Written Answers Nos. 559-578
559. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail in tabular form, by county (or local authority), the number of businesses that have been supported under the digital transition fund; and the estimated total value of the support in each county (or local authority area). [37604/23]
View answerAs part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), the key objective of the Digital Transition Fund (DTF) is to drive a step change in the digital transition of Irish business as a key driver of sustainable productivity. The DTF will be used to help companies at all stages of their digital journey.
The following table illustrates number of companies approved and related funding amounts.
Approvals under the Digital Transition Fund on 18 th August 2023
|
Local Authority |
Number of Companies Approved |
Amount Approved € |
|
Carlow |
< 5 |
€309,760 |
|
Cavan |
< 5 |
€84,796 |
|
Clare |
< 5 |
€5,000 |
|
Cork City |
8 |
€721,414 |
|
Cork County |
16 |
€1,027,495 |
|
Donegal |
5 |
€47,668 |
|
Dublin City |
23 |
€3,191,820 |
|
Dublin Fingal |
9 |
€423,347 |
|
Dublin South County |
13 |
€830,847 |
|
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown |
14 |
€1,389,451 |
|
Galway |
10 |
€1,596,559 |
|
Kerry |
< 5 |
€10,000 |
|
Kildare |
5 |
€189,840 |
|
Laois |
< 5 |
€10,000 |
|
Leitrim |
< 5 |
€928,000 |
|
Limerick |
9 |
€431,027 |
|
Longford |
5 |
€1,728,386 |
|
Louth |
7 |
€815,223 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
€332,851 |
|
Meath |
5 |
€52,054 |
|
Monaghan |
13 |
€825,378 |
|
Offaly |
< 5 |
€112,715 |
|
Roscommon |
< 5 |
€35,000 |
|
Sligo |
< 5 |
€184,628 |
|
Tipperary |
6 |
€485,413 |
|
Waterford |
< 5 |
€77,351 |
|
Westmeath |
< 5 |
€299,543 |
|
Wexford |
< 5 |
€74,950 |
|
Wicklow |
8 |
€1,091,112 |
|
Total |
190 |
€17,311,628 |
560. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail in tabular form, by county (or local authority), the number of businesses that have been supported under the climate planning fund for business; and the estimated total value of the support in each county (or local authority area). [37606/23]
View answerThe Climate Planning Fund for Business is part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and grants businesses funding towards a personalised plan to identify how best to remove reliance on fossil fuels in their business. The fund provides for €1,800 grant to develop a plan and up to €50,000 matched funding to go towards specific capacity building within an enterprise among the grants available.
Approvals under the Climate Planning Fund for Business on 18 th August 2023
|
Local Authority |
Number of Companies Approved |
Amount Approved € |
|
Carlow |
< 5 |
€13,600 |
|
Cavan |
6 |
€71,500 |
|
Clare |
< 5 |
€1,800 |
|
Cork City |
10 |
€85,100 |
|
Cork County |
14 |
€125,012 |
|
Donegal |
< 5 |
€15,000 |
|
Dublin City |
23 |
€124,800 |
|
Dublin Fingal |
7 |
€70,917 |
|
Dublin South County |
10 |
€144,120 |
|
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown |
< 5 |
€13,600 |
|
Galway |
12 |
€53,850 |
|
Kerry |
8 |
€24,000 |
|
Kildare |
5 |
€64,150 |
|
Kilkenny |
< 5 |
€20,275 |
|
Laois |
< 5 |
€15,000 |
|
Leitrim |
< 5 |
€1,800 |
|
Limerick |
6 |
€36,100 |
|
Longford |
< 5 |
€17,875 |
|
Louth |
5 |
€18,600 |
|
Mayo |
< 5 |
€47,324 |
|
Meath |
6 |
€47,300 |
|
Monaghan |
8 |
€30,400 |
|
Offaly |
< 5 |
€11,800 |
|
Roscommon |
< 5 |
€5,000 |
|
Sligo |
< 5 |
€10,000 |
|
Tipperary |
9 |
€115,255 |
|
Waterford |
< 5 |
€1,800 |
|
Westmeath |
< 5 |
€50,995 |
|
Wexford |
< 5 |
€10,000 |
|
Wicklow |
< 5 |
€11,800 |
|
Total |
170 |
€1,258,773 |
561. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail in tabular form, by county (or local authority), the number of businesses that have been supported under the enterprise emissions reduction investment fund; and the estimated total value of the support in each county (or local authority area). [37607/23]
View answerThe Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund supports companies to decarbonise their manufacturing combustion processes through investment in carbon abating capital equipment and technologies.
The fund aims to increase the resilience of companies to climate change and support them to accelerate their progress towards a net zero carbon pathway by incentivising companies to invest in and adopt carbon reducing technologies.
The fund is operating under the Green Transition Fund, the overall objective of which is to accelerate the decarbonisation of Irish enterprise, as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which is funded by the European Union.
To protect the confidentiality of Enterprise Ireland client companies it is not possible to state the precise number of companies supported at a local authority area level as they may be identifiable due to the small number of companies involved.
Approvals under the Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund as of the 18th of August 2023
|
Local Authority |
Number of Companies Approved |
Amount Approved € |
|
Cavan |
< 5 |
€468,324 |
|
Cork City |
< 5 |
€203,532 |
|
Cork County |
7 |
€898,975 |
|
Donegal |
< 5 |
€42,036 |
|
Dublin Fingal |
< 5 |
€374,696 |
|
Dublin South County |
< 5 |
€558,595 |
|
Kerry |
< 5 |
€199,584 |
|
Kilkenny |
< 5 |
€1,000,000 |
|
Limerick |
< 5 |
€42,815 |
|
Louth |
< 5 |
€18,907 |
|
Monaghan |
< 5 |
€12,304 |
|
Offaly |
< 5 |
€44,263 |
|
Tipperary |
< 5 |
€5,736 |
|
Westmeath |
< 5 |
€8,700 |
|
Wexford |
< 5 |
€1,000,000 |
|
Wicklow |
< 5 |
€13,000 |
|
Total |
29 |
€4,891,467 |
562. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail in tabular form, by county (or local authority), the number of businesses that have been supported under the €12 million funding announced in March 2022 to address construction inflation costs and support the completion of existing regionally funded projects under the regional enterprise development and border enterprise development funds; and the estimated total value of the support in each county (or local authority area). [37610/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that my Department has approved over €126 million in funding for 79 innovative enterprise focused projects under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF), Border Enterprise Development Fund (BEDF) and Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme (RETS).
Last year Enterprise Ireland provided additional funding to existing REDF and BEDF projects impacted by increased construction costs to allow for the completion of eligible projects as originally planned. €6 million in funding was allocated in 2022 and a further €6 million is available this year and next.
Enterprise Ireland has advised me that the number of projects which secured approved funding under the ‘Addendum to the REDF and BEDF 2017-2020 Construction Inflation Costs 2022’ fund and the amount of funding per county is as follows.
|
County |
No. of Projects |
Total Approved |
|
Clare |
1 |
€923,674 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
€550,000 |
|
Dublin |
1 |
€681,012 |
|
Galway |
4 |
€2,160,421 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
€493,868 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
€1,249,731 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
€395,532 |
|
Louth |
1 |
€95,770 |
|
Meath |
1 |
€318,522 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
€1,339,243 |
|
Sligo |
2 |
€980,546 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
€490,686 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
€636,831 |
|
Total |
19 |
€10,315,836 |
563. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail in tabular form, by county (or local authority), the number of businesses that made successful applications under the Brexit impact loan scheme; and the estimated total value of the low-cost loans in each county (or local authority area). [37612/23]
View answerIn October 2021, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine together with the European Investment Bank Group and Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland launched the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme (BILS), to support SME and small mid-cap businesses (including those in the farming and fishing sectors) that have been affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Loans under this scheme range from €25,000 to €1.5m and are for terms of up to six years. This scheme provides low-cost loans with no collateral requirements for loans up to €500,000, making funding available to businesses that would otherwise not be able to access funding. The BILS closed to new applications on 31st December 2022. As of 18th August 2023, there have been 1,931 loans progressed to sanction under the scheme, to a total value of €260m.
To ensure that an appropriate option for access to finance remained in place for COVID-19 impacted SMEs, the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme (BILS) was widened by Government to allow access to COVID-19 impacted SMEs. The implementation of this change resulted in the launch of a new scheme called the Covid-19 Loan Scheme (CLS) on the 4th of July 2022. The Covid-19 Loan Scheme closed to new applications on 31st December 2022. As of 18th August 2023, there have been 276 loans progressed to sanction under the scheme, to a total value of €28m.
The table below includes the number and value of approved and drawn loans for each county.
|
County |
Approved Loans |
Approved Loans Value € |
Drawn Loans |
Drawn Loans Value € |
|
Carlow |
38 |
9,924,000 |
38 |
9,924,000 |
|
Cavan |
32 |
10,275,800 |
32 |
10,275,800 |
|
Clare |
42 |
4,479,000 |
42 |
4,479,000 |
|
Cork |
259 |
31,643,985 |
258 |
31,608,985 |
|
Donegal |
118 |
18,359,500 |
118 |
18,359,500 |
|
Dublin |
181 |
32,766,000 |
181 |
32,766,000 |
|
Galway |
96 |
14,067,210 |
96 |
14,067,210 |
|
Kerry |
48 |
7,052,501 |
48 |
7,052,501 |
|
Kildare |
47 |
7,604,500 |
47 |
7,604,500 |
|
Kilkenny |
54 |
5,189,000 |
54 |
5,189,000 |
|
Laois |
58 |
7,692,000 |
58 |
7,692,000 |
|
Leitrim |
11 |
1,338,000 |
11 |
1,338,000 |
|
Limerick |
63 |
7,849,760 |
63 |
7,849,760 |
|
Longford |
18 |
3,512,750 |
18 |
3,512,750 |
|
Louth |
36 |
6,399,000 |
36 |
6,399,000 |
|
Mayo |
117 |
9,004,018 |
117 |
9,004,018 |
|
Meath |
54 |
9,767,280 |
54 |
9,767,280 |
|
Monaghan |
27 |
2,878,300 |
27 |
2,878,300 |
|
Offaly |
63 |
10,416,000 |
63 |
10,416,000 |
|
Roscommon |
69 |
6,042,000 |
68 |
5,972,000 |
|
Sligo |
32 |
3,071,187 |
32 |
3,071,187 |
|
Tipperary |
156 |
15,711,961 |
156 |
15,711,961 |
|
Waterford |
106 |
9,790,500 |
106 |
9,790,500 |
|
Westmeath |
38 |
3,446,965 |
38 |
3,446,965 |
|
Wexford |
108 |
14,757,690 |
108 |
14,757,690 |
|
Wicklow |
60 |
7,384,000 |
60 |
7,384,000 |
|
Total |
1,931 |
260,422,907 |
1,929 |
260,317,907 |
564. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has consulted with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission around the issue of the de facto monopoly Ticketmaster/Live Nation have on the online ticket sales market and measures he is introducing to ensure fair competition in the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37809/23]
View answerSection 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is independent in the performance of its statutory functions. As investigation and enforcement matters are part of the day-to-day operational work of the Commission, I have no direct function in these matters.
Section 5(1) of the Competition Act 2002 prohibits any abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position in trade for any goods or services in the State or in any part of the State.
In January 2017, the CCPC opened an investigation into suspected anti-competitive practices in the ticketing industry, examining activities which took place from 1 January 2012 to 13 March 2020. As part of its extensive investigation, the CCPC came to the preliminary view that Ticketmaster held a dominant position in the market for the supply of outsourced primary ticketing services on the island of Ireland. Ticketmaster did not agree with this assessment.
Section 14B of the 2002 Act provides a mechanism whereby undertakings under investigation by the CCPC may avoid the institution of proceedings under section 14A by entering into an agreement with the CCPC to provide commitments regarding addressing competition concerns and their future behaviour.
In November 2020, Ticketmaster submitted commitments to the CCPC to remove exclusivity clauses with venues in the supply of outsourced primary ticketing services. Ticketmaster also committed to limiting the time period of exclusivity clauses to 3 years in contracts with live event organisers, the overall contract duration would be capped at 5 years and finally that there would be no automatic contract renewals. The purpose of these commitments was to address the preliminary competition concerns identified in the CCPC’s investigation.
On 29 January 2021 the agreement between CCPC and Ticketmaster became an order of the High Court. The commitments included detailed compliance and monitoring obligations on Ticketmaster. The CCPC has had ongoing engagement with Ticketmaster in relation to how it is complying with the terms of these commitments and court order. The CCPC is also actively monitoring the impact of the required changes on the sector generally.
565. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he will honour the terms of the Employment Regulation Order for the security industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37870/23]
View answerI signed the Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry on 25th August 2023, with a commencement date of 4th September 2023, when approximately 16,000 workers saw their minimum rate of pay rise from €11.65 to €12.90 per hour.
The full details of the ERO have been made available to the public on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s website.
566. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of trade between Argentina and Ireland in 2022 and for the first half of 2023. [37933/23]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office compiles statistical data in relation to Goods and Services Exports and Imports.
According to the CSO, the value of our goods exports to Argentina was €131 million in 2022. Our top goods exports to Argentina in 2022 were medical and pharmaceutical products; computers, computer parts and storage devices; and electronic components and integrated circuits. In the first half of 2023 our goods exports to Argentina were valued at €74 million.
The value of our goods imports from Argentina was €511 million in 2022. Our top goods imports from Argentina in 2022 were feeding stuff for animals; make up products, soft drink concentrate and hair products; and non alcoholic beverages, beer and wine. In the first half of 2023 our goods imports from Argentina were valued at €210 million.
The CSO does not yet have data for our services exports to, and services imports from, Argentina for 2022 or the first half of 2023. In 2021, the value of our services exports to Argentina was €301 million while the value of our services imports from Argentina was €88 million. These are the latest statistics available.
567. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta cén fáth nach bhfuil leagan Gaeilge, nó fiú Gaeilge ar bith, ar shuíomh gréasáin na Gníomhaireachta Forbartha Tionscail agus cé na céimeanna atá á nglacadh chun a chinnitú go mbeidh leagan dátheangach den suíomh gréasáin sin ar fáil go luath. [38013/23]
View answerIs comhlacht forordaithe é GFT Éireann faoi Achtanna na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 go 2021 agus mar sin tá sé aireach ar a dhualgais faoin gcéanna - a thuarascáil bhliantúil a fhoilsiú i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla mar shampla. Níl forálacha sonracha san Acht féin, áfach, maidir le láithreáin ghréasáin comhlachtaí poiblí.
Maidir leis seo, díríonn GFT Éireann, mar ghníomhaireacht infheistíochta isteach an Stáit, ar chuideachtaí idirnáisiúnta féachaint ar Éirinn mar láthair oiriúnach le haghaidh infheistíochta agus leathnú a gcuid oibríochtaí isteach san Eoraip. Ní dhíríonn GFT Éireann ar chuideachtaí sa tír seo, agus is é seo sainchúram Fhiontraíocht Éireann. Mar gheall ar an spriocmhargadh, is i mBéarla, mar sin, atá suíomh idirlín IDA Ireland.
Tuigtear ó oifigigh sa Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán gur gné shuntasach d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021 é caighdeáin teanga a thabhairt isteach do chomhlachtaí poiblí atá forordaithe faoin Acht, agus é ar intinn leis sin go bhfuil na hoibleagáidí a chuirtear ar chomhlachtaí poiblí le grádú chun a léiriú go bhféadfadh na nithe seo a leanas a bheith ag roinnt comhlachtaí poiblí:
• idirghníomhú níos fearr le pobail Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta;
• atá lonnaithe laistigh de nó in aice le ceantar Gaeltachta; agus/nó
• níos mó acmhainní a bheith ar fáil dóibh.
Mar is eol don Teachta, tháinig Alt 9 d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021, a thugann stádas reachtúil do na caighdeáin, i bhfeidhm ar 15 Márta 2023. Tá próisis sainchomhairliúcháin leagtha síos faoi Alt 19A.(6) den Acht arna leasú maidir le caighdeáin teanga a fhorordú agus glacfaidh GFT Éireann páirt ghníomhach in aon chomhairliúcháin dá leithéid má agus nuair a thagann an t-am.
568. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated amount in 2024 to recruit two additional WTE senior principal scientific officers and two extra full-time senior executives in global procurement for Enterprise Ireland. [38027/23]
View answerThe estimated costs to recruit two additional Senior Principal Scientific Officers and two additional Senior Executives in 2024 would total €382,428, exclusive of Employers PRSI costs.
It should be noted that these costs are based on expected 2024 salaries and are based on recruiting at the minimum point of the associated scales.
569. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to visit the United States before the end of the year. [38093/23]
View answerEach year, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland prepare a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to grow business overseas and increase domestic employment, and showcasing opportunities for foreign direct investment in support of high-quality jobs and regional development throughout Ireland.
In recent years the majority of Ministerial-led trade missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represent the strongest growth opportunities for Irish companies. These missions have focused on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in a range of sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and life sciences.
I will be leading a 3 day trade mission to the USA in mid October. This will be a joint EI and IDA trade mission focussed on the US Mid West and will include client company engagements in Chicago and Indianapolis. Apart from this trade mission, I have no other visits scheduled to the USA before the end of this year.
570. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether there has been any increase in trade entering Irish ports from Britain and destined for Northern Ireland, and visa versa, since the signing of the Windsor Framework; if so, the amount it has increased by; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38187/23]
View answerThe Windsor Framework is a post-Brexit legal agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom which was announced on 27 February 2023 and formally adopted by both parties on 24 March 2023.
My Department does not have any role in collecting data in relation to the quantity or value of goods entering Irish ports.
The Central Statistics Office compiles statistical data in relation to port traffic and this is measured by tonnage. The latest figures available on the CSO website with respect to port traffic relate to Quarter 1 of 2023.
Customs valuation is the determination of the economic value of goods declared for importation and the Revenue Commissioners may collect such information on a port by port basis.
571. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the provisions allowing for the right to request remote working will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38203/23]
View answerThe Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act was enacted on 4 April 2023. Under the Act, all employees will have a right to request remote working.
The legislation contains an obligation on the employer to consider both their needs and the needs of employees when considering a request for remote working arrangements. Employers will also be required to have regard to a Code of Practice when considering such a request from their employees. The provisions of the Act pertaining to the right to request remote working are contained in Part 3 of the Act and have not yet been commenced.
Work on the development of the Code of Practice is ongoing. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is currently reviewing submissions received as part of a public consultation which closed in June.
My intention is that when the Code is complete, Part 3 of the Act will be commenced as soon as is practicable.
572. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will advise the engagement his Department has had in its role in revitalising the Irish wool industry; if he has engaged with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this focus from an industry and enterprise perspective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38264/23]
View answerWhile I am not aware of any direct engagement with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this matter, the Design and Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) has engaged in a number of ways on behalf of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to look at how to address the sustainable production of Irish Wool.
The DCCI are engaging in sectoral discussion with its textile clients to have a forum on how to drive innovation around Irish wool as part of design week 2023 in November of this year.
DCCI has already supported and promoted Irish Wool brands as part of its Irish Business Design Challenge. The DCCI is continuously engaging with the Irish wool industry to promote the sector and provide marketing expertise.
While Enterprise Ireland does not directly engage with Wool producers in Ireland, they do provide various types of support to businesses, including those in the wool industry. These support services are designed to help businesses grow, innovate, and expand into international markets. The support mechanisms that may be available to the wool industry from Enterprise Ireland can be found on the Enterprise Ireland website at: enterprise-ireland.com.
573. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the position whereby many employees are obliged to retire from their employment at the age of 65 years even if they wish to continue working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38291/23]
View answerCurrently there is no general retirement age for employees in Irish legislation, apart from certain public sector employees where statutory retirement ages may apply. A contract of employment often sets out a specific retirement age but this is a matter of contract between the parties. Under equality legislation, an employer is currently permitted to set a retirement age, but only in circumstances where it can be objectively and reasonably justified by a legitimate aim, and the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary.
In September 2022, in response to the Pensions Commission Recommendations and Implementation Plan, the Government committed to a range of pension reforms which will ensure the pensions system is sustainable in the face of demographic change and that people relying on the State Pension have adequate and predictable income in retirement. The majority of the commitments relate to significant reform of the State Pension System and are being led by the Department of Social Protection.
There is one key commitment relating to contractual mandatory retirement age which is the responsibility of my Department. The proposal is to introduce measures that allow, but do not compel, an employee to stay in employment until the State Pension Age. The Government has committed that the State Pension age will remain at 66.
Officials are considering what detailed measures may be required to preclude enforceability of contractual mandatory retirement ages before the age at which an employee may first become entitled to the State Pension. Primary legislation will be required to implement this Government commitment. It is the intention that such legislation will be introduced within the same timeframe as the introduction of wider reforms by the Department of Social Protection, in order that the package of pension measures can come into effect at the same time.
I would also draw your attention to the Workplace Relations Commission's (WRC) Code of Practice on Longer Working, which is available on the WRC website. This Code of Practice sets out guidance for employers, employees and their representatives to follow during the engagement between employers and employees in the run up to retirement including responding to requests to work beyond the retirement age in the employment concerned.
574. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38543/23]
View answerBoth the Labour Court and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) are independent statutory offices under the aegis of my Department.
A date for an Adjudication Hearing was set at 26 July this year and I understand that an appeal has been referred to the Labour Court.
While it is inappropriate to address any specific complaint, it appears that there is a misunderstanding of the provisions of the Workplace Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015.
It is inappropriate for me as Minister to provide advice in relation to the matters raised and a reply has already issued to the individual concerned, clarifying the use of mediation in such circumstances.
Mediation is a voluntary process where the parties agree to meet in an attempt to reach a mutually agreeable and sustainable outcome that works for all concerned in the dispute. As mediation is a voluntary process, it cannot proceed unless both parties consent to it and where such consent is given the WRC will facilitate the mediation without prejudice to either party.
575. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made by the Companies Registration Office in implementing the Commission Implementing Regulation 2023/138 including which documents will be freely available, and what the current timeline for full implementation is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38546/23]
View answerImplementing Regulation 2023/138 was finalised in December 2022, and published in the Official Journal of the EU on the 20th of January 2023. It lays down a list of specific high-value data sets and the arrangements for their publication and re-use.
The Regulation is due to come into effect on 10th July 2024.
The Companies Registration Office is examining the provisions of the Regulation to identify the information that will be made freely available and the necessary IT development to ensure that the July 2024 timeline is met.
576. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence, AI, within his Department; if any section of his Department currently makes use of AI; if he will outline the purposes it is utilised for and costs associated with same; and if he has consulted with any consultancy firms in respect of the use of AI. [38564/23]
View answerMy Department led the development of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy - “AI – Here for Good”, and published a progress report on its implementation on 9 August.
As part of this Strategy, the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the National Cyber Security Centre play a key role in providing advice and guidance on the deployment of AI tools, including generative AI, across the public sector including to my Department.
The National AI Strategy and this cross-government engagement will continue to inform the Department's future approach in seeking to leverage A.I. in relation to the work and functions of the Department. When developing any new systems, my Department assesses the risks and benefits of appropriate technologies, including A.I., on a case by case basis. When implementing these technologies, advice is sought from all appropriate sources. Suitable policies and safeguards are then put in place.
One of the Department’s Offices, the Companies Registration Office (CRO), uses machine learning to scan digitised annual returns to check whether they are signed in the appropriate places. This technology has proven to be very effective in delivering processing efficiencies for the CRO. The CRO received over 240,000 Annual Returns in 2022, all of which were processed using this signature recognition facility. The total cost of the project was €175,402. My Department and the CRO also collaborated on a project to scan CRO annual returns and derive semantic meaning from the data. Work on data analysis from this project is ongoing.
My Department has not consulted with any consultancy firms in respect of the use of A.I. in the Department.
577. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost in 2024 if the budget for the Workplace Relations Commission is increased by 10%. [38603/23]
View answerThe Workplace Relations Commission is funded under the Workplace Relations programme of my Vote. The commission does not receive any Capital funding but it does receive Current funding to support its operations. A total of €17,074m has been provided to support the Commission in 2023. The table below outlines the estimated cost of increasing this allocation by 10%.
|
REV Allocation 2023 (€,000) |
10% Increase (€,000) |
Estimated Cost 2024 (€,000) |
|
|
Workplace Relations Commission |
17,074m |
1,707m |
18,781m |
578. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the action being taken by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to support new businesses and jobs to the Border counties Cavan and Monaghan and the greater Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38831/23]
View answerThere are 73 IDA Ireland supported companies in the border region (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, and Monaghan) that collectively employ 8,885 people. There are 17 IDA supported companies in Cavan and Monaghan, collectively employing 1,223 people.
The FDI performance in the region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 6% in 2022, reflecting strengths in Engineering & Industrial Technologies and Medical Technologies sectors. The most recent investment announcement was in March 2022, when California head quartered Ultra Clean Holdings Inc. announced an Advanced Technology Cleaning Centre in Cavan, which will create approximately 100 jobs when fully operational.
Key to the border region’s success is strategic collaboration with national and local stakeholders on the enhancement of the regional value proposition for FDI. In this regard, IDA Ireland welcomes the significant funding that Cavan and Monaghan have received under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) to date which will add to the placemaking successes and the value proposition of both counties.
IDA is targeting 25 investments for the border region in the period 2021 to 2024 and will continue to actively promote Cavan and Monaghan as part of the wider Border value proposition. The agency will build on the strengths and competencies of the region and take advantage of opportunities in emerging technologies and business models, including home and hub working.
IDA Ireland has recently completed the construction of an Advance Building Solution in Monaghan which it is actively marketing to potential FDI clients and as part of its current strategy “Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021 to 2024. The agency also plans to deliver an Advance Building Solution in Cavan. This proposed Advanced Building solution has received planning permission and is currently at phase 1 of the tendering process.
IDA Ireland will continue to work closely with existing clients across the region to retain and strengthen their presence through transformation as well as pursuing new areas of opportunity and is working with Enterprise Ireland and its indigenous base of companies to identify synergies and collaborative opportunities, to build value chain linkages and to advance clustering.
Enterprise Ireland is also focused on strengthening regional enterprise and job creation and is working with regionally based partners through the Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committees, and related funding streams, to drive increased enterprise collaboration, clustering and network development.
In 2022, Enterprise Ireland made payments of over €10.9m to client companies (€17.9m including infrastructural clients), employing 26,416 people in the border region. Under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) and the Border Enterprise Development Fund (BEDF) Enterprise Ireland is supporting 22 projects, €37m investment, in the 6 border counties to build on sectoral strengths and capability and drive job creation, scaling and export potential.
