Brendan Smith
Ceist:125. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the discussions with Sinn Féin and the DUP on the need to have the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive restored. [29773/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNorthern Ireland
Ceisteanna (125, 126)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach his plans to meet the SDLP, the UUP and the Alliance parties on the urgent need to restore the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive. [29774/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.
I met with DUP Party Leader Arlene Foster and Simon Hamilton MLA and with a Sinn Féin delegation including Michelle O'Neill MLA and Gerry Adams T.D. in Government Buildings on 16 June.
We discussed a wide range of issues including the urgent need to re-establish the Northern Ireland Executive, noting the deadline of 29 June for completion of negotiations.
There was also agreement on the importance of a functioning Executive in the context of the Brexit negotiations which started on Monday 19 June.
I made clear that my Government and I would work in support of the Northern Ireland parties to re-establish the Executive, and in pursuit of strong North-South relations including through the North South Ministerial Council.
I stressed the objectives of ensuring that Brexit does not impact negatively on the Good Friday Agreement and the Peace Process, and protecting North-South trade and economic activity and the Common Travel Area and associated reciprocal rights.
I also raised the ongoing discussions on formation of a new Government in London with the DUP, which is a matter for the parties represented at Westminster, but noted the need to avoid any outcome which could interfere with devolution and the prospects of re-establishing the Executive. The Conservative Party-DUP deal has now concluded, and has been published.
Minister Coveney is representing the Government at the political talks in Belfast and has engaged with all the political parties, including the SDLP, UUP and Alliance Party. He is keeping me informed on a continuous basis, and I also look forward to meeting with representatives of the other parties in due course. We will spare no effort to fulfil the Government’s duty as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and this includes working to ensure the effective operation of its institutions.
The Government will continue to work to this end with the British Government to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to reach agreement.
Departmental Staff Data
Ceisteanna (127, 128, 129, 130)
Mick Wallace
Ceist:127. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach the number of Civil Service clerical officers in full-time employment in his Department as of 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29856/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMick Wallace
Ceist:128. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach the number of full-time Civil Service clerical officers in his Department who have either retired, resigned or been promoted from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017, by county, in tabular form. [29872/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMick Wallace
Ceist:129. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach the number of full-time Civil Service clerical officer appointments made in his Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29898/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMick Wallace
Ceist:130. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach the number of temporary Civil Service clerical officer appointments made in his Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29914/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 to 130, inclusive, together.
Table 1 details the number of civil service clerical officers in full time employment in my Department as of 31 May 2017 by county.
TABLE 1
Table 2 details the number of full time civil service clerical officer appointments made in my Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017.
TABLE 2
There were no temporary clerical officers appointed to my Department between 1 January 2015 and 31 May 2017.
Table 3 details the number of full time civil service clerical officers in my Department that have either retired, resigned or been promoted from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017, by county.
TABLE 3
Brexit Issues
Ceisteanna (131)
Declan Breathnach
Ceist:131. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Taoiseach his plans to hold future all-island dialogues on Brexit; and the timeframe for such meetings. [30019/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Engagement with stakeholders is a core feature of the Government’s preparations for Brexit. Two plenary sessions of the All-Island Civic Dialogue have been hosted by the former Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, in November 2016 and in February of this year - a further plenary session will be scheduled in the coming months.
Building on the plenary sessions, the Government launched a series of sectoral All-Island Civic Dialogue events, in order to deepen our analysis across a wide range of sectors. Led by Ministers, these sessions are an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with stakeholders most impacted by Brexit, including on an all-island basis. Seventeen All-Island Sectoral Dialogues have been hosted by Ministers to date, attended by over 1400 industry and civic society representatives from across the island.
All-Island Sectoral Dialogues have been held on the following topics:
- Further Education and Training
- Agri-Food
- Education and Research
- Transport & logistics
- Tourism & Hospitality
- Primary and Secondary Education
- Children & Young People
- Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation
- Energy
- Heritage, Culture & Rural Ireland
- Pensions, Social Welfare Rights & Social Insurance
- Human Rights under the Good Friday Agreement
- Seafood
- Prepared Consumer Foods, Horticulture, Cereals, Tillage, Animal Feed, Forestry
- Alcohol, Brewing and Distilling Sector
- Protecting the Peace across the North West region
- Equine and Greyhound Sectors
A composite report of the outcomes of the first fourteen Sectoral Dialogues is available here: http://www.merrionstreet.ie/en/EU-UK/Consultations/Civic_Dialogue_Summary_Report_FINAL.pdf.
The next All-Island Sectoral Dialogue will take place on 3 July, focusing on Enterprise Skills Needs. This event will be jointly hosted by the Department of Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Education and Skills.
Exports Data
Ceisteanna (132)
Niall Collins
Ceist:132. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the volume of exports based on the most recent data on a percentage basis in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, by country, in tabular form. [30164/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In 2016 Ireland exported goods to 222 countries. The following tables below show the top 25 trading partners in volume terms for the years 2014 to 2016, and for January to April 2017. In 2016, the top 25 trading partners accounted for 87% of the total volume of trade.
2014
2015
2016
January - April 2017
Departmental Staff Data
Ceisteanna (133)
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:133. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the staffing complement of her Department in whole-time equivalents as at the end of 2016. [29607/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The total staffing complement of my Department at the end of 2016 in whole time equivalent numbers was 810.47 (the associated headcount figure was 858 staff), and these figures include the "Offices" of my Department: the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Companies Registration Office (including the Registry of Friendly Societies), and the Patents Office.
Job Creation
Ceisteanna (134, 136)
Niall Collins
Ceist:134. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the review of the Succeed in Ireland initiative with regard to the public consultation seeking input on the content of the terms of reference; and the reason there were no instructions, not even contact details and an email address, on her Department's website as to the way in which the public could make a submission regarding the initiative. [29633/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNiall Collins
Ceist:136. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there was a dedicated email address in her Department for the public consultation seeking input on the content of the terms of reference for the review of the Succeed in Ireland initiative; the reason submissions to the public consultation have not been published yet; when this will take place; and if her Department’s website was offline at times during the period of the public consultation. [29672/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 136 together.
As was announced previously, my Department will be commissioning an independent review of the Succeed-in-Ireland programme. That review, which will be carried out after details of the initiative’s full and final costs are available, should equip us with a thorough understanding of the programme’s results and its contribution to employment generation in the State.
In April and May this year, my Department undertook a public consultation seeking views on the draft terms of reference for the review. The webpage setting out information on that public consultation process was easily accessible on the Department's website. It was not offline at any time during the consultation period. Contact details for the Department, including an email address and telephone number, were also available on that same webpage.
I am pleased that the consultation process elicited 17 different submissions. These are being examined by my Department and will help to shape the terms of reference for the review. The submissions will also be published once the terms of reference have been finalised.
Health and Safety Inspections Data
Ceisteanna (135)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:135. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the Health and Safety Authority has made to licensed and unlicensed commercial premises in the past three years; the number of visits to construction sites; the number of actions or cease work directions it has issued in that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29635/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy clarified that this question relates to commercial premises.
While it is noted that the Deputy’s question referred to commercial premises, it should be noted that the Health and Safety Authority has a responsibility in relation to occupational safety and health for all places of work in the State.
The Authority’s records of workplace visits are recorded using the CSO agreed NACE Sector category classification e.g. for Agriculture, Manufacturing, Construction, Retail, Education, Health services etc. The Authority reference to visits comprises of inspections and investigations of accidents and complaints.
The Authority do not categorise these visits using the terms commercial premises as many places of work inspected under health and safety laws may be non-commercial activities. The Authority’s inspections relate to employers at their place of work. The following tables give the figures for inspections and investigations of all workplaces and construction sites visited since 2014 and the enforcement actions taken by Authority inspectors. The yearly tables give the numbers of inspections and investigations carried out in each NACE Sector since 2014.
In relation to ceasing work activities on any workplace including construction sites, the Authority’s inspectors can use their powers under Section 67 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to serve a Prohibition Notice on a duty-holder (e.g. on the employer, sub-contractor etc.,) to stop a work activity. The Prohibition Notice is issued where the inspector forms the opinion that an activity at that place of work poses a risk of serious personal injury. The notice requires the activity to stop until appropriate controls are in place to minimise/eliminate the risk of injury. Once this has been done and the duty holder confirms to the inspector that they are in compliance, and this is verified by the inspector.
There are a range of other enforcement actions available to inspectors which require improvements to be made to safety and health standards at a place of work but which may not require the duty-holder to cease the work activity. These include Improvement Notices and Reports of Inspection.
The Improvement Notice (Section 66) can be issued where the inspector observes a breach of the health and safety legislation. This Notice must give the duty-holder a period of time to remedy the breach and become compliant. For this Notice the work does not have to cease.
If the duty-holder is aggrieved by either the Prohibition or the Improvement Notice, he/she can appeal it to the District Court.
Inspectors can also provide a Report of Inspection to the duty holder detailing actions needed to be taken to improve health and safety on site.
The inspectors will take actions including follow up visits to ensure Notices and Reports of Inspection are complied with.
In addition under Section 71 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 where the Authority or an inspector considers that the risk to the safety, health or welfare of persons is so serious that the use of a place of work or part of a place of work should be restricted or immediately prohibited until specified measures have been taken to reduce the risk to a reasonable level, the Authority can apply to the High Court for an order restricting or prohibiting the use of the place of work or part of a place of work accordingly. No such applications have been required for some years now.
Total number of inspections and investigations of all workplaces 2014 - 2017
Total number of construction site inspections and investigations 2014 - 2017
Inspections and Investigations 2017 (to 23 rd June)
Inspections and Investigations 2016
Inspections and Investigations 2015
Inspections and Investigations 2014
Question No. 136 answered with Question No. 134.
Traveller Data
Ceisteanna (137)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:137. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding Traveller support and services provided by her Department in each county; the groups, agencies and voluntary bodies involved; the cost of same for each county for the past three years and to date in 2017; her plans to set up an advisory group to report on the minimum levels of support and services from her Department that should be available in each county to address the needs and the rights of Travellers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29696/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department does not have responsibility for operating any programmes or fund any support services targeted specifically at the traveller community. However, members of the traveller community are able to access funding and support from the enterprise agencies and Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) on the same basis as other members of the public. For example, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs provide a range of supports for entrepreneurs and people with ideas for setting up new businesses.
Some LEOs have responded to emergent needs amongst minority groupings (including the traveller and Roma communities) on a local (bespoke) basis, with tailored training, mentoring and signposting services. Examples of such activities are: LEO Offaly provided mentoring to a group of women from the traveller community in 2014 and LEO Mayo provided additional mentor support to a contestant from the traveller community in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur programme.
Brexit Issues
Ceisteanna (138)
Niall Collins
Ceist:138. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the policy alleviation proposal in the latest publication by an organisation (details supplied) regarding protecting businesses from a hard Brexit; the approximate cost of such a proposal; and if the Government is considering implementing this. [29740/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I welcome the publication to which the Deputy refers as another useful contribution to our work in this area.
My Department has been working with the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Enterprise Ireland and the SBCI to build an understanding of the business needs of companies in adapting to the challenges posed by Brexit and to develop appropriate and targeted responses to support them.
Based on this work, we are progressing the development of a proposed Brexit Working Capital Guarantee Scheme and we are scoping out the need for a longer term Business Development Loan Scheme which would assist firms in investing for a post-Brexit environment. Development of these proposed responses is at an early stage, and is subject to resources being agreed as part of the annual budget process.
These measures are being considered in the context of existing State Aid rules leveraging support from EU sources such as the European Investment Fund.
As the situation evolves, and we get a better idea of impacts on enterprise in a post Brexit landscape, we will almost certainly need to have further discussions with the Commission in order to ensure that we take sufficient measures in good time so that our most exposed and impacted companies and sectors do not suffer irreparable damage as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
State Assets
Ceisteanna (139)
Pat Casey
Ceist:139. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the proposed sale of the State's 32% shareholding in a studio (details supplied); if she will consider cancelling the sale, transferring the shareholding to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and investing in the growth of the film industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29746/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ardmore Studios is a commercial entity, owned 68.33% by private interests and 31.67% by the State. The State’s shareholding is managed by Enterprise Ireland. As a passive investor, EI has no enterprise development role in Ardmore or any involvement in its day-to-day operations.
The sale of the Ardmore Studios is a commercial decision by the owners of the Studios. Ardmore Studios is being placed on the market for sale as a going concern. Enterprise Ireland remains engaged with the other shareholders and their representatives.
Enterprise Ireland has not placed any preconditions on the pending sale of Ardmore Studios due to the existence of planning restrictions on the site which safeguard its use as a film making studio into the future. Wicklow County Council have confirmed that they agree to maintain the ‘film only’ zoning as a matter of policy.
At the appropriate time, any proposal requiring a decision on the sale of Enterprise Ireland’s shareholding will be reviewed by Enterprise Ireland from a commercial and legal perspective in consultation with me as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
While Enterprise Ireland offers supports to exporting companies involved in film and the creative sector, policy responsibility for the development of the film industry rests with my colleague, Ms Heather Humphreys, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I will consult Minister Humphreys on any decision regarding the ownership of Enterprise Ireland’s shareholding.
I recognise the value of the film sector to County Wicklow and as such, the Mid East Regional Action Plan for Jobs has a number of Actions to further support the film sector, including:
- a feasibility study and business plan for the development of a Film Industry Cluster in the county
- piloting a one day workshop in film industry related training
- building on the success of the film sector by providing supports and incentives, and developing ancillary services
- the provision of film industry related training programmes in partnership with 3rd level institutions.
Capital Expenditure Programme
Ceisteanna (140)
Niall Collins
Ceist:140. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the details and county location of capital projects announced by her Department in March, April, May and to date in June 2017. [29785/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated. I will provide this information to the Deputy as soon as it's available.
Small and Medium Enterprises Supports
Ceisteanna (141)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:141. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications for the Enterprise Ireland be prepared grant; and the number of these grants approved to date, in tabular form. [30064/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Enterprise Ireland’s (EI) #PrepareforBrexit communications campaign includes a “Be Prepared Grant” that supports the costs of EI’s SME clients in preparing a plan to mitigate risks and optimise opportunities. This Grant can be used to help cover consultancy, travel and out of pocket expenses associated with researching the direction of their Brexit action plan. This might involve developing new strategies to maintain and grow existing UK exports, investigating the feasibility of diversifying to new markets and market segments; investment in innovation; improvement in operational competitiveness; enhancement of strategic financial capability.
There have been a number of applications for the “Be Prepared Grant”. However, EI do not publish grant application information, which is standard practice for all grant approvals' processes. As grant approvals come on stream over the next couple of months, Enterprise Ireland will report them.
Work Permits Applications
Ceisteanna (142)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:142. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will review the decision to refuse an employment permit to a person (details supplied). [30106/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Employment Permits Section informs me that this Critical Skills Employment Permit application was refused on the 24/05/2017 as the occupation did not appear on the highly skilled eligible occupations list and accordingly would not qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit. In addition it appeared that the occupation in question was an ineligible occupation for the purposes of obtaining an employment permit. A request for a review of that decision was received on the 15/06/2017.
All reviews are examined strictly in date of receipt order and the Reviewing Officers are currently dealing with reviews received the week beginning the 13 February 2017. The applicant can keep track of our review processing dates on our website at https://www.djei.ie/en/What-We-Do/Jobs-Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Current-Application-Processing-Dates/.
Although the review has yet to be fully considered, additional information now submitted indicates that the occupation in question may not be on the ineligible occupation list and therefore it is open to the applicant to withdraw this request for a review and submit a fresh application for a General Employment Permit, having regard to all the relevant procedures applicable to that permit type.
Brexit Issues
Ceisteanna (143)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:143. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to provide additional funding for Brexit-related posts in her Department or in agencies under her remit. [30107/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An additional €3 million was secured in respect of Pay in Budget 2017 and is being targeted specifically to assist in our response to the evolving Brexit scenario. It is enabling the Department and, primarily, our Agencies recruit some 40 to 50 additional staff to supplement existing staffing numbers. These numbers may grow as Agencies allocate additional Own Resource Income, by agreement with the Department, to recruit further staff to work on "Brexit-related" activity.
The additional €3m has been allocated across:
- Enterprise Ireland (€1,700,000)
- IDA Ireland (€750,000)
- Science Foundation Ireland (€150,000)
- The Health and Safety Authority (€150,000), and
- The Department itself (€250,000)
It must also be borne in mind that my Department and the Agencies will have prioritised the Brexit implications arising for them in their individual work plans for 2017 and beyond which serving staff will contribute to as part of their day-to-day work.
Finally, as we enter the 2018 "estimates" process, and on an ongoing basis, my Department will keep under review the adequacy of resources available for Brexit-related work having regard to the other demands on my Department and family of Agencies given our wide remit.