Parliamentary questions

Registered Employment Agreements

Dara Calleary

1. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the implications of the Supreme Court ruling on registered employment agreements; his plans for legislation following the ruling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24550/13]

Tax Reliefs Application

Peadar Tóibín

2. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail the presentations that he has received calling for special provision to be made for senior executives in multinational companies; and if he will outline the business case developed by him to promote such special provisions. [24510/13]

Job Creation

Seamus Healy

3. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits his Department and the employment agencies have arranged to a vacant plant (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the possibilities of finding an industry for the plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24519/13]

Job Initiatives

Dara Calleary

4. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether a target of 20,000 additional manufacturing jobs can be achieved by 2016; the measures necessary to achieve this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24405/13]

Youth Unemployment Measures

Peadar Tóibín

5. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail the steps taken to create employment for young people; the impact of these initiatives in terms of employment outcomes; and his views on whether emigration is a life style choice. [24511/13]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Seán Crowe

6. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps taken to jointly market produce and products on an all-Ireland basis. [24456/13]

Credit Availability

Billy Kelleher

7. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the operation of the credit supply clearing group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24432/13]

Employment Rights

Richard Boyd Barrett

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will reply to two direct representations (details supplied), representing four former employees of Connolly Shoes in Dún Laoghaire, who are now in their fourth year of a dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24468/13]

Credit Guarantee Scheme Implementation

Thomas P. Broughan

9. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on the level of take-up of the credit guarantee scheme since its establishment; the way the scheme is actively being promoted by his Department to prospective applicants; and the targets he has set for overall take-up of the scheme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24339/13]

Proposed Legislation

Clare Daly

10. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he intends to bring legislation before Dáil Éireann regarding the abolition of the Employment Appeals Tribunal; the extent of the proposed reforms; and when he expects same to be implemented. [24136/13]

Foreign Direct Investment

John McGuinness

11. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has indicated to the Department of Finance his views that income tax rates are a significant influence on multinationals in deciding whether to locate here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24417/13]

Job Creation

Denis Naughten

12. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps which are being taken to support job creation in the Athlone area following the announcement of significant job losses by Alkermes Ltd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24299/13]

Pharmaceutical Sector

Niall Collins

13. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the impact of patent expiration on employment in the pharmaceutical sector; the way the industry can be supported to maintain employment levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24424/13]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Seán Crowe

14. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will identify additional measures that would promote all-Ireland trade and marketing of Irish produce and products. [24457/13]

International Workplace Safety Standards

Brendan Smith

15. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions he has had with his EU counterparts regarding the safety standards upheld in production facilities operated by companies exporting to the EU, in view of the Dhaka factory disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23177/13]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Michael Colreavy

16. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps taken to reduce the costs to business associated with Border and all-Ireland trade. [24458/13]

Foreign Direct Investment

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

17. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the profit-to-employee ratio for multinational corporations here and across the EU. [24454/13]

Industrial Development

Joe McHugh

18. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will give an update on his Department's engagements with the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland in respect of economic development of the north-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24139/13]

Local Enterprise Offices Establishment

Pádraig MacLochlainn

19. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline the timetable for establishment of the LEOs; and the way he intends to ensure equality of service and outcomes across all areas. [24446/13]

Job Initiatives

Jonathan O'Brien

20. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps taken to create employment to encourage the return of recent emigrants; and the number of jobs created under such schemes. [24466/13]

Registered Employment Agreements

Clare Daly

21. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the current status of the REAs in view of the recent Supreme Court ruling. [24137/13]

Industrial Development

Bernard Durkan

22. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which his Department continues to monitor the manufacturing and service sectors with a view to identifying any weaknesses in competitiveness which might present a threat to employment in the future; if any particular early warning strategy has been devised in this regard with particular reference to the need for the utilisation of modern technological and scientific advances as a means of achieving increased production, improved efficiency, retention of employment and general economic benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24386/13]

EU Directives

Michael McGrath

23. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions his Department is taking to ensure timely implementation of EU directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24435/13]

Employment Rights

Mary Lou McDonald

24. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the rise in au pair placement agencies and on line recruitment if he will consider legislating to ensure that au pairs receive the protections entitled to all workers. [24449/13]

Industrial Relations

John Halligan

25. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will deal with the situation whereby the Employment Appeals Tribunal and Labour Court recommendations may be ignored or avoided by employers, in some cases by changing the names of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24469/13]

Credit Guarantee Scheme Implementation

Michael Moynihan

27. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is satisfied with the operation of the credit guarantee scheme; the number of jobs it is supporting to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24415/13]

Job Creation Targets

Bernard Durkan

28. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which job creation through foreign direct investment and/or indigenous sources are in line with or ahead of projections in each of the past three years to date in 2013; if he expects to continue to meet the ambitious targets required in this regard to facilitate economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24385/13]

Jobs Protection

Denis Naughten

29. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made to date on protecting employment of staff working on the UK loan book at Bank of America, Carrick-on-Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24300/13]

Credit Availability

Pearse Doherty

30. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail for each various credit initiative developed by his Department, if each scheme offers a rate of credit above, below or equal to the commercial rate. [24445/13]

Prompt Payments

Timmy Dooley

31. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if payment times by State agencies will be reduced in a way that improves cash flow to businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24413/13]

Skills Shortages

Seamus Kirk

32. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a shortage of appropriately skilled workers is causing vacancies to be remain unfilled in the informational technology sector; the way he believes this can be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24410/13]

Broadband Service Speeds

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

33. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will confirm that all sites under the management of Enterprise Ireland and the county enterprise boards have access to affordable high speed broadband at rates in excess of 100mb. [24455/13]

Local Enterprise Offices Establishment

Pádraig MacLochlainn

34. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail the way he intends to fund LEO’s to ensure that areas with the greatest need for job creation receive the greatest support and resources. [24447/13]

Enterprise Support Schemes

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

35. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way the proposed maximum financial award for the new structures being reduced by half to €40,000 reduces red tape and increases competitive advantage; the way the proposed maximum award at local level of €40,000 will improve access to funding for start up and indigenous enterprises in view of the fact that these awards are no longer locally based which essentially creates the same delays being faced by small and medium enterprises in accessing bank finance as all decisions are made nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24361/13]

Foreign Direct Investment

Thomas Pringle

36. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts made to secure foreign direct investment in the north west region; the number of new jobs that have been announced in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24348/13]

Small and Medium Enterprises Supports

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

37. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the expected cost savings to be achieved by the new structure; the expected cost of the transition for 2013; if he will confirm that these funds are not reducing funds available to start up enterprises and the initiatives necessary to support job creation for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24362/13]

Joint Labour Committees Reviews

Brian Stanley

38. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will respond to the Labour Court recommendations on the review of the JLCs. [24462/13]

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Seán Fleming

39. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether a formalised appeals mechanism in relation to commercial rates would assist businesses in financial difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24426/13]

Credit Availability

Pearse Doherty

40. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the impact of the high cost of credit on enterprises and job creation; and his views on the take up rates of Government created credit schemes as a percentage of the overall credit available under each scheme. [24444/13]

Economic Competitiveness

Peadar Tóibín

41. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the Forfás report on competitiveness. [24440/13]

Employment Statistics

Gerry Adams

42. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of young persons employed in March 2011; the number currently in employment; and the success of initiatives to create and retain jobs for young people. [24443/13]

Social Insurance

Dessie Ellis

43. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail any discussions that he has had in relation to making mandatory PRSI contributions for sole trades and small and medium enterprises at the joint employee and employer scale and an assessment of the impact of such a move on the SME sector. [24460/13]

Illegal Moneylenders

Tony McLoughlin

44. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to concerns that many citizens have with illegal money lenders who operate in local communities and are alleged to charge interest rates of up to 400%; and if he is considering any legislative changes to address these issues relating to the regulation of money lending as currently provided for in the Consumer Credit Act 1995. [24135/13]

Competition Authority Staff

Thomas Pringle

45. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the staffing improvements that have been implemented in the Competition Authority to ensure that it has the capacity to investigate anti competitive behaviour in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24349/13]

Credit Availability

Mick Wallace

46. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to alleviate the problems of small and medium-sized businesses that are not involved in the export market and still face great difficulty in accessing credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24438/13]

Job Creation

Sandra McLellan

47. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the relationship between the increase in the value of enterprises exporting goods and services and the impact on job creation. [24450/13]

Economic Competitiveness

Willie O'Dea

48. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether Ireland's competitiveness is improving; the way it can be further enhanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24421/13]

Job Creation Data

Micheál Martin

49. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created and lost in the private sector in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22129/13]

Company Closures

Andrew Doyle

50. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he and his Department have taken to date in order to secure the long term future and to find a new employer for the Merck site in Rathdrum, County Wicklow, where 280 people are currently employed; if he has engaged the key stakeholders to collectively seek a solution for a buyer to come in and take over this site; the role of the Industrial Development Agency in this process; the progress that has made to date since the announcement regarding the site closure in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24140/13]

Business Costs

Peadar Tóibín

51. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the costs that undermine business growth and employment creation; and his views on whether property rental costs are not an issue for business. [24441/13]