Robert Troy
Question:381. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the review of the works permit will be completed; the last date for submission for public consultation. [36061/23]
View answerWork Permits
Questions (381)
Written answers
The public consultation on the Review of the Occupations Lists commenced on 26 June 2023. Submissions to the public consultation will be accepted until 5pm on 18 August 2023 – a duration of 8 weeks in total.
Following the closure of the consultation phase, the submissions will be analysed by an Interdepartmental Group (IDG), chaired by DETE . It is expected that Departmental recommendations, informed by the IDG, will be submitted for ministerial approval by November 2023 and amendments made to Employment Permits Regulations, as necessary.
Evidence based submissions to the public consultation should include any relevant factors that may be impacting the sector in question in order to inform the IDG analysis, for example, data on the skills or labour shortages, information on recruitment efforts undertaken, retention difficulties, relevant training incentives, impact on business, expansion plans etc., and any other evidence or data such as industry surveys or reports and views within the given sector.
Submissions should be made using the form provided on the Department's website.
State Bodies
Questions (382)
Colm Burke
Question:382. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what action will be taken to recruit more staff into the Health Safety Authority, particularly in light of the fact that the coronial service, and families affected, have been experiencing significant delays in cases being listed for inquest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36160/23]
View answerWritten answers
The core function of the Coroner Service is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. The Minister for Justice is responsible for the legislation that governs the role and responsibilities of coroners.
I have no role in relation to the Coroner Service or the delivery of its functions.
The Health and Safety Authority, which operates under the remit of my Department, is a regulatory body which carries out investigations into workplace fatalities. It carries out these investigations independently of myself and my Department.
In the case of a sudden death, such as one resulting from a workplace incident, a coroner is required to hold an inquest. An inquest is an inquiry by a coroner into the circumstances surrounding a death and is entirely separate to any investigation undertaken by the Health and Safety Authority. The purpose of the inquest is to establish and record when, where, and how the death occurred. In circumstances where the Health and Safety Authority has an on-going investigation, it will request the coroner to adjourn the inquest until its investigation or any prosecution is completed. While delaying an inquest can be distressing for family members, it is necessary to ensure the integrity of any investigative or legal process underway.
Separately, in relation to the staffing of the Health and Safety Authority, I would point out that following the allocation of additional funding for the Health and Safety Authority in recent years the overall number of sanctioned positions now stands at 317 across both administrative, professional and technical grades of which there are 253 in position with additional recruitment expected later this year.
Ports Policy
Questions (383)
Paul Kehoe
Question:383. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will appoint an industry-led taskforce to develop a report on the economic opportunities related to a location (details supplied); if his Department will provide the support and resources to deliver this report by autumn 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36166/23]
View answerWritten answers
Regional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation is a key policy priority of this Government.
Last year, my Department launched nine new Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs) to 2024 – including a plan for the South East. The REPs are an integral part of Ireland’s enterprise policy, aimed at driving economic growth and sustaining better standards of living throughout Ireland. These are bottom-up plans, developed by regional stakeholders and are overseen by a Steering Committee comprised of regional stakeholders and chaired by a senior level private sector business person. My Department has secured €145m under the European Regional Development Fund to support initiatives associated with the REPs.
The REPs provide an effective forum for facilitating regional stakeholder collaboration and play a central role in advancing the economic development potential unique to each respective region.
The South-East REP covers four counties, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. It contains a set of objectives and related actions to be delivered by end 2024 which are complementary to existing Government initiatives.
Action 2.1 of the South-East REP specifically identifies the importance of Rosslare Europort and the Port of Waterford in positioning the South-East as an offshore and onshore wind energy hub. The ambition outlined in the REP is to secure enabling infrastructural investment in Rosslare Europort and establishing a South-East Wind Energy Working Group bringing all the relevant stakeholders together in a cluster.
I fully support the ambition of this action within the South East REP and look forward to being updated on its progress during our regular engagement with the respective Regional Enterprise Plan Chairpersons and Programme Managers.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government 2020 included a commitment to establish the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce in recognition that the Estuary area had been expecting economic development arising from new fossil-fuel infrastructure. The establishment of that Taskforce was designed to evaluate the Estuary’s economic development potential in accordance with that specific commitment.
Maximising the significant economic development opportunities associated with offshore wind is a top priority of mine, and my Department is currently developing a National Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind with the objective to ensure Ireland fully captures the value of the supply chain to deliver an Offshore Wind Energy sector of scale, and the routes to market for this renewable energy. The Strategy is being developed in close collaboration with industry and I anticipate a first strategic roadmap to be published in the first half of 2024, coinciding with the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communication’s Future Framework for Offshore Wind.
National Minimum Wage
Questions (384)
John Brady
Question:384. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated amount it would cost to end the sub-minima national minimum wage rates for under 20s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36198/23]
View answerWritten answers
The current sub-minima National Minimum Wage rates allow those aged less than 18 years to be paid 70 percent of the full National Minimum Wage rate, while those aged 18 years and 19 years can be paid 80 and 90 percent of the full rate, respectively.
In February 2022, the Low Pay Commission was asked by the Minister under Section 10 (4) (a) of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 to re-examine the issues around retaining or removing the subminimum (age-related) rates and to make recommendations on the subject.
To inform its work, the LPC has asked the ESRI to conduct background research on this issue under the terms of the LPC-ESRI Research Partnership Agreement. This report is expected in the second half of 2023. That report will contain information about the number of workers on sub-minima rates which may allow for estimation of the amount it would cost employers to end the sub-minima National Minimum Wage rates for those under 20 years of age. The LPC’s report and recommendations on subminimum rates are expected by the end of 2023.
The Government supports the independence of the Low Pay Commission and while the issue of subminimum rates is being considered, the Government will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the LPC with regard to any future changes in the National Minimum Wage.
Enterprise Policy
Questions (385)
Paul Kehoe
Question:385. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur competition (details supplied) will recommence following its suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36223/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is reviewing the Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur programme to determine how best the concept can be used to encourage entrepreneurship and emerging entrepreneurs to start, sustain, and grow a business going forward.
A Working Group been established with representatives across the Enterprise Ireland Centre of Excellence & the Local Enterprise Office Network to consider the possibilities and opportunities of such an entrepreneurship programme. As part of these considerations the Working Group are:
• engaging with relevant stakeholders including with past winners of the competition to learn first-hand how their businesses have benefited from taking part in IBYE;
• reviewing the IBYE Stakeholder Review Report;
• utilising the findings of the OECD Report on Inclusive Entrepreneurship and considering the possibilities of such a programme in unlocking the entrepreneurial potential among groups such as women, immigrants, youth, seniors, the unemployed and people who experience disability;
• examining the current business landscape and challenges that emerging entrepreneurs are faced with today;
• considering digitisation opportunities in the design and delivery of such a programme.
The Working Group will report their findings and recommendations to the Department later this year. The network of Local Enterprise Offices continues to promote a positive entrepreneurship environment by providing a ‘first-stop-shop’ for anyone looking to start or grow their own business. Further to this, the role of LEOs has been expanded to provide support to businesses that have up to 50 employees, enabling them to continue in their business development to support their export journey.
In 2022 the LEOs provided financial assistance to new start-ups through Feasibility and Priming Grants, approving €6.7m in Priming grants to 231 client companies and €1.7m in Feasibility grants to 158 clients. The LEOs continue to assist entrepreneurs and business managers through focused training and development programmes including the flagship Start Your Own Business programmes which helped 4,500 aspiring entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas and assess their viability, helping them make informed decisions about whether, and how, to proceed.
The LEOs also provided Mentoring assignments to 12,201 individual business managers and owners along with numerous bespoke training programmes tailored to meet the needs of LEO client companies. LEOs also support youth entrepreneurship through the Student Enterprise where 25,011 students across 464 secondary schools took part in the 2022 Programme.
Enterprise Ireland also has a number of programmes to support entrepreneurs such HPSU Feasibility, the New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme, mentoring grants, Pre-seed start fund and the Competitive Start Fund. Enterprise Ireland, through their LEO Centre of Excellence, are delivering the ‘Entrepreneurial Education Programmes’ to primary schools across Ireland, enriching the school curriculum by introducing entrepreneurial skills to primary school pupils from an early age.
Enterprise Policy
Questions (386)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:386. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a recent report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36233/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s White Paper on Enterprise has clearly set out that the twin transition of digitisation and decarbonisation represents the opportunities and challenges of the future for Irish industry. Addressing these opportunities in a comprehensive manner will further enhance our reputation as a world-leading, progressive, high-value add economy trading successfully in international markets. The challenge for us all is to articulate the vision that places Ireland at the centre of this new global economy and documents a roadmap that can deliver on that vision.
In that context, I warmly welcome the ambition set out by the independent Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce and the detailed set of actions. The Taskforce was established by my Department and its Secretariat was supported by Department officials. I particularly welcome the Taskforce’s proposal to develop an Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind. My Department has recently established a new Unit tasked with delivering on this objective recognising the vast potential the industry has for Ireland.
The Taskforce’s vision for an Atlantic Green Digital Corridor, developing from the Shannon Estuary and stretching from Cork to Donegal is more than an energy strategy; it is also about reshaping the Irish economy very fundamentally, and it offers a tangible opportunity to achieve balanced regional development, something that is a key priority of mine.
I was very pleased to join the Taoiseach and Ministers Ryan and Foley in launching the independent Taskforce’s Report in Ardnacrusha on the 8th of July. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government 2020 committed to supporting the Shannon Estuary region by establishing this Taskforce and I was particularly pleased to see that commitment honoured in such a visionary and ambitious Final Report. The Report is the culmination of extensive stakeholder engagement over the course of the last year with industry, Government Departments and Agencies, Ministers, public representatives from the region, in addition to conducting two public consultations.
A number of recommendations contained in the Report, including the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) and the publication of a National Hydrogen Strategy, have already been actioned by Government in the past few weeks. These are important elements to our delivery of offshore wind energy, and its routes to market, and both clearly demonstrate Government’s commitment to developing an offshore wind industry of scale in Ireland.
I also welcome the series of recommendations in the Report designed to bring more immediate economic and sustainability benefits to the Shannon Estuary region. This includes actions required to develop and upscale the deployment of onshore sources of renewable energy such as biomethane, as well as specific recommendations on developing the region’s transport and logistics infrastructure, digital connectivity, and proposals around further developing the Estuary’s tourism offering.
The Taskforce have presented Government with a range of recommendations across all these areas which we will collectively consider in detail.
Trade Missions
Questions (387)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:387. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide advice on the organisation of a trade mission to Ireland by a group of 30 business people from East Africa with the view of gaining knowledge and partnerships in their sectors of interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36240/23]
View answerWritten answers
Trade between Ireland and African countries is at record levels and has the potential to grow significantly in the years ahead. In 2021, trade in goods between Ireland and Africa increased to a record level of €2.41 billion (€1.85 billion in Irish exports and €0.55 billion in Irish imports). Trade in services also reached a record level of just over €4 billion (€3.5 billion in exports and €0.57 billion in imports).
Proposals for any official trade mission or trade visit to Ireland should be raised through the relevant countries’ embassies to Ireland in the first instance. Ireland is supportive of strengthening economic links with African countries and the Department of Foreign Affairs has a significant presence across Africa. Therefore, any proposals for a trade visit could also be raised with the relevant embassy of Ireland.
Equality Issues
Questions (388)
Pauline Tully
Question:388. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 32 of 29 June 2023, to detail the disability training that is provided to staff working in local enterprise offices; if this training is optional or compulsory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36243/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance, and other supports for all intending to start or grow a business. In that regard, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as the Department of Social Protection, Revenue, Education and Training Boards and Microfinance Ireland.
The LEO grant supports are available to all entrepreneurs equally, provided their business meets the general eligibility criteria, such as operating in manufacturing or internationally traded services. In addition, all entrepreneurs can avail of LEO training, mentoring and management development programmes.
Enterprise Ireland provides capability and development training for LEO staff to support them to proactively engage with Clients. Training is provided across a range of business topics and is designed to help LEO Executives identify the problems facing client businesses, determine their causes and support owner/managers plan and implement appropriate solutions allowing them to prosper and grow.
The LEO’s as units with the Local Authority are committed to ensuring that all of their supports are fully accessible which ensures that a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use.
In addition as with all sections within the Local Authority the LEOs are subject to a Disability Implementation Plan which promotes universal access to all public spaces, buildings and services owned and operated by Local Authorities with each Local Authority employing an Access Officer promote universal access to all public spaces, buildings and services owned and operated by Local Authorities.
Industrial Development
Questions (389)
Matt Carthy
Question:389. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the decision to employ an IDA business development consultant in Israel, considering the ongoing breaches of international law by Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36384/23]
View answerWritten answers
Israel is an important source of FDI globally with many Israeli companies having an international presence, including across Europe and the UK. In this context, IDA Ireland is currently involved in a Tender process for a part-time Israel-based Business Development Consultant.
A Business Development Consultant is charged with identifying target companies with potential for investing in Ireland, engaging with senior decision-makers in these companies and presenting Ireland’s value proposition as an investment location.
Importantly, in this work, I can advise the Deputy that IDA Ireland will not target any Israeli company included on the database of enterprises involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as published by the UN in February 2020.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (390)
Ged Nash
Question:390. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on correspondence from an organisation (details supplied); if he and his officials plan to engage further with the organisation on the matters raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36458/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department is happy to engage with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and all stakeholders on the Employment Permits Bill.
I have received correspondence from Owen Reidy, General Secretary of ICTU, by way of Minister Coveney, and a direct response will issue shortly. In this response we will address ICTU's concerns on certain provisions of the Employment Permits Bill.
ICTU refers to the new policy whereby an employment permit holder will be able to transfer a permit to a new employer. Clarification will also be provided with regard to the implementation of this policy for Employment Permit holders.
I will invite the organisation to engage further with officials from my Department on the Employment Permits Bill.
Enterprise Support Services
Questions (391)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:391. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of WTE staff, by job title, working in each Enterprise Ireland office worldwide, in tabular form. [36515/23]
View answerWritten answers
Attached is a spreadsheet setting out the number of whole time equivalents in each of Enterprise Ireland's office worldwide.
Industrial Development
Questions (392)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:392. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of WTE staff, by job title, working in each IDA office worldwide, in tabular form, [36516/23]
View answerWritten answers
IDA Ireland works globally to develop new business opportunities and to attract investment into Ireland. In addition to ten offices based in Ireland, IDA Ireland also has twenty overseas offices around the world. These offices and the whole-time-equivalent staff employed in these offices are outlined in the attached table.
Industrial Development
Questions (393)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:393. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount the IDA has spent in the past five years utilising legal firms and consultancy firms to consult on and answer freedom of information requests; how many FOI requests this covered; the breakdown of costs per individual FOI request; how much was paid to each company; the reason internal legal advisors were not used for this work; and whether the IDA will be upskilling or hiring in legal advisors instead of outsourcing this work. [36533/23]
View answerWritten answers
The table below outlines the expenditure in the past five years by the IDA utilising legal firms and consultancy firms in relation to 13 Freedom of Information Requests, which, I understand, IDA Ireland has also supplied directly to the Deputy:
|
Addleshaw Goddard |
€2,460.00 |
|
Beauchamps |
€15,846.47 |
|
Byrne Wallace |
€104,501.80 |
|
Eversheds Sutherland |
€3,683.85 |
|
Mason Hayes & Curran |
€10,719.45 |
|
McCann Fitzgerald |
€28,288.40 |
The table below outlines the breakdown of the individual requests covered:
|
FOI 1 |
€2,460.00 |
|
FOI 2 |
€3,683.85 |
|
FOI 3 |
€4,988.24 |
|
FOI 4 |
€5,763.78 |
|
FOI 5 |
€5,844.96 |
|
FOI 6 |
€7,380.00 |
|
FOI 7 |
€8,268.68 |
|
FOI 8 |
€8,466.47 |
|
FOI 9 & 10 |
€10,719.45 |
|
FOI 11 |
€14,255.94 |
|
FOI 12 |
€15,662.27 |
|
FOI 13 |
€78,006.33* |
It should be noted, in respect of FOI 13, that IDA Ireland appealed a decision of the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) to the High Court. The matter was listed for hearing in January 2023. The matter was settled, with a High Court Order being made that the decision of the OIC be set aside and the matter remitted to the OIC, to be assigned to a different OIC investigator. No order was made as to costs in the case, with each side bearing their own legal costs. The legal costs figure set out above in respect of this matter includes the costs of this High Court appeal.
Finally, the IDA notes that the law relating to Freedom of Information is a specialised area of law, requiring detailed knowledge of the governing legislation, the relevant legal principles, the relevant Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) decisions and the relevant court decisions. Both because of the specialised nature of the legal issues involved, and the existing workload of its internal solicitors, IDA has relied on its panel of external law firms to advise the Agency in relation to these 13 FOI requests. As with all resourcing issues, this matter is kept under review by the Executive and Board of the IDA.
Question No. 394 answered with Question No. 380.
Business Regulation
Questions (395)
Robert Troy
Question:395. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline his plans to tackle the huge increase in the number of non-registered hairdressers; and if he will acknowledge that they have a competitive advantage against those hairdressers paying commercial rates. [36576/23]
View answerWritten answers
It is unclear as to what registration process the Deputy is referring to. Self-employed persons must register with Revenue for tax purposes. Questions regarding Revenue’s enforcement measures would be a matter for the Minister for Finance. I am happy to answer further questions from the Deputy where they relate to any process under my Department’s remit.