Written Answers Nos. 178-197
178. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has further considered the report of the commission on policing in Ireland; his plans to implement its main recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32468/20]
View answerIn September 2018, the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) published its Report outlining a clear vision and roadmap for strengthening An Garda Síochána and the broader national framework for policing, security and community safety.
In December 2018, the Government approved A Policing Service for our Future as the Plan to implement the CoFPI Report. The Plan was developed in cooperation with stakeholders from across the public service and, in particular, with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána.
An Implementation Group on Policing Reform – with a former member of CoFPI as its independent Chair – has been established and has collective responsibility for the delivery of the Plan.
To help guide the work of the Implementation Group on Policing Reform and act as a clearing house where particular blockages are being experienced, a High Level Steering Board on Policing Reform – chaired by the Secretary General to the Government – has also been established.
The Policing Reform Implementation Programme Office – which is based in the Department of the Taoiseach – monitors progress on the Plan, supports the work of the Implementation Group on Policing Reform, and keeps the High Level Steering Board on Policing Reform and Government apprised of the progress being made.
The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality provides requisite political oversight of implementation of the Plan.
A Policing Service for our Future is a living document which is reviewed and updated, as required, to maintain ambitious but realistic commitments, timeframes and milestones.
A Policing Service for our Future is broken down in to four stages of implementation, namely:
1. The Building Blocks Phase (6 months’ duration);
2. The Launching Phase (6 months’ duration);
3. The Scaling Phase (18 months’ duration); and
4. The Consolidation Phase (12 – 18 months’ duration currently envisaged).
The Building Blocks and Launching Phases have been completed and some of the highlights in terms of achievements include:
- The roll-out of a new Operating Model for An Garda Síochána, designed to streamline Garda administration and to provide a more visible, responsive and localised policing service to communities nationwide, has commenced;
- An Garda Síochána has established and strengthened resourcing of a Human Rights Unit and re-established the Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee;
- The National Security Analysis Centre (NSAC) has been established and the Director of NSAC appointed; and
- The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2019 has been enacted which gives Gardaí access to the Workplace Relations Commission for the first time and provides for a modern industrial relations framework within An Garda Síochána.
There has also been progress on legislative reform, in particular, legislation is being drafted relating to:
- the use of recording devices (including body worn cameras);
- the codification of legislation defining police powers of arrest, search and detention; and
- a new coherent framework for the governance and oversight of An Garda Síochána.
Progress in 2020 has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I have been encouraged to see the responsiveness and flexibility shown by An Garda Síochána in dealing with the demands of this unprecedented situation. The Implementation Group on Policing Reform has been actively engaged with key stakeholders to ensure continued momentum on reform, in so far as possible, under the current circumstances.
The third phase of A Policing Service for our Future – the Scaling Phase – has now commenced. This is the critical phase of the programme of reform, during which the programme gains momentum. The delivery of the majority of the actions will be started or executed during the Scaling Phase.
Further information on progress and updates on the implementation of A Policing Service for our Future can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/065724-policing-reform/.
179. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Taoiseach if the plan for living with Covid-19 framework document will be made available in accessible format for blind and visually impaired persons. [33595/20]
View answerFurther consideration is being given to making the information in the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021, Plan for Living with COVID-19 available in other accessible formats and my Department is consulting with the National Disability Authority on the matter.
The HSE has partnered with NCBI to produce audio, braille and Large Print versions of public health information. The partnership includes audio versions of the information available online, and also copied onto CDs and posted to people registered as visually impaired with NCBI. Likewise, Large Print or Braille versions are posted to those who use those formats.
180. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Taoiseach his plans to produce accessible formats of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with Covid-19 available in braille, large print and audio. [33643/20]
View answerFurther consideration is being given to making the information in the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021, Plan for Living with COVID-19 available in other accessible formats and my Department is consulting with the National Disability Authority on the matter.
The HSE has partnered with NCBI to produce audio, braille and Large Print versions of public health information. The partnership includes audio versions of the information available online, and also copied onto CDs and posted to people registered as visually impaired with NCBI. Likewise, Large Print or Braille versions are posted to those who use those formats.
181. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the fact that nearly 200 permanent and backup field interviewers in the Central Statistics Office are currently off the road and working from home and if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that these highly skilled interviewers are contracted to work only 27 hours per week. [32347/20]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office employs 86 permanent and around 40 temporary backup interviewers. The interviewers are contracted to work 26.37 hours per week. The main role of the field force is to collect survey data from households throughout the country to fulfil a range of national data needs and EU regulations. These surveys include the Labour Force Survey (LFS) which is used to compile a number of key economic indicators of employment, unemployment and other characteristics of the labour market, the Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC), which is the source of official statistics on household income, poverty and deprivation.
Prior to the introduction of Covid 19 restrictions in March 2020, the interviewers called to dwellings and invited the householders to participate in the CSO surveys. Face to face interviewing has been suspended since March and the CSO interviewers are now conducting the main household surveys using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) from their homes.
The data compiled from these surveys provide an essential input to government for policy and decision making especially during the Covid crisis. There is a continuous demand for timely data to assess the impact of the crisis on society and the economy. The CSO interviewers are fully employed in the collection of the survey data by telephone.
The CSO has recently worked with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on a Retrospective Contact Tracing Project. In addition to providing the IT platform for the survey and specialist expertise the CSO has also offered to provide a number of backup interviewers to conduct the telephone inquiries.
182. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 21 July 2020, if he will provide the link to his published diary on his Department’s website. [32355/20]
View answerFurther to my reply to PQ 48 of 21 July I have published my diary on the Department's website. It can be found here https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/ca035-taoiseachs-diary-2020/.
183. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach if the national framework for living with Covid-19 has a regulatory basis in statute or regulation or of it is purely advisory. [32405/20]
View answerResilience & Recovery 2020-2021 - Plan for Living with COVID-19, sets out Ireland's medium-term approach to managing and living with COVID-19.
The Framework for Restrictive Measures set out in the Plan is a risk management strategy for the next 6-9 months. It is designed to allow individuals, families, businesses and services better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures Government might introduce to stop escalation of the transmission of the disease.
Some of the public health measures set out in the Plan are advisory in nature, while others, where appropriate, are underpinned by statutory instrument by the Minister for Health under the Health Act 1947 (as amended). The regulations are regularly updated to align with the public health measures in place at any given time, based on the Plan.
184. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Taoiseach the estimated amount of money spent on media training for Ministers and Ministers of State from 27 June 2020 to date. [32887/20]
View answerMy Department has not incurred any expenditure in relation to media training for Ministers or Ministers of State from the period 27 June 2020 to date.
185. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Taoiseach if he will meet with the four archbishops as per their meeting request. [33243/20]
View answerOn 28 October I met with leaders of the Catholic Church - Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly and Bishop Dermot Farrell.
Discussion focused mainly on the effect which the current Covid-19 restrictions are having on the health and well-being of the faith community and the great desire to return to worship as soon as possible.
The Archbishops emphasised that they are fully supportive of the Public Health messages but highlighted that the coming together in prayer and worship, especially for Mass and the Sacraments, is fundamental to Christian tradition and a source of nourishment for the life and well-being of whole communities.
In thanking the Archbishops for their support I acknowledged the major role that Religious leaders have in supporting people and giving hope at this time of stress and worry - reaching out to those who may feel isolated or marginalised.
I outlined the reasoning behind the Government’s plan for living with Covid-19 and the need to strike the right balance between all forms of social and economic activity and public health.
The need for a shared understanding of the effects of the pandemic as it evolves and to align our response accordingly was recognised.
All agreed the importance of ongoing constructive engagement and solidarity in facing and overcoming the challenges of Covid-19 together.
186. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach the number of contracts approved in his Department in 2019 and to date in 2020 without competitive tender; the details of the contract; the company awarded the contract; and the full value of the contract in tabular form. [33280/20]
View answerMy Department liaises closely with the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) on all matters related to public procurement and monitors all areas of expenditure on an ongoing basis to ensure that value for money is being achieved.
Under Department of Finance Circular 40/02, my Department makes annual returns to the Comptroller and Auditor General in respect of contracts above a €25,000 threshold which are awarded without a competitive process. Contracts awarded without a competitive process are not necessarily non-compliant with procurement guidelines.
In 2019 one contract was awarded without a competitive tender to a value of €61,473. The State reception marking the 100th anniversary of the first Dáil was held in the Mansion House on 21st January 2019. The Department was obliged to use the services provided by the Mansion House’s retained in-house catering firm MHL Event Management and was not in a position to seek an alternative supplier for the event.
My Department's Finance Unit has not identified the awarding of any non-compliant contracts to date in 2020 through its active monitoring but the 2020 position cannot be fully confirmed until the end of the year
187. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the number of data protection breaches identified within his Department in 2019. [33853/20]
View answerThere were no data protection breaches identified within the Department in 2019.
188. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach the consideration given to the five-year census of population, which would have been due to take place in 2021; if preliminary work has taken place; if resources have been provided; if a formal decision has been made to postpone the census; and if so, when it will be delayed until.. [33906/20]
View answerOn the advice of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the Government decided on September 15th, to postpone the 2021 Census to 3 April 2022.
The Census of Population is a unique count of everyone present in Ireland on Census night and provides essential information for planning and decision making. It is vital that the Census enables everyone in Ireland to participate so that the information gathered reflects all of our needs and can be used to make decisions that benefit us all. The CSO is adequately resourced at this stage for the preparatory work required in 2021.
The decision to postpone the Census scheduled for 18 April 2021 until 3 April 2022 was not taken lightly and was based on a number of factors. Foremost in the decision making, was the need to ensure the safety of the general public and CSO field staff, coupled with the need to deliver a Census that achieves the highest possible response rate, across all facets of Irish society.
Furthermore, the Census of Population is a major logistical operation and COVID-19 restrictions have prevented or delayed many key planning activities from taking place over recent months.
On consideration of these challenges the Government decided to postpone the 2021 Census until April 2022 to enable the CSO to undertake a comprehensive, inclusive and safe Census in 2022 which will provide valuable and accurate data for our country in the years ahead.
189. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a business (details supplied) that sells a mix of products can remain open with a non-essential part sectioned off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32764/20]
View answer192. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if guidelines will be provided to clothing retailers for which their primary source of sales is fashion clothing (details supplied); and his views on the matter of loopholes being used by a minority of retailers to operate against the spirit of the level 5 restrictions. [33059/20]
View answer195. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if essential retail outlets that also sell non-essential goods must close those departments and sections of their store that would be deemed non-essential under level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33211/20]
View answer196. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will clarify the position in relation to small retailers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33233/20]
View answer198. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to ensure that the purchase of children’s clothes is classified as essential retail under levels 4 and 5 of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33319/20]
View answer199. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the purchase of children’s clothes, underwear and winter jacks can be classified as essential retail under levels 4 and 5 of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33321/20]
View answer200. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the closure of retail is causing difficulties for new parents who cannot go into a shop to buy baby clothes; if these restrictions will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33435/20]
View answer201. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the regulations regarding essential retail outlets and the sale of non-essential items in these retail outlets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33604/20]
View answer202. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the regulations made in relation to the items supermarkets and other shops may sell during the operation of level 5. [33711/20]
View answer203. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if retailers, including supermarkets, are permitted to sell children's clothes and shoes under level 5 restrictions. [33895/20]
View answer223. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding small businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32938/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 189, 192, 195, 196, 198 to 203, inclusive, and 223 together.
Under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19, only essential retail outlets will remain open.
S.I. No. 448 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 8) Regulations 2020 clearly sets out the temporary restrictions under Level 5 of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID. A list of essential services can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/ and the list of essential retail outlets at Level 5 can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-5/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-4/
Level 5 restricts people from physically going into non-essential stores in order to stop people congregating and browsing for non-essential goods, to limit the spread of the virus. All retailers – essential and non-essential – can however continue to trade via ‘remote ordering’ and fulfil orders for all products including non-essential items, by online or by phone, for home delivery and for collection.
Mixed retailers have been asked to separate their stock and only sell the items that are essential. This is to encourage all of us to stay at home and shop local and to ensure fairness to those non-essential retailers who have had to close.
I and my colleague Minister of State English met with the Retail Forum members on 21 October to remind those in the retail sector, of the need for strict adherence to the public health guidelines during Level 5. Minister English met again with the Retail Forum and major multiple grocery retailers on 28 October to reinforce this message and will convene a further meeting on 4 November.
I would like to thank retailers and their customers for their efforts at this difficult time. By each of us following the spirit of these new rules and working together we can hopefully return to a lower level of the Living with Covid-19 framework.
190. Deputy James Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding a trade (details supplied) and the current restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32796/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 is a cross-government approach to managing and living with the pandemic over the next 6 – 9 months.
This action was based on current public health advice, the deteriorating situation with the disease across the country and the Government’s objectives to support families by keeping schools and childcare facilities open, maintaining non-Covid health services and protecting the vulnerable. Level 5 restrictions will remain in place for a period of 6 weeks. Essential retail and essential services will remain open.
Guidance published by the Department of the Taoiseach on what comprises Essential Services is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/
Businesses should carefully review the essential services list above and determine whether they can operate or not under the current restrictions. It is not necessary for businesses to seek official authorisation.
Physical attendance at workplaces is only permitted for those providing essential services where such services can only be provided in person and cannot be delivered remotely.
Essential purposes for travel (permitted outside 5k limit) includes travel to and from work, where work involves providing an essential service.
Details of the wide range of COVID-19 schemes and measures for businesses are available on my Department’s website at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
191. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if those business owners in receipt of the State pension can qualify for business supports during level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32807/20]
View answerI am keenly aware that businesses are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities and I am committed to ensuring that the Government will offer as much assistance and support as possible. Budget 2021 provided a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy, details of the range of COVID-19 schemes are available on my Department’s website at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
We are providing cheaper loan finance through MicroFinance Ireland, SBCI and the €2bn Credit Guarantee Scheme. There are no restrictions on eligibility for these schemes for businesses whose owners are in receipt of the state pension, however, as with all applications, approval of loans under these schemes is subject to the participating finance providers’ own credit policies and procedures.
Enterprise Ireland and LEOs' Covid-19 business supports are available to qualifying enterprises, rather than to individuals. The State pension status of the owner of an enterprise, i.e. whether they are in receipt of the State Pension or otherwise, does not form part of the eligibility criteria for Enterprise Ireland Covid-19 supports. The only preclusion associated with LEO grants is in respect of the LEO Feasibility Grant eligible expenditure whereby own labour costs may not be claimed in respect of any period for which the Grantee is in receipt of Social Welfare payments including Pension (Contributory and Non-Contributory).
The PUP is payable to people between the ages of 18 up to 66 which is consistent with other social protection schemes payable to people of working age who have lost their employment. People aged 66 years and over are provided for through the contributory State pension or the non-contributory State means-tested pension.
My colleague, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys T.D. would be best placed to provide more specific information in relation to state rules and impact on the state pension while working in retirement.
193. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 527 of 15 September 2020, the number of businesses that applied for the humanitarian assistance scheme after flooding in County Cork in August 2020; the number of applications that were successful and denied, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33114/20]
View answerOn 4th August 2020 I opened a Scheme which provided urgent funding to small businesses, community and voluntary organisations in the South West region who have been affected by flooding due to heavy rainfall.
The Emergency Humanitarian Scheme, funded by my Department and administered by the Irish Red Cross on its behalf, provides urgent funding to small businesses, sports clubs, community and voluntary organisations who could not secure flood insurance and have premises that have been damaged by recent exceptional weather events.
This Scheme is designed to provide urgent help to those who have not been able to secure flood insurance, providing up to €20,000 in cash for emergency repairs and replacement of damaged stock or equipment. Businesses, sporting, voluntary and community organisations can use the funding to return their premises to their pre-flood condition, including the replacement of flooring, fixtures and fittings and damaged stock where relevant.
I have set out in the table below the information requested by the Deputy:
|
Number of applications (businesses) which applied for the scheme: |
Number of successful applications |
Number of unsuccessful applications |
Number of pending applications (further information is required to progress these to complete) |
|
27 |
17 |
4 |
6 |
194. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether current legal regimes such as examinership and schemes of arrangement are fit for purpose or need to be revamped to make them more easily or widely available to distressed companies, especially with respect to the restructuring of small and medium enterprises, in view of the increased financial pressure on businesses and the consequent need for businesses to consider restructuring their finances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33193/20]
View answerThe State’s long-standing preventive restructuring framework in examinership is internationally recognised and has proven to be a successful tool for restructuring in its current form.
However, I know that the cost of examinership is prohibitive for smaller businesses. That is why I wrote to the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) in July this year, requesting it to consider the issue of rescue for small businesses.
The CLRG is a statutory advisory body charged with advising the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on matters pertaining to company law. Its membership is broad and representative of key stakeholders in the area such as ISME, IBEC, ICTU, the Revenue Commissioners, insolvency and legal practitioners and regulators, making it uniquely well positioned to provide an informed view on the matter.
I requested that the CLRG conduct its review in the context of reducing the costs and administrative burden associated with rescue so as to make it more accessible to SMEs under the following terms of reference:
1. Examine and make recommendation as to how the statutory scheme of arrangement provisions of the Companies Act 2014 might be adapted to provide a rescue framework for SMEs.
2. Examine and make recommendation as to ways in which key elements of the examinership process, including a stay on enforcement proceedings and a cross-class cram-down, might be incorporated into a rescue framework for SMEs.
3. Other EU Member States provide for voluntary restructuring processes, with a strong emphasis on creditor agreement. Examine and make recommendation as to whether such a process is desirable in an Irish context with particular emphasis on the French framework (mandate ad hoc procedure).
4. Any other recommendations the CLRG consider appropriate.
The CLRG’s Report has just been received in my Department and its recommendations will require careful consideration. This is a complex area of law. There is a delicate balance between sometimes competing stakeholders and it is important not to create a situation whereby we provide a framework for the rescue of one company at the expense of the viability of another.
I remain committed to exploring ways in which we can support SMEs while also ensuring the appropriate safeguards remain in place for creditors and employees.
197. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of onsite inspections by HSA personnel of construction sites since the announcement of level 5 restrictions; the findings of these onsite inspections in relation to Covid-19 protocols and guidelines; the number of complaints to the HSA regarding workplaces and breaches of Covid-19 guidelines since level 5 restrictions were put in place [33317/20]
View answerSince the introduction of Level 5 restrictions under the National Framework for Living with COVID-19 the Health and Safety Authority has undertaken 27 inspections in the construction sector of which 14 addressed COVID-19 measures.
I have been informed that the findings from the inspections addressing COVID-19 indicate the following;
- 86% of workplaces had COVID-19 measures in place.
- 86% of workplaces had COVID-19 Response plans in place.
- 64% of workplaces had a Lead Worker Rep.
In 43% of cases a report of inspection was issued in relation to the COVID-19 control measures in place. A report of inspection sets out areas where improvements should be made.
I am further informed that the Health and Safety Authority has received 16 complaints around COVID-19 measures in the same period in relation to workplaces in other sectors. These complaints are being followed-up by the Authority.
I would add that, overall, the Health and Safety Authority has noted a high level of compliance with the Return to Work Safely Protocol, to date, across all sectors which is a positive indication that the majority of employers and employees are taking a responsible and proactive approach to compliance with the Protocol.
In addition to inspections, the Health and Safety Authority continues to provide advice and support to employers and employees on how best to implement COVID-19 measures in the workplace through its helpline and website. It has also developed checklists and templates for use by employers, workers and worker representatives, and further material is being developed.
Any employee who has concerns about compliance with COVID-19 issues, or any other workplace health and safety issue, can contact the Health and Safety Authority Workplace Contact Unit (WCU) on a confidential basis at 1890 289 389 or by sending an email to wcu@hsa.ie. If following such a complaint, there are serious concerns about a particular workplace, the Health and Safety Authority, or another agency or tasked with inspecting workplace compliance with the Protocol, will follow-up as appropriate.
