Written Answers Nos. 52-72
52. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether it will take longer for the travel agent sector to recover due to the current restrictions on international travel and ongoing uncertainty; if existing supports will be maintained to account for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27460/21]
View answerGiven the impact this pandemic and the consequential public health restrictions has had on all aspects of our lives and in particular international travel, it is likely that businesses dependent on international travel, such as travel agents, will take longer to recover than those engaged in other sectors of the economy.
The recovery of businesses involved in this sector is dependent on a successful pan-European vaccination programme combined with the European Commission’s progress towards a new certificate system. Both measures will help reduce the health risks linked to international travel, which in turn should result in increased activity for businesses dependent on travel including travel agents.
A wide range of financial supports have been available to the sector since the outset of this pandemic such as the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme, low cost loans, deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiving of commercial rates.
In addition to these financial supports, my colleague the Minister for Transport also provided access to the Refund Credit Note scheme which allowed travel agents to issue credit notes, underwritten by the State, to consumers in lieu of cash refunds. This measure helped further enhance the ability of travel agents to survive this crisis.
The Government is very aware of the continued need for supports across the economy and has reiterated on many occasions that there will be no cliff edge to supports. The work is ongoing across Government on the nature and design of future supports with details to be announced in the near future along with the publication of the National Economic Recovery Plan.
53. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if recognition will be given to the fact that when sales recommence for travel agents they will be taking in deposits which will be passed on immediately thus giving these businesses no commission income to pay overheads; if this will be factored into business supports made available to this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27462/21]
View answerI am acutely aware of the difficulties that the necessary ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are putting on businesses right across the country, including travel agents. With this in mind the Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), Small business assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates. The level of business supports is unprecedented.
Budget 2021 provided a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors. Details of the wide range of supports available are on my Department’s website.
The details of the second phase of SBASC are also currently being finalised and the local authorities should be in a position to accept applications very shortly. I would encourage business owners to regularly check their local authority website for updates.
I would also suggest that business owners contact their Local Enterprise Office who can signpost them and advise them of supports that may be available for their business.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government is continuing to review the range of assistance schemes and eligibility criteria to ensure we have the right mix for the recovery.
On the specific question raised, the Deputy may wish to follow up with my ministerial colleagues in the Department of Transport.
54. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will propose the waiving of intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27749/21]
View answerUniversal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines, diagnostics and treatments is crucial in the global fight against COVID-19.
International Trade is a competence of the EU under the Treaties. In exercising that competence at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the European Commission engages with Member States, including Ireland, through a variety of Committee and Working Parties/Groups, including on intellectual property (IP).
The announcement by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai regarding the U.S. Government’s support for a waiver of IP protections for COVID-19 vaccines, is significant. However, the statement acknowledged that reaching agreement on this at the WTO will take time given the consensus-based nature of the institution and the complexity of the issues involved.
The President of the EU Commission has responded to the U.S. announcement by indicating its readiness to discuss the U.S. proposal at the WTO. Ireland will engage with the European Commission and other member states on the EU position for the WTO discussions including discussions on how the U.S. announcement for a waiver on intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines can help to resolve the crisis.
The EU continues to be committed to an open and comprehensive dialogue with all WTO members to explore how the multilateral rules-based trading system can best support universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
The EU believes that the WTO international agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (The TRIPS Agreement), allows countries the flexibility to respond to the concerns raised by proponents of the wavier. Specifically, the TRIPS Agreement allows compulsory licensing which is when a government permits an entity to produce the patented product or process without the consent of the patent owner.
The EU also believes that voluntary licensing and the dissemination of technology and know-how is the more effective way of quickly scaling up manufacturing globally. To this end, at the EU level, the Commission has set-up a Task Force for Industrial Scale-up of COVID-19 vaccine production which aims to support the ramp-up of production capacity and resolve supply chain bottlenecks.
The EU considers that the COVAX Facility, the international initiative to ensure global supply and access to COVID vaccines, is the mechanism that is best placed to ensure that high-income countries finance the vaccines and support the developing countries to secure their share of global supply.
55. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the quantity and value of arms and dual use equipment exported by Ireland to Israel each year for the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27875/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a clear commitment to the promotion of Human Rights through business practices and in particular, to rigorously scrutinise all applications for export licences for Military equipment and Dual-use items.
To this end, my Department actively supports and participates in EU and global efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to support regional security, to prevent terrorism and to protect human rights. The Department operates the highest standards of Export Controls, in accordance with EU law and international best practice.
My Department administers controls on the export of Military equipment from Ireland, in accordance with the European Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment. The list of Military equipment subject to these controls is set out in the Common Military List of the European Union.
My Department is also responsible for licensing the export of Dual-use items pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No. 428/2009 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items.
Dual-use items are products and components, including software and technology, that can be used for both civil and military applications. The bulk of Dual-use exports from Ireland are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software, (networking, data storage, cybersecurity etc). They are categorised as Dual-use items as a consequence of fact that they make use of strong encryption for security purposes.
In keeping with the commitment in the Programme for Government, all applications for export licences are rigorously scrutinised by my officials, on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the relevant legislation. Each application is reviewed against the eight assessment criteria set out in Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP. Applications also reviewed against any EU Restrictive Measures, such as trade sanctions or arms embargoes, that may be in place in respect of the destination country.
My officials also seek observations from the Department of Foreign Affairs on any foreign policy considerations that may arise with the proposed export.
The table below sets out the quantity and value of Dual-use and Military licences issued for exports from Ireland to Israel over the period 2012 to May 2021. In 2018, the total value of EU Dual-use exports to Israel was approximately €410M and Ireland accounted for 0.8% of this total.
|
Year |
No. Dual-use Licences issued |
Value € |
No. Military Licences issued |
Value € |
|
2012 |
20 |
859,002 |
1 |
39,525 |
|
2013 |
20 |
4,322,465 |
5 |
119,971 |
|
2014 |
21 |
13,939,167 |
2 |
126,637 |
|
2015 |
21 |
2,683,358 |
0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
21 |
4,341,794 |
0 |
0 |
|
Year |
No. Dual-use Licences issued |
Value € |
No. Military Licences issued |
Value € |
|
2017 |
19 |
5,175,210 |
0 |
0 |
|
2018 |
26 |
3,073,005 |
0 |
0 |
|
2019 |
17 |
4,694,796 |
0 |
0 |
|
2020 |
27 |
9,695,735 |
0 |
0 |
|
2021* |
11 |
3,735,405 |
0 |
0 |
*Licences issued up to 20th May 2021
56. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if ratification of the ILO Convention C190 Violence and Harassment in the Workplace requires amendments to domestic legislation; if so, the type of legislative amendments that will be required; and if not, if he plans to ratify the Convention. [27961/21]
View answerThe ratification of ILO Convention C190 is a matter of priority for Ireland and we continue to work towards being amongst the first ILO member States to ratify, with plans to progress the ratification this year.
The issue of ratification by Ireland of International Labour Organisation Convention 190, Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, is being considered in the context of our standard approach to the ratification of international instruments. Ireland does not ratify international conventions until it has been determined that national law is in line with the provisions of the international instrument.
Convention 190 is the first ever international instrument on the very important issues of eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work. Ireland already has very strong protections in law to combat violence and harassment in the world of work and has ratified the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).
My officials are engaging with relevant Departments and offices to establish the extent to which domestic legislative provisions already provide for the rights and entitlements enunciated in the Convention, as well as legislative amendments, if any, that may be required to enable ratification.
As part of this process, my officials will undertake a stakeholder consultation with the social partners and other interested parties in the coming months.
57. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if figures regarding grants from Enterprise Ireland awarded to a company (details supplied) in 2020 and to date in 2021 will be provided. [28050/21]
View answerEnterprise Ireland payments, to the company referred to in the Deputy’s question, for the years 2020 and 2021 to date are listed in the table below.
|
Company |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Payments |
€7,450 |
€100,000 |
58. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he will publish the economic and sustainability impact assessment by his Department of the EU-Mercosur trade deal. [28053/21]
View answerThe Deputy will recall that this particular Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment consists of two important and complementary components, namely a comprehensive analysis of the potential economic benefits as well as a robust sustainability impact assessment including social, human rights and environmental impacts that the trade Agreement could have in Ireland and the Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. As such, it is a considerable undertaking, which, unfortunately, has necessitated us running beyond the Q1 2021 deadline by which we had hoped to have the finalised report considered by Government and published.
The detailed research and stakeholder consultations are concluded and the drafting of the Report itself is well advanced such that the Report is expected to be received by my Department in the coming weeks. It will be published as soon as possible after consideration by Government.
59. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the legislative agenda pertaining to content moderators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28109/21]
View answerContent moderators carry out really important work to protect us all and we need to ensure they are protected properly in their work. I have met with content moderators and their representatives recently and corresponded with one of the social media companies concerned.
There is already, in Ireland, a strong legislative regime to protect all workers in terms of their working conditions, including work-related health and safety, as well as their terms and conditions of employment.
Our suite of workplace health and safety legislation is designed to prevent and mitigate against work-related accidents and injuries. Social media content moderators should be treated by an employer in the same way as any other worker potentially exposed to hazards. The employer must ensure that appropriate training is provided and must carry out a robust risk assessment with a particular focus on potential hazards for the worker. Proper risk assessment, along with mitigation measures, is the foundation for all workplace health and safety. The Health and Safety Authority has an extensive range of advisory and guidance material available to employers to assist them in identifying and managing specific workplace hazards and risks. In addition, any content moderator concerned for their health and safety can contact the Workplace Contact Unit of the Health and Safety Authority in confidence at www.hsa.ie.
Our suite of employment rights legislation protects all employees who are legally employed on a contract of service basis. Where an individual believes they are being deprived of employment rights they can bring a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) which is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights legislation. The WRC can be contacted at www.workplacerelations.ie .
While the Health and Safety Authority is independent in the carrying out of investigations into complaints that it receives, I am aware that the Health and Safety Authority continues to engage with the Social Media sector to reiterate their duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and to establish what control measures are in place to address the risks arising from the specific nature of the work of content moderators. On assessing the control measures the Health and Safety Authority will be able to determine whether further advice or guidance is necessary for employers and employees in that sector.
Separately, I would add that my colleague, Catherine Martin TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, is currently advancing a regulatory framework which will deal with on-line safety and which will include the establishment of an Online Safety Commissioner.
60. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is a policy of data back-up in the operations of his Department and all agencies under his remit. [28116/21]
View answerMy Department has a policy of data back-up. All of the agencies under the remit of my Department have also confirmed that they have back-up processes in place.
For operational and security reasons, we are advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise the cyber security efforts of public bodies. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in Departmental cybersecurity arrangements, or to allow those criminals to enumerate differences in approach between public bodies which could be used to identify targets.
Therefore, it is not considered appropriate to disclose more particular arrangements in place in relation to data back-up, and my Department does not comment on operational security matters.
61. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects future details in relation to the extended eligibility of the small business assistance scheme for Covid to be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28230/21]
View answerIt was recently announced that the eligibility criteria for the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) would be extended to include businesses operating from a non-rateable premises such as a home office or hot-desk.
The details of the scheme are currently being finalised by my Department and I expect that full details of the scheme will be announced in the next week and Local Authorities will begin taking applications in early June. The scheme will have a closing date of 21st July 2021.
62. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects the micro-enterprise assistance scheme to be relaunched through the local enterprise offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28231/21]
View answerThe Government at its meeting on 18 May agreed to extend eligibility for the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) to those businesses operating from a non-rateable premises with fixed costs, if such businesses meet all other eligibility criteria for SBASC. This will allow such businesses to apply for a payment of €4,000 when the Scheme reopens for Q2 2021.
The Government also agreed to provide a grant of up to €1,000 for microenterprises with previous turnover of less than €50,000, that meet the other criteria for SBASC.
The details of the revised schemes are currently being finalised and I hope to launch the scheme in the coming weeks. Business owners who are interested in availing of the scheme should check their local authority website for updates and full details will be available from the Local Enterprise Offices.
63. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount spent by his Department on external professional legal services in 2014, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [28300/21]
View answerMy Department spent a total of €3,810,021.86 on external professional legal services in the years requested by the Deputy as follows (also included in the attached table):
- 2014 - €434,804.15
- 2019 - €1,679,625.46
- 2020 - €1,695,592.25
64. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to reopen applications for work permits for dairy farm assistants in early 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28350/21]
View answerThe employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, however, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.
In order to ensure that the employment permits system is responsive to changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions, it is managed through the operation of the critical skills and the ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit. The lists are subject to twice yearly reviews which are evidence based and are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS, a public consultation process, input from the relevant policy Departments and the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by the Department. Account is also taken of contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID 19 and their impact on the labour market.
The pilot quota-based scheme introduced in May 2018 following consideration of a detailed business case submitted by the sector, provided a quota of 150 general employment permits for the occupation of Dairy Farm Assistant. This pilot scheme has proved very successful for a range of employers in the sector and the quota of 150 employment permits is now exhausted.
Consideration of the submissions received to the current occupations lists review is underway, including from the farming sector, and scheduled to be finalised in the coming weeks.
65. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the investment made by his Department and State agencies under its remit in each year in cyber security for the past ten years. [28844/21]
View answerMy Department adopts a defence in depth approach to cyber security. This approach uses multiple layers and disparate systems to deliver security which is not dependent on any single component. Given the heightened level of risk which currently exists, our technical staff has adopted a posture of increased vigilance and oversight of systems.
My Department is taking advice from our own external security advisers, and is also monitoring advice and guidance coming from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) on any additional steps which should be implemented in the light of current risks. This advice is also being shared with the State agencies under the remit of my Department, who are evaluating this advice in the context of their own cyber security arrangements.
For operational and security reasons, we are advised by the NCSC not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cybersecurity arrangements, or to allow those criminals to enumerate differences in approach between public bodies which could be used to identify targets.
Therefore, it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to cyber security tools and services, or financial details which could be used to rank the cyber defences of public bodies, and my Department does not comment on operational security matters.
66. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when works will be carried out by the OPW on the wall on the bridge in Ballylooby, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28156/21]
View answerI refer to the response to Question No. 39699/20 of 1 December 2020.
I understand that a pre-planning meeting with Tipperary County Council confirmed that planning permission is required for the proposed works. Consequently, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has issued a call for competitive tenders to engage consulting engineers to prepare a planning application and to appoint contractors for the works, providing the planning application is successful.
While planning is a matter for the Local Authority, I am advised by IFI that it is anticipated that the planning process will be completed by August and it is expected, pending a successful planning outcome, that construction can take place in September during the normal environmental window for such works.
IFI would be happy to keep the Deputy updated on the status of the proposed works.
67. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to ban all single-use plastic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27471/21]
View answerThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy outlines the measures Ireland is taking under the Single Use Plastics Directive (EU 2019/904) and beyond to substantially reduce the amount of single use plastic items we use and to sustainably manage the waste arising from the remainder.
The Directive will be transposed by the deadline of 3rd July 2021 and from that date single use plastic cutlery, plates, straws, balloon and cotton bud sticks may not be placed on the Irish market. This ban will also apply to expanded polystyrene cups and food containers and all products containing oxo-degradable plastic.
The Plan details our commitment to lead EU efforts in this area through working towards an eventual ban on disposable coffee cups and cold drinks cups and to set up new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for other plastic waste streams covered by the Single Use Plastics Directive including tobacco products, balloons, wet wipes and fishing gear. It also sets out a road map for the introduction of a Deposit and Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans by the third quarter of 2022.
68. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has received reports on the enforcement against illegal dumping activities in Dublin; and the progress being made in addressing the problems in particular at a large illegal dump in Dublin 17. [27562/21]
View answerIndividual local authorities deal with cases of illegal disposal of waste in their areas and it is matter for them to take the appropriate enforcement actions. In this case, Dublin City Council (DCC) is responsible for enforcement of the Waste Management Act. The National Waste Enforcement Steering Committee (NWESC) has also provided assistance in bringing together different relevant NWESC member agencies to support DCC in their efforts such as An Garda Síochána, Revenue and the Department of Social Protection.
The operation has resulted in the impounding of vehicles used for alleged unauthorised waste activities and the initiation of prosecutions. There are investigations underway by DCC, with the assistance of An Garda Síochána, into ongoing breaches of the Waste Management Act. Patrols, together with regular clean-up and maintenance operations by DCC are continuing.
The ultimate objective is to clean and secure the site as part of an overall and sustainable solution. Specialist Environmental Consultants were engaged by DCC to undertake Environmental Assessments to gauge the scale and type of waste involved and the subsequent means and level of clean up that might be required. The next phase will be to commence this clean-up and my Department officials will receive further reports from DCC and via NWESC as this progresses. Tackling illegal dumping and other waste crime is a priority for my Department which continues to provide support to local authorities dealing with challenging waste enforcement cases through both the Anti-Dumping Initiative and the Sites of Concern Programme.
69. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the 2021 funding allocation and progress being made on the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27670/21]
View answerSignificant progress has been made in implementing the Government's Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, published in September 2020. This five-year action plan contains over 200 commitments. My Department has prioritised some of the most impactful measures such as the Deposit and Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans, the publication of a whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy and the preparation of the Circular Economy Bill which will provide a statutory basis for a number of other actions in the Plan (e.g. in relation to food waste, separate collection and enforcement).
Plan implementation is being supported by Exchequer and non-Exchequer funding through the Environment Fund. Full details can be found at www.gov.ie.
70. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address matters (details supplied) regarding cyber security at hospitals and healthcare systems in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27689/21]
View answer71. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a public investigation will be carried out into the HSE cyber-attack following the example of the British Government and will the findings be published pertaining to the preparedness and response of the HSE to the cyber-attack. [27690/21]
View answer72. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the investment made by his Department in each year in cyber security for the past ten years and State agencies under its remit. [27691/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 71 and 72 together. I propose to take Questions Nos 70 to 72, inclusive, and 140 together:
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) which is located within my Department, acts as a central contact point in the event of a government or nation-wide cyber security incident affecting the State, including the provision of advisory notices to its core group of government departments, state agencies, and organisations responsible for critical national infrastructure.
With regard to the cyber attack on the HSE, the NCSC has been intensively engaging with the HSE since early on Friday 14 May and has deployed its resources to fully support the HSE in identifying the affected systems and to bring systems back online, liaising with international partners and third-party contractors. The focus continues to be the restoration of our health services.
The actual detail of security measures employed by each individual organisation to secure that organisation's network and information systems is a matter for each individual organisation. More broadly, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in IT security arrangements. Therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to IT security tools and services, including those in relation to my Department, or agencies under its remit and my Department does not comment on operational security matters.
