Written Answers Nos. 204-222
204. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeline for the ratification of the International Labour Organisation Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work; and the legislation that needs to be passed in order to fulfil its requirements. [20315/22]
View answerAs an International Labour Organisation (ILO) Member State, Ireland is committed to ratifying Convention C190.
Ratification 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.
The ILO 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 Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Officials in my Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment have engaged with all relevant Government Departments and offices to establish the extent to which domestic legislative provisions already provide for the rights and entitlements included in the ILO Convention C190, as well as legislative amendments, if any, that may be required to enable ratification.
My Department is continuing to analyse possible outcomes and is following up to ensure that there are no legislative gaps.
Following this consideration, as part of the ratification process, in the coming months the Department will undertake a stakeholder consultation with trade unions, employer representative bodies and other interested parties.
The views of the Attorney General must then be sought after that consultation phase followed by the formal approval of the Government for ratification.
I would anticipate that the Instrument of Ratification can be signed before the end of the year.
205. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a schedule of special advisors attached to him and Ministers of State in his Department since 2020 to date in 2022; and if he will indicate on the schedule the changes in personnel that have occurred. [20322/22]
View answerThe special advisors associated with me in my position as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and those attached to the Ministers of State at the Department are set out in tabular format below.
|
|
Special Advisor |
Date of Commencement |
|
Tánaiste |
Sarah O’Neill |
27 July 2020 to date |
|
|
Matthew Lynch |
14 September 2020 to date |
|
Minister English |
Stephen Foley |
29 September 2020 to date |
206. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if funding (details supplied) that has been allocated has been drawn down and spent; if there has been a follow up or appraisal on the funding given under the various programmes or headings; if any of the allocated funding has been recouped or unspent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20393/22]
View answerAs part of the Government response to the effects on business of the pandemic, my Department introduced the Restart Grant Scheme in May 2020. This scheme was operated on behalf of the Department by the 31 local authorities, coordinated through their Local Government Management Agency (LGMA).
Mayo County Council issued €20,220,373 to 3,962 applications approved for the Restart Grant. Any unused funding was returned to the Exchequer.
Upon final closure of the Scheme, in line with the provisions of the Scheme Service Level Agreements, an independent audit was commissioned to provide reasonable assurance as to the implementation, monitoring and control of the Scheme and reasonable assurance as to the appropriate administration, disbursement and reconciliation of the funding provided by the Exchequer for the Scheme. This is expected to be concluded shortly.
Under the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), which was open for application in 2021, Mayo County Council received the following monies over two phases.
(i) It received an initial allocation of €734,210, of which €521,000 was expended and the remaining €213,210 was then brought forward to phase 2.
(ii) In phase 2 of the scheme, the council received an additional €532,137, giving it a total funding for that phase of €745,347. Of this, €361,000 was expended and €384,347 was returned unspent to the Exchequer.
The total spend over the two phases therefore amounted to €882,000 under the scheme. The SBASC scheme was developed specifically for businesses who were not eligible for CRSS because generally they were not open to the general public, such as wholesalers, caterers, etc. Money was allocated to local authorities on the assumption that such businesses numbered about 20% of CRSS-eligible businesses in each local authority area, which proved to be an overestimate nationwide. Furthermore, the significant reopening of the economy which the government permitted following public health advice from 10 May 2021 also greatly reduced demand for the scheme. For these reasons, only slightly more than one third of the funds originally sanctioned for the scheme were ultimately spent nationwide. 231 applicants in Mayo benefited from grant aid under the scheme. An independent audit of the scheme is currently in progress and an evaluation will be undertaken at a later date.
Mayo County Council was approved funding of €15,000 in September 2019 by Enterprise Ireland to undertake a feasibility study under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund. The funding was approved for an options analysis on the former Volex building in Castlebar. In 2020 a business approached Mayo County Council about renting the remaining section of the Volex building. Mayo County Council was amenable to this approach and did not proceed with the Feasibility study. No payment was made by Enterprise Ireland to Mayo County Council under this grant offer.
The table below sets out the funding allocated to Mayo County Council in respect of their Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) for the period from 1st January 2017 to date. All of this funding allocated has been drawn down and spent. There has been no follow up or appraisal on the funding given under the various programmes or headings. None of the allocated funding has been recouped or unspent.
|
Year |
Allocation € |
|
2017 |
883,450 |
|
2018 |
927,979 |
|
2019 |
1,092,490 |
|
2020 |
1,941,888 |
|
2021 |
1,696,431 |
|
2022 |
1,148,467 |
207. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of labour-related accidents due to sleep apnoea recorded in the State in each of the years 2017 to 2021, inclusive in tabular form. [20590/22]
View answerThe Health and Safety Authority has confirmed that they have no recorded incidents of workplace accidents due to sleep apnoea, as requested by the Deputy.
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, an employer has a duty of care to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace The Act applies to all places of work. An employer’s duties include the following -
- Managing and conducting all work activities so as to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of people at work
- Designing, providing and maintaining a safe place of work that has safe access and egress, and uses plant and equipment that is safe and without risk to health
- Providing information, instruction, training and supervision regarding safety and health to employees
- Preventing risks to other people at the place of work including, for example, visitors, customers, suppliers and sales representatives
Employees, including those employed on a part-time or temporary basis, also have a duty of care under the 2005 Act including the following -
- Comply with relevant laws and protect their own safety and health, as well as the safety and health of anyone who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work
- Ensure that they are not under the influence of any intoxicant to the extent that they could be a danger to themselves or others while at work
- Cooperate with their employer with regard to safety, health and welfare at work
- Use in the correct manner any item provided for protection
- Participate in safety and health training offered by their employer
- Report any dangerous situations, practices or defects that might endanger a person’s safety, health or welfare
- Not to engage in any improper conduct that could endanger their safety or health or that of anyone else
All employers are legally obliged to report the injury of an employee, as a result of an accident while at work, to the Health and Safety Authority. Injuries must be reported where an employee is unable to carry out their normal work for more than three consecutive days, excluding the day of the accident.
While the general principle is that an employer does not have an overarching right to know the nature of an employee’s illness or an employee’s medical condition, employees should consider informing their employer of any underlying health conditions that could affect their ability to carry out their work in a safe manner.
208. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff within his Department who availed of a secondment from January 2019 to date on the basis that it was not the intention of the staff member to return to their position within the Department. [20639/22]
View answerThere are no staff within my Department who have availed of a secondment from January 2019 to date, on the basis that that it is not their intention to return to their position within the Department. All staff who have availed of such secondment opportunities have done so on a fixed term basis and, as such, are expected to return to the Department when their secondment is ended.
There may be a small number of cases whereby for business needs an extension to the secondment is sought and similarly this would be timebound, with the officer expected to return to the Department.
209. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will implement the recommendations of the Duffy Cahill report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20780/22]
View answerIreland has a robust suite of legislation to protect and support workers facing redundancies. The Cahill-Duffy report was in response to a particular terms of reference which were quite narrow and specific and which do not address the generality of redundancies that arise in insolvency situations.
Following extensive engagement with the social partners, the 'Plan for Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency' was published in June 2021. This sets out several commitments to safeguard further the rights of workers in these circumstances including:
1. amendments to company law and employment law,
2. establishing a new Employment Law Review Group, and
3. the provision of an accessible guidance document.
In terms of Employment Law:
The Guidance Document was published in December 2021 and provides clear and accessible information in relation to the rights and remedies available to employees facing a collective redundancy situation following a company insolvency.
Work has commenced on the General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Protection of Employment Act 1977, in line with the changes set out in the Plan for Action. Once completed, it is intended to bring the General Scheme to Cabinet as soon as possible.
Work has also commenced on the drafting of the Terms of Reference for the Employment Law Review Group and organising suitable membership. The immediate focus is to get the Group up and running, initially on a non-statutory basis.
In terms of Company Law:
The following recommendations were progressed in the Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Act 2021, which was commenced in December 2021:
- Amendment to section 627 to clarify the liquidator has power to bring/defend proceedings before the WRC and Labour Court.
- Section 587 to oblige the liquidator/director to ensure creditors are made aware they have the right to form and participate in a Committee of Inspection.
- Section 666 to provide that where a Committee of Inspection is appointed, it shall include at least one employee creditor member.
Further amendments in respect of the consequences of certain corporate liquidations and restructuring practices, including splitting of corporate operations from asset holding entities in group structures, were considered by the Company Law Review Group last year. The CLRG submitted its report on the matter in December 2021.
The issues considered in the report are complex and required extensive discussion and analysis by the CLRG. The CLRG ultimately concluded that the incidence of abusive practices in corporate restructuring, while attracting significant attention, is in fact low. This conclusion is supported by the Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement which notes that its reviews of liquidations indicate that in over 90% of all liquidations, company directors had acted honestly and responsibly.
Notwithstanding this, the CLRG made eight recommendations for potential amendment to the Companies Act which are intended to further enhance the regulatory framework. The Report has been considered by officials from my Department in the context of the Plan for Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency. Minister Troy has considered their analysis and proposals, and intend for proposed amendments reflecting the consequences of certain corporate liquidations and restructuring practices be carried through a Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
210. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on abolishing the mandatory retirement age in some sectors of the economy and particularly in the area of community development. [20940/22]
View answerA whole of Government response is required in order to respond to the recommendations of the Pensions Commission, of which the issue of mandatory retirement clauses is one element. My Department is considering the Commission's recommendations in relation to mandatory retirement ages in certain contracts of employment.
There is no statutory retirement age for employees in Irish legislation, apart from for certain public sector employees where statutory retirement ages may apply. A contract of employment will generally contain a retirement age but this is a matter of contract between the parties.
Employment equality must be a core consideration in reforms to address mandatory retirement clauses, and the needs of both employees and employers will require consideration and further consultation. In this regard, it will be necessary to liaise closely with employer groups as any changes in this area have potential to have a significant impact on workforce planning, particularly for SMEs.
Other pension related reforms, such as the national auto-enrolment pension scheme, will be an important tool to address the issues involved. The delivery of an auto-enrolment pension scheme will make it easier for people to access retirement savings options to help them meet their own income expectations for when they retire and is a current Programme for Government commitment.
211. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the most recent occasion on which the IDA visited County Carlow; the number of new jobs that have been created by the IDA in the past 12 months in County Carlow; the steps it is taking to attract companies to the county; when a new site visit is to be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20943/22]
View answerIDA markets Carlow as part of the South East region for FDI investment. There are 4 FDI companies in Carlow with a combined employment of 1,477. In 2021, 178 new jobs were created in Carlow.
In response to COVID related global travel restrictions, IDA migrated many of its business development and client engagement activities to digital platforms during 2020 and 2021. As part of this, the Agency developed and put in place an E-Site Visit experience for potential investors. In 2021, there were four site visits to Carlow. At the moment there are no planned visits for 2022. I am assured that IDA will return to hosting in person site visits in line with all public health guidelines and continue to position Carlow for these in the coming months and years.
IDA is building a new 34,000st ft. Advanced Building Solution in Carlow Town. The building is making good progress and is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2022. This will further enable the Enterprise agencies to attract companies and to create opportunities to win additional investment for Carlow.
In 2022, IDA Ireland will continue to market Carlow and the South-East Region through its overseas offices to target mobile FDI opportunities, with corresponding site visits. IDA Ireland will be targeting Lifesciences, Medical Devices, Financial Services and Technology sectors for investment opportunities in RD&I, advanced manufacturing, global business services and technology development.
212. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the recruitment of a full-time replacement as South East Regional Manager; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20944/22]
View answerThe appointment of a Regional Manager for the South-East Region is an operational matter for IDA Ireland, though I understand the recruitment process for the position of IDA Regional Manager for the South East Region is currently underway.
I am also informed that the IDA Team in the South-East Region is, on a temporary basis, reporting to the Department Manager- Regional Development.
213. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 162 of 7 April 2022, if it is possible for arbitration to take place in cases in which a company (details supplied) no longer exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20978/22]
View answerI'm informed that a dispute between IDA Ireland and Connect Ireland regarding the operation of the Succeed-in-Ireland initiative is currently in arbitration. Connect-Ireland Initiative Limited merged by absorption with Idic Limited on 31 May 2018, which subsequently became Idic Unlimited Company on 23 April 2018. It is my understanding that the arbitration process is continuing with this successor company.
214. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Enterprise Forum last met; if the forum has discussed rising energy costs within the industry sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20995/22]
View answer215. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the consultation that his Department is holding with industry representatives in relation to rising energy costs; the mechanism by which the consultation operates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20996/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together.
My Department’s Enterprise Forum met most recently on 16th March 2022 and was convened at my request to hear first-hand how the war in Ukraine is affecting businesses in Ireland. One of the main issues raised at that meeting was concern over energy security and prices.
The Government has already implemented several measures to help ease the impact on enterprises of energy price increases including reductions in VAT and excise on some fuels, as well as a temporary grant scheme to hauliers.
My Department is part of a whole of Government response to the economic and social impacts of rising energy costs and is leading on the Government response to the business impacts of this, in particular.
Government Departments have been consulting with stakeholders on specific measures that could be considered to ameliorate the short to medium term challenges to energy security. The Energy Supply Emergency Group is an inter-departmental and inter-agency group with responsibility for informing the Government response to the impact of rising energy costs on business, in addition to security of energy supply more generally, and a longer-term reduction in Ireland’s dependency on imported oil and gas.
Under the aegis of this Group, my Department has established the Business Energy Users Sub-Group to lead on consultations with business and industry to learn about the specific impacts on Irish businesses, and to hear their concerns and perspectives on the appropriate and most effective tools for policy action. The work of this sub-group, as part of the wider Energy Supply Emergency Group has informed the National Energy Security Framework which was launched by the Government on 13th April 2022 and which sets out how Government can help households and businesses with their energy security needs in the context of the war in Ukraine.
In terms of business impacts, the Framework notes the European Commission’s recently launched State Aid Temporary Crisis Framework for businesses affected by the energy-related aspects of the Ukraine crisis, and the opportunity that this presents to Member States to consider what specific instruments and supports might be needed in the near-term in order to help vulnerable but viable businesses to overcome the acute impacts of the current crisis.
In terms of short-term temporary supports for businesses, there are already a number of effective schemes in place resulting from Government’s response to the Brexit and Covid-19 crises, and the Government will now be considering whether, and to what degree, such schemes might be pivoted to firms impacted by the Ukraine crisis. In the near term, businesses will be also looking for signals and reassurance that underlying capacity and security of supply issues are being improved in a strategic manner and in collaboration with authorities across the EU and the UK; and the Government will provide clear and practical guidance to business users on ways of maximising their energy efficiency and thus helping to manage overall levels of demand across our energy networks.
Under the Climate Action Plan, Irish businesses and industry have already embarked on an ambitious plan of action to transition away from fossil fuels and make their operations more efficient and sustainable. This has required a strategic, medium and longer-term approach to business positioning and investment, and the pace of such investment will now need to be accelerated as this can also address Ireland’s relative dependency on imported energy, and in doing so, secure our energy future.
I would also encourage firms to take this opportunity to achieve greater energy efficiency and to begin their decarbonisation transition. For example, the Climate Toolkit for Businesses helps firms understand their current carbon footprint and under the EU's National Recovery and Resilience Fund, later this year we will be able to help SMEs through the Climate Enterprise Action Fund. There are also a range of supports available for business from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to improve energy efficiency and to reduce energy costs.
216. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the work of his Department on the second national action plan on business and human rights. [21153/22]
View answerIreland's first National Plan on Business and Human Rights 2017-2020 was launched by the Department of Foreign Affairs towards the end of 2017. Ireland was the 19th country in the world to publish such a plan in response to the endorsement of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the Human Rights Council in 2011.
The implementation of this whole-of-government plan was overseen by an implementation group comprised of representatives of Government, civil society and business. Both the plan itself and the programme for Government committed to a review of implementation. This review was undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs in consultation with stakeholders during 2021. A draft report was considered at the special session of the multi-stakeholder implementation group on 31 May 2021. This forum included participation by a member of the UN working group on business and human rights, a business and human rights expert from the Danish Institute for Human Rights, and officials from three EU member state Ministries.
The Government noted the finalised review at its meeting on 3 December 2021. It is published on the Department of Foreign Affairs website: www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/humanrights/Review-of-Implementation-of-National-Plan-on-Business-and-Human-Rights-2017-2020---for-website.docx.pdf
Discussions have commenced about how to bring a new plan forward. Officials in my Department will proactively engage with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to provide necessary input into a new plan.
217. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether human rights defenders should be named stakeholders in Irish national mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation. [21154/22]
View answerA proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence was published by the European Commission on 23rd February 2022. The proposal aims to address the adverse environmental and human rights impacts arising from the operations of companies and those of their subsidiaries and value chains. There will be due diligence obligations on such companies and company directors, when fulfilling their duty to act in the best interest of the company, will be required to take into account the consequences of their decisions on sustainability matters, including, where applicable, human rights, climate change and environmental impacts. Larger companies will be required to adopt a plan to ensure that their business model and strategy is compatible with the transition to a sustainable economy and the limiting of global warming to 1.5 °C, in line with the Paris Agreement. The proposed Directive also requires companies to establish procedures to handle complaints from those adversely affected by company operations and from other key stakeholders. The proposal also provides for the designation of supervisory authorities at national level and a civil liability regime in relation to companies who fail to meet their obligations.
Ireland is supportive of the objective of the proposed Directive which should promote responsible business conduct and we will seek to ensure that the proposals strike the right balance by providing effective protections whilst ensuring that the measures to be implemented by companies are clear, proportionate, and enforceable. It is important that measures such as those proposed are on a cross EU basis in recognition of the complex, international nature of many supply chains and to ensure harmonisation, promote policy coherence, and avoid the risk of fragmentation within the EU single market.
Consideration of the proposals is at an early stage and is ongoing across EU Member States. My Department is engaging at EU working party level to clarify the practical implications for stakeholders.
The proposal contains a definition for stakeholder which is broadly defined and encompasses a company’s employees, the employees of its subsidiaries, and other individuals, groups, communities or entities whose rights or interests are or could be affected by the products, services and operations of the company, its subsidiaries or its business relationships. My Department remains committed to ensuring that the interests and rights of all stakeholders are appropriately protected under the proposals.
Given the complexity of the issues being addressed, negotiations at EU level may well continue through the remainder of this year and into 2023. Decisions on how the proposals will be legislated for in an Irish context will be taken once the Directive has been finalised. My Department has begun a process of engagement with key stakeholders and intends conducting a public consultation on the proposals in due course.
218. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government will be pushing to ensure that human rights defenders are named stakeholders in the final European Union directive on corporate sustainability due diligence. [21155/22]
View answerA proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) was published by the European Commission on 23rd February 2022. The proposal aims to address the adverse environmental and human rights impacts arising from the operations of companies and those of their subsidiaries and value chains. There will be due diligence obligations on such companies and company directors, when fulfilling their duty to act in the best interest of the company, will be required to take into account the consequences of their decisions on sustainability matters, including, where applicable, human rights, climate change and environmental impacts. Larger companies will be required to adopt a plan to ensure that their business model and strategy is compatible with the transition to a sustainable economy and the limiting of global warming to 1.5 °C, in line with the Paris Agreement. The proposed Directive also requires companies to establish procedures to handle complaints from those adversely affected by company operations and from other key stakeholders. The proposal also provides for the designation of supervisory authorities at national level and a civil liability regime in relation to companies who fail to meet their obligations.
Ireland is supportive of the objective of the proposed Directive which should promote responsible business conduct and we will seek to ensure that the proposals strike the right balance by providing effective protections whilst ensuring that the measures to be implemented by companies are clear, proportionate, and enforceable. It is important that measures such as those proposed are on a cross EU basis in recognition of the complex, international nature of many supply chains and to ensure harmonisation, promote policy coherence, and avoid the risk of fragmentation within the EU single market.
The proposal contains a definition for stakeholder which is broadly defined and encompasses a company’s employees, the employees of its subsidiaries, and other individuals, groups, communities or entities whose rights or interests are or could be affected by the products, services and operations of the company, its subsidiaries or its business relationships. My Department remains committed to ensuring the interests and rights of all stakeholders are protected under the proposals.
Consideration of the proposals is at an early stage and is ongoing across EU Member States. My Department is engaging at EU working party level to clarify the practical implications for stakeholders. Given the complexity of the issues being addressed, negotiations at EU level may well continue through the remainder of this year and into 2023.
Decisions on how the proposals will be legislated for in an Irish context will be taken once the Directive has been finalised. My Department has begun a process of engagement with key stakeholders and intends conducting a public consultation on the proposals in due course to help inform government's position.
219. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if in order to be eligible for IDA Ireland RD&I grant support the R&D activity must be conducted in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21169/22]
View answerThe statutory basis for IDA Ireland RD&I grants is Section 29 of the Industrial Development Act 1986 (as amended). This provides that grant support may be given for research and development that it is “…carried out wholly or mainly in the State..”.
The legislation does not preclude an overseas element in a grant-aided project - for example, by the use of overseas experts as consultants on a project where that expertise is not available in Ireland. The likely economic benefit to the State in providing grant support for a particular RD&I project is a matter which is considered by IDA Ireland on a case-by-case basis.
220. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the delivery of a new employment regulation order for security guards; and the timeline for same. [21218/22]
View answerAs a result of a settlement agreement reached in December 2021, the Security ERO as approved was quashed and the draft proposals remitted back to the Labour Court.
A Division of the Labour Court decided on the 7 February 2022 to direct the holding of a fresh hearing involving all interested parties desiring to be heard. This hearing took place in March. It is my understanding that the Court has issued a preliminary decision concerning jurisdictional issues. It is expected that a second hearing date is due to be scheduled.
If the Court decides to adopt the proposals, having heard from the interested parties, it will submit the proposals to me for consideration.
To date no proposals for consideration by myself have issued from the Labour Court.
221. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a piece of surveillance technology (details supplied) is being used by his Department or any agencies under his remit in view of the fact that there are security and privacy concerns associated with the use of same; the data protection policies on the use of artificial intelligence with respect to instances in which this technology is being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21232/22]
View answerAccommodation for my Department and its Offices is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in buildings which are either State owned or leased by the OPW on our behalf. Typically, the Department and its Offices are in shared accommodation, either with other Government Departments, public bodies or the private sector. The security arrangements specific to each building are a matter for all tenants involved.
Where CCTV cameras are in operation across the eleven buildings occupied by my Department and its Offices, the operation of same is in line with data protection legislative requirements and best practice, with visible CCTV signage in place. My Department has a dedicated Data Protection Unit and a lead Data Protection Officer who advises colleagues on data protection policies, including those of relevance to our health, safety and security arrangements.
As the Deputy will appreciate, in the best interests of the health, safety and security of all staff, visitors and members of the public to the buildings occupied by my Department, its Offices and other tenants, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any specific security equipment used. Appropriate security measures are also needed to protect valuable property of the State.
I can assure the Deputy that local security arrangements and any specific equipment in use across each of these locations are underpinned by advice provided to my Department by An Garda Síochána.
The security arrangements operated by the Agencies under the aegis of my Department are a day to day operational matter for the Agencies and not one in which I have a direct function.
222. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider putting in place further measures to improve environmental performance in the SME sector through greater resource efficiency in response to a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21265/22]
View answerUnder the Climate Action Plan 2021, the Enterprise sector is tasked with reducing emissions by between 29%-41%.
Enterprise will play a pivotal role in meeting our overall climate change targets. Some of the measures will pose challenges to enterprises, but it is critical to bear in mind that change to net-zero is necessary to safeguard our future. My Department, the SEAI and the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications have assistance programmes in place to drive the low carbon transition in enterprise.
With regard to the Deputy’s question on environmental management plans, my Department and Minister Ryan’s department launched the Climate Toolkit 4 Business in December 2021. The Toolkit assists businesses in getting started on their low carbon journey last year. It will ‘sign-post’ companies to available state assistance including those from EI, LEOs, SEAI, Irish Water and the EPA. It will simplify and demystify climate action for enterprises.
It includes a simplified carbon calculator that generates an estimated carbon footprint for the business user and also produces a plan of tailored actions recommended in response to the data provided by the user in the carbon calculator. The target audience for the Toolkit is SMEs and micro enterprises that wish to begin their decarbonisation journey – they do not have to be clients of the agencies.
My department has recently been approved for EU funding under Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The proposed programme under the NRRF has two components, the Carbon Reduction Fund and the Climate Enterprise Action Fund:
1. The Climate Enterprise Action Fund includes incentives for the early stages of the carbon transition pathway for clients and potential clients of Enterprise Ireland. The total investment amount is €25m over the period from 2022-2026.
2. The Carbon Reduction Fund will be for the investment in carbon measurement and abatement technologies for manufacturing enterprises (indigenous- and foreign-owned) to support their engagement in green research, development and innovation, capital investment, and capacity building with a focus on abating their high CO2 emissions. The total investment amount is €30m over the period from 2022-2026.
The fund will be launched in Q2 2022 and will be available to clients of the enterprise agencies.
