Written Answers Nos. 371 - 389
372. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has received any submissions regarding section 305(1) of the Companies Act 2014 relative to the income remuneration disclosures of directors; if it was his intention that all such disclosures be made public through these accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38356/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have received no formal submissions regarding section 305(1) of the Companies Act 2014. I have however received correspondence raising some concerns about this section of the 2014 Act. Every company in Ireland, with the exception of investment companies, is obliged to file an annual return with the Registrar of Companies at least once every calendar year. The annual return is a document setting out certain prescribed company information which is required to be delivered by an Irish company to the Companies Registration Office. The rationale for the statutory provisions requiring certain information to be disclosed is for the purposes of protecting shareholders, creditors and the public.
To a large extent, the requirements in Part 6 of the Companies Act 2014 are unchanged from the previous Companies Acts. However certain provisions have been redrafted in order to make them easier to understand and thus improve compliance. It is now explicit that disclosure of directors’ remuneration is required to be included in the abridged financial statements of a small company.
373. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the integration, on a practical level, that exists between InterTradeIreland and the local enterprise offices, Enterprise Ireland, the Industrial Development Agency Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland. [38388/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraInterTrade Ireland, as an all-island Body established under the Good Friday Agreement, has a unique mandate to assist small businesses to develop trade and innovation opportunities on a cross border basis. Obviously it is very important that the Body does not duplicate work being undertaken by other Development Agencies and, also, that it engages with those bodies to ensure that any potential synergies are realised.
It is noteworthy that InterTrade Ireland has worked just recently with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the LEOs in the development of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative.
On an ongoing basis, the Body works very closely with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in promoting their unique suite of supports to Enterprise Ireland and LEO client companies. Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs are represented on a number of InterTrade Ireland Steering Committees that oversee the implementation of a number of the Body’s programmes, including the All Island Horizon 2020 Steering Committee, which works to maximize the North/South drawdown levels of support from that EU Science fund. The Halo Business Angel Network is a joint venture between InterTrade Ireland and Enterprise Ireland and is focused on creating investor groups/syndicates across the island.
In addition, the Senior Management team of InterTrade Ireland proactively engages with the Senior Management of Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs to consult and plan in a strategic manner.
InterTrade Ireland works with Science Foundation Ireland on the US Research and Development Partnership which was initiated to increase the level of collaborative Research and Development amongst researchers and industry professionals in the USA, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. To date 19 projects have been successfully funded under the partnership from a variety of sources.
374. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the latest ranking from the World Bank Doing Business report, which states that Ireland has dropped to No. 17 in the world; the measures he will put in place to improve this ranking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38394/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its introduction, the Action Plan for Jobs has recognised the fundamental link between competitiveness and job creation, and has been the key mechanism to drive competitiveness in all areas of economic activity. All of the Action Plans to date have provided a sharp focus on specific aspects of the competitiveness agenda, particularly in the area of costs, improving Ireland’s global competitiveness ranking and making it easier to start, run and scale a business. We have improved the incentives for investment and work, improved access to finance for business, streamlined regulatory processes and reduced the administrative burdens on business. Our domestic cost base has improved making enterprises trading from Ireland more competitive on international markets. The exporting sectors of the economy, particularly companies supported by EI and IDA are creating jobs at record levels and Ireland’s traditional assets (such as our competitive taxation regime, highly skilled and innovative workforce, and pro-enterprise regulatory environment) have been strengthened.
As a result of our concerted efforts to improve competitiveness, Ireland’s relative international competitiveness as measured by a range of international indices has improved. Ireland moved from 24th to 16th in the IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook, from 29th to 24th in the WEF Global Competitiveness Report and 17th out of 189 countries, up two places on last year as assessed by the World Bank. The Bank’s latest report published last week shows Ireland is now ranked 4th in the euro area in terms of ease of doing business and has moved from 19th in 2014 to a rank of 17th among all countries benchmarked.
This is a positive result for Ireland. It is evidence that the implementation of high-level reforms and more other efficiencies and improvements are reflected in the business and regulatory environment. However, there is no room for complacency. The report shows international competition is intense and incessant. There is increased competition this year, with most EU Member States making up ground and improving their position relative to Ireland's. While we have made improvements in a number of areas, for example, reducing the costs of starting a business - in relative terms other countries have improved more. The report highlights that maintaining our strong international competitiveness performance requires constant progress. The Action Plan for Jobs is the key mechanism to drive further reforms which will continue to improve the Ease of Doing Business for Irish SMEs.
We will maintain an unrelenting focus on improving our competitiveness performance and as part of the preparation of the 2016 Action Plan for Jobs. The immediate challenge is to sustain the recovery underway by remaining competitive. There is a continuing and urgent necessity to enhance the regulatory environment for start-ups, and for SMEs to enable them to trade successfully in increasingly competitive global markets. I will shortly receive the advice of the National Competitiveness Council on the priority areas for the coming period. Further actions and reforms driven by the 2016 Action Plan for Jobs will enable us to further narrow the gap with the world’s most competitive countries and achieve our objective of sustainable full employment.
375. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of civil servants under his remit who have been reinstated in recent years after taking a career break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38729/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraStaff in my Department may apply for unpaid special leave in the form of a career break in accordance with provisions set centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The numbers of staff of my Department who have returned from career break in recent years are as set out in tabular format below. It should be noted that not all staff returned to my Department as some availed of redeployment opportunities to other civil and public sector organisations.
|
Year |
Total Number of Staff overall reinstated following Career Break |
Of Whom Total Number of Staff reinstated in my Department |
|
2011 |
4 |
0 |
|
2012 |
15 |
6 |
|
2013 |
14 |
7 |
|
2014 |
5 |
1 |
|
2015 |
5 |
4 |
|
TOTAL |
43 |
18 |
376. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will allow Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, to appoint sufficient staff to deal with its remit of promoting the agriculture industry, given the dramatic increase in demands on its existing resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37349/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI very much appreciate the important contribution that Teagasc is making to the agriculture and food sector in Ireland and we continue to require their ongoing support to enable the sector meet the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, has been working closely with Teagasc to address staffing issues in the organisation. Teagasc have been authorised to fill a number of mission critical posts in the organisation. It was also approved to appoint 40 new temporary teachers to meet the demand from young farmers for Green Cert courses. In addition, exceptional arrangements have been agreed to permit Teagasc to recruit contract staff where they can secure external funding to cover the costs. This has facilitated the recruitment of some 180 contractors working in research and knowledge transfer.
New arrangements for managing staff numbers have recently been finalised to provide public bodies under the aegis of DAFM, including Teagasc, with greater discretion over staff appointments but strictly within an overall pay framework. It permits those bodies to fill vacancies through recruitment and/or promotion in specified, designated grades, subject to compliance with multi-annual pay ceilings. The multi-annual pay ceilings are binding and it will fall on each body to deliver services within the agreed allocations. This includes responding to emerging expenditure pressures without recourse to additional Exchequer allocations and will involve commitment to ongoing reform and efficiency measures and reprioritisation of expenditure as appropriate.
377. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not yet received payments under the disadvantaged areas scheme and single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37519/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment and Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes was received from the person named on 5 May 2015. Processing of these applications has recently been finalised and any payments due under both schemes will issue shortly.
378. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish Harness Racing Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38273/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra379. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Government is not supporting the development of the harness racing industry, as this industry can continue to grow in the domestic economy by providing new jobs and through long-term business development growth and significant export revenues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38276/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra380. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason other countries in the European Union and elsewhere are providing financial assistance and assistance in kind to harness racing, whereas the Government is not providing assistance to the Irish Harness Racing Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38277/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra381. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason every horse sport, except Irish harness racing, received substantial funding in budget 2016, given the extent to which Irish harness racing can generate more in export moneys than any other horse sport, including thoroughbreds, and has the capacity to provide significant domestic job growth opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38278/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 378 to 381, inclusive, together.
Funding from my Department for the horse sector in Ireland has been provided, through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, to Horse Racing Ireland for thoroughbreds and through an annual grant to Horse Sport Ireland for sport horses. My Department has been very supportive of the sector and that has been reflected in increased financial support for 2016 as announced in the context of the recent Budget. My Department is providing an additional €6m in 2016 to the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, bringing it to €74m, of which 80 per cent is dedicated to thoroughbred horses and an extra €50,000 to Horse Sport Ireland totalling €1.87m for sport horses.
The Irish bloodstock industry is of enormous economic benefit to this country. It has been estimated, that the industry provides in excess of 14,000 jobs, approximately €1.1bn in economic output and is responsible for exports worth in excess of €200m. Regarding the Irish Sport Horse industry its contribution to the Irish economy is in excess of €700 million per annum and it accounts for some 12,500 jobs.
Harness racing is a significant equestrian sport in a number of countries, notably France, Sweden, Italy and North America. However, harness racing has been a minority-interest sport in this country.
I believe the Irish Harness Racing Association is actively seeking to expand the sport in Ireland and believes it has significant potential for development to bring it more into line with the profile it enjoys elsewhere.
Following on from the establishment of a limited company in May 2015, the Irish Harness Racing Association has applied for Ireland to become a full member of the European Union Trotteurs (UET), which is the umbrella organisation for national harness racing organisations in 22 European countries. This would open the way for Irish competitors to compete in Europe.
Also in line with its ambition to elevate the sport to a more professional and sophisticated plane in this country, the Irish Harness Racing Association has been considering the feasibility of running fixtures at venues of a higher quality than those to which it has heretofore been confined. In this regard the Irish Harness Racing Association requested permission from Horse Racing Ireland to stage a number of harness racing fixtures at Dundalk racecourse. My Department wrote to Horse Racing Ireland requesting them to facilitate the specific request. The Board of HRI decided to allow a trial event under strict supervision. My Department awaits the report from the Turf Club in this regard.
382. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine which Department has overall responsibility for biosecurity; his views on whether it is a matter for the North-South Ministerial Council to ensure uniformity across the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38373/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has overall responsibility for biosecurity in relation to animal health issues. Biosecurity measures are part and parcel of disease control measures and are applicable uniformly within the EU. The North South Ministerial Council established under the Good Friday Agreement covers co-operation between the two jurisdictions in a number of areas including animal health and plant health. Staff in my Department work in very close co-operation with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland.
383. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on farm payments to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [37177/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 10 April 2015. Processing of the application was recently finalised and payments under both schemes issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 27 October 2015.
384. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the single farm payment scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37183/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 15 April 2015. Processing of the application has recently been finalised. Payment issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 28 October 2015.
385. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a payment to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the areas of natural constraint scheme was reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37180/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Terms and Conditions of the Direct Payment Schemes, an applicant as well as meeting the Scheme criteria is required to comply with EU regulatory requirements relating to Cross Compliance. The Department’s records indicate that in 2013, the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure applied to land on the holding of the person named above, (including that deposited by animals), was 236 kgs per hectare, which exceeded the limit of 170 kgs per hectare set down in the Nitrates Regulations. This resulted in a penalty of 5% being applied against the 2013 Direct Schemes payments. This overpayment was deducted from payments due to the person named under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme resulting in a reduced 2015 payment.
The person named was notified of this decision on 27 February 2015. The decision was appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office and, following an oral hearing, the Appeals Officer upheld the Department’s decision. The person named was notified of this decision on 9 September 2015. In the event that the person named feels that they have been treated unfairly it is open to them to raise the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman.
386. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive payments under the agri-environment options scheme for 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37187/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe first payment of 75% of the amount due for 2013 issued to the person named on 12 October 2015. The balancing 25% payment issued on 14 October 2015. The first payment of 75% of the amount due for 2014 issued on 29 October 2015 and the balancing 25% has been approved for payment and will issue shortly.
387. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Question No. 349 of 16 June 2015, if he will provide an update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37196/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently examining approximately 400 cases that submitted invoices from one particular company to verify and support claims under the non-productive capital investment action of AEOS. It is known that in some cases the invoices submitted were for amounts different to those actually paid by the participants. Funding provided under the scheme comes partly from the EU and partly from the National Exchequer. There is a requirement and obligation to ensure that the expenditure claimed by scheme participants reflects the reality of what took place. For that reason my Department wrote to participants requesting alternative proof that the amounts claimed were in fact the amounts paid.
The person named above was written to on 11 June 2015 regarding the non-productive capital investment claim that they had submitted. This letter requested the submission of alternative verifiable proof to support one of the invoices that was included in the claim. A reply to this letter was received on 29 June last.
My Department officials carefully examined the application in light of this reply; this examination indicated that the amount claimed was different to the verified costs. A letter informing the applicant of this determination, and of the proposed penalty, was issued on 14 October. This letter also offered the applicant an opportunity to submit additional information if he wished and to have the proposed determination reviewed within the Department.
A request to have the determination reviewed was received from the person named on 28 October. This correspondence will now be considered by officials and a final decision will then be made in this case.
388. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will upload the maps for 2014 for a farmer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37197/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received in my Department on 19 April 2014. Processing of this application has been completed in full with payments issued to the nominated bank account of the person named in four moieties dated 16 October 2014, 3 December 2014, 24 April 2015 and 18 June 2015.
389. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if public consultations have taken place with interested parties on the proposed muzzling of greyhounds at open coursing events; the reason for these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37173/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the ICC. Nonetheless my Department has made enquiries and the ICC has indicated that the issue, muzzling of greyhounds at open coursing events, was discussed at an ICC AGM held in August 2015. The agenda and rule amendments or new rules had been circulated to each club representatives prior to the AGM.
The rule amendment regarding this issue was put to the floor at the AGM for comment for or against and the vote was taken. A rule amendment passing the muzzling of greyhounds at open coursing events was passed by the members. It is not the practice of the ICC to publish rule amendments and invite submissions.
This rule was subsequently ratified by Bord na gCon as is the procedure as per the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958.
