Written Answers Nos. 118-127
118. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the current situation with respect to the proposed referendum on the Unified Patent Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17004/24]
View answer119. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his position on the planned referendum on the United Patent Court ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17053/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together.
On Tuesday, Government agreed to a deferral of the constitutional referendum on Ireland’s participation in the Unified Patent Court which had been due to take place on the 7th of June 2024. The Government continues to believe that joining the UPC is essential, and that the referendum should be pursued.
The Bill was scheduled for the Seanad this week, but I was concerned that with only 7 weeks to the polling date, there would be insufficient opportunity for public discourse. We need to ensure we provide sufficient time for robust public discussion and engagement by stakeholders to help inform the debate. The issue is important and Government is determined to get it right.
In addition, there is emerging consensus that the June elections, which the referendum was aligned alongside for practical reasons, will likely give rise to diverse issues and campaigns which could crowd out a debate on the important but technical question posed by the referendum.
The Government reaffirmed its commitment that Ireland would join the Unified Patent Court and sees many benefits to Ireland’s ratification of the UPC: for the competitiveness of the small business sector; for Ireland’s overall national competitiveness and reputation; and for supporting the Science and R&D agenda.
Irish inventors can still acquire a Unitary Patent for their invention, but there will be a separate cost to register a patent in Ireland. For now, they will have to travel abroad and incur costs to protect their Unitary Patent in the 17 participating countries if any legal case arises.
The Government will decide on an alternative date for the referendum in due course.
120. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on progress on industrial heat decarbonisation; the supports available for industry to decarbonise; his plans to increase these supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16988/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware all sectors of society are learning to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. The decarbonisation of how companies generate heat during the manufacturing process is one aspect of that.
As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment it is my responsibility - through the work of my Department and its enterprise agencies – to meet the targets set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021.
In 2022, industrial emissions accounted for 9.7% of Ireland’s total emissions - manufacturing combustion accounted for almost two thirds of that. The legislation requires that the industrial on-site emissions in the manufacturing sectors are reduced by 20% by 2025 and by 35% by 2030.
My Department is actively working towards those targets, guided by the White Paper on Enterprise which firmly establishes decarbonisation as a core pillar of the Department’s work. It is now a key measure of our success, alongside employment and productivity.
Through its enterprise agencies, my Department is pro-actively engaging Irish businesses on the many opportunities for decarbonisation. Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland have identified around 30 client companies which have the potential to achieve the necessary reduction in Ireland’s industrial emissions, primarily in the cement, alumina, food & beverage, pharmaceutical and chemicals sectors.
I am committed to working closely with the agencies and supporting them to accelerate the decarbonisation of our largest industry emissions through funding via Environmental Aid and to help smaller businesses adapt via the Green Transition Fund, which contains a range of supports for businesses to make the green transition.
In addition, in the coming weeks, my Department will publish the Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap, under the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce. This report will be a valuable tool for manufacturers as it will document and communicate the emissions reduction pathway.
121. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times the Labour Employer Economic Forum subgroup on collective bargaining has met in 2024; and if he can provisionally indicate when the action plan on collective bargaining coverage to be presented to the European Commission as part of its transposition of the EU directive on adequate minimum wages will be published. [16834/24]
View answerThe LEEF Subgroup on the implementation of the High Level working Group's recommendations met on 29 June 2023 and 16 November 2023.
Updates on these issues were also provided at the LEEF plenary meeting with social partners on 20 November 2023 and 26 February 2024.
In addition to the LEEF plenary and subgroup discussions, a technical working group has been established this year with the social partners to examine the collective bargaining aspects of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages. This group met on 19 February 2024 and 25 March 2024. The meetings of the technical group have been constructive. The technical group will meet again in the coming weeks to look at the social partners’ proposals with regard to the EU Directive and Ireland’s action plan.
In addition to this work on the EU Directive and the action plan, my Department is fully engaged in implementation of the recommendations contained it the LEEF High Level Group Report on Collective Bargaining. Many elements of this report are already being progressed by the WRC and the Labour Court. Other recommendations, which would require significant legislative change, are being considered by the Office of the Attorney General as they may have significant constitutional implications. It was agreed with the social partners that the LEEF Subgroup will meet again as soon as full legal advice has been considered.
122. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will ensure the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021 will progress through Committee Stage; if not, how he will ensure the rights of retired workers are protected when their pensions are being altered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17047/24]
View answerThe Private Members Bill on Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) is sponsored by the Deputy (and Deputies Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett and Gino Kenny). It is a matter for the Deputies to progress the Bill.
At the Second Stage debate on the Bill, the former Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English, clearly outlined the Department's difficulties and concerns in relation to the proposed Bill as it was then drafted, and explained why it could not be supported by the Government.
The Joint Committee on Enterprise Trade and Employment met in public session on the 25 January 2023 to discuss detailed scrutiny of the Bill. Following this meeting, my Department issued a detailed brief to the Committee as requested and no further correspondence has been received by the Committee.
If a person is in receipt of an occupational pension, their relationship is with the trustees of the pension fund. They no longer have an employment relationship with their former employer. As the Deputy will be aware, trustees have statutory and fiduciary duties to act in the best interests of all members of a fund.
It is the responsibility of the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman to act in an independent and impartial means of resolving complaints alleging financial loss occasioned by an act of maladministration and disputes of fact or law in relation to occupational pensions schemes and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts.
123. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in each of the four Dublin local authority areas that have registered for the increased cost of business grant to date; when payments under the grant will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16886/24]
View answerAs you will be aware, as part of Budget 2024, the Government signed off on a package of €257 million for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant as a vital measure for small and medium businesses.
Local Authorities, funded through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, are administering the grant to qualifying businesses on behalf of the Department.
Local Authorities have written to all rate paying businesses with details of how to register for the grant and it is a very simple process for businesses to verify their details through an online portal.
The grant has been open for registrations since 14 March. Local Authorities will begin to send payments to eligible businesses from Monday next 22 April. The closing date for registrations for the ICOB grant is 1 May 2024. I urge all eligible businesses to register for this grant as soon as they receive a letter from their Local Authority. The sooner a business registers the sooner their details will be verified and the grant will be paid out.
In relation to the uptake of the scheme in the four Dublin Local Authorities referred to in the question, the latest figures as at Tuesday 16th April are as follows:
Dublin City Council has 3709 registrations which is 21% of businesses notified
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council has 1148 registrations which is 23% of businesses notified
Fingal County Council has 1662 registrations which is 26% of businesses notified
South Dublin County Council has 1438 registrations which is 26% of businesses notified.
124. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the current process with respect to applications for the increased cost of business grant; the number of applications received to date by each respective local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17003/24]
View answerAs you will be aware, as part of Budget 2024, the Government signed off on a package of €257 million for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant as a vital measure for small and medium businesses.
Local Authorities, funded through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, are administering the grant to qualifying businesses on behalf of the Department.
Local Authorities have written to all rate paying businesses with details of how to register for the grant and it is a very simple process for businesses to verify their details through an online portal.
The grant has been open for registrations since 14 March. Local Authorities will begin to send payments to eligible businesses from Monday next 22 April. The closing date for registrations for the ICOB grant is 1 May 2024. I urge all eligible businesses to register for this grant as soon as they receive a letter from their Local Authority. The sooner a business registers the sooner their details will be verified and the grant will be paid out. Payments will be made to eligible businesses in the coming weeks.
The following is the situation in relation to uptake of the scheme across all Local Authorities as at Tuesday 16th April.
|
Agency Name |
Total Potential Businesses |
Total Submissions |
Percentage |
|
Carlow County Council (101) |
1579 |
408 |
25.84% |
|
Cavan County Council (102) |
2063 |
325 |
15.75% |
|
Clare County Council (103) |
3115 |
838 |
26.90% |
|
Cork City Council (104) |
9074 |
2118 |
23.34% |
|
Cork County Council (105) |
12094 |
2304 |
19.05% |
|
Meath County Council (106) |
3723 |
1181 |
31.72% |
|
Donegal County Council (107) |
4207 |
926 |
22.01% |
|
Dublin City Council (108) |
17300 |
3709 |
21.44% |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (109) |
4978 |
1148 |
23.06% |
|
Fingal County Council (110) |
6324 |
1662 |
26.28% |
|
Galway City Council (111) |
3174 |
983 |
30.97% |
|
Galway County Council (112) |
3755 |
941 |
25.06% |
|
Kerry County Council (113) |
5303 |
1153 |
21.74% |
|
Kildare County Council (114) |
4980 |
1320 |
26.51% |
|
Kilkenny County Council (115) |
2476 |
700 |
28.27% |
|
Laois County Council (116) |
1307 |
402 |
30.76% |
|
Leitrim County Council (117) |
903 |
232 |
25.69% |
|
Limerick City and County Council (118) |
4695 |
1377 |
29.33% |
|
Longford County Council (119) |
975 |
363 |
37.23% |
|
Louth County Council (120) |
3123 |
959 |
30.71% |
|
Mayo County Council (121) |
4184 |
1169 |
27.94% |
|
Monaghan County Council (122) |
1876 |
569 |
30.33% |
|
Offaly County Council (123) |
2229 |
448 |
20.10% |
|
Roscommon County Council (124) |
2028 |
540 |
26.63% |
|
Sligo County Council (125) |
1427 |
437 |
30.62% |
|
South Dublin County Council (126) |
5612 |
1438 |
25.62% |
|
Tipperary County Council (127) |
4008 |
1159 |
28.92% |
|
Waterford City and County Council (128) |
3427 |
867 |
25.30% |
|
Westmeath County Council (129) |
1936 |
642 |
33.16% |
|
Wexford County Council (130) |
4568 |
1617 |
35.40% |
|
Wicklow County Council (131) |
3064 |
1104 |
36.03% |
|
Total |
129507 |
33039 |
25.51% |
125. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a update on the construction of an advanced manufacturing facility at Marlinstown, Mullingar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17001/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the availability of appropriate, innovative, and cost-effective property solutions that meet the needs of multinational companies at the forefront of a modern economy remains essential to winning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In this context, the IDA Regional Property Programme has been designed to ensure the supply of land, buildings and essential infrastructure in regional locations as required by current and prospective clients of IDA as well as those of Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.
Under its current strategy, 'Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021–2024’, IDA is progressing delivery of 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) in regional locations. Eight properties have been completed since the start of the current strategy, in Monaghan, Sligo, Dundalk, Carlow, Waterford, Athlone, and 2 in Limerick. A further 5 buildings are anticipated to be on site in 2024 including the advanced manufacturing factory at Marlinstown Business Park, Mullingar.
In relation to the Marlinstown Business Park facility, IDA Ireland secured planning permission from Westmeath County Council in November 2022 for the construction of a c.50,000sq.ft. Advanced Building Solution consisting of office and light industrial/production spaces which also included provision for a vehicular/pedestrian entrance, signage, new timber post-and-rail boundaries, car parking, cycle shelters, landscaping, gas skid, underground storage tank, independent ESB substation & switch room building, access road and all associated site works.
IDA Ireland subsequently commenced the procurement process for the selection of a suitably qualified contractor to complete the development. However, the tender process was the subject of judicial review proceedings which are now concluded whereby a new procurement process will be required. I can advise the Deputy that this is being progressed at pace.
More generally, many factors impact on timelines for the delivery of construction projects including, site identification, willing vendors, planning, procurement & a variety of macro-economic factors. The construction industry also continues to be impacted by global supply chain and cost inflation challenges. Despite these challenges and the impacts on both works & budgets, IDA’s Property Division has maintained momentum on the delivery of its Regional Property Programme and is committed to the timely delivery of a building solution in Mullingar.
127. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if IDA Ireland still plans to proceed with providing a new advance technology facility at Kerry Technology Park in Tralee, County Kerry; the reason for the apparent lack of progress on the plan over the past four years; the current position; if the target in respect of this facility as set out in IDA Ireland's own plans will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17022/24]
View answerUnder its current strategy, ‘Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021–2024’, IDA is committed to delivering 19 Advance Building Solutions across six regions in 15 locations. Eight buildings are now complete, a further 5 buildings are expected to be "on site" in 2024 with the remainder in the planning and site selection stages. Moreover, the IDA has made considerable property investments in Kerry under this strategy, including the acquisition of over 16 hectares of lands at Kerry Technology Park.
As the Deputy is aware, Kerry Technology Park already is home to internationally recognised companies such as JRI America and Astellas, who, in September 2023, announced its intention to build a €330 million state-of-the-art facility in the park. In the context of this significant development at the Kerry site, IDA has now identified a suitable site within this land bank to accommodate the construction of the Advance Building Solution planned under its current strategy. I am advised that the IDA is working through a design process to secure planning permission at this location and is working to progress the project as expeditiously as possible. This application will have the potential to support not only future foreign direct investment but also indigenous industry across a number of sectors.
IDA Ireland continues to maintain a focus on its property portfolio in regional locations to support its project pipeline, including in Kerry, and will continue to position Kerry for virtual and in-person site visits to prospective companies in 2024 and beyond.
