services, investment, recognition of professional qualifications, intellectual property rights, access to public procurement, regulatory cooperation, sustainable development, labour and environment. These help to open new markets, break down barriers and provide new opportunities for Irish based firms.
One of the most important aspects of the EU's trade policy is that - alongside protecting European businesses and consumers - it is promoting the EU's principles and values. Furthermore, each Agreement includes arrangements for joint committee oversight which promotes dialogue as a means of settling any potential trade dispute or differences in interpretation, that may arise under the Agreement.
The benefits of the establishment of comprehensive EU Free Trade Agreements with third countries must not only be counted in terms of the economic benefits, but also the establishment of strong lines of communication and areas of common interest with other economies. These ties encourage both the EU and its trade partners to adopt a unified, diplomatic, approach to any respective areas of concern that may arise within a mutually respectful environment, as valued, respected and equal trade partners.
251. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA site visits in each county in the first quarter of 2019, by county in tabular form. [17263/19]
View answerIDA Ireland hosted 159 site visits as of the first quarter of 2019, with almost 65% of these visits taking place in regional locations.
Whilst site visits are an important tool in helping showcase regional locations to investors, it is important to remember - as I have made clear before - that the final decision as to where to invest rests solely with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant proportion of all new foreign direct investment (FDI) comes from existing IDA clients already present in the country.
More broadly, creating more jobs in the regions will remain a top priority for both the IDA and my Department in 2019 as we seek to build on the progress made over the last number of years. In 2018, for example, the IDA delivered 113 regional investments with 56% of net new jobs created outside Dublin. The last four years have seen 44,500 new FDI-driven jobs generated outside the capital.
The following table details the number of IDA site visits to each county in quarter 1 of 2019.
|
County |
Q1 2019 |
|
Carlow |
3 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
|
Clare |
5 |
|
Cork |
17 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
|
Dublin |
56 |
|
Galway |
9 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
|
Kildare |
3 |
|
Kilkenny |
5 |
|
Laois |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
|
Limerick |
12 |
|
Longford |
0 |
|
Louth |
10 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
|
Meath |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
0 |
|
Sligo |
8 |
|
Tipperary |
3 |
|
Waterford |
8 |
|
Westmeath |
6 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
|
Total |
159 |
252. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the recent changes to the employment permits system for workers from outside the European Economic Area. [17312/19]
View answerThe employment permits system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills Occupations List and the Ineligible Occupations List for the purposes of granting an employment permit. The Lists are subject to twice-yearly review which is predicated on a formalised and evidence-based process that takes account of labour market conditions and submissions from sectors and other stakeholders.
Following completion of the most recent review, I introduced a number of changes to the Occupations Lists which will come into effect from 22nd April. The changes include a number of occupations in the construction, the sports sector plus a change made for the transport sector in the context of Brexit.
The following occupations will be added to the Critical Skills Occupations List and will be eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit:
- Civil Engineers
- Quantity Surveyors
- Construction Project Managers
- Mechanical and Electrical Engineers with BIM expertise
- High Performance Directors and Coaches for high-level sports organisations.
In addition, the following occupations will be removed from the Ineligible Occupations List and will be eligible for a General Employment Permit:
- Sheet metal workers
- Welding trades
- Pipefitters
- Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineers
- Shuttering Carpenters
- Glaziers, window fabricators & fitters
-Scaffolders, stagers & riggers
- Crane drivers
- Transport and Distribution Clerks and Assistants (Freight Forwarders; Cargo & Freight Agents; Brokerage Clerks) subject to a quota of 300
- Plasterers subject to a quota of 250
- Bricklayers subject to a quota of 250
A number of additional technical changes are also included such as to provide for the introduction of the Revenue Commissioners PAYE Modernisation Initiative, amendments to the criteria for Chef Employment Permits and the exemption of Career Guidance Teachers from the Ineligible Occupations List allowing secondary schools access career guidance teachers through the employment permits system where shortages exist.
253. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 133 of 3 April 2019, the reason the value of innovation vouchers redeemed is considerably below the amount issued for each year in question; and if a review has been commissioned of the scheme. [17314/19]
View answerThe Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher Initiative was introduced in 2007 in order to drive an on-going innovation culture shift within small enterprise by promoting and encouraging knowledge transfer between Ireland’s public knowledge providers and the small/medium business community and creating greater synergies between the two. Under the initiative, vouchers worth €5,000 are allocated to small businesses whose proposals, to work with public knowledge providers on specific innovation issues, meet certain criteria.
I understand from Enterprise Ireland that the trend regarding approval and redemption rates is entirely normal for this type of programme. It is easy for companies to apply for an Innovation Voucher and in some cases there are applications that don’t translate into full redemption. All Vouchers (Standard and Fast Track) are valid for 12 months. However, voucher time lines can be extended once Enterprise Ireland is satisfied that the R&D project is underway with a registered knowledge provider before the expiry date of the voucher. Only one extension is generally permitted with a maximum extension limit of 6 months. The pace of industrial change is fast and a company may change direction, or the market demands a change in the company direction, with regards to its R&D. Delays in voucher redemption can result if a company is not able to identify a Knowledge Provider that can carry out the project i.e. it is not always possible to have a perfect balance between the skills and expertise of the knowledge provider and the company’s requirements.
I have been informed that the Innovation Vouchers Programme has recently been independently evaluated by an external consultant and the results are extremely positive. The economic impact alone has increased since the last evaluation carried out in 2014. To end 2018, the Innovation Voucher Programme has an Economic Value Add impact of €4.72 per €1.00 of Enterprise Ireland investment.
I understand that almost all respondents to the evaluation (82%) would be willing to participate in an Innovation Voucher project in the future or recommend the Programme to other businesses (97%). This is a very positive reflection on company experiences of the Programme. Some aspects that companies liked about the programme was that it is flexible, simple and easy to apply for and it motivates them to engage in R&D, de-risking their investment and providing validation and testing of ideas.
254. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department or affiliated public bodies gathers data on the number of SMEs refused insurance quotes from a company for public and employer liability; the number of SMEs which have been refused in each of the years 2013 to 2018 and to date 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17324/19]
View answerMy Department does not collect the type of information being sought by the Deputy. I am advised that the Department of Finance, or the Central Bank of Ireland, who have responsibility for insurance in general, do not collect this type of information either.
While the Deputy is aware that neither I, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, nor my colleague the Minister for Finance, nor the Central Bank, can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, it was recognised that the State could play a role in improving the environment within which insurers operate, thus explaining why the Cost of Insurance Working Group (CIWG) was established in July 2016.
The CIWG has produced two reports and various quarterly progress updates on the various recommendations made by CIWG and endorsed by Government. The difficulties facing the consumer, voluntary and small business sector from the high cost of insurance premiums are recognised. In addition, it is also acknowledged that in some cases the survival of a business as a viable entity is being put at peril because of insurance pricing. One of the key areas raised by various stakeholders to the CIWG is the level of awards in this country compared with elsewhere. As a result, the Working Group established the Personal Injuries Commission (PIC) and commissioned it to examine this issue amongst other things. The PIC reported in September 2018 and concluded that soft tissue injuries are significantly higher here than in England and Wales and recommended that action be taken to address this disparity through the establishment of the Judicial Council. The PIC recommended that this body would become responsible for preparing the guidelines on personal injury award levels and would replace the Book of Quantum. In doing this, the PIC believes that the Judicial Council will, in compiling the guidelines, take account of the jurisprudence of the Court of Appeal, the results of its benchmarking exercise etc.
The current position with the Judicial Council Bill is that the Minister for Justice and Equality has advised of his intention to further this Bill with a view to having it in place as soon as possible. In this regard, it recently completed Committee Stage consideration in the Seanad. Alongside this, the Law Reform Commission has included the subject of capping damages in personal injuries litigation in its draft 5th Programme of Law Reform, and I understand that this work will begin shortly. It is hoped that if there was a significant move in this area, it could have an impact on insurance pricing and could also help attract new entrants into the market. Such outcomes would be of benefit to all concerned and in particular to small businesses.
255. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason no minutes or records of meetings were taken for meetings that took place between her Department and organisations (details supplied); the matters discussed at each of the meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17364/19]
View answerThe meeting on 27 February 2019 was between Department officials and representatives of American Chamber Europe (including Microsoft). The meeting provided an opportunity for American Chamber Europe to present their position paper "Towards a digitalised Single Market (2019 -2024): Recommendations for the next digital policy agenda of the European Commission", which is attached at the link.
The phone conversation with Apple on 7 November 2018 was between Department officials and an executive of Apple on the European Regulation (COM(2018) 238 final) on promoting fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediation services, which was being negotiated at an EU Working Group at the time. The purpose of the call was to explain the state of play of the negotiation process.
Minister of State Breen and officials from my Department and from the Department of the Taoiseach met with representatives from Apple on 7 March 2018. The primary purpose of the meeting was to highlight the Government's commitment to the forthcoming GDPR and to discuss compliance issues. The meeting also touched on other issues related to Minister Breen's brief including the proposed National Digital Strategy and the implementation of the EU Digital Single Market strategy.
Given the explanatory nature of all of these meetings and conversations no minutes were taken.
256. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to an article (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17460/19]
View answerThe April/May addition of the Village Magazine contained an article within which a former Inspector of the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) and latterly the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) made specific allegations in relation to both those bodies’ approach to specific inspections.
The individual involved made a protected disclosure to my Department in October 2015 related to alleged wrongdoing in the Labour Inspection services of the WRC. My Department is committed to fostering an appropriate environment for addressing concerns and supporting workers in speaking up in relation to potential wrongdoings in the workplace and in meeting its obligations under the Protected Disclosures legislation. The matter raised was investigated using an external professional company in the succeeding months. This investigation concluded that there was no systemic wrongdoing in the work of the Labour Inspectorate. This conclusion was accepted by the Department and the outcome was communicated to the individual in April 2016. The individual was offered the opportunity of a review of this decision and this offer was not taken up within the timeframe provided.
The individual subsequently sought on a number of occasions to have the matter re-investigated, by my predecessors, who were satisfied that appropriate and due process had been followed in responding to the individual’s original disclosure.
As also outlined in the article in the Village magazine, since the individual’s initial disclosure, my Department has, and continues to be, engaged in responding to a number of claims of penalisation and unfair dismissal brought by the individual to the independent Adjudication Services of the WRC and on appeal to the Labour Court. These are the appropriate statutory fora for dealing with such claims. As some of these proceedings continue to be active cases, it would not be appropriate to comment further on these, other than to assure you that my Department will continue to engage with these fora.
Under its establishing legislation, the WRC is independent of the Minister and the Department in the performance of its functions. The policy for the WRC as agreed by the Oireachtas, is set out in the Workplace Relations Act 2015. In that regard, the WRC correctly operates a compliance approach to employment law. This approach has worked very well to date, as demonstrated by the data. Prosecutions are taken only where the compliance route has not worked.
The Inspectorate Division of NERA and more recently the WRC have played an extremely important role in securing employment rights for employees and ensuring that compliant employers are not put at a disadvantage. When finding that an employer is not compliant with legislation (for example, inadequate records, improperly calculating hours worked or holiday entitlements) the approach of the Inspectorate is to bring that employer to compliance by pointing out the breach(s) and affording them a specific time in which to rectify them. Occasionally the Inspector may issue “Compliance Notices” and “Fixed Payment Notices” in this regard. The success of this approach is such that prosecution is required in less than 10% of cases where employers are found to be in breach (i.e. 5% of all inspections). Last year, the WRC completed almost 5,800 inspections – an increase of 20% on 2017 – and recovered €3.1m in unpaid wages for employees.
257. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number or percentage of employees in her Department, and in the agencies under her aegis, with intellectual disabilities; her plans to increase this number to promote and support the employment of persons with intellectual disabilities as outlined in the Disability Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17480/19]
View answer258. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department, and the agencies under her aegis, track the numbers of employees they have with an intellectual disability; her plans to do so in order to help set targets and increase workplace opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities such as those outlined in the national disability inclusion strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17497/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together.
My Department, as a public service employer, has a legal obligation under the Disability Act 2005 to report each year on the number and percentage of employees with disabilities. Part 5 of the Act sets out the following obligations on Government Departments and public service bodies regarding the employment of people with disabilities:
- Public bodies must, insofar as practicable, take all reasonable measures to promote and support their employment of people with disabilities.
- Public bodies shall ensure, unless there are good reasons for not doing so, that at least 3% of their employees are people with disabilities.
- Public bodies must report on an annual basis to a statutory monitoring committee in their parent Department on the number of people with disabilities in their employment and the measures they are taking to promote and support their employment. The monitoring committees in turn submit their reports on such compliance to the Minister of their parent Department and the National Disability Authority (NDA).
To build an accurate record of the number of staff with disabilities, in accordance with the legal definition in the 2005 Act, every employee, whether or not they have any impairment or disability, is asked to complete a census form and return it, in confidence, to a nominated person. While public bodies have a statutory obligation to report, there is no obligation on employees to disclose if they have a disability or the nature of the disability. If any employee seeks a reasonable accommodation, the nature of their disability may be disclosed for the purpose of availing of an accommodation. While my Department records the number of employees with a disability in order to comply with Part 5, of it does not record intellectual disabilities separately.
Under the 2005 Act, public bodies staffed by civil servants report via the Monitoring Committee in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, while all other public bodies report via the Monitoring Committee in their parent Departments. Public bodies must report to their Monitoring Committees by 31 March each year. Monitoring Committees must then report to their respective Ministers and the National Disability Authority by the 30 June. As such, the latest figures available in respect of my Department and the bodies within its remit are for 2017, as listed in the following table.
|
Name of Body |
Total Employees 2017 |
No of employees with a disability 2017 |
% of employees with a disability 2017 |
|
Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation |
871 |
45 |
5.17% |
|
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission |
91 |
6 |
6.59% |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
632 |
26 |
4.11% |
|
Health & Safety Authority |
170 |
6 |
3.53% |
|
IDA Ireland |
335 |
13 |
3.88% |
|
InterTrade Ireland |
44 |
2 |
4.55% |
|
National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) |
137 |
6 |
4.38% |
|
Personal Injuries Assessment Board |
83 |
1 |
1.20% |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
58 |
2 |
3.45% |
In 2018 my Department established a Disability Consultative Committee, whose agenda for 2019 includes issues around disability awareness training and reviewing actions under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-21. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy is committed to increasing the public sector employment target of persons with disabilities from 3% to 6% by 2024, and embeds this target into all public service workforce planning and recruitment.
In addition, my Department has participated in the WAM (Willing Able Mentoring) project led by AHEAD (the Association for Higher Education Access and Disabilities) and in Job Shadow Day, an initiative led by the Irish Association of Supported Employment. Both of these initiatives provide the opportunity for people with disabilities to gain experience in different workplaces through coaching, mentoring and job shadowing, as well as building the capacity of employers to integrate disability into the workplace.
259. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of fatal accidents in workplaces caused by animals, in particular fatal accidents on farms due to livestock in each of the years 2009 to 2018. [17517/19]
View answerThe Health and Safety Authority (HSA) tracks and analyses trends in fatal farm accidents and has produced detailed charts indicating the prevalence of fatalities due to livestock. The charts at the link show that livestock related deaths make up 16% of all workplace deaths in the Agriculture Sector.
Further analyses of the farm fatalities involving livestock shows that Cow/Heifer attacks account for the highest proportion (55%), which in the main occur during the calving period.
Bulls represent 15% of Livestock deaths as do Cattle, with Horses making up 9% of livestock deaths.
The HSA continues to focus on Livestock issues within agriculture. The HSA has developed an extensive suite of guidance materials and runs extensive safety campaigns including specific livestock safety campaigns. In February of this year, the HSA, in conjunction with the Irish Farmers Association, ran a two week safety inspection campaign and promotional activities focused on livestock handling facilities on farms. The HSA’s inspection campaigns indicate that livestock handling facilities are generally good with the risks of injury arising when handling facilities are either not used or not used properly.
The HSA will continue to focus on the encouragement of safe livestock management across all of its farming related activities in 2019.
260. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of non-fatal accidents in workplaces caused by animals, in particular non-fatal accidents on farms due to livestock in each of the years 2009 to 2018. [17518/19]
View answerThe reporting of accidents in the workplace which result in an absence and the prevention of an employee from performing their normal work for more than 3 consecutive days is a statutory requirement under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Reporting of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 370 of 2016). This applies to all workplaces regardless of size, enterprise or sector. The agriculture sector is predominately made up of self-employed and sole traders who unfortunately do not always report their accidents or injuries to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
The HSA has reported that on average there are approximately 100 non-fatal accidents in the agriculture sector reported to them each year. Teagasc (the Agriculture and Food Development Authority) run the National Farm Survey, which routinely includes questions on occupational related accidents. This survey generally shows that there are between 2,500 and 3,000 serious non-fatal accidents on farms each year.
The agriculture sector data from the National Farm Surveys indicate that there has been a steady increase in the number of non-fatal accidents involving Livestock, rising from 23% of all non-fatal accidents in 1996 to approximately 43% in 2017. This increase in the proportion of accidents relating to livestock is largely in line with the expansion in the Agriculture Sector and the significant increases in livestock numbers particularly in the Dairy and Beef sector.
The graph at the link shows the results from the National Farm Survey for 1996, 2001, 2011 2017 regarding non-fatal accidents.
The HSA continues to focus on Livestock issues within agriculture and has developed an extensive suite of guidance materials as well as running extensive safety campaigns including livestock safety campaigns.
261. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the situation for skilled construction workers (details supplied) from Ukraine obtaining work visas for here in the context of the acute shortage of such skilled workers here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17545/19]
View answer262. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if a fast-track visa programme for skilled construction workers (details supplied) from Ukraine will be considered to obtain work visas for here in the context of the acute shortage of such skilled workers here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17546/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together.
My Department has responsibility for the administration of the Employment Permits Acts 2003-2014 and the consideration of applications for employment permits which allow non-EEA nationals to take up employment in the State. Under this legislation, in order to work in the State all non-EEA nationals require a valid employment permit unless exempt under permission from the Department of Justice and Equality.
The State's general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the State and other EEA states. Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the State and EEA, the employment permits system offers a conduit into the Irish labour market for non-EEA nationals with in-demand skills and is operated as a vacancy led system.
The system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills Occupations List and the Ineligible Occupations List for the purposes of granting an employment permit. The Lists are subject to twice yearly review which is predicated on a formalised and evidence-based process and involves consideration of the research undertaken by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (Solas), the Expert Group of Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the National Skills Council, and input by relevant Government Departments in addition to the public consultation phase. Submissions to the review process are also considered by the Economic Migration Policy Interdepartmental Group chaired by DBEI with membership drawn from senior officials of key Government Departments and a Government agency, i.e., the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Department of Justice & Equality, the Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, the Department of Education & Skills, the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation (Skills Policy and Education Policy Unit), and the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS.
Following completion of the most recent review, I introduced a number of changes to the Occupations Lists, in response to clear skills shortages in the Construction Sector. These changes will come into effect on 22nd April 2019.
The following occupations will be added to the Critical Skills Occupations List and will be eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit:
- Civil Engineers
- Quantity Surveyors
- Construction Project Managers
- Mechanical and Electrical Engineers with BIM expertise
- High Performance Directors and Coaches for high-level sports organisations.
In addition, the following occupations will be removed from the Ineligible Occupations List and will be eligible for a General Employment Permit:
- Sheet metal workers
- Welding trades
- Pipefitters
- Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Engineers
- Shuttering Carpenters
- Glaziers, window fabricators & fitters
- Scaffolders, stagers & riggers
- Crane drivers
- Transport and Distribution Clerks and Assistants (Freight Forwarders; Cargo & Freight Agents; Brokerage Clerks) subject to a quota of 300
- Plasterers subject to a quota of 250
- Bricklayers subject to a quota of 250
Electricians are currently on the Ineligible Occupations List. This may be reviewed in the future should the appropriate research and evidence indicate labour shortages across the EEA.
The views of the lead policy Government Department for the sector, in this case, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, are an important part of the decision-making process.
The next review of the Occupations Lists is due to commence over the next few weeks with submissions to the next public consultation phase invited from interested parties.
My colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, has responsibility for the granting of immigration permissions and visas which allow non-EEA nationals to enter the State to reside and work.
263. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to develop a status report on quantum technology and the risks and opportunities for Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17755/19]
View answerQuantum technologies use the properties of quantum effects – the interactions of molecules, atoms, and even smaller particles, known as quantum objects – to create practical applications in many different fields.
A status report on quantum technology including a review of the risks and opportunities associated with quantum technology is one which I will consider in the context of other future sectorial reviews.
Quantum technology is one of several areas of advanced technologies that holds the potential to impact many industry sectors and society. It is clearly an area that our policy infrastructure and industry base needs to be prepared to deal with, both in terms of harnessing the expansive opportunities it presents but also in mitigating the potential risks.
Many of the worlds’ leading ICT companies have significant operations in Ireland which will provide us with a leading edge in this field. My Department’s agencies are also active in this area:
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), a key agency of my Department is supporting a range of researchers working in diverse areas related to the field including quantum thermodynamics and quantum photonics. There is also investment across a broad range of underpinning technologies right across our higher education system. This research is often being co-funded by industry with companies and academics working together on specific projects. SFI is currently drafting an ambitious new strategy for the period 2020-2025. The strategy will include further mechanisms to support more future looking technologies like quantum technology.
In late 2018, SFI and University College Cork (UCC) also successfully recruited Professor Seamus Davis, one of the world’s leading quantum physicists to Ireland from the US under the SFI Research Professorship Programme to boost our academic capabilities in this area. This leading academic has taken up a joint position at University College Cork and the University of Oxford. The nature of his joint appointment will encourage knowledge flow and student mobility between the UK and Ireland at a time such channels for collaboration and partnership in research need to be embraced.
My Department also provides core funding to support the day-to-day operations of the Tyndall National Institute. Based in Cork, Tyndall is a leading European research centre in integrated ICT hardware and systems. Tyndall has been pioneering Irish efforts in the quantum field, specifically on the actual realisation of Quantum Technologies. Quantum cryptography for secure communications and sources of quantum light for quantum information (quantum internet and quantum computation) have been important areas progressed by the Institute. Tyndall’s research teams have been investing in quantum materials and quantum-effect devices for over 15 years.
SFI and Tyndall are also partners on the QuantERA in Quantum Technologies. QuantERA is a network of 32 organisations from 26 countries, coordinated by the National Science Centre, Poland, supporting international research projects in the field of Quantum Technologies.
In late 2018 Ireland became a founding member of the new European High-Performance Computing (EuroHPC) Joint Undertaking. EuroHPC seeks to invest in High Performance Computing infrastructure, applications, research and skills with a goal of developing a world class High Performance Computing capability in Europe. Its longer-term aims include support for the first hybrid HPC / Quantum computing infrastructure in Europe.
Quantum technology is an area which is also being given significant support at European level, most significantly with the launch of the €1bn Quantum Flagship in 2018, funded under Horizon 2020, the current Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. This support is expected to continue into the successor programme, Horizon Europe, where there will be significant funding available to researchers in this area of study. The European Commission has supported quantum technologies over the last 20 years with a cumulative investment reaching around €550m to-date and it will remain an area with significant potential for Irish researchers.
As the above activities show, we are building on our capabilities in the field of quantum technology. One of our key objectives will be to nurture the growth of Quantum Technologies by translating science to innovation and by developing and attracting talent with quantum expertise in Ireland. Ireland’s policy of Research Prioritisation highlights ICT as a key enabler of technologies, bringing radical changes throughout almost every industry in manufacturing, production processes, services provision and across whole value chains and business support activities, as well as driving the development of new markets. While technologies continue to evolve rapidly and significantly, the importance of the Future Networks, Communications and Internet of Things area as an integral underlying component of business and enterprise has remained indisputable.
Future Jobs Ireland 2019 underlines the Government’s determination for our enterprises and workers to be well prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead in light of emerging and new technologies and sets out a range of priority deliverables in 2019 to position our economy accordingly. One such priority is the development of a national strategy on Artificial Intelligence. It is my expectation that it will provide a high-level direction to the development and adoption of AI in Ireland based on international experience and activity including at the EU level and on foot of a broad consultation process with Irish stakeholders.
My Department, in conjunction with its agencies, will continue to remain active in this very important area.
264. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is not entitled to a primary care certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17317/19]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arrange for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
265. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health the mental health supports available to persons and families who have found themselves homeless and in emergency accommodation; the supports for those with and without addiction issues, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17520/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
266. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health his plans to include fibromyalgia on the list of conditions covered by the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17201/19]
View answerThe LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme at this time. However, I wish to inform the Deputy that the LTI Scheme will be included as part of a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
For people who are not eligible for the LTI scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €124 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
People who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
267. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a consultation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17203/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
