John Brady
Question:15. Deputy John Brady asked the Taoiseach if he or his Department have given any gifts to visiting dignitaries; and if he will provide a breakdown of the detail and the value of these gifts. [41162/22]
View answerOfficial Engagements
Questions (15)
Written answers
The table below provides details of gifts I presented to visiting dignitaries since my appointment as Taoiseach on 27 June 2020 to date.
|
Date of Visit |
Gift Presented to |
Gift Description |
Cost |
|
15/07/2021 |
Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskya, Belarus Opposition Leader |
John Hanly - Merino Wool Scarf |
€22.49 |
|
26/08/2021 |
H.E. Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic |
Ulysses – The Dublin Edition Special (101 – 1000) by James Joyce |
€300.00 |
|
04/04/2022 |
H.E. Ms. Marta Lucia Ramírez, Vice President of Colombia |
Silver Brooch - Celtic Spirit design |
€24.60 |
|
20/04/2022 |
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Schmyhal |
Cufflinks - Declan Killeen Newgrange Design |
€79.75 |
|
20/04/2022 |
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Schmyhal |
Silk Tie - Patrick Francis Green Celtic Knot design |
€17.50 |
|
25/04/2022 |
Mr. Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey |
Dublin Crystal Vase |
€30.00 |
|
23/05/2022 |
Congressman Richard Neal & Codel Delegation |
Silver photo frame - Celtic Frames |
€180.00 |
|
03/06/2022 |
Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Ms. Olha Stefanishyna |
Patrick Francis Ireland - Green Wool Scarf |
€22.75 |
|
04/07/2022 |
Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan |
Book - 'In Hinde-Sight Postcards from Ireland Past' by Paul Kelly |
€19.95 |
Central Statistics Office
Questions (16)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:16. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach the estimated amount that it would cost to establish a new directorate within the Central Statistics Office; and the estimated annual salary and number of staff required at each level to establish such a directorate. [41255/22]
View answerWritten answers
There are six directorates in the Central Statistics Office and the breakdown of the CSO's gross expenditure by directorate in 2022 is set out in the following table:
|
Directorate |
Gross Total €m |
|
Business Statistics |
9.237 |
|
Corporate Affairs |
10.550 |
|
Economic Statistics |
7.227 |
|
Social and Demographic Statistics |
16.322 |
|
Statistical Systems Co-Ordination Unit |
3.317 |
|
Technology & Statistical Services |
15.227 |
|
Total |
61.880 |
The number of staff required at each level in a directorate would be dependent on the particular requirements and responsibilities of the directorate area.
Head of Directorate posts in the Central Statistics Office are generally at Assistant Director General level, which is equivalent to the Assistant Secretary grade in Civil Service Departments and Offices. The minimum salary scale point for Assistant Director General, with effect from 1 February 2022 is €138,019 for those appointed to the Civil Service before 6th April 1995; and €145,283 for those appointed on or after 6th April 1995 paying the Class A rate of PRSI contribution and making an employee contribution in respect of personal superannuation benefits for General Service grades (PPC).
Heads of Division within CSO directorates are generally either at Senior Statistician level, or the equivalent Principal Officer grade. The same salary scales apply to Senior Statisticians and Principal Officers. The minimum salary scale point for the Senior Statistician grade, with effect from 1 February 2022 is €87,030 (for those serving before 6th April 1995) and €91,609 (PPC). For the Senior Statistician (Higher Scale) grade, the corresponding figures are €93,657 (for those serving before 6th April 1995) and €98,593 (PPC).
Departmental Functions
Questions (17)
Holly Cairns
Question:17. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Taoiseach the way that his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit met their obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 in 2021, including the way that relevant policies and actions are monitored and the way that the obligation is reflected in their annual reports. [41378/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s Public Sector Duty Assessment focuses on how the Duty impacts on three main areas of activity: services provided to the public, my Department's role in policy development and how my Department treats its own staff. It also contains a summary of potential gaps identified and the appropriate actions to be taken to address these. This is available to view on gov.ie at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/0f55fb-work-of-the-department-of-the-taoiseach/
My Department’s Annual Report sets out measures undertaken to promote diversity and inclusion including training needs identified in the Public Sector Duty Assessment to be prioritised in the Department’s upcoming Learning and Development Strategy.
The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - the only body under my Department's aegis – is currently reviewing its Policy and Procedures document which will make reference to its obligations under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.
State Bodies
Questions (18)
Holly Cairns
Question:18. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Taoiseach the number of State boards under the remit of his Department or its agencies; the total number of members of each board; the numbers on each board broken down according to gender; and the number of persons with a declared disability on each board in tabular form. [41396/22]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below, based on current membership:
|
State Board |
Number of Members |
Number of Males |
Number of Females |
Number of Persons with a Declared Disability |
|
NESC |
26 |
19 |
7 |
0 |
|
National Statistics Board |
8 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
State Bodies
Questions (19)
Gerald Nash
Question:19. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the dividends paid by State-owned enterprises under the remit of his Department in each of the past five years; and the projected dividends to be received in 2022, in tabular form [41659/22]
View answerWritten answers
There are no State-owned enterprises under the remit of my Department.
Public Holidays
Questions (20)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the full year cost of introducing three new bank holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41432/22]
View answerWritten answers
From next year the Government is introducing a new permanent public holiday in celebration of Imbolc/St. Brigid’s day. This will be the first Monday in every February, except where St. Brigid’s day, the 1st day of February, happens to fall on a Friday, in which case that Friday 1st February will be a public holiday. The Government wants to ensure that the public holiday provides for a long weekend. The first St. Brigid’s day public holiday will be Monday 6th February 2023.
Due to lack of data, it is not possible to generate a historical estimate for the impact of a one-off public holiday using Irish data. Previous analysis by the UK Office for National Statistics estimated the economic impact of an additional one-off public holiday would reduce annual gross national income by between 0.3% and 0.4%. Assuming that this reduction in economic activity is passed through in terms of reduced tax revenue on a pro rate basis – which may not be the case – this would indicate a cost to the Exchequer of between €220 million and €300 million. This estimate is based on forecast tax revenue for 2022 of €75.8 billion, from the Department of Finance’s spring economic forecasts as set out in the Stability Programme Update.
The second cost to the Exchequer would be in terms of lost work hours resulting from the public holiday. While, in practice, a sizeable portion of the public service will continue to work on a public holiday, there will be additional entitlements to time off in lieu. The Revised Estimates for Public Services 2022 estimates an Exchequer pay bill of €21.9 billion for 2022, or just over €60 million per day – which provides an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of a public holiday. It is emphasised that these costs are notional in the main and will not lead to additional expenditure for the Exchequer. A large part of the public service is salaried, and so their pay and subsequently the cost to the Exchequer will be the same irrespective of a public holiday. These numbers only provide an indicative estimate of the potential economic cost of an additional public holiday to the Exchequer and do not capture positive aspects including benefits of leisure from an additional day off for many, as well as any further community and societal benefits.
Work Permits
Questions (21)
Neale Richmond
Question:21. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to issues with the level of home carers in Ireland; his views on whether that extending work permits to this industry would help alleviate this shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39755/22]
View answerWritten answers
Officials of my Department are actively engaged with the Department of Health in relation to recruitment challenges for the home care sector and my Department is a member of the Cross Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group chaired by the Department of Health to consider the recruitment and retention challenges faced by the sector.
Areas being considered by the Group include recruitment, retention, training, pay and conditions, and the career development of front-line carers in home support and nursing homes into the future. The Group provides a forum for agreement on strategic approaches to address these workforce challenges in the sector and will develop a set of recommendations for the Minister of Health's consideration outlining the Group’s key findings and a proposed action plan to support implementation of these recommendations, by September.
Recent changes to the occupations lists for employment permits did not recommend removal of the occupation of care worker/home carers from the Ineligible Occupations List at that time. Evidence suggested that the contracts of employment on offer and employment terms and conditions, for example, failure to guarantee hours of work and the lack of travel and subsistence payments, are factors in the recruitment challenges faced by the sector rather than a demonstrable labour market shortage.
Changes to the employment permit occupations lists are made where there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available, development opportunities are not undermined, genuine skills shortage exists rather than a recruitment or retention problem and Government education, training and economic development policies are supported.
My Department continues to review the employment permits system in light of changing labour market circumstances. Submissions will be invited from sector representative bodies and interested parties via the Public Consultation Form which will be accessible on the Department’s website throughout the consultation period when the next Review of the Occupational Lists commences.
My Department chairs the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group to oversee the review process which includes membership drawn from senior officials of key departments including the Department of Health and other key Departments such as the Department of Social Protection. The aim of the Group is to promote an integrated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages being experienced in the economy. This includes assessing proposals received through the public consultation for changes the Occupations Lists. The Department of Social Protection plays a role in the review process through its provision of advice on the uptake of its tailored employment services by employers and can provide evidence of sectoral engagement in its job fairs and other recruitment processes and initiatives aimed at sourcing suitable candidates for vacancies reported.
Job Losses
Questions (22)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:22. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that have been put in place to assist the workers facing redundancy in an organisation (details supplied) in Dundalk given his promise that Government agencies will help with job searches and information regarding welfare or other opportunities such as education, training and upskilling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39855/22]
View answerWritten answers
The announcement earlier this year by National Pen that it is to seek redundancies at its Dundalk facility is deeply disappointing.
The Government, through IDA Ireland, did everything it could but the company has taken the decision to move certain operations to the Czech Republic. This is in part due to a significant decline in demand for its products. The company advised the IDA that this decision was necessary to secure the long-term future of the business and preserve the employment of the majority of workers at the Dundalk site.
Notwithstanding the business rationale behind the decision, news of staff redundancies is always disappointing and I understand the concern felt by those impacted by this announcement.
It is important to note that these redundancies will not take effect until January 2023, and all temporary contracts will be honoured until the end of December 2022. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government provides supports such as income supports and job-seeking through the Department of Employment and Social Protection’s local Intreo offices. These services will be available to the affected employees at the appropriate time. The company is prioritising engaging with their fulfilment staff on an ongoing basis and will continue to do so as redundancy dates approach. The company is also working to support teams through further education and training opportunities.
I am further advised that IDA’s North East regional management team liaised with the North East DEASP to inform them as to the timing, number and types of roles that were impacted so that Intreo, the DEASP’s employment services arm, could engage with National Pen to offer their support and assistance. I am informed that the DEASP separately met with National Pen’s HR team and the impacted employees to offer its support and information on their benefit rights. The DEASP continues to engage with the company.
The company previously advised that it would offer an attractive redundancy package and I am advised that following a 30-day consultation with designated employee representatives, a package of over $4 million in salary and benefits was agreed to. This includes:
- Annual pay increase as usual
- Opportunity to transfer to Pilsen
- Enhanced benefit package in addition to statutory entitlement
- Employer Pensions contributions for 6 months post redundancy date
- Death in Service coverage for 6 months post redundancy date
- Annual Award for Tenure: Agreed to pro-rata service award if applicable in year of leaving
- CV help and training
- Other ongoing outplacement support.
I am assured by the IDA that National Pen remains fully committed to Dundalk as its International Headquarters and a crucial site of operational importance. The company plans to further invest in their online operations in Ireland with the creation of 50 new technology and ecommerce positions in Ireland over the next five years in partnership with the IDA.
The Government’s commitment to regional growth in North East remains strong. The IDA recently announced land acquisitions in Killally, in Dundalk and Mell in Drogheda which form part of our ongoing plans to position Louth and the wider North-East region to compete for FDI investment. Kaseya, a global IT management and security software company, has today announced plans to create 250 new jobs over the next three years in Louth which I very much welcome.
Departmental Advertising
Questions (23)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:23. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount spent on traditional and online advertising by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [39952/22]
View answerWritten answers
The amount my Department has spent on traditional and online advertising from 2012 to date is as set out in the attached table. My Department did not incur any expenditure in relation to online advertising until 2019.
|
Year |
Traditional Advertising Costs € |
Online Advertising Costs € |
Total € |
|
2012 |
55,812 |
||
|
2013 |
36,388 |
||
|
2014 |
80,287 |
||
|
2015 |
532,961 |
||
|
2016 |
113,035 |
||
|
2017 |
285,859 |
||
|
2018 |
60,380 |
||
|
2019 |
170,011 |
10,644 |
180,655 |
|
2020 |
38,889 |
19,963 |
58,852 |
|
2021* |
318,793 |
48,812 |
367,605 |
|
2022 |
15,747 |
34,103 |
49,850 |
*This was primarily to inform businesses on the support available to help with Covid and Brexit .
Departmental Contracts
Questions (24)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:24. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations; and if so, the cost; and the name of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [39970/22]
View answerWritten answers
The public relations services providers engaged by both my Department and the Offices of my Department, the details of the services supplied and the expenditure on each from 2012 to 2018 are set out in the attached table. My Department has not incurred any public relations services costs from 2019 to date and consequently has not engaged any third party companies to provide same.
|
Year |
Name of Public Relations Services Provider |
Details of Services Supplied |
Cost € |
Total |
|
2012 |
Barberry Limited trading as Keating and Associates |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports and brochures and assisting with website content). |
5,268 |
5,268 |
|
2013 |
Barberry Limited trading as Keating and Associates MRPA Kinman Communications trading as MKC Communications Limited |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports and brochures and assisting with website content). To provide the Department with Press and Media Relations Services for the Irish Presidency of the EU. (This was a once off exercise/expenditure due to Presidency events.) |
3,183 76,480 |
79,663 |
|
2014 |
Barberry Ltd T/A Keating and Associates |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content, and production of reports & brochures). |
3,136 |
3,136 |
|
2015 |
Barberry Ltd |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content, and production of reports & brochures). |
3,505 |
3,505 |
|
2016 |
Barberry Ltd Fuzion Communications |
To provide the Workplace Relations Commission with Communication Services (including PR; Media Monitoring advising on the design, content and production of reports and brochures. Provision of Communications services to the Workplace Relations Commission |
4,981 686 |
5,667 |
|
2017 |
Drury Porter Novelli Fuzion Communications Fuzion Communications |
To provide PR and event support for information campaigns; encouraging and informing companies on how to prepare their business for Brexit Provision of a range of Communications Services to the Workplace Relations Commission Development of Communications Strategy for the Workplace Relations Commission to enhance activity impact and its roll out in 2017 |
15,238 6,753 4,404 |
26,395 |
|
2018 |
Fuzion Communications |
Communications advice to the Workplace Relations Commission |
1,882 |
1,882 |
Departmental Legal Cases
Questions (25)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:25. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of legal cases brought against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39988/22]
View answerWritten answers
The number of legal cases brought against my Department in the years in question are as follows:
|
Year |
Number of Legal Cases Brought Against the Department |
|
2012 |
0 |
|
2013 |
0 |
|
2014 |
0 |
|
2015 |
1 |
|
2016 |
6 |
|
2017 |
5 |
|
2018 |
5 |
|
2019 |
5 |
|
2020 |
8 |
|
2021 |
9 |
|
2022 year to date |
1 |
Departmental Legal Services
Questions (26)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:26. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount spent by his Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [40006/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department and its Offices spent a total of €9,978,227 on legal costs or legal services in the past 10 years and to May 2022 ( see table ). The table does not include expenditure by the Department's Agencies.
|
Expenditure incurred in respect of legal costs or legal services since January 2012 to May 2022 by Dept. Business, Enterprise & Innovation |
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
609,971 |
339,635 |
434,804 |
381,821 |
591,647 |
853,851 |
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Total |
|
1,419,612 |
869,305 |
1,674,339 |
2,306,932 |
496,310 |
9,978,227 |
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (27)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:27. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount spent by his Department on the procurement of office space and furniture and office IT equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [40024/22]
View answerWritten answers
Office space 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. Therefore, my Department does not own, purchase or rent office space. My Department works closely with OPW colleagues to ensure that the provision of such office space is appropriate, fit-for-purpose and every effort is made to optimise the physical space that is made available to us through the OPW.
The amount spent by my Department and Offices on the procurement of office furniture and ICT equipment, in each of the past ten years and to-date in 2022 stands at €8,630,677. Details of the annual expenditure since 2012 is included in tabular format below broken down separately between ICT and furniture.
In respect of ICT Office equipment, the amounts spent in each of the past ten years, and to-date in 2022, includes all ICT equipment purchased to provide ICT services to staff in the Department and its Offices including PC’s/laptops, printers, servers and network equipment.
|
Year |
ICT Equipment |
Furniture** |
|
2012 |
€465,088 |
€10,090 |
|
2013 |
€338,664 |
€12,940 |
|
2014 |
€730,186 |
€52,210 |
|
2015 |
€510,777 |
€121,414 |
|
2016 |
€1,139,448 |
€281,926 |
|
2017 |
€1,077,213 |
€83,671 |
|
2018 |
€626,521 |
€67,255 |
|
2019 |
€805,424 |
€14,880 |
|
2020 |
€1,420,308 |
€38,814 |
|
2021 |
€456,155 |
€182,324 |
|
2022 to-date |
€131,696 |
€63,673 |
|
TOTAL |
€7,701,480 |
€929,197 |
** Please note that the Offices referred to are the Workplace Relations Commission, the Companies Registration Office, the Labour Court and the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (up to & including formal establishment of the Corporate Enforcement Authority on 7th July 2022).
Official Travel
Questions (28)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:28. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times that he embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government; the geographical location of each visit; the number of days that he spent abroad on such trips; the dates upon which each trip took place; and the associated travel and accommodation costs which were incurred by his Department in relation to each trip in tabular form. [40042/22]
View answerWritten answers
Ministerial trade missions are an important part of our enterprise policy and related economic strategy as they afford an opportunity to promote an awareness of Ireland and its advantages as a location for investment and trade, to deliver key messages and to strengthen relations with other countries. This has contributed to a situation where we have record levels of jobs in companies supported by our enterprise agencies notwithstanding the very significant challenges presented by Brexit and COVID-19 pandemic over recent years.
Details of the visits to foreign countries that I have undertaken since the formation of the Government are set out in the table below. The figures listed for my travel and accommodation costs are costs incurred by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for each trip. For several of the trade missions, additional costs were met by other Departments or agencies involved in organising same.
|
Location |
Dates |
Travel and Accommodation Costs incurred by DETE (€) |
|
Berlin |
19/9/20 – 21/9/20 |
586.29 |
|
Brussels |
19/5/21 – 21/5/21 |
0 |
|
London |
5/9/21 – 6/9/21 |
0 |
|
Paris |
6/9/21 – 7/9/21 |
0 |
|
Berlin |
7/9/21 – 8/9/21 |
0 |
|
Washington |
26/9/21 – 29/9/21 |
4,503.51 |
|
Brussels |
10/11/21 – 11/11/21 |
147.20 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
12/11/21 – 15/11/21 |
0 |
|
Dubai |
15/11/21 – 18/11/21 |
0 |
|
Cardiff |
18/11/21 – 19/11/21 |
56.17 |
|
France* |
14/12/21 |
106.83 |
|
France |
13/2/22 – 17/2/22 |
0 |
|
Chile and Columbia |
8/3/22 – 19/3/22 |
3,434.61 |
|
US West Coast |
24/4/22 – 29/4/22 |
0 |
|
Davos, Switzerland |
22/5/22 – 25/5/22 |
3,397.36 |
|
Luxembourg |
2/6/22 – 3/6/22 |
735.24 |
|
Geneva, Switzerland |
12/6/22 – 13/6/22 |
148.74 |
*Trip was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (29)
Niamh Smyth
Question:29. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a proposal (details supplied) falls under Covid-19 loan scheme. [40081/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department introduced the Covid-19 Loan Scheme (the ‘CLS’) on 4th July 2022 to ensure that an appropriate option for access to finance remained in place for COVID-19 impacted SMEs.
The Scheme is aimed at helping vulnerable but viable businesses to continue to trade so that they can survive through these turbulent times, including maintaining employment levels, which is crucial for society and the economy. Access to the CLS is based on SMEs meeting a criterion that their business is being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in business turnover or profit being negatively impacted by a minimum of 15%.
Applications for eligibility are made to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (the ‘SBCI’) and the CLS is available for a wide range of sectors and activities. However, there are some exclusions and restrictions associated with the Scheme and this includes the financing of real estate activity.
The details provided in relation to this case refer to the eligibility of a loan application for the redevelopment of an existing commercial premises to residential apartments for renting purposes. Such activity is a real estate development activity and is thus beyond the scope and purpose for which the CLS was developed, thus such activity is not eligible for lending under the scheme.
The business owner could look to approach a lender for a non-government-backed loan. If unsuccessful in this application, the applicant could request to have it appealed within the bank's own internal systems. If this appeal is unsuccessful, the applicant may also consider a further appeal to the Credit Review Office (CRO). The CRO helps SMEs who have had an application for credit of up to €3 million declined or reduced by the main banks, and who feel that they have a viable business proposition. This is a strictly confidential process between the business, the Credit Review and the bank. Further information is available at www.creditreview.ie/
Workplace Relations Commission
Questions (30)
Alan Kelly
Question:30. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of full-time staff vacancies by job title in the Workplace Relations Commission; the full-year cost of filling each of these vacancies; and when these vacancies will be filled in tabular form. [40271/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department. 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.
The WRC is staffed by civil servants of my Department. There are currently 25 full-time staff vacancies in the WRC. The full year pay cost of filling those vacancies would be approximately €1.5 million. This is based on the calculation of staff costs as set out in the Public Spending Code. The code sets out that the pay cost should be based on the midpoint of the salary scale and include employer’s salary related PRSI and imputed pension costs. The Code also provides that overheads e.g. ICT equipment, legal costs, travel and subsistence should be estimated at an additional 25% of the midpoint of the salary scale, calculated in this instance at approximately €275,201. Therefore, the total estimate full year cost of filling all 25 vacancies applying these imputed costs and projections is approximately €1.79 million.
Table 1 sets out the current vacancies at the WRC by grade and the timeframe for filling those vacancies.
Table 1 The number of WRC vacancies by grade and when they are due to be filled:
|
Grade |
Number of vacancies |
Due to be filled |
|
Assistant Principal |
1 |
08 August 2022 |
|
Higher Executive Officer General |
2 |
No. 1 – Vacancy due to be filled shortly with an officer transferring into DETE on mobility from another Government Department. No. 2 – Awaiting candidate from Public Appointment Service |
|
Industrial Relations Officer (Higher Executive Officer equivalent) ** |
1 |
Post vacant since June 2022. Arrangements currently underway to fill post. |
|
Inspector Team Manger (Higher Executive Officer equivalent)* |
2 |
Posts will be filled when full Executive Officer Labour Inspector Team is in place |
|
Labour Inspector (Executive Officer equivalent)* |
12 |
Awaiting candidates from Public Appointments Service |
|
Executive Officer (General) |
1 |
Awaiting candidate from Public Appointments Service |
|
Clerical Officer |
6 |
Awaiting candidates from Public Appointments Service |
Table 2 sets out the full year cost of filling those vacancies applying the Public Spending Code calculation model.
Table 2 Cost of filling vacancies applying Public Spending Code Calculation Model:
|
Grade |
Number of vacancies |
Cost (Pay & PRSI & Pension) |
Potential Cost (Non-Pay) |
Total Potential Cost |
|
Assistant Principal |
1 |
€98,203.23 |
€19,564.50 |
€117,768.73 |
|
Higher Executive Officer General |
2 |
€142,522.55 |
€28,394.00 |
€170,918.55 |
|
Industrial Relations Officer (Higher Executive Officer equivalent) ** |
1 |
€82,370.29 |
€14,197.00 |
€96,568.29 |
|
Inspector Team Manger (Higher Executive Officer equivalent)* |
2 |
€160,080.55 |
€28,394.00 |
€188,476.55 |
|
Labour Inspector (Executive Officer equivalent)* |
12 |
€734,306.42 |
€125,304.00 |
€859,622.42 |
|
Executive Officer (General) |
1 |
€52,413.20 |
€10,442.00 |
€62,856.20 |
|
Clerical Officer |
6 |
€245,481.71 |
€48,906.00 |
€294,393.71 |
|
Total |
25 |
€1,515,377.94 |
€275,201.50 |
€1,790,604.44 |
**IRO allowance of €11,109.02 applied after initial calculation of pay costs
*Out of normal working hours allowance of €8,779 added after initial calculation of pay costs
My Department fully supports and continues to work closely with the WRC in monitoring its staffing and budgetary requirements. This includes anticipating future resource requirements to ensure that it is supported and adequately resourced to carry out its important work.
Labour Court
Questions (31)
Alan Kelly
Question:31. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of full-time staff vacancies by job title in the Labour Court; the full-year cost of filling each of these vacancies; and when these vacancies will be filled in tabular form. [40272/22]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is set out below.
The Labour Court currently has one vacancy, details of which are set out below
Table One: List of current staff vacancies, the cost to fill these vacancies and when these vacancies will be filled.
|
Grade |
Due to be filled |
Total Cost to fill Vacancy |
|
Executive Officer |
19 August 2022 |
€62,855.20 |
Legislative Measures
Questions (32)
Patrick Costello
Question:32. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason that payment is capped at 70% and €110 per day in relation to the Sick Leave Bill 2022; the reason that a doctor’s note is required for one day under the Bill given that the cost of attending a general practitioner would negate the actual payment eligible for low paid workers under the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40405/22]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland has been an outlier to date among wealthy OECD countries in not providing for any statutory paid sick leave. It’s not right that people feel forced to go to work when they are sick and it’s not good for public health.
The Act is intended to provide a level of protection to employees who do not currently have employer-paid sick pay schemes, many of whom are low-paid and cannot afford to miss work. As a starting point, this scheme will cover the three waiting days before eligibility for Illness Benefit from the State. This is a progressive Bill and will ensure that all employees are better off and will have financial protection from day one of a medically certified absence.
Taking account of the current economic climate, the initial period covered by employers will be modest, but will increase incrementally. We must be mindful of imposing excessive costs on employers, many of whom have had a very difficult two years with Covid-19 related restrictions and Brexit related impacts. That is why we have taken an incremental approach with the scheme.
The legislation will provide for sick pay of 70% of gross salary up to a cap of €110 for 3 working days in a calendar year and will eventually go to 10 days.
As set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment, the rate of 70% of gross pay is set to ensure excessive costs are not placed on employers, who in certain sectors may also have to deal with the cost of immediately replacing staff to cover the absence. However, after applying the 70% rate of pay, it is clear from the analysis that the potential cost for businesses remains high and also increases disproportionately at higher incomes. A daily earnings threshold figure of €110 will be applied which is based on 2019 mean weekly earnings of €786.33 which equates to an annual salary of €40,889.16. Imposing the cap at this level ensures that €110 is the maximum cost for any employer per day (weekly salary of €786.33 divided by 5 days multiplied by 70% = €110.08).
I believe it would be unreasonable to introduce a legal obligation for employers to pay for sick leave without the need for a worker to produce a medical certificate.
The requirement for a medical cert for paid sick leave is a fair and necessary provision. It is also not an unusual requirement. Employees are currently required to provide medical certs to access State Illness Benefit and it is a requirement in many sectoral and company level sick pay arrangements.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (33)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:33. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and value of R&D and consultancy agreements signed with industry and non-commercial and public sectors for each year that data is available in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40677/22]
View answerWritten answers
This Parliamentary Question has been transferred to me for response as Enterprise Ireland, an agency of my Department, is responsible for Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI).
The Annual Knowledge Transfer Survey (AKTS) is published by KTI in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority. It provides a review of business engagement and commercialisation activity in the State funded research sector. Data are submitted to KTI by each research Performing Organisation (RPO). The RPOs that submitted data to the 2021 AKTS include the higher education institutions, as well as Teagasc, the Marine Institute and the Irish Manufacturing Research Centre.
Over the past five years the results from the survey have been broadly consistent, if not improving, with regards to R&D Agreements and Consultancy Agreements with industry and non-commercial entities. The value of these contracts is not requested as part of this survey and therefore I am unable to provide that information to the Deputy. However, as the RPOs are asked to provide the overall research expenditure in the reference year, and of that expenditure the amount derived from industry (as a whole) and how much was derived from non-commercial entities (as a whole), this information has been provided.
The table below outlines the annual figures around this request from 2017-2021.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Total |
|
|
Number of R&D Agreements (Research Collaboration Agreements with Industry plus Innovation vouchers) |
1226 |
1293 |
1262 |
1386 |
1339 |
6,506 |
|
Number of Research Collaboration Agreements with Non-Commercial Entities |
n/a |
296 |
476 |
477 |
347 |
1,623 |
|
Number of Consultancy Service Agreements with Industry |
670 |
818 |
751 |
680 |
782 |
3,701 |
|
Number of Consultancy Service Agreements with Non-Commercial Entities |
114 |
140 |
153 |
1138* |
210 |
1,755 |
|
Value of Research Expenditure** |
€563m |
€599m |
€636m |
€636m |
€672m |
€3,106m |
|
Value of Research Expenditure derived from Industry |
€48m |
€49m |
€53m |
€48m |
€58m |
€256m |
|
Value Research Expenditure derived from Non-Commercial Entities |
€40m |
€56m |
€29m |
€38m |
€33m |
€196m |
*Figure is significantly higher in 2020 due to 1 RPO reporting a large volume of soil sampling carried out for non-commercial entities
** These figures do not include any academic costs dedicated to research, costs of administrative support and capital expenditures on new equipment, buildings or land.
This table shows that from 2017 to 2021 the number of R&D Agreements by RPOs increased by 113 with an average of 1,301 per year.
R&D Agreements include Research Collaboration Agreements with industry and Innovation Vouchers which are projects between industry and the RPO which can be fully or partly funded by the company involved. The purpose of these projects is the generation of new knowledge and potentially (but not always) a publication.
Consultancy Service Agreements with industry from 2017-2021 increased by 112 with an average of 740 per year and those agreements with non-commercial entities has increased by 96 (exception in 2020 explained above). Consultancy Service Agreements are where the RPO provides professional work to an external client through an academic, researcher or other RPO staff member for a commercial fee.
Trade Data
Questions (34)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:34. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of trade between Ireland and Saudi Arabia in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [40759/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Central Statistics Office compiles statistical data in relation to Exports and Imports. These statistics can be found at www.cso.ie.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular below.
|
2020 |
Exports to Saudi Arabia |
Imports from Saudi Arabia |
|
Goods |
€ 627 million |
€ 59 million |
|
Services |
€ 1,423 million |
€ 365 million |
|
2021 |
Exports to Saudi Arabia |
Imports from Saudi Arabia |
|
Goods |
€ 686 million |
€ 71 million |
|
Services |
Not yet available |
Not yet available |