Written Answers Nos. 306 - 316
306. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the May 2017 ECJ decision regarding the EU-Singapore trade agreement and potential impact on existing EU trade agreements and future ones; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53691/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe opinion of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) was sought by the European Commission in relation to the competence of the European Union to sign and conclude alone, the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA). The CJEU’s Opinion which issued on the 16th of May 2017, found that the EUSFTA could not be signed and concluded by the EU alone, as it contained areas of EU and Member State shared competence, i.e. that it was a ‘Mixed Agreement’.
The Opinion means that those aspects of a trade agreement in respect of which the EU does not have exclusive competence, cannot be applied until ratified by Member States according to the requirements of their national law. This means that as presently concluded the EUSFTA will require ratification by each individual Member State in accordance with their legislative requirements.
The European Commission is engaging in discussions with Member States in relation to how it proposes to progress the EUSFTA and its future approach to EU trade agreements. This engagement includes whether existing agreements which have yet to be ratified, or current agreements, which are under negotiation, should be concluded as ‘Mixed’ or ‘EU-only’ agreements. My Department is actively engaged in these discussions through the Trade Policy Committee in Brussels.
307. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when she plans to publish an account of the investigative failures identified by a person (details supplied); and the steps that are being taken to address them emanating from the trial of a person (details supplied). [53693/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI intend to publish an account of the investigative failures identified by Judge Aylmer and the steps that are being taken to address them as soon as possible.
It is important to understand what factors led to such mistakes being made and to take appropriate steps to address these shortcomings and ensure that they are never repeated.
These steps include ongoing reform within the ODCE and the establishment, as announced by Government in November, of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement as a new independent company law enforcement agency, to provide greater autonomy to the agency and ensure it is better equipped to investigate increasingly complex breaches of company law.
Work on the drafting of the necessary General Scheme of a Bill to give effect to this decision has commenced. It is expected that the General Scheme of a Bill to give effect to this decision will be published by Q2 2018, with final publication of the Bill by Q4 2018.
308. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her ministerial briefing has been published and is downloadable on her Department's website. [54130/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe brief that I received upon appointment as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation is currently being reviewed for publication and will be available on my Department's website in the coming days.
309. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the timeframe for holding a referendum on the implementation of the Unified Patent Court; the impact Brexit will have on its implementation; if the agreement will require renegotiation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54143/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment has deferred a decision on the timing of a referendum on Ireland's participation in the Unified Patent Court. The Agreement on a Unified Patent Court is an international agreement between 25 contracting EU member states and the Court, when operational, will not be an EU institution. The impact of Brexit is not clear and any suggestion of a re-negotiation of the Agreement, which would be a matter for the contracting parties rather than the EU, is premature.
310. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the photography costs for her Department in each year since March 2011 inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used, in tabular form; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54221/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the photography costs incurred by my Department and its Offices since March, 2011 are available at the website below.
No expenditure for photography was incurred from Ministerial allowances.
My Department uses external service providers having regard to its business needs for such services. In engaging such providers, the Department is mindful of the need to secure value for money and, accordingly, strives to keep costs to the minimum.
311. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the use of external public relations firms employed by her Department in each year since March 2011; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54237/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department uses external public relations providers having regard to its business needs for specialist communications advice, training and technical materials assistance. In engaging such providers, the Department is mindful of the need to secure value for money and, accordingly, strives to keep costs to the minimum.
The providers of public relations services used by my Department and the Offices of my Department, the details of the services supplied by each and the expenditure on each since March, 2011 to date are set out in the table.
|
Year |
Name and Address of PR Services Provider |
Details of Services Supplied |
Cost |
|
2011 |
Barberry Limited trading as Keating and Associates |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures and assisting with website content). |
€18,770 |
|
2012 |
Barberry Limited trading as Keating and Associates |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports and brochures and assisting with website content). |
€5,268 |
|
2013 |
Barberry Limited trading as Keating and Associates |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports and brochures and assisting with website content). |
€3,183 |
|
2013 |
MRPA Kinman Communications trading as MKC Communications Limited |
To provide the Department with Press and Media Relations Services for the Irish Presidency of the EU.(This was a once off exercise/expenditure due to Presidency events.) |
€76,480 |
|
2014 |
Barberry Ltd T/A Keating and Associates |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures). |
€3,136 |
|
2015 |
Barberry Ltd |
To provide NERA with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures). |
€3,505 |
|
2015 |
Atomic Advertising Ltd |
To provide brand development work for the launch of the Low Pay Commission |
€1,537 |
|
2015 |
Jays Printing |
To provide roll-up banners for the launch of the Low Pay Commission |
€379 |
|
2015 |
Atomic Advertising Ltd |
To provide the Department with a one year advertising campaign, radio and digital, to raise awareness of a range of Government provided enterprise supports |
€157,228 |
|
2016 |
Barberry Ltd |
To provide the Workplace Relations Commission with Communication Services (including PR; Media Monitoring advising on the design, content and production of reports and brochures. |
€4,981 |
|
2016 |
Fuzion Communications |
Provision of Communications services to the Workplace Relations Commission |
€686 |
|
2016 |
Atomic Advertising Ltd |
To provide the Department with a one year advertising campaign, radio and digital, to raise awareness of a range of Government provided enterprise supports(This amount relates to work carried out in 2015) |
€20,568 |
|
2016 |
Strategem b.t.l. Ltd. |
To provide the Department with a six month public campaign to raise awareness of the Prompt Payment Code |
€36,232 |
|
2016 |
Public Relations Institute of Ireland |
Attendance of two staff members at four day training course ‘Certificate for Civil Service Press Officers’ |
€3,780 |
|
2016 |
BMF Business Services |
Attendance of 4 staff members at Social Media Conference |
€1,080 |
|
2016 |
Law Society |
Social media eSeminars for one staff member |
€195 |
|
2017 |
Strategem b.t.l. Ltd. |
To provide the Department with a six month public campaign to raise awareness of the Prompt Payment Code(This amount relates to work carried out in 2016) |
€25,155 |
|
2017 |
Drury Porter Novelli |
PR and event support for information campaigns; encouraging and informing companies on how to prepare their business for Brexit |
€15,238 |
|
2017 |
Fuzion Communications |
Provision of a range of Communications Services to the Workplace Relations Commission |
€6,753 |
|
2017 |
Fuzion Communications |
Development of Communications Strategy for the Workplace Relations Commission to enhance activity impact and its roll out in 2017 |
€4,404 |
|
2017 |
Fuzion Communications |
Advertising in relation to the opening of the Workplace Relations Commission Office in Sligo |
€3,198 |
312. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date, in tabular form. [54253/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe names of external reports commissioned by my Department and Offices of my Department, the costs, the date or expected date of publication and the name of the external consultants are available at the link below for the years 2011-2017. In some cases, the costs of the reports were shared with other bodies and these are noted in the table.
The data in respect of 2014 includes research and analysis which was commissioned by Forfás prior to the date of its integration into my Department in August 2014, and for which my Department held the 2014 budget. This research and analysis has subsequently been carried out in the Strategic Policy Division in my Department.
312 .
313. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the level of expenditure by her Department from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017 on advertising of Government information campaigns published specifically in national and regional newspapers in addition to all online advertising for all such Government information campaigns; the name for each such information campaign to which this expenditure related; the cost of each, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54269/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of expenditure incurred to date in 2017 by my Department and its Offices on advertising of government information campaigns as requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below.
Expenditure incurred by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and its Offices to date in 2017 on advertising of Government Information Campaigns
|
Advertisement Type |
Company |
Purpose |
Cost |
|
Newspapers and accountancy publications |
Mediavest Limited |
Mandatory electronic filing now required for companies filing their annual returns |
€97,951.93 |
|
Radio advertisements |
Mediavest Limited |
Mandatory electronic filing now required for companies filing their annual returns |
€49,993.45 |
|
Website editions of newspapers |
Mediavest Limited |
Mandatory electronic filing now required for companies filing their annual returns |
€6,158.59 |
|
Newspapers |
Mediavest Limited |
Change of Companies Registration Office (CRO) Public Office address |
€7,145.11 |
314. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the level of expenditure by her Department or organisations under the aegis of her Department from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017 on photography, advertising, communications advice, public relations, website development, media interview training and preparation; the events, campaigns or policies to which this expenditure related; the company or person to which such payments were made, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54285/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe providers of the services procured by my Department and its Offices over the period 1 January to date in 2017 as requested by the Deputy are set out in the table. My Department uses external service providers having regard to its business needs for such services. In engaging such providers, the Department is mindful of the need to secure value for money and, accordingly, strives to keep costs to the minimum. The hiring of external service providers by the agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day-to-day operational matter for the agencies concerned. I have, however, asked the agencies to provide details of any such services procured by them and I will forward these to the Deputy once received.
Photography Costs incurred by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and its Offices from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017
|
Occasion for which Photographer booked |
Name of Photographer |
Cost € |
|
Photographic services - launch of Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) 2017 |
Fennell Photography |
549 |
|
Photographic services - launch of Prompt Payments Code/Portal |
Fennell Photography |
291 |
|
Stock shots Minister Breen |
Fennell Photography |
46 |
|
Photographic services - WRC Annual Report Launch |
Fennell Photography |
275 |
|
Photographic services - EAT 50th Anniversary |
Fennell Photography |
275 |
|
Brexit SME Scorecard |
Fennell Photography |
321 |
|
Photography services Future of Work Conference Dublin Castle |
Maxwell Photography |
396 |
|
Photographic Services Launch of Irelands Second Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility |
Fennell Photography |
398 |
|
Photographic Services at the switching on of ILOFAR telescope, Birr |
Fennell Photography |
514 |
|
Photographic Services for Launch of Taking Care of Business |
Fennell Photography |
275 |
|
Official opening of WRC Sligo Office |
Charlie Brady Photography |
136 |
|
Taking Care of Business Event |
Fennell Photography |
275 |
|
Building Stronger Business (Brexit Report) |
Fennell Photography |
275 |
|
Corporate Social Responsibility for SMEs (Doolin, Co, Clare) |
Eamon Ward Photography |
307 |
Communications Advice, Public Relations and Media Interview Preparation Costs Incurred by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and its Offices from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017
|
Name of PR Company |
Service Provided |
Cost € |
|
Strategem b.t.l. Ltd. |
To provide the Department with a six month public campaign to raise awareness of the Prompt Payment Code(This amount relates to work carried out in 2016) |
25,155 |
|
Drury Porter Novelli |
PR and event support for information campaigns; encouraging and informing companies on how to prepare their business for Brexit |
15,238 |
|
Fuzion Communications |
Provision of Communications Services to the Workplace Relations Commission |
6,753 |
|
Fuzion Communications |
Development of Communications Strategy to enhance Activity Impact and its 2017 roll out |
4,404 |
Advertising Costs Incurred by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and its Offices from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017
|
Advertisement Type |
Company/Organisation Engaged to Provide Advertising Service |
Total Paid to Company/ Organisation € |
|
Various newspaper advertisements relating to Department’s business |
Mediavest Limited |
19,192 |
|
Various Official Notices in Government Publication, Iris Oifigiúil |
Iris Oifigiúil |
5,108 |
|
Advertising in daily newspapers in relation to Joint Labour Committees |
Mediavest Limited |
13,656 |
|
Official Notices in Iris Oifigiúil in relation to Joint Labour Committees |
Iris Oifigiúil |
31 |
|
Advertisements - Accountancy Ireland |
Mediavest Limited |
6,144 |
|
Advertisements - Accountancy Ireland |
Mediavest Limited |
4,059 |
|
Advertisements placed by Companies Registration Office in newspapers and accountancy publications regarding mandatory electronic filing now required for companies filing their annual returns |
Mediavest Limited |
97,952 |
|
Radio advertisements by Companies Registration Office regarding mandatory electronic filing now required for companies filing their annual returns |
Mediavest Limited |
49,993 |
|
Advertisements placed by Companies Registration Office in website editions of newspapers regarding mandatory electronic filing now required for companies filing their annual returns |
Mediavest Limited |
6,158 |
|
Advertisements placed by Companies Registration Office in newspapers regarding change of Public Office address |
Mediavest Limited |
7,145 |
|
Advertisement |
The Phoenix |
2,768 |
|
Advertising in relation to the opening of the WRC Sligo Office |
Fuzion Communications |
3,198 |
Website Development Costs incurred by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and its Offices from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017
|
Name and Address of Service Provider |
Details of Service Supplied |
Cost€ |
|
Parallel Internet (T/S P Tools Software |
Point of Single Contact (POSC) website redesign |
6,586.65 |
|
Inventise Solutions Ltd |
CRO website support |
2,029.50 |
315. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the status of an application under the nursing home support scheme by a person (details supplied). [53534/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
316. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if the funding proposal for a long-awaited new endoscopy unit at Naas General Hospital has been considered under the national capital plan due shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53916/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth capital funding was outlined in the recently published Public Service Estimates for 2018 and the HSE is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2018 - 2021.
The Government is also preparing a new 10 year National Investment Plan for the period 2018-2027, which will be published alongside and in support of the forthcoming new National Planning Framework, to sustain national economic and social progress over the long term.
My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly to you in respect of a proposed new endoscopy unit at Naas General Hospital.
