Written Answers Nos. 163-177
163. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department holds a database of potential foreign investors seeking projects for investment or projects that are seeking foreign investors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33996/21]
View answerMy Department does not hold a database of potential foreign investors seeking projects for investment or projects that are seeking foreign investors. I am also advised that neither IDA Ireland nor Enterprise Ireland, both of which are under the remit of my Department, hold such databases.
IDA Ireland is the statutory agency with primary responsibility for the attraction and development of foreign direct investment (FDI) by overseas industry in Ireland. As one of the world’s leading foreign direct investment agencies, the IDA has played a key role in the economic development of Ireland for over 70 years. IDA’s marketing of Ireland as an ideal location for the establishment of mobile FDI is underpinned by its presence across the globe in 25 separate locations.
As Ireland's Foreign Direct Investment Promotion Agency, IDA Ireland provides a range of support and services to help foreign companies quickly establish and develop their operations in Ireland. Funding and grants are available to those considering foreign direct investment in Ireland. These are offered to both new and existing clients.
164. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Workplace Relations Commission actions taken in County Cork to date in 2021. [34054/21]
View answerThe Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department, established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services.
Inspections carried out by WRC Inspectors operate on a compliance model. This means that an inspector will work with the employer to ensure that the employer fulfils all their statutory obligations and that any outstanding wages or entitlements are given to workers.
I understand from clarification provided by the Deputy that the information sought relates to the number of breaches detected by the WRC. In the period 1 January 2021 to date, 42 contraventions of employment legislation have been detected in County Cork by WRC Inspectors.
165. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the Cork City Council motion calling on the Government to support the waiving of patents on the Covid-19 vaccine in the EU and worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26558/21]
View answerUniversal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable diagnostics, treatments and vaccines is crucial in the global fight against COVID-19. The EU’s participation in the recent G7 discussions, where additional commitments on the provision of vaccines globally was agreed, bears witness to that.
South Africa and India amended their original proposal for a waiver by broadening the scope; it now covers all COVID-19 related health products and technologies for prevention, treatment, and containment of the disease and provides that the waiver shall be in force for 3 years and that only the WTO General Council in a consensus decision could determine the date of termination of the waiver.
On the 4th of June, the EU submitted a proposal to the WTO General Council, which proposes that WTO Members could agree on a global trade initiative for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics encompassing the three components of (i) trade facilitation and disciplines on export restrictions; (ii) concrete actions to expand production and ensure supply of vaccines at affordable prices to low and middle income countries during the pandemic and (iii) clarification and facilitation of TRIPS Agreement flexibilities relating to compulsory licenses.
Production capacity is a key issue here and, again at the G7 earlier this month, the EU Commission announced €1b in funding for the building of production capacity in Africa, which will create long-term production capacity in Africa.
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 waiver. 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.
The EU considers that the COVAX Facility, the international initiative to ensure global supply and access to COVID-19 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.
The EU has also submitted a proposal for a Declaration to the WTO TRIPS Council, which seeks to clarify how the existing TRIPS flexibilities could be more effective than a waiver.
Ireland will engage with the European Commission and other member states on the EU position for the WTO discussions on how the intellectual property protections flexibilities for COVID-19 vaccines can help to resolve the crisis and contribute towards increasing the manufacturing capacity and the equitable access to vaccines around the world.
166. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost to increase the Enterprise Ireland budget by 1% and 10% respectively. [33970/21]
View answerEnterprise Ireland (EI) receives funding under both the Jobs and Enterprise Development and the Enterprise, Innovation and Commercialisation Programmes in my Department’s Vote.
A Further Revised Estimate setting out the allocations for 2021in respect of the various programmes funded from my Department’s Vote is expected to be submitted to the Dáil for approval shortly. It is expected that the total gross allocation for EI under both Programmes from the DETE Vote in 2021 will be €571.2 million.
On the basis of EI’s expected allocation, increasing their budget by 1% would cost approximately €5.71 million and an increase of 10% would cost approximately €57.12 million.
The Deputy should be aware that EI received very significant additional funding in 2020 to assist in its response to both Covid and Brexit, including substantial funding for extraordinary measures such as the Restart Grants, the Sustaining Enterprise Fund. The funding of €571.2 million proposed for 2021 also represents very significant beyond core funding for EI and is a concrete recognition of the vital role that EI continues to play is assisting Irish indigenous enterprises, particularly as they strive to emerge from the challenges of Covid and Brexit.
167. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost to increase funding to InterTradeIreland by 20%. [33971/21]
View answer171. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of a 50% increase in funding to InterTradeIreland. [33976/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 171 together.
The Deputy will be aware that Intertrade Ireland as a North South body receives funding from both my Department and from our counterpart Department in the Northern Ireland Administration. Insofar as my Department is concerned, a Further Revised Estimate setting out the allocations for 2021in respect of the various programmes funded from my Department’s Vote is expected to be submitted to the Dáil for approval shortly. It is expected that Intertrade Ireland will be provided with a gross allocation of €11.036 million from the DETE Vote for its use in 2021.
On the basis of Intertrade’s expected DETE allocation for 202I, increasing its budget by 20% would cost approximately €2.207 million and a budget increase of 50% would cost approximately €5.518 million.
The Deputy should be aware that Intertrade received significant additional funding in 2020 to assist them in their response to both Covid and Brexit. The 2021 Further Revised Estimate will also provide Intertrade with further additional funding to help it address these ongoing challenges.
168. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost to treble the Young Entrepreneur Fund. [33972/21]
View answerThe total investment by my Department through the Local Enterprise Offices across the three years from 2016 - 2019 in the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) programme is €5million. The competition that ended in September 2019 cost €2.6 million. A trebling of the fund would require funding to the value of €7.8 million per annum.
Since its inception in 2014, over 600 young entrepreneurs have received in excess of €8million in IBYE funding as well as a wide range of vital follow-on training and mentoring to support them on their entrepreneurial journeys.
169. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost to increase funding to the Workplace Relations Commission by 50%. [33973/21]
View answerA Further Revised Estimate (FRE) setting out the allocations for 2021in respect of the various programmes funded from my Department’s Vote is expected to be submitted to the Dáil for approval shortly. It is expected that the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) will be provided with a gross allocation of €15.405million for its use in 2021.
On the basis of the WRC’s expected allocation for 202I, increasing the Commission’s budget by 50% would cost approximately €7.702 million.
170. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost to increase funding to the local enterprise office network by 5%, 10%, and 50%. [33974/21]
View answerA Further Revised Estimate (FRE) setting out the allocations for 2021 in respect of the various programmes funded from my Department’s Vote is expected to be submitted to the Dáil for approval shortly. It is expected that the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) will be provided with a gross allocation of €52.781million for their use in 2021.
On the basis of the LEOs’ expected allocation for 202I, increasing their budget by 5% would cost some €2.639million, an increase of 10% would cost approximately €5.27million and an increase of 50% would cost €26.39 million.
The Deputy should be aware that the LEOs received very significant additional funding in 2020 to assist them in their response to both Covid and Brexit. They will also receive further substantial additional funding in the 2021 Further Revised Estimate.
172. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of creating a State-funded workers’ cooperative development unit with ten staff on the average public sector wage and €10 million in funding to promote and develop workers’ cooperatives. [33979/21]
View answerThe co-operative model is one of a number of legal options for an enterprise structure available to those considering establishing themselves in business. My Department does not promote one structure over another and the enterprise supports developed by the Department and its agencies are available to co-operatives where they meet the criteria for such supports. It is premature at this stage to speculate on how co-operatives could most appropriately be supported into the future and whether a dedicated development unit would be necessary. Should such a unit be considered, then its proposed functions would determine the number and skillsets of staff and associated grades and salary levels. My Department is prioritising the supports and assistance available to enterprises, including co-operatives, in the context of economic recovery and the challenges ahead including climate action and digitalisation.
However, it is clear that the laws underpinning co-operatives are in need of reform and my Department is well advanced in the preparation of a general scheme of a Co-operative Societies Bill. This Bill will consolidate and modernise the existing Industrial and Provident Societies legislation and provide an effective and robust legislative framework for the diverse range of organisations using the co-operative model in Ireland, including worker co-operatives. The Bill will support the co-operative ethos and introduce new / expanded provisions across a range of areas including registration; corporate governance; compliance; financial reporting; and powers of the Registrar of Friendly Societies. This will provide co-operatives with a modern and fit for purpose legislative basis on a par with other legal structures such as companies.
In the context of enactment of the Co-operative Societies Bill, my Department intends to engage widely with stakeholders including the co-operative sector, professional advisers, development agencies, relevant Government departments etc. to raise awareness of the modernised legislative basis underpinning co-operatives as an attractive option for entities wishing to operate under the co-operative ethos.
173. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing funding to the Irish Competition Authority by 10%. [33981/21]
View answer177. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission received in 2020; and the amount it is expected to receive in 2021, in tabular form. [34140/21]
View answer178. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the funding for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission by 5%, 10%, 20% and 50%, in tabular form. [34141/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 173, 177 and 178 together.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 established the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and in doing so effectively merged the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency. The CCPC receives its exchequer funding under the Regulation Programme of my Department’s Vote.
The CCPC) was allocated a total of €13.834m in funding from my Department’s Vote in 2020. In terms of 2021, a Further Revised Estimate (FRE) for the Department will be submitted shortly to the Dáil for approval. It is expected that the FRE will provide the CCPC with a gross allocation of €16.736m for its use in 2021.
On the basis of the CCPC’s expected allocation for 2021, the Table below sets out the estimated cost of increasing the CCPc’s funding by 5%, 10%, 20% and 50%.
|
2021 REV allocation |
Increase5% |
Increase10% |
Increase20% |
Increase50% |
|
€16.736m |
€838k |
€1.674m |
€3.347m |
€8.368m |
174. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated annual cost of increased funding the Companies Registration Office by 5% and 25% respectively. [33982/21]
View answerA Further Revised Estimate (FRE) setting out the allocations for 2021 in respect of the various programmes funded from my Department’s Vote is expected to be submitted to the Dáil for approval shortly. It is expected that Companies Registration Office (CRO) will be provided with a gross allocation of €7.964 million for its use in 2021.
On the basis of the CRO’s expected allocation for 2021, increasing its budget by 5% would cost €398,000 and an increase of 25% would cost €1.99 million.
175. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement received in 2020; and the amount it is expected to receive in 2021, in tabular form. [34138/21]
View answer176. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the funding for the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement by 5%, 10%, 20% and 50%, in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34139/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.
An exercise to estimate the budgetary requirements for the establishment of the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) commenced in 2018. At that point, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement’s (ODCE) annual budget was €5.057m. Following an assessment of the CEA’s resourcing needs upon its establishment, the 2018 baseline was increased by circa €1m in the 2019 budget to €6.057m.
This level has been repeated subsequently in anticipation of the establishment of the new Authority. As the Deputy will be aware, delays arose in progressing the legislation over that period, but with the finalisation of the Joint Committee’s Pre Legislative Scrutiny, I intend to revert to Cabinet shortly for the publication of the Bill which will establish the CEA. I would hope that the Bill could be enacted in the Autumn session paving the way for the establishment of the CEA next year.
The Department also sanctioned an additional 14 staff at civil service grades to the ODCE which would represent a 35% increase in such staff. A recruitment campaign is in the final stages of preparation.
The ODCE was allocated a total of €6.057 million from my Department’s Vote for 2021. Using this as a basis, the table below provides the estimated cost of increasing the Office's funding by 5%, 10%, 20% and 50%.
|
Basis |
Increase 5% |
Increase 10% |
Increase 20% |
Increase 50% |
|
€6.057m |
€302k |
€606k |
€1.211m |
€3.028m |
