Louise O'Reilly
Question:1. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the set criteria for the continuation of large construction projects in the exporting and FDI sector. [1985/21]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1)
Written answers
On 6 January the Government announced new measures to help control the spread of Covid-19 including the decision to close most construction with effect from 6pm on Friday 8 January. Government agreed to a limited number of exemptions to this new restriction, including for certain large projects in the Exporting/FDI sector.
To implement the new measures S.I. No. 4 of 2021 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 was signed by the Minister for Health on 7 January.
Paragraph 6 (2) (a) of S.I. 4 of 2021 deals with the exemptions in relation to construction and amends Part 2 of the Schedule of the Principal Regulations - S.I. No. 701 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020.
This amendment provides for the continuation of construction and development projects which are necessary for maintenance of supply chains in respect of manufacturing or information and communication services specified in the Schedule of S.I. 701 of 2020. The manufacturing services referenced include: chemicals, pharmaceutical products, medical devices, IT equipment, products necessary for national and international supply chains, personal hygiene products, etc. Construction and development projects relating to general purpose facilities (for example office accommodation) in respect of such manufacturing services are excluded from the scope of the exemption.
There is a separate exemption in S.I. 4 of 2021 that provides for construction and development projects that relate to the direct supply of medical products for Covid-19.
All projects covered by the exemption must continue to adhere to the stringent protocols set out in the Work Safely Protocol and are subject to inspection by the Health and Safety Authority.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (2)
Ged Nash
Question:2. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding that has been drawn down by banks (details supplied) under the Covid-19 credit guarantee scheme established in 2020 to support small and medium sized businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2143/21]
View answerWritten answers
The €2 billion COVID Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) is the largest such scheme in the history of the state. Its purpose is to facilitate additional liquidity to SMEs, primary producers and Small Mid-Caps.
The Scheme operates in accordance with the European Commission’s Temporary Framework for State Aid. This Framework has relaxed the levels of state aid permissible to Irish businesses but also has eligibility criteria for the loans that must be met.
The CCGS provides certainty to businesses that liquidity is available for working capital and investment purposes with loans of up to €1 million available for up to five and a half years being provided at reduced interest rates by participating lenders. Loans under €250,000 do not require collateral or personal guarantees.
The Scheme was launched in September with AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank providing lending facilities. These three banks have facilitated lending of €98.2 million up to the end of December 2020 to a wide range of business sectors across all counties in Ireland. Businesses which have been significantly impacted by the effects of the virus are utilising the Scheme such as the wholesale and retail sector which accounted for twenty percent of loans drawn by value, the accommodation and food services sector which accounted for thirteen percent of loans drawn by value, and the primary agriculture and fisheries sector accounted for twelve percent of loans drawn by value.
Government provides an eighty percent guarantee on any claims under the scheme, thereby committing to pay the banks eighty percent of any outstanding principal on defaulted loans. Banks will therefore not draw down any State funding until such time as there are defaults on loans and claims are submitted in accordance with the terms of the Scheme. In order to make provision for potential claims, a contingent liability is created in respect of loans drawn. The maximum contingent liability to the State in respect of loans drawn up to the end of December was €78.55 million.
Health and Safety Inspections
Questions (3)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:3. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Health and Safety Authority on-site inspections carried out in 2020, in tabular form by month and sector. [1936/21]
View answerWritten answers
Between the 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020 the Health and Safety Authority carried out nine thousand one hundred and twenty five (9,125) workplace inspections across a range of sectors including 5,164 inspections to assess compliance with the Work Safely Protocol. During 2020 the Health and Safety Authority took on a number of new roles in relation to the management of COVID-19 in workplaces which included the training of, and supporting, other inspectorates to carry-out Protocol related inspections and, also as a member of Outbreak Control Teams , in support of public health, at various meat plants.
As requested by the Deputy the number of inspections in each sector is shown in the table attached in the below link.
[<a href="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2021-01-14_pq3-14-01-21_en.docx">Inspections</a>
Illness Benefit
Questions (4)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:4. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company operating a State contract is refusing its employees access to the company sick pay scheme if they are in receipt of the enhanced illness benefit scheme; if his attention has been further drawn to a provision in the enhanced illness scheme which would mandate that requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1986/21]
View answerWritten answers
My colleague the Minister for Social Protection who has responsibility for the enhanced illness benefit payment informs me that under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1), the Government, having regard to the manifest and grave risk to human life and public health posed by the spread of Covid-19, extended the Social Welfare Acts to provide for entitlement to illness benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with, or are a probable source of infection with Covid-19.
The rate of payment of the enhanced Illness Benefit payment in respect of COVID-19 is higher than the normal maximum personal rate for a limited period. The measures were designed to ensure that where a registered medical practitioner or a HSE medical officer diagnoses a person with COVID-19 or identifies him or her as a probable source of infection of COVID-19, the person concerned can comply with medical advice to isolate, while having their income protected. This is essential to limit and slow down the spread of the virus, to keep the number of people affected to a minimum, and to reduce a peak of cases which would cause extreme pressure on the health system.
A person is not entitled to the enhanced illness benefit payment in respect of any day of incapacity for work where he or she is entitled to full wages, salary, or paid sick leave under a contract of employment, in respect of any such day. A person is entitled to a reduced rate or reductions in the rate of illness benefit in respect of any day of incapacity for work, where he or she is entitled to reduced wages, salary, or paid sick leave, for those same days, which is less than the rate of illness benefit to which he or she would otherwise be entitled.
There are no provisions under social welfare legislation which set out that a person does not have access to an occupational sick pay scheme in respect of any period of incapacity for which they are receiving illness benefit or enhanced illness benefit. Where an employee has access to an occupational sick pay scheme, scheme rules may require that the employee mandates illness benefit payments to the employer where sick pay has been provided to the employee. This arrangement is a matter between the employer and employee.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (5)
Neale Richmond
Question:5. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available for staff who are not essential workers but are not permitted to work remotely during level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2012/21]
View answerWritten answers
The National Framework Living with COVID-19 recognises the need for an overall incremental approach which take account of the societal and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the varying responses required at different times. The Framework sets out how businesses should operate at five different levels.
In the first instance, an employer is responsible for determining what work can be done remotely. However, employers must bear in mind that the overarching public health advice is that employees should work remotely where possible. The country is, at present, at Level 5. In this regard, all employees should work from home unless they are delivering an essential service as listed on www.gov.ie, such an essential health, social care or other essential service and cannot work for home.
Employers and workers should seek to resolve any matters relating to remote working at a local level through mutual dialogue and engagement. Where this is not possible a dispute may be referred to the State's workplace relations services for mediation or conciliation. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is providing services on both a face to face and virtual basis. Advice can be obtained from the Information & Customer Service of the WRC at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90 or 059 9178990 or from its website www.wrc.ie.
The Health and Safety Authority has produced a detailed guidance for both employers and employees in relation to home-working on a temporary basis during COVID-19 restrictions. This guidance will help employers to understand the requirements, and steps to take, when setting up working-from-home arrangements for employees from a health and safety perspective. The guidance is available on-line at www.hsa.ie.
While the Health and Safety Authority has no role in determining which employees can work from home or not, they, along with a number of State Agencies, carry out compliance inspections with the Work Safely Protocol. Where non-compliance with the Protocol is discovered the HSA can use various mechanisms at its disposal to ensure that the necessary measures are put in place.
Any worker with concerns about health and safety standards at their place of work can contact the Health and Safety Authority’s Workplace Contact Unit (WCU) for detailed advice including advice on compliance with the Work Safely Protocol. The WCU can be contacted by phone at Lo-call 1890289389 (landline) or (01) 6147000 or by email at wcu@hsa.ie.
Action Plan for Jobs
Questions (6)
Neale Richmond
Question:6. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is a current action plan for jobs; if there is data to target and measure new jobs by county rather than regions; if same is possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2035/21]
View answerWritten answers
Action Plan for Jobs (APJ), 2018, was the seventh and final in an annual series outlining the Government’s joined-up approach to maximising employment across Ireland ensuring that all parts of the country achieve their potential in terms of job creation. Employment grew by over 300,000 over the lifetime of the Action Plans for Jobs, 2012 to 2018, with job creation in all eight regions. Unemployment fell from a high of 15.9% in 2011 to 5.7% at the end of 2018.
Against this back drop of almost full employment, the Government introduced Future Jobs Ireland in 2019, which set out a policy shift away from job numbers towards quality jobs to allow for higher living standards, and sustainable jobs, with a focus on maximising labour market participation. Future Jobs sought to further embed a resilient and innovative economy that was adaptable to future challenges and to foster economically, environmentally and socially sustainable growth. This agenda has been largely subsumed into the forthcoming National Economic Plan (NEP), the Government’s new medium-term economic plan to rebuild Ireland’s economy in the aftermath of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
It is envisaged that the plan will set out a pathway for an inclusive and regionally balanced recovery. While the challenge is great, the government is committed to help people get back to work, be that a return to their old jobs or to avail of new job opportunities that will emerge as the economy transitions. This will be supported through a range of labour market activation measures and skills initiatives and engaging employers.
The Central Statistics Office Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates of employment are produced at NUTS 3 regions. Due to methodology and sample size considerations, it is not possible to produce reliable county estimates from the LFS.
Delivering a competitive, resilient and regionally balanced enterprise base will be prioritised in the NEP. It is critical that the potential for enterprise growth and job creation is facilitated in every region. To achieve this nine Regional Steering Committees that offer a bottom-up perspective on regional needs and opportunities have been established and will drive collaborative responses through nine refreshed Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs) to 2023. Regional Enterprise Plans are focused on strengthening the ecosystem for job creation in the regions and in so doing will support the realisation of annual enterprise agency and LEO jobs and investment targets.
Employment will also be supported through regional infrastructure development and measures to leverage remote working including investment in enterprise space and hub infrastructures and provision of co-working and remote working facilities where there are gaps in provision.
Regional Development
Questions (7)
Alan Dillon
Question:7. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if additional details will be provided on the capital projects outlined in a strategy (details supplied) in County Mayo; the likely timelines involved for the proposed projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2077/21]
View answerWritten answers
There are 120 IDA supported companies in the West Region, employing 27,695 people in total. There are 17 IDA supported companies in County Mayo, employing 4,955 people.
Regional development is at the centre of IDA’s new strategy, Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024. IDA is committed to the pursuit of more balanced, compact regional development which can deliver complementary efficiency and equity gains, with the overall impact of helping to advance national development. IDA will target half of all investments (400) from 2021- 2024 to regional locations and maintain the same high level of investment as targeted in IDA’s previous strategy for each region of the country. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cannot be the sole contributor in addressing the challenges facing Ireland’s regions – from Brexit to Covid-19, digital transformation to the climate transition – but it can have a significant impact in propelling economic recovery and realising more balanced growth.
The timely provision of appropriate, innovative and cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions to meet the needs of multinational corporations that are at the forefront of the modern economy remains essential to winning FDI. IDA’s regional property programme ensures the supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations as required by current and prospective clients of both IDA and Enterprise Ireland. A robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be the key differentiator in winning FDI projects. Over the last 5 years, IDA’s Regional Property Programme enabled the winning of capital-intensive projects of significant scale to regional locations.
For example, in May 2020 Meissner Filtration Products announced that their new manufacturing facility in Co. Mayo is now operational. Meissner had initially established in an IDA constructed Advanced Manufacturing Building, completed in late 2018.
Ongoing risk aversion, financing challenges and the uncertainty associated with Covid-19 and Brexit are all likely to continue to result in a lack of commercial property solutions in regional locations. The IDA therefore must continue to intervene where market failure exists to ensure that the necessary property and infrastructure solutions are in place to maintain and attract FDI to regions in line with its strategic objectives and regional targets. In addition to its own property solutions, IDA will also continue to work with commercial property developers and Local Authorities to market other property solutions across all regions where they exist.
The locations in which IDA will provide property solutions over the lifetime of its new strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024 were chosen based on extensive analysis, engagement, review and consultation as well as macroeconomic considerations, existing clusters and available resources. IDA will deliver 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) to regional locations and will deliver building solutions in Galway (x2) and Mayo (x1) in the West Region. The national capital investment plans outlined in the new IDA strategy, subject to planning permission and public procurement process, are expected to commence and be delivered within the term of the new strategy at all identified locations.
Departmental Strategies
Questions (8)
Christopher O'Sullivan
Question:8. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the main policy initiatives undertaken by his Department since 27 June 2020; and his main priorities for 2021. [2082/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s focus is on achieving a strong recovery and sustainable economic development through business growth and jobs growth, resilience and innovation. We will continue to strengthen employment rights and champion the principles of responsible free enterprise and fair competition.
Future proofing our economy and society for the twin transition to a sustainable low carbon economy and the acceleration of digitalisation is central to our mission. Our relationships internationally are crucial as a small open economy and we will continue to build close and mutually beneficial relationships globally and grow our influence in the European Union.
To reflect the new focus of my Department, particular in relation to workers’ rights and employment affairs, we have re-named as the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
In the second half of 2020, my Department made significant progress in delivering on the wide range of Programme for Government commitments that fall under its remit, with a particular focus on implementing measures to assist businesses with the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. I have included some of this work below but the full range of initiatives delivered will be reflected in the Department's Annual Report for 2020 which is currently being compiled.
The €7 billion July Jobs Stimulus outlined a series of measures to boost the economy and provide confidence for employees and employers.
We launched the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, which provides loans to businesses of between €10,000 and €1 million. We published guidance on returning to work safely during COVID-19 and have finalised a national remote working strategy, which will be published very shortly.
The Restart Grant and Restart Plus Grant of €650m were specifically provided to ensure that businesses could access grant support to make necessary changes to premises to reopen safely.
The COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme is helping hundreds of businesses to respond to the urgent need for retail companies to achieve a step change in online capability.
My Department also ensured that employment permit applications for healthcare workers were prioritised to assist our health services in dealing with the pandemic.
My Department continued to deliver a wide range of services to businesses and the public against the backdrop of a significantly changed and challenging working environment. At the beginning of the pandemic we put in place a COVID-19 Business Supports Call Centre, which has now been established on a permanent basis as the Department’s new Enterprise Information Centre. We continue to provide critical inputs to the Government’s COVID-19 oversight group.
My Department has played a major role in preparations for Brexit and has delivered new and revised business schemes and regulatory changes and maintained constant communications with businesses on many important aspects of Brexit. I wrote to all businesses in Ireland to help them get Brexit ready and in late December I announced a €100m Brexit Scheme for the food processing sector.
Other priorities that my Department delivered included the development of an action plan for insurance reform, progressing employment rights issues, the launch of Call 3 of the Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund.
I will continue working with the agencies of my Department on their priorities for the year ahead. The Deputy may be aware that in the last week IDA Ireland launched a new four-year strategy and Enterprise Ireland announced its strategic priorities for 2021.
My legislative priorities include establishing the ODCE as an independent agency, bringing forward anti-ticket touting and reselling legislation and giving more powers to the Competition Authorities to protect consumers and break up cartels.
In 2021 I plan to progress work on the introduction of a living wage and legislation to introduce a statutory sick pay scheme and reform of the examinership process.
I will be bringing my Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 to Government shortly, which will outline the high-level goals and actions that will be prioritised in the coming period.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (9)
Michael Moynihan
Question:9. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which retailers of electrical goods are considered to be essential services under level 5 of Covid-19; his response to concerns being expressed by some that a significant number of non-essential items are being sold in such stores; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that UK electrical retail chains currently open for business here have closed their outlets in Northern Ireland owing to Covid-19 and that some employees of such stores believe a similar approach should be taken here. [2096/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19, only essential retail outlets will remain open. Further information can be found on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/
S.I. No. 701 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 and S.I. No. 4 of 2021 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/) clearly sets out the temporary restrictions under Level 5. 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/
Level 5 does not restrict people from purchasing any product, it does however restrict people from physically going into non-essential stores. This is to stop people making unnecessary journeys, congregating and browsing for non-essential goods, to limit the spread of the virus.
Under the current temporary restrictions click and collect from non-essential retail outlets is no longer permitted. Click or phone and deliver will continue.
We are asking retailers to fully get behind the spirit of the regulations. In particular, we are asking retailers with mixed retail offering which have discrete spaces for essential and non-essential retail to make arrangements for the separation of relevant areas. We are also asking retailers to operate staggered opening and closing hours, as well as facilitating starting and finishing hours, in order to minimise the impact on public transport.
My colleague Minister English has met regularly with Retail Forum members and representatives from the retail grocery and distribution sector to continuously assess adherence to the public health restrictions.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) ‘The Work Safely Protocol’ incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces. The Protocol is available on www.gov.ie. The HSA is the lead agency in overseeing compliance with the Protocol in the workplace. If employers or employees need further guidance on the Protocol, the HSA Helpline can be contacted at 1890 289 389 or wcu@hsa.ie
In addition, the National Standards Authority of Ireland have also produced two guidance documents, one for the retail Sector and one for Shopping Centres. Both documents can be found on www.nsai.ie
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.