Written Answers Nos. 101-120
101. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of his engagement with social media platforms regarding working conditions for content moderators. [29939/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Tánaiste met with a number of content moderators, and their representatives earlier this year, and followed up directly with the company on whose behalf content moderation work is carried out.
I am aware of the genuine concerns of social media content moderators and recognise the important service these workers provide in keeping us all safe.
Ireland has in place a strong and robust 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. The work of a social media moderator involves exposure to potentially harmful material the impact of which is a potential hazard to the worker. It is the employer’s responsibility to identify, control and reduce impact of workplace hazards.
Social media content moderators should be treated by an employer in the same way as any other worker potentially exposed to work related hazards. The employer must carry out a robust risk assessment with a particular focus on the potential hazards arising from work activities and must provide appropriate training. Where a particular hazard is identified that may require subsequent monitoring it must be included in the written Safety Statement, and the relevant worker must be made aware of the hazard and the associated monitoring that is in place.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the independent regulator for workplace safety. I am aware that the HSA is engaging with the Social Media sector to establish and assess the control measures in place to address the risks arising from specific nature of the work of content moderators. The HSA will be able to determine whether further advice or guidance is necessary for employers to ensure compliance with their duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
I would also point out that there is provision in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005, to ensure that an employer cannot penalise, or threaten to penalise, an employee who makes a complaint or a representation on any matter relating to health and safety at work. Any worker concerned for their health and safety can contact the Health and Safety Authority’s Workplace Contact Unit in confidence at wcu@hsa.ie.
Furthermore, a full suite of employment rights legislation protects all workers legally employed on a contract of service basis. Where an individual is concerned about their employment rights they should contact the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) which is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights legislation. The WRC can be contacted at www.workplacerelations.ie.
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.
102. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if restart grants will be provided for the hospitality industry in advance of the reopening of the sector to assist with cashflow issues that most businesses in this sector are facing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30025/21]
View answerThe financial support the Government is providing small businesses and workers affected by the pandemic is unprecedented. These supports include the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the Employment Wage Subsidy (EWSS). Support for business includes the weekly Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) of payment for businesses forced to close their doors to the public, the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), the lower Tourism VAT rate of 9% further extended to September 2022, a commercial rates waiver extended in its current form for another three months, the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme as well as low-cost loans. Information on the wide range of supports can be found on my Department’s website https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
Government is in no doubt how important the COVID supports such as the EWSS and CRSS have been to businesses and the role played by grant schemes such as the Restart Grants, SBASC and the various sectoral supports administered by relevant Departments.
The CRSS has provided vital support to businesses that have been forced to close or restrict access to their premises on foot of public health regulations. The CRSS has been extended until the end of 2021 and enhanced with a significantly higher restart payment – three weeks at double rate of payment (to a maximum of €30,000).
Further targeted supports have also been introduced including a new additional Business Resumption Support Scheme from September for businesses with significantly reduced turnover.
I am acutely aware of the difficulties SME's continue to face due to this pandemic and that is why I have expanded the SBASC scheme which will now take into account businesses who do not pay rates and also businesses that have a turnover below €50,000. Phase 2 of this scheme will be open for applications in early June, with a closing date of 21st July. Further details of the scheme including all eligibility criteria will shortly be available on my Department's website www.enterprise.gov.ie and on Local Authority websites.
We are committed to the economic recovery of the country and work is ongoing across Government to ensure the supports which will be in place are sufficient, targeted and sustainable. The National Recovery Plan will chart the pathway forward for our country.
My colleague, Minister Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, may be able to provide more specific details on these supports for the hospitality sector, for which she has lead responsibility.
103. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in County Clare that have availed of the Covid-19 credit guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30047/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) is the largest loan guarantee scheme in the history of the State. The Scheme provides €2 billion in lending, for terms up to five-and-a-half years and offers a range of lending products between €10,000 and €1 million at interest rates below market rates for similar type loans. It is available to SMEs and small mid-caps (business with less than 500 employees), including primary producers (businesses engaged in the farming and seafood sectors). The Scheme is available until 31 December 2021 following a Government decision in March to extend it in line with the extension of the European Commission’s Temporary Framework on State Aid.
In order to provide the public with relevant data on the performance of the scheme, my Department publishes weekly and monthly reports on its website. These reports provide data on loans drawn under a wide variety of themes and are available at enterprise.gov.ie/en/Publications/COVID-19-Credit-Guarantee-Scheme-Performance-Reports.html.
As at 20 May, 159 businesses in County Clare have availed of the CCGS and have drawn loans with a value of €7,807,302.
The Scheme is currently available through three commercial banks, six non-bank lenders and nineteen credit unions. This long-term policy goal of diversification adds competition in the market and ensures a wide range of loan products are available throughout the regions.
I would strongly encourage businesses to avail of the low-cost lending facilities provided under the scheme as they look towards reopening.
104. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the eligibility for non-rateable premises for Covid-19 supports under his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16745/21]
View answerThe SBASC was introduced to help businesses not eligible for the Government’s COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and the Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity grant or other direct sectoral grant schemes.
The Scheme was launched on 9th March 2021 through the Local Authorities, with a closing date of 21st April for applications for Q1 2021.
As you may be aware I recently announced the expansion of the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC). The expansion will now allow for non rated businesses and businesses with a turnover below €50,000 to apply for the grant. Businesses operating from a non rateable premises will now be able to apply for the grant if they meet all eligible criteria.
The details of the second phase of the small business assistance scheme for COVID (SBASC) are currently being finalised and will be open for applications from early June, with a closing date of 21st July. Local Authorities will once again be administering this scheme.
108. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has made an impact assessment on the business community from credit rating downgrades during the Covid-19 lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30164/21]
View answerThe mobilisation of large fiscal support to limit the economic disruption from the pandemic has resulted in an increase in public indebtedness. At end-2020, Ireland’s outstanding general government gross debt stood at €218.2 billion, an increase from €204 billion in 2019.
This is expected to increase further in 2021 to €239bn or 62% of GDP and Ireland is not unique in providing fiscal support throughout the pandemic and debt levels have increased across all advanced economies.
While Ireland's debt levels have increased, the long-term sovereign debt credit ratings has not been downgraded since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak by any of the three main ratings agencies. Ireland has retained its AA-rating with Standard & Poor’s, A+ with Fitch and A2 with Moody’s, with all three agencies reporting a stable outlook for Irish debt.
The economy is re-opening up in clear phases and the Government will continue to provide financial assistance and guidance for businesses through the recovery phase and beyond. These measures are outlined within the recently published National Economic Recovery Plan.
Specifically, for businesses seeking credit in the current environment a number of schemes have been put in place to help them. These include the €2 billion COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Future Growth Loan Scheme, the Covid-19 Business Loans through Microfinance Ireland, the SBCI Covid-19 Working Capital Scheme, Sustaining Enterprise Fund and the Covid-19 Business Financial Planning Grant.
109. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the additional supports the Economic Recovery Plan will put in place to help persons back to work and to help SMEs recover; the breakdown of applications approved for the small business assistance scheme for Covid in County Limerick to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30089/21]
View answer194. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the additional supports the Economic Recovery Plan will put in place to help persons back to work and to help SMEs survive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30169/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 194 together.
Since the start of this pandemic, the Government has provided unprecedented levels of aid to businesses aimed at ensuring that viable businesses will survive this pandemic.
The Government was clear that there would be no cliff edge to this assistance and that businesses would be given as much certainty about the levels of help which will be available in the future as this pandemic allows.
The Economic Recovery Plan provides this certainty and a clear pathway for the labour market and enterprise towards new opportunities.
The Plan includes in excess of €3.5 billion in further labour market and enterprise schemes and just under €1 billion additional funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
The Economic Recovery Plan details the measures the Government is taking to enable people to return to employment and help SMEs, not only to survive, but to grow.
To achieve these objectives, the Covid-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) will remain in place until year end to aid those severely affected businesses who continue to be subject to public health restrictions.
For those businesses existing CRSS in June, bonus payments will be available in the coming weeks and a new scheme called the Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) will provide additional targeted aid for those businesses ineligible for CRSS.
From the point of view of both helping businesses and providing employment, the extension of the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) scheme as laid out in the Economic and Recovery Plan is significant.
The EWSS will be crucial for businesses as they re-open as it subsidises a portion of labour costs which gives businesses the opportunity to trade profitably even when operating under public health guidelines which may constrain demand.
The extension of the reduced VAT rate of 9% is another measure which will allow businesses operating in the highly impacted hospitality sector to maintain margins, re-employ workers and return to profitability.
Other aids include the announcement of phase 2 of the SBASC grant which will see the grant extended to those businesses without a rateable premises and the introduction of a smaller grant for those micro enterprises who are not eligible for SBASC.
The continued deferral of the €2.3 Billion in tax liabilities owing to the Exchequer and the fact that liabilities incurred for a short period after trading resumes can continue to be warehoused will provide additional liquidity to aid businesses, including SMEs, and help return them to profitability.
The plan provides a timetable for the future of available schemes over the coming months which will give businesses the certainty they require in order to plan for the future and re-employ staff.
The proposals in the plan will help both businesses and employees recover from the impact of the pandemic by enabling businesses to begin growing again and reverse the losses in employment suffered over recent months.
Regarding Deputy O’Donnell’s request for the breakdown of applications for the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), 306 applications have been received for County Limerick. Of that figure to date 113 have been approved for payment, 37 are still being assessed and 156 applications have been refused.
The refusals have occurred due to eligibility requirements such as the business’s turnover not being down 75% during the required period, the business not operating from a rateable premises, or the business not reaching the €50k turnover requirement.
110. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to help small businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30040/21]
View answerI am keenly aware of the difficulties that the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are placing on businesses right across the country. It is a challenging time for small business owners, employees and their families.
That is why 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.
I would urge business owners to avail of these supports if they have not already done so. I would also encourage small business owners to contact their Local Enterprise Office, who can direct them to supports that may be available for their business.
I am also aware that Government needs to take a long-term view with regard to the recovery by fostering growth, productivity and sustainability within the Irish SME sector.
The “Programme for Government – Our Shared Future” set out a commitment to draw up an ambitious long-term strategic blueprint for SMEs and entrepreneurs beyond COVID-19.
Accordingly, in September 2020, I established an SME Growth Taskforce comprising over 20 entrepreneurs, business leaders and other stakeholders, contributing expertise from a broad range of economic sectors and business types.
The Taskforce was served by four focused sub-groups with the capacity and expertise to develop specific actions in thematic areas, drawing on the OECD Review of SME and Entrepreneurship Policy in Ireland. These sub-groups focused on the areas of Entrepreneurship; Productivity, Digitalisation and Competitiveness; Internationalisation; and Clustering and Networks.
This work culminated in the publication in January of this year of the SME and Entrepreneurship Growth Plan, which sets out a wide range of recommendations with long-term strategic relevance for SMEs and entrepreneurs.
The recommendations in the Report include measures to help SMEs and entrepreneurs to start up, scale up and access foreign markets, as well as recommendations aimed at helping SMEs to become more productive and ready for the transition to a digital, green economy.
These recommendations, while not yet Government policy, are now being considered by a Ministerial-led SME & Entrepreneurship Implementation Group, which was established in February to progress the Report’s recommendations.
The Implementation Group has been meeting with Departments and Agencies with responsibility for delivery of relevant actions, with a view to taking these proposals forward. This is a key element of the plans to support the domestic SME sector that have been set out in the National Economic Recovery Plan.
111. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the mechanisms that are in place in his Department to ensure that all bilateral agreements with Israel apply only to Israel proper and do not benefit those territories illegally occupied by Israel in 1967; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30090/21]
View answerUN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted on 23 December 2016, calls on all States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.
Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, and will continue to do so.In keeping with differentiation, Ireland’s bilateral agreements with Israel do not apply to territories occupied by Israel in 1967.
My Department does not have any bilateral agreements with Israel.
Questions Nos. 113 to 116, inclusive, answered orally.
117. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the initiatives that are being taken to tackle dog theft; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29978/21]
View answerAs we all know many people have a strong emotional attachment to our pets and I therefore appreciate that their theft can be a traumatic experience.
This is an issue that is of personal importance to me and indeed I previously introduced a Bill to enhance the place of companion animals in legislation. Work on this Bill is currently ongoing in my Department.
Minister McEntee and I met with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, in December last to discuss the issues of pet theft and animal welfare legislation. We all agreed to a collaborative approach to dealing with the issue. As you will be aware, Minister McConalogue's Department is the lead Department for all animal welfare issues.
The Department of Justice is kept appraised by An Garda Síochána on the issue of pet theft.
Under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, the theft of an animal carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment on conviction. If the animal was taken from a person's property the crime becomes burglary and attracts a potential maximum of up to 14 years imprisonment. These are significant sentences by any measure.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing decisions. This includes crime prevention initiatives and strategies. Neither I, nor the Minister, have a role in these independent functions and that is entirely correct.
With regard to measures aimed at preventing such thefts, I am informed by the Garda authorities that information has been disseminated to the Crime Prevention Officers' Network countrywide specifically dealing with the topic of dog thefts. The Garda National Crime Prevention Unit's advice on pet safety concurs with the advice from animal welfare groups and animal insurance companies about keeping animals safe.
Ongoing patrols throughout the country also act as a deterrent to mobile criminals and thereby help prevent criminal activity. Improved awareness of dog thefts among the community will ensure more vigilance within neighbourhood watch and community alert areas.
Questions Nos. 118 to 120, inclusive, answered orally.
