Thursday, 3 Apr 2014

Written Answers Nos. 97-106

EU Funding

Ceisteanna (97)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

97. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the INTERREG programmes Ireland will take part in for 2014-2020 and in each case the person or agency citizens should contact for information. [15833/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

In the 2014-2020 period, Ireland will participate in two cross border, three transnational and one inter-regional INTERREG Programmes. These programmes are now known as European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) Programmes. 

The following table sets out the INTERREG programmes we participate in and the relevant national contact points.  In the case of the Ireland/Northern Ireland/Scotland programme, as well as the PEACE IV Programme, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is also the Managing Authority.

ETC Programmes 2014   2020	National Contact Point
Cross-border	-
Ireland/Northern Ireland/Scotland (Border Region only)	Special EU Programmes Body
Ireland/Wales (South-East, Mid-East, Dublin regions only)	Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly
Transnational	-
North West Europe Transnational Co-operation Programme	Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly
Atlantic Area Transnational Co-operation Programme	Border Midland&Western Regional Assembly
Northern Periphery and Arctic Transnational Co-operation Programme;	Border Midland&Western Regional Assembly
Inter-regional	-
INTERREG V Inter-regional programme.	Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly Border Midland&Western Regional Assembly

Regulatory Impact Assessment Data

Ceisteanna (98)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

98. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the responsibility of his Department for regulatory impact assessments through its evaluation unit, if it has provided input directly to the RIA on plain packaging and assessed the potential impact of the removal of intellectual property rights on future foreign direct investment and, if so, the potential cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15901/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Regulatory impact analysis (RIA) is a tool used by Departments to assess the costs, benefits and qualitative impacts of regulatory proposals. Individual Departments are responsible for conducting and preparing RIAs when considering legislative proposals or regulatory policy options. The role of my Department is to provide technical advice, when requested, by other Departments which are in the process of conducting specific RIAs.

In the normal course of events it is therefore primarily a matter for the individual Departments themselves to identify and analyse the various impacts attributable to the regulatory proposals. In the specific cases referred to by the Deputy, my Department was not approached for assistance on the draft RIA reports.

Local Enterprise Offices Establishment

Ceisteanna (99)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the procedure to be followed by persons (details supplied) in County Kildare formerly employed with Kildare Enterprise Board and now wishing to transfer to the LEO; if they can retain their current status in so doing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15911/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Government Decision of April 2012 to reform the national micro and small business support infrastructure sees the dissolution of the 35 existing County Enterprise Boards and the transfer of their functions, assets and liabilities to Enterprise Ireland. The functions will then be carried out by the Local Authorities on behalf of Enterprise Ireland through the establishment of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in each Local Authority area.

Under the Decision, staff in the City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were to be given an option to choose either Forfás/Enterprise Ireland or their Local Authority as their employer upon dissolution of the CEBs. To give effect to this part of the Decision, all staff in the CEBs were invited to exercise their option before Friday 14 March 2014, with a further 2 week “cooling off” period during which they could change their mind.

Under the provisions of the County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Act, 2014, I am required to make designations in writing for each of the staff in accordance with their stated preference.

CEB staff will transfer to their new employer in their current sanctioned substantive grade. It is intended to effect the staff designation process before the CEBs are dissolved later this month.

Consultancy Contracts

Ceisteanna (100)

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

100. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the duration of the merchant agreement where payment by debit or credit card is accepted for services provided by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department to the public; when the term will end; if the merchant agreement is awarded by way of tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15741/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The Patents Office, the Companies Registration Office and the Registrar of Friendly Societies in my Department accept payment by debit or credit card for the payment of fees in respect of patents, trademarks and designs in the case of the Patent Office, and in respect of payment of fees in the case of the Companies Registration Office and the Registrar of Friendly Societies.

Following a competitive process, on eTenders and in the Official Journal of the European Union, the Local Government Computer Services Board (now the Local Government Management Agency) awarded a Framework Agreement, for the supply of credit/debit card acquiring services, to Elavon. This Framework Agreement is open for use by all non-commercial contracting authorities in the public sector.

The Framework Agreement commenced on 7 April 2011. The Agreement, which was due to expire on 6 April 2014, has been extended for a further year until 6 April 2015. I understand that a procurement competition will be advertised later this year to ensure new arrangements are in place by 6 April 2015.

The Framework Agreements used by the Patents Office, Companies Registration Office and the Registrar of Friendly Societies are pursuant to this Framework Agreement.

Employment Support Services

Ceisteanna (101)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

101. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports for job creation available to businesses setting up in the inner city of Dublin (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15777/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Anyone interested in starting their own business should in the first instance contact their local County and City Enterprise Board (CEB). The CEBs support the indigenous micro-enterprise sector in the start-up and expansion phases and stimulate enterprise potential at local level. They are the first port of call in terms of advice, direction, training and grant support for anyone who wishes to start a business. Contact details for the CEBs are available on www.enterpriseboards.ie.

The Deputy may wish to note that the system for delivery of State supports to micro and small enterprises is being reformed and that the 35 existing County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) will be dissolved and new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) will be created. This reform will bring about a new level of engagement and interaction at both national and local level in relation to enterprise support and economic recovery and growth. The CEBs will be legally dissolved and the LEOs formally launched later this month.

Currently, the CEBs generally only grant assist enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector, which over time can develop into strong export entities and graduate to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio. Retail enterprises are ineligible for direct financial support from the CEBs due to concerns over displacement (where grant-assisted projects simply displace business from other players in the local market).

When established, the LEOs will become the first-stop-shop through which information on national and local supports for business can be accessed, where new start-up and micro-enterprises can be grant-aided, where small businesses can receive training and mentoring, and where businesses with clear high growth potential can be fast-tracked to the next level of support from Enterprise Ireland.

However, anyone setting up or operating a business can benefit from participating in the CEB/LEO non-financial or “soft” support programmes. All locally trading businesses, including start-ups, can avail of non-financial assistance from their CEB/LEO in the form of a wide range of business advice and information services, management capability training and development programmes, e-Commerce training initiatives, etc. Training courses include such topics as start-your-own-business (SYOB), taxation for beginners, internet marketing, ideas generation and negotiation skills.

In addition, any start-up can use the CEBs/LEOs as a gateway to accessing finance from Micro Finance Ireland, which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 to start-up, newly established or growing microenterprises employing less than 10 people with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks. The Fund has a significant entrepreneurship focus and is open to anyone with a viable business proposal. Applications for the Microfinance Fund should be channelled through the local CEB/LEO. However, if the Irish Business School is intending to market itself internationally, with the objective of attracting international students, there may be a role for Enterprise Ireland (EI). In this event, the owner of the school should contact EI at www.enterprise-ireland.com.

Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses

Ceisteanna (102)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

102. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has been liaising with the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Social Protection to develop opportunities for long-term unemployed persons and apprentices to work on public construction projects. [15783/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Responsibility for public procurement policy, as well as for coordination of the Government's Exchequer Capital Investment Framework, rests with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The 2013 Action Plan for Jobs included a commitment from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to examine the potential for developing an approach for the inclusion of social clauses in suitable procurement contracts (Action 208 of the Action Plan for Jobs 2013).

The Fourth Progress Report on the 2013 Action Plan, which was published in February 2014, indicates that a social clause, requiring that a certain percentage of work be undertaken by those recruited from the ranks of the long-term unemployed and apprentices, was piloted on the Devolved Schools Programme last year. This Programme is administered by the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. The full Progress Report on the Action Plan for Jobs for the Fourth Quarter of 2013 is available on my Department's website at: http://www.djei.ie/publications/2013APJ_Fourth_Progress_Report.pdf.

Building on this initiative, the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs (Action 321) includes a commitment to extend the use of social clauses in public works contracts, where appropriate, drawing on the experience of the pilot programme. This action will be delivered by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the NDFA and the National Roads Authority.

My Department works closely with the Department of Public Expenditure and the new Office of Government Procurement on an on-going basis with a view to maximising enterprise and employment opportunities in the public procurement process. My Department is supportive of the initiatives which are being taken to provide opportunities for the long term unemployed and apprentices to work on public construction projects, as outlined above.

Jobs Protection

Ceisteanna (103)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

103. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the protection of jobs at a company (details supplied); the actions he proposes to assist the staff, who are very concerned for the future of the organisation and their jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15813/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I refer the Deputy to my previous answers in relation to this issue, on Wednesday 12 March 2014, to Dáil Questions Nos. 80 and 83 and on Thursday, 13th March, 2014, to Dáil Questions Nos. 88 and 91.

As I outlined in these replies, Examinership allows for the rescue of companies that find themselves insolvent but have the potential to return to financial viability and continue in operation into the future. The key feature of the process is a period of court protection, lasting up to 100 days, during which, no one may institute proceedings against the company or petition for the company to be wound up.

The Examiner uses this time to devise a scheme of arrangement, in consultation with creditors, the company management, potential investors and any other parties that would be affected by that scheme. The scheme of arrangement is then put to the court. If a majority of the company's creditors agree and the court approves, it becomes binding.

The Examinership process for the company in question is ongoing and the Examiner has not concluded this judicial process. As Minister, I have no function in this process.

Employment Support Services

Ceisteanna (104)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

104. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason his departmental agencies are prepared to fund a company in County Galway but not prepared to fund a company producing a similar product (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15821/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I wish to inform the Deputy that the company concerned in County Galway is a client of Údarás na Gaeltachta and matters in regard to that Agency are the responsibility of my colleague, Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

With regard to the company from County Roscommon, I understand that Enterprise Ireland cannot provide assistance to the company concerned, and indeed, any other company which has a product which contains tobacco, because Ireland has ratified the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Article 5.3 of that Convention states the following:

"In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law".

To assist countries in implementing Article 5.3 above, the World Health Organisation (WHO) produced a set of Guidelines which include, inter alia, the following provisions in Principle 4:

'Because their products are lethal, the tobacco industry should not be granted incentives to establish or run their businesses'.

"Any preferential treatment of the tobacco industry would be in conflict with tobacco control policy."

Accordingly, Enterprise Ireland does not support the company concerned in line with national policy on tobacco control, which is a policy matter for my colleague, Dr. James Reilly, T.D., Minister for Health.

EU Funding

Ceisteanna (105)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

105. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the person or agency responsible in Ireland for the COSME programme for 2014-2020. [15829/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The new Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME) will run from 2014 to 2020, with an overall budget of €2.23bn. The SME Policy Unit of my Department has policy responsibility for COSME policy issues and liaison with the EU Commission. Executive responsibility rests with Enterprise Ireland and the Enterprise Europe Network Ireland (which is currently managed by Enterprise Ireland).

The objectives of COSME include facilitating access to finance for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and to increase the sustainable competitiveness of EU companies and help small businesses operate outside their home countries. COSME also aims to create an environment favourable to business creation and growth, and encourage an entrepreneurial culture in Europe. National, regional and local authorities will also be assisted, by the provision of tools for effectively reforming policy. These tools include reliable, EU wide data and statistics, best practice and financial support to test and scale up sustainable solutions for improving global competitiveness.

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is expected to assist 40,000 companies across the EU, with partnership agreements, resulting in 1,200 new business products, services or processes annually and €400m annually in additional turnover for assisted companies.

The EEN is a 'one-stop shop' for the business needs of SMEs in the EU and beyond. It provides enterprises with information and a range of quality and free-of-charge business support services to make them more competitive. The Enterprise Europe Network in Ireland is coordinated by Enterprise Ireland and can be contacted via the Cork, Galway, Dublin, Sligo and Waterford Chambers of Commerce.

A new Executive Agency for SME's (EASME) has been established by the EU Commission. The agency will be responsible for implementing most aspects of COSME. The EU Commission has recently confirmed that the deadline for submission for the calls under the EEN is 15 May 2014, with the communication of results in September 2014.

Horizon 2020 Strategy Funding

Ceisteanna (106)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

106. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the local contact points for the Horizon 2020 programme. [15830/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

With a budget of just under €80 billion and covering the period 2014 to 2020, Horizon 2020 is the EU's new programme for research and innovation. Horizon 2020 is a core part of Europe 2020, the Innovation Union and the European Research Area and is responding to the economic crisis by investing in future jobs and growth, addressing people's concerns about their livelihoods, safety and environment and strengthening the EU's global position in research, innovation and technology.

Ireland is well positioned to benefit from Horizon 2020, building on our excellent performance in Horizon 2020's predecessor - Framework Programme Seven - from which we obtained €600 million in funding to researchers in Ireland. The Government has set an ambitious target of €1.25 billion in funding to Ireland over the lifetime of Horizon 2020.

A national support network, coordinated by Enterprise Ireland, has been established, comprising knowledgeable and experienced practitioners who are charged with helping companies and academics access the funding opportunities presented by Horizon 2020. The following table includes contact details of all the Irish national contact points for Horizon 2020. An information brochure providing further details of the national contact points for the programme can be found at the following link:

Horizon 2020 poster

Area	Name	Organisation	Phone	Email
National Director & Space & JRC	Imelda Lambkin	Enterprise Ireland	01-7272665	[e-mail]
Legal and Financial Aspects	Catriona Ward	Enterprise Ireland	01-7272007	[e-mail]
SMEs	Sean Burke	Enterprise Ireland	061-777048	[e-mail]
SMEs	Jill Leonard	Enterprise Ireland	01-7272751	[e-mail]
Access to Finance	Evelyn Smith	Enterprise Ireland	00322-6739866	[e-mail]
European Research Council	Graeme Horley	Science Foundation Ireland	01-6073118	[e-mail]
European Research Council	Paul Kilkenny	Irish Research Council	01-2317143	[e-mail]
Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions	Jennifer Brennan	Irish Universities Association	01-6764948	[e-mail]
European Research Infrastructures	Michael Ryan	Science Foundation Ireland	01-6073200	[e-mail]
Information and Communication Technologies & Future & Emerging Technologies	Stephen O'Reilly	Enterprise Ireland	021-4800217	[e-mail]
Information and Communication Technologies	Gerard Kennedy	Enterprise Ireland	061-777052	[e-mail]
Nanotechnologies, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing and processing & biotechnology	Sergio Fernandez-Ceballos	Enterprise Ireland	01-7272704	[e-mail]
Nanotechnologies, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing and processing & biotechnology	Liam Brown	Enterprise Ireland	061-777047	[e-mail]
Health, demographic change and wellbeing	Kay Duggan-Walls	Health Research Board	01-2345187	[e-mail]
Health, demographic change and wellbeing & EURATOM	Ciarán Duffy	Enterprise Ireland	01-7272760	[e-mail]
Food security, sustainable agriculture, marine and maritime research and the bio-economy; & Biotechnology	Dale Crammond	Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine	01-6072302	[e-mail]
Food security, sustainable agriculture, marine and maritime research and the bio-economy; & Biotechnology	Geoffrey O'Sullivan	Marine Institute	091-387200	[e-mail]
Secure, clean and efficient energy	Philip Cheasty	Enterprise Ireland	021-4800216	[e-mail]
Smart, green and integrated transport	Bob Flynn	Enterprise Ireland	061-777050	[e-mail]
Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials	Alice Wemaere	Environmental Protection Agency	01-2680146	[e-mail]
Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials	Mark Sweeney	Enterprise Ireland	01-7272616	[e-mail]
Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies; science in and for society; widening participation	Paul Kilkenny	Irish Research Council	01-2317143	[e-mail]
Security	Michael Murphy	Enterprise Ireland	01-7272516	[e-mail]
Spreading excellence and widening participation & EIT	Catriona Ward	Enterprise Ireland	01-7272007	[e-mail]
Science with and for Society	Alva O'Cleirigh	Science Foundation Ireland	01-607 3249	alva.o'[e-mail]