Written Answers Nos. 295-318
295. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the reported 10% increase in Garda traffic corps numbers will be based on current figures or on the size of the corps from January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7445/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
I have been informed that the strength of the Garda Traffic Corps on the 31 December 2017, stood at 623. In addition, there is one Chief Superintendent and two Superintendents attached to the DMR Traffic Corps, a Superintendent and Traffic Inspector attached to each of the five Regions, and one Superintendent attached to the Policing Road Traffic Bureau. It is important to note, that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of all members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through specific enforcement operations.
There is no room for complacency when it comes to road safety and the intensive efforts being made to promote road safety have contributed to last year representing the lowest number of road traffic fatalities on record at 159. It is imperative that the positive momentum across road traffic enforcement and road safety initiatives is harnessed towards further annual reductions in fatalities.
By working together with the RSA and other agencies, An Garda Síochána will continue to confront dangerous road-user behaviour thorough public presence, legislative enforcement, education and partnership. The Government is committed to further supporting An Garda Síochána in this regard including by reversing the effects of the legacy of the moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 which resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána across the whole organisation including the Traffic Corps.
The Government implementation of the plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 is well underway and there is real tangible progress on reaching this goal. Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, just under 1,600 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increased to 13,551 at the end of 2017 - a net increase of over 600 since the end of 2016.
I am pleased to say that funding is in place to maintain this high level of investment. This year a further 800 Garda trainees will enter the College with 800 also scheduled to attest. This will see Garda numbers reach more than 14,000 by the end of 2018.
This increase in Garda numbers will facilitate the Commissioner in meeting his commitment to strengthen the numbers assigned to roads policing by 10% year on year using the strength of the Traffic Corps of 671 on 31 December 2016 as a baseline. It is not all about numbers, the Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 places a strong emphasis on the role of the Traffic Corps being expanded to include crime prevention and detection on the roads through the establishment of Divisional Roads Policing Units. The Commissioner has confirmed that a review of roads policing has been completed and that a new role and job description for additional personnel for Road Policing Units has been developed.
I am advised that regional competitions which will allow for the allocation of additional resources to the Divisional Roads Policing Units is ongoing and Garda management plan that in the region of a 150 additional Gardaí will be assigned on an incremental basis to Roads Policing duties in 2018 to support better outcomes in relation to road traffic enforcement and crime prevention.
296. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on a newspaper report (details supplied) of 7 February 2018 relating to a Garda report containing information outstanding from a number of parliamentary questions, including the number of drivers detected with between 50 mg and 80 mg of blood alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7446/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the newspaper article referred to by the Deputy, however, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment on a journalist's source material. The Deputy is also fully aware that I have no role, as Minister for Justice and Equality, in relation to Garda operational matters, which fall within the remit of the Garda Commissioner.
However, I have again requested the information sought by the Deputy in relation to drivers detected with blood alcohol content levels between 50mgs and 80 mgs further to the Deputy's previous parliamentary question numbers 138 of 21 March 2017, 469 and 523 of 26 July 2017, 556 of 7 November 2017, 115 of 13 December 2017 and 273 of 23 January 2018. I will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of a Garda report.
297. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 7 November 2017, when the information requested will be supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7487/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs indicated in replies to PQ 45745/17 and PQ 52939/17, I sought and received a report from the Garda Commissioner in relation to the number of weapons that were stolen from houses and vehicles in the past five years.
As indicated in response to PQ 52939/17 of 12 December 2017 clarification has been sought from the Commissioner on the information provided in the report, which is awaited. My Department is in ongoing communication with the Garda Commissioner in this regard. I will write to the Deputy with a full reply when the information sought has been received.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
298. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Business; Enterprise and Innovation if the Cabinet has requested advice from the chief scientific adviser since her appointment. [6999/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) meets with relevant Government Ministers on a regular basis and meets with new Ministers when they take responsibility for their portfolio. I have met with Professor Mark Ferguson on a number of occasions since my appointment as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation in late November 2017. I am not aware of any formal requests for advice from the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government by Cabinet members since my appointment as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. I understand that the CSA provided advice on at least two occasions earlier in 2017 to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. I am aware also that the CSA presented evidence to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine (October 2017) and the Seanad Special Select Committee on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (June 2017). The CSA also regularly meets with relevant European Commissioners and members of their Cabinets.
The Chief Scientific Adviser participates in the following national and international committees/groups:
- Chair of the Horizon 2020 Strategic Research Proposals Group
- Innovation 2020 Implementation Group
- Member of the Board of Governors European Commission Joint Research Council (JRC)
- European Science Advisers Forum (ESAF)
- Global Research Council (GRC)
- Small Advanced Economies Initiatives (SAEI)
- Foreign Ministry Science and Technology Advisors network (FMSTAN)
- International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA)
- International Council for Scientific Unions (ICSU) Committee
- Chaired eHealth Ireland Committee 2015-2017
Other national departmental / industrial / academic and international engagements in capacity of CSA:
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Expert Panel on Peer Review, Ottawa, Canada (2017)
- Participation in various EU high level committees, e.g. EU High Level Group on maximising the impact of EU research and innovation programmes (Lamy Group) 2017
- Participation in various Brexit stakeholder briefings (ongoing)
- Panel member in National Risk Assessment open debate at the Department of the Taoiseach
- Regular speaker at international conferences such as the AAAS (American Association for Advancement of Science) Annual Meetings, EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) and World Science Forum.
299. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the national health innovation hub is still in operation. [6707/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Health Innovation Hub (Health Innovation Hub Ireland), a joint initiative of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Health, was launched in September 2016 following a competitive process. Health Innovation Hub Ireland involves a consortium of formal collaborators which include University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology, National University of Ireland Galway, and Trinity College Dublin, and their associated Clinical Research Facilities (Cork, Galway, Dublin) and their Hospital Groups, with associated Primary Care Centres, Community Health Organisations, Pharmacies and HSE support infrastructures. The consortium is highly complementary, with each collaborator offering unique capabilities and access to key stakeholders, enabling delivery of projects on the ground at multiple locations in Ireland.
Health Innovation Hub Ireland supports healthcare companies and entrepreneurs in validating and refining products and services in a real-life environment by facilitating access to the health service, and supports innovative ideas from healthcare practitioners. Funding has been secured from within the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation’s allocation and, through Enterprise Ireland, €5m is being provided over five years (€1m per annum.) The HSE provides in-kind support including clinician time and hospital engagement, along with staff assigned to work in the Hub. This pioneering partnership involves a unified approach by both Departments, working with private sector companies and the health service to enable the development of groundbreaking Irish healthcare products and services for the benefit of Irish patients, while importantly also supporting job creation.
300. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of an IDA property (details supplied); the plans of the IDA to invest in the property; the amount that was spent on purchasing the property; the amount that has been invested in it in each of the years since it was purchased, in tabular form; the number of clients or potential clients that have visited the property since it was purchased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6737/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven the operational nature of the information requested, I have asked IDA Ireland to provide the information directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
301. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Business; Enterprise and Innovation the sequence of events surrounding the surrendering of a lease (details supplied); the costs of surrendering the lease; the details of all costs inclusive of costs paid to the landlord and the legal costs; the efforts made to reduce the penalties involved; the efforts made to commercially dispose of the lease to another party; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6738/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe lease on Carrisbrook House was assigned to IDA Ireland in September 2013, prior to the dissolution of Forfás. Previous to this, the lease had passed through number of State agencies since a 65-year lease was first taken out by An Chomhairle Oiliúna in 1969.
Carrisbrook House was 85% vacant for a number of years, despite having been actively marketed by Forfás and the IDA. The building was difficult to sublet, partly on account of the high cost of refurbishment. The IDA also did not have vacant possession of the entire property due to an existing lease with a tenant which runs until 2025, thereby limiting its marketability further.
After carefully considering the best course forward, the IDA decided to exit the lease with effect from December 2015 as it was the least costly option for the State. The alternative was continuing to meet contractual obligations to pay rent over the remaining lifetime of the lease until 2034, together with meeting additional liabilities that arise in the context of the full repairing and insuring lease. While the payment of €9.4 million to exit the lease was a significant amount, it represents a saving to the State of an estimated €13.65 million in comparison to maintaining the lease until completion.
I am informed that IDA Ireland paid legal fees in the sum of €11,830.52 in respect of its exit from the lease.
302. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount spent by her Department on photography, by photographer and-or agency, public relations or communications advice external to the media officers of her Department, by agency; the use of public relations or communications advice by an agency fully funded by her Department by agency and month, in tabular form since 1 January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6741/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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.
The following tables set out
(a) the amount spent by my Department and Offices on photography by photographer and photography agencies and
(b) the amount spent by my Department and Offices on agencies which provided public relations and communications advice, such agencies being external to the media officers of my Department.
Costs incurred by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and its Offices from 1 January 2016 to date in relation to photography by photographer and photography agency
|
Year |
Name of Service Provider |
Details of Service Supplied |
Cost €
|
|
2016 |
Fennell Photography |
Photocall for increase to the National Minimum Wage |
291 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Launch of APJ 2016 |
586 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Launch of Workplace Relations Commission Strategy Statement |
137 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Visit of Johann Dietrich Woerner DG European Space Agency |
565 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Headshot of Oonagh Buckley new DG Workplace Relations Commission |
183 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Photocall EGFSN report on Biopharma Industry |
321 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Photocall with NCBI |
414 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Visit of Jean Pierre Bourguignon President of The European Research Council (ERC) |
122 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Opening of new offices for Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court |
291 |
|
|
Tommy Clancy Photography |
Photographic Services for outgoing Director General, WRC event |
231 |
|
|
Tommy Clancy Photography |
Photographic Services for outgoing Chairman of the Labour Court event |
231 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Stock photo Chairman Labour Court |
77 |
|
|
Tommy Clancy Photography |
Stock photo Labour Court Members |
681 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Photographic services -CSR online Service |
291 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017 |
Fennell Photography |
Photographic services - launch of Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) 2017 |
549 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Photographic services - launch of Prompt Payments Code/Portal |
291 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Stock shots Minister Breen |
46 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Photographic services - WRC Annual Report Launch |
275 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Photographic services - EAT 50th Anniversary |
275 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Brexit SME Scorecard |
321 |
|
|
Maxwell Photography |
Photography services Future of Work Conference Dublin Castle |
396 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Photographic Services Launch of Irelands Second Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility |
398 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Photographic Services at the switching on of ILOFAR telescope, Birr |
514 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Photographic Services for Launch of Taking Care of Business |
275 |
|
|
Charlie Brady Photography |
Official opening of WRC Sligo Office |
136 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Taking Care of Business Event |
275 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Building Stronger Business (Brexit Report) |
275 |
|
|
Eamon Ward Photography |
Corporate Social Responsibility for SMEs (Doolin, Co, Clare) |
307 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Launch of the First Report by the Personal Injuries Commission (distribution) |
185 |
|
|
Fennell Photography |
Launch of the First Report by the Personal Injuries Commission (photography) |
91 |
|
|
Maxwell Photography |
Photography High Level Consultation Forum |
209 |
Costs Incurred by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and its Offices from 1 January 2016 to date in relation to Public Relations or Communications Advice by agencies, such agencies being external to the media officers of the Department
|
Year |
Name of Service Provider |
Details of Service Supplied |
Cost € |
|
2016 |
Barberry Ltd T/A Keating & Associates 19 Fitzwilliam Place Dublin 2 |
To provide the Workplace Relations Commission with Communication Services (including PR; Media Monitoring advising on the design, content and production of reports and brochures. |
4,981.50 |
|
2016 |
Fuzion Communications |
Provision of Communications services to the Workplace Relations Commission |
6,863.40 |
|
2016 |
Atomic Advertising Ltd 15A Bishop Street Dublin 8 |
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 Communications Services to the Workplace Relations Commission |
6,753 |
|
2017 |
Fuzion Communications |
Development of Communications Strategy to enhance Activity Impact and its 2017 roll out |
4,404 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2018 |
Fuzion Communications
|
Provision of Communications Services to the Workplace Relations Commission |
221 |
303. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the State boards under the remit of her Department; the number of persons on each of those boards; the number of those persons who are male and female, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6946/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following statistical table.
In relation to the information set out in the table, please note that a candidate has been selected for the position of Chairperson of the Board of the National Standards Authority of Ireland but has not yet been appointed. The vacancies on the Boards of IDA and Science Foundation Ireland have been notified to the Public Appointment Service (PAS) who are managing the process of advertising and selection of suitable potential candidates for my consideration. The vacancy for Enterprise Ireland has not yet been notified to PAS.
Further information in relation to appointment dates etc., is available on the State Boards website at www.stateboards.ie.
|
Board |
Female |
Male |
Vacancies |
Total No of positions on the board |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
4 |
7 |
1 |
12 |
|
Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) |
4 |
7 |
0 |
11 |
|
Health and Safety Authority |
3 |
9 |
0 |
12 |
|
National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) |
6 |
6 |
1 |
13 |
|
Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) |
5 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
|
IDA Ireland |
4 |
5 |
3 |
12 |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
4 |
7 |
1 |
12 |
|
Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) |
5 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
304. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA visits of prospective clients to each county in each of the years 2013 to 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7060/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe IDA remains committed to increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in every region of Ireland by 30% to 40% by the end of the Agency's current strategy in 2019. Progress is being made towards that target, with half of all jobs created in the first three years of that strategy based outside of Dublin.
IDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in the regions to its client base and it makes every effort to ensure that FDI is spread as widely as possible across the country. It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to invest always rests with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as at least 70% of all new FDI comes from existing IDA Ireland client companies.
Site visits nevertheless do represent an important tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas and the IDA always does its utmost to ensure that investors consider all potential locations when visiting Ireland.
The following table outlines IDA Ireland site visits by county from 2013 to 2017.
|
County |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Dublin |
180 |
205 |
242 |
284 |
327 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
|
Meath |
1 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
|
Laois |
2 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
|
Longford |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
1 |
8 |
4 |
5 |
|
Westmeath |
9 |
12 |
28 |
36 |
42 |
|
Clare |
5 |
9 |
12 |
18 |
22 |
|
Limerick |
23 |
22 |
40 |
49 |
42 |
|
Tipperary |
4 |
3 |
12 |
8 |
8 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Louth |
4 |
10 |
20 |
24 |
22 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Donegal |
7 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
5 |
|
Sligo |
10 |
7 |
15 |
20 |
18 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
8 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
4 |
10 |
10 |
6 |
|
Waterford |
14 |
11 |
31 |
17 |
11 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
|
Cork |
31 |
30 |
48 |
49 |
51 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
9 |
|
Galway |
15 |
19 |
41 |
42 |
62 |
|
Mayo |
3 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
7 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Total |
326 |
359 |
565 |
638 |
682 |
305. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA-supported jobs by county at the end of each year from 2013 to 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7061/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland’s performance in 2017 resulted in the third consecutive year of strong growth under the Agency's current Strategy. By the end of last year, total employment in the Agency's client companies stood at 210,443. Furthermore there are now over 122,000 people employed across 649 firms in IDA client companies outside of Dublin. I look forward to working closely with the Agency and across Government to grow those numbers further in 2018.
The following table provides a breakdown of employment in IDA Ireland client companies from 2013 to 2017.
|
County |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Carlow |
735 |
749 |
768 |
802 |
875 |
|
Cavan |
1,135 |
1,136 |
1,165 |
1,203 |
1,155 |
|
Clare |
6,056 |
6,232 |
6,353 |
6,735 |
6,775 |
|
Cork |
27,257 |
28,251 |
32,101 |
33,831 |
35,248 |
|
Donegal |
2,382 |
2,607 |
2,918 |
3,039 |
3,389 |
|
Dublin |
66,050 |
69,673 |
74,459 |
81,925 |
88,318 |
|
Galway |
14,273 |
14,638 |
15,367 |
16,932 |
17,696 |
|
Kerry |
1,659 |
1,895 |
1,948 |
2,097 |
2,186 |
|
Kildare |
10,327 |
10,285 |
10,628 |
10,229 |
9,282 |
|
Kilkenny |
617 |
716 |
650 |
762 |
782 |
|
Laois |
106 |
87 |
105 |
115 |
119 |
|
Leitrim |
606 |
682 |
745 |
803 |
889 |
|
Limerick |
7,448 |
7,930 |
8,702 |
9,827 |
10,677 |
|
Longford |
701 |
650 |
686 |
672 |
474 |
|
Louth |
2,568 |
3,053 |
3,236 |
3,593 |
3,702 |
|
Mayo |
3,728 |
3,932 |
4,070 |
4,234 |
4,462 |
|
Meath |
1,540 |
1,536 |
1,533 |
1,526 |
1,491 |
|
Monaghan |
365 |
275 |
146 |
137 |
150 |
|
Offaly |
896 |
874 |
887 |
914 |
940 |
|
Roscommon |
962 |
916 |
994 |
985 |
1,128 |
|
Sligo |
2,230 |
2,219 |
2,221 |
2,290 |
2,184 |
|
Tipperary North Riding |
306 |
298 |
318 |
328 |
335 |
|
Tipperary South Riding |
3,055 |
3,246 |
3,215 |
3,040 |
3,330 |
|
Waterford |
5,183 |
5,248 |
5,574 |
6,253 |
6,850 |
|
Westmeath |
2,202 |
2,386 |
2,519 |
2,573 |
2,794 |
|
Wexford |
2,402 |
2,547 |
2,527 |
2,680 |
2,948 |
|
Wicklow |
2,348 |
2,324 |
2,199 |
2,234 |
2,264 |
|
Grand Total |
167,137 |
174,385 |
186,034 |
199,759 |
210,443 |
306. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the investment provided by the IDA by county to its client companies for each year from 2013 to 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7062/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table provides a breakdown of grants paid by IDA Ireland to its client companies between 2013 and 2017. The figure provided for Dublin includes payments to the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT).
It is important to note that grants paid in a particular year are not necessarily linked to either the investments won or the jobs created in that 12-month period. Grants are generally drawn down over the lifetime of a project which is normally over a period of three to five years. Some investments which result in job creation may not be grant aided and some well-established firms may no longer be receiving grant payments.
|
County |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
TOTAL |
|
Carlow |
€5,093,152 |
€72,000 |
€2,027,393 |
€1,080,631 |
€82,725 |
€8,355,901 |
|
Cavan |
€0 |
€0 |
€120,622 |
€418,271 |
€64,180 |
€603,073 |
|
Clare |
€0 |
€3,172,202 |
€4,463,951 |
€3,023,557 |
€2,521,600 |
€13,181,310 |
|
Cork |
€12,380,130 |
€18,353,580 |
€13,260,876 |
€13,220,973 |
€20,843,403 |
€78,058,962 |
|
Donegal |
€3,071,490 |
€1,889,800 |
€1,697,150 |
€685,500 |
€1,602,200 |
€8,946,140 |
|
Dublin |
€24,803,491 |
€19,952,938 |
€19,826,741 |
€20,136,706 |
€19,949,601 |
€104,669,477 |
|
Galway |
€17,277,141 |
€8,422,227 |
€18,357,383 |
€13,611,022 |
€7,681,690 |
€65,349,463 |
|
Kerry |
€584,145 |
€16,800 |
€3,220,609 |
€1,024,766 |
€2,357,952 |
€7,204,272 |
|
Kildare |
€4,690,248 |
€728,457 |
€5,798,570 |
€3,573,544 |
€2,096,053 |
€16,886,872 |
|
Kilkenny |
€0 |
€0 |
€350,000 |
€440,000 |
€156,000 |
€946,000 |
|
Laois |
€0 |
€25,000 |
€75,000 |
€5,000 |
€24,500 |
€129,500 |
|
Leitrim |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Limerick |
€4,434,483 |
€15,374,032 |
€10,596,531 |
€13,589,484 |
€7,036,757 |
€51,031,287 |
|
Longford |
€0 |
€0 |
€397,750 |
€169,542 |
€3,297,973 |
€3,865,265 |
|
Louth |
€2,935,800 |
€3,672,307 |
€993,000 |
€3,031,765 |
€924,060 |
€11,556,932 |
|
Mayo |
€4,180,577 |
€6,376,253 |
€2,406,422 |
€1,498,389 |
€3,184,082 |
€17,645,723 |
|
Meath |
€1,540,920 |
€0 |
€300,000 |
€0 |
€0 |
€1,840,920 |
|
Monaghan |
€0 |
€58,022 |
€200,000 |
€200,000 |
€0 |
€458,022 |
|
Offaly |
€150,042 |
€324,662 |
€120,000 |
€355,540 |
€960,089 |
€1,910,333 |
|
Roscommon |
€110,000 |
€0 |
€733,000 |
€0 |
€185,500 |
€1,028,500 |
|
Sligo |
€796,831 |
€750,892 |
€4,229,218 |
€922,814 |
€2,875,340 |
€9,575,095 |
|
Tipperary |
€2,729,055 |
€3,654,309 |
€2,939,811 |
€2,580,100 |
€3,428,740 |
€15,332,015 |
|
Waterford |
€1,938,976 |
€1,867,329 |
€1,341,864 |
€10,914,081 |
€7,794,598 |
€23,856,848 |
|
Westmeath |
€272,624 |
€1,948,923 |
€2,513,508 |
€1,768,687 |
€2,078,588 |
€8,582,330 |
|
Wexford |
€934,569 |
€783,794 |
€1,534,136 |
€568,307 |
€1,473,521 |
€5,294,327 |
|
Wicklow |
€27,623 |
€43,738 |
€234,048 |
€159,372 |
€321,734 |
€786,515 |
|
TOTAL |
€87,951,297 |
€87,487,265 |
€97,737,583 |
€92,978,051 |
€90,940,886 |
€457,095,082 |
307. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs supported by Enterprise Ireland by county for the end of each year from the end of 2013 to 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7063/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra308. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the investment by Enterprise Ireland in client companies by county for each year from the end of 2013 to 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7064/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 308 together.
Enterprise Ireland is my Department’s main agency for developing Irish business. Enterprise Ireland supports companies in urban and rural areas to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future. At the centre of the agency’s strategy, Build Scale, Expand Reach 2017 – 2020, are strategic targets focused on:
- Assisting clients to create 60,000 new jobs by 2020 while sustaining the existing record level of jobs;
- Growing the annual exports of client companies by €5bn to €26bn per annum;
- Increasing the level of spend made by client companies in the Irish economy by €4bn to €27bn per annum by 2020; and
- Inspiring more Irish owned companies to have global ambition.
These are ambitious targets, particularly against a backdrop of Brexit and an uncertain global economic climate. Despite these challenges, the 2017 performance demonstrates a very positive first year in the new Strategy.
Enterprise Ireland’s 2017 results reported the highest employment in the history of the agency, the highest net job creation in the history of the agency and also the lowest number of job losses since 1998. In 2017 209,338 people were employed at Enterprise Ireland supported companies which includes the creation of 10,309 net new jobs. In 2017 22,782 people were employed at Enterprise Ireland supported companies. Employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies by county is presented in Table 1 for the period 2013 - 2017.
Enterprise Ireland helps companies through a range of financial and non-financial supports. Table 2 presents payment to client companies by county for the period 2013 -2017.
Table 1: Employment in Enterprise Ireland Supported Companies 2013 – 2017.
|
County |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Carlow |
2,441 |
2,691 |
2,852 |
2,973 |
3,034 |
|
Cavan |
4,280 |
4,663 |
4,905 |
5,221 |
5,451 |
|
Clare |
2,866 |
3,271 |
3,255 |
3,444 |
3,709 |
|
Cork |
22,212 |
22,609 |
23,955 |
24,936 |
25,975 |
|
Donegal |
3,342 |
3,302 |
3,567 |
3,581 |
3,552 |
|
Dublin |
63,800 |
61,203 |
66,866 |
70,365 |
72,461 |
|
Galway |
6,923 |
6,823 |
7,278 |
7,294 |
8,103 |
|
Kerry |
4,010 |
4,314 |
4,678 |
4,677 |
4,866 |
|
Kildare |
6,520 |
7,512 |
8,308 |
8,632 |
9,134 |
|
Kilkenny |
3,351 |
3,605 |
3,921 |
4,167 |
4,276 |
|
Laois |
1,088 |
1,179 |
1,297 |
1,385 |
1,473 |
|
Leitrim |
623 |
722 |
820 |
922 |
559 |
|
Limerick |
6,970 |
7,013 |
6,777 |
7,954 |
8,269 |
|
Longford |
1,820 |
2,360 |
2,628 |
2,886 |
2,970 |
|
Louth |
5,032 |
5,434 |
5,600 |
5,819 |
6,121 |
|
Mayo |
3,679 |
3,784 |
3,667 |
3,856 |
4,118 |
|
Meath |
6,072 |
6,658 |
6,855 |
7,007 |
7,302 |
|
Monaghan |
3,946 |
4,539 |
4,819 |
5,168 |
5,366 |
|
Offaly |
3,047 |
3,452 |
3,794 |
3,941 |
4,281 |
|
Roscommon |
1,454 |
1,560 |
1,686 |
1,688 |
1,776 |
|
Sligo |
1,792 |
1,853 |
1,723 |
1,546 |
1,733 |
|
Tipperary |
4,853 |
4,917 |
5,264 |
5,352 |
5,907 |
|
Waterford |
4,586 |
5,060 |
5,561 |
5,721 |
6,359 |
|
Westmeath |
2,854 |
3,436 |
3,548 |
3,653 |
3,741 |
|
Wexford |
4,567 |
4,484 |
4,696 |
4,816 |
4,670 |
|
Wicklow |
3,622 |
3,628 |
3,903 |
4,104 |
4,132 |
|
Total |
175,750 |
180,072 |
192,223 |
201,108 |
209,338 |
Data Source: Annual Employment Survey 2013, 2014 ,2015, 2016 and 2017
Table 2: Enterprise Ireland Payment to Client Companies by County 2013 -2017.
|
Payments per county |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Carlow |
€1,755,810 |
€1,065,648 |
€1,270,387 |
€1,789,646 |
€1,118,817 |
|
Cavan |
€1,475,241 |
€2,159,893 |
€3,852,200 |
€5,491,945 |
€2,509,330 |
|
Clare |
€420,796 |
€1,630,986 |
€1,575,472 |
€1,814,188 |
€3,640,451 |
|
Cork |
€14,091,760 |
€10,358,287 |
€10,127,253 |
€12,479,469 |
€9,631,377 |
|
Donegal |
€2,979,071 |
€1,057,850 |
€2,091,993 |
€524,804 |
€1,537,845 |
|
Dublin |
€32,331,746 |
€33,828,623 |
€27,564,105 |
€35,053,538 |
€34,286,938 |
|
Galway |
€4,727,912 |
€4,264,258 |
€3,671,039 |
€4,408,207 |
€4,678,283 |
|
Kerry |
€1,628,236 |
€2,370,472 |
€2,426,203 |
€3,179,274 |
€2,683,363 |
|
Kildare |
€2,765,790 |
€2,671,688 |
€2,569,471 |
€5,579,222 |
€3,568,151 |
|
Kilkenny |
€1,332,577 |
€6,210,766 |
€5,907,993 |
€1,954,707 |
€2,943,649 |
|
Laois |
€427,501 |
€446,685 |
€763,516 |
€892,958 |
€345,759 |
|
Leitrim |
€104,254 |
€651,679 |
€644,222 |
€275,037 |
€142,319 |
|
Limerick |
€2,841,833 |
€3,124,903 |
€2,426,899 |
€3,318,597 |
€3,326,048 |
|
Longford |
€1,067,988 |
€717,967 |
€2,751,123 |
€1,004,560 |
€1,076,148 |
|
Louth |
€2,153,930 |
€1,603,265 |
€4,396,281 |
€5,518,728 |
€3,962,642 |
|
Mayo |
€1,237,614 |
€1,803,125 |
€1,210,388 |
€1,763,754 |
€5,021,555 |
|
Meath |
€1,460,552 |
€2,661,831 |
€2,187,942 |
€1,950,819 |
€1,177,941 |
|
Monaghan |
€2,253,693 |
€2,409,719 |
€2,476,380 |
€2,764,596 |
€7,240,755 |
|
Offaly |
€833,453 |
€543,232 |
€564,153 |
€920,548 |
€1,408,973 |
|
Roscommon |
€563,339 |
€408,337 |
€366,826 |
€844,756 |
€1,523,342 |
|
Sligo |
€822,814 |
€619,865 |
€468,224 |
€1,041,235 |
€981,489 |
|
Tipperary |
€3,195,909 |
€4,064,697 |
€5,447,999 |
€1,728,842 |
€2,507,610 |
|
Waterford |
€2,456,301 |
€2,944,665 |
€3,928,310 |
€866,677 |
€1,269,362 |
|
Westmeath |
€1,483,606 |
€1,082,298 |
€1,424,046 |
€1,537,456 |
€1,163,469 |
|
Wexford |
€3,273,044 |
€1,085,693 |
€2,204,820 |
€936,154 |
€2,161,837 |
|
Wicklow |
€2,032,061 |
€1,299,971 |
€1,899,864 |
€1,970,730 |
€1,740,122 |
|
Grand Total |
€89,716,829 |
€91,086,403 |
€94,217,110 |
€99,610,447 |
€101,647,574 |
(NOTE: Payments reports exclude payments to Infrastructural clients, Shannon Free Zone transfer clients and recipients under the Employment Subsidy Scheme)
309. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if stable staff in horse trainers' yards can be classified as agricultural workers in the future in view of the importance of the horse racing sector to the rural economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7173/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the issue of the classification of stable staff was considered in a recent case before the Labour Court and I presume it is in that context that the deputy is raising the issue.
One issue considered by the Labour Court was whether workers in the equine sector come within the scope of the agriculture sector under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 Act and Regulations under that Act as the legislation provides for certain exemptions for certain sectors.
The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 provides for statutory rights for employees in relation to rest, maximum working time and holidays and derives from a European Union Directive dating from 1993.
I would like to draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that since September 2017 certain changes in Departmental functions took place with the result that policy responsibility for employment rights legislation generally, including the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, transferred to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
Any proposals that potentially involve an amendment to that legislation in terms of the classification of workers in certain sectors are now a matter for the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and should be directed to that Department.
310. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason car rental companies seek a doctor's note when leasing a car to a person over 75 years of age (details supplied); her views on whether this practice is age discrimination on the part of the companies involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7377/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy responsibility for equality issues and the Equal Status Act 2000 are within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.
The Equal Status Acts make it unlawful to discriminate when providing goods and services. All services that are generally available to the public, whether provided by the State or the private sector are covered, including:
- Access to and the use of any place,
- Transport or travel
- Banking, insurance, grants, loans, credit or financing
- Entertainment, recreation or refreshment
- Cultural activities
- Services or facilities provided by clubs and
- Professional or trade services
The Adjudication Service of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is the independent body set up by law to investigate or mediate complaints of discrimination. The decision of whether, any practice, behaviour or treatment is contrary to the Equal Status Acts is a matter that is charged to an Adjudication Officer of the Workplace Relations Commission in accordance with the relevant provisions of that statute.
Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, to comment any further in relation to any actual or potential claims.
Finally, there may be insurance implications related to such activities: policy responsibility for motor insurance, as well as driving licences, come within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
311. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on correspondence (details supplied) and proposals for start-up funding for the organisation in question. [7379/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am working closely with Enterprise Ireland to ensure that there is a strong focus on boosting regional growth potential to secure sustainable quality employment. The eight Regional Action Plans for Jobs are now embedded across the country and are good examples of local authorities, Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices and businesses working together to tackle regional issues. To support the eight Regional Action Plans, and as part of the Government’s strategic response to Brexit, additional funding of up to €60m is being rolled out by EI over the next 4 years. The Regional Enterprise Development Fund, funded by my Department and administered by Enterprise Ireland, will support the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that can sustain and add to employment at a national, regional and county level. This Funding will strengthen the enterprise capability and economic development potential within the regions. Twenty-one successful applicants representing all regions of the country have secured up to €30.5m for their projects in the first competitive call.
Due to the high demand for the Fund, I will be announcing a second competitive call for proposals in March this year. This new call will be open to those that may have been unsuccessful under the first call and to new applicants. Enterprise Ireland will work with all applicants that apply for funding under the second call for proposals. Any organisation with a requirement for start-up funding should engage with Enterprise Ireland regarding any proposals that they might have for Loughrea.
312. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the sites in Galway city and county that are owned by the IDA with available and unused space; the amount of space available on each of these sites; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7430/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in regional locations - including Galway - to its client base in order to ensure that foreign direct investment is spread as widely as possible across the country. Matching clients with property solutions, whether owned by the IDA or the private sector, remains an important tool through which investors can be encouraged to locate outside of Dublin.
The following table below provides a detailed breakdown of the Agency's available land in Galway City and County.
|
Property County |
Property Town |
Property Name |
Net HA Marketable |
|
County Galway |
Mountbellew/Ballygar |
Mountbellew Business Park |
0.19 |
|
County Galway |
Glenamaddy |
Glenamaddy Business Park |
0.91 |
|
County Galway |
Gort |
Gort Business Park |
1.12 |
|
County Galway |
Roundstone |
Roundstone |
1.42 |
|
County Galway |
Tuam |
Tuam Business Park |
1.47 |
|
County Galway |
Ballygar |
Ballygar Site |
3.43 |
|
County Galway |
Ballinasloe |
Ballinasloe B&T Park |
8.88 |
|
County Galway |
Tuam |
Tuam Science & Technology Park |
9.92 |
|
County Galway |
Galway City |
Parkmore B&T Park (W&E) |
26.75 |
|
County Galway |
Galway City |
Oranmore Science & Tech Park |
26.78 |
|
County Galway |
Athenry |
Athenry |
92.43 |
313. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 159 of 7 February 2018, if the job listed on a person's (details supplied) work permit application is listed in the ineligible category; if not, if this permit will be reconsidered due to the deadline relating to the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7489/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question Ref No: 6118/18.
As previously outlined, this application was refused on the basis that it appears that the occupation in question is an ineligible occupation for the purposes of obtaining an employment permit based on information provided by the applicant including both the description of the employment to be undertaken and the job specification. From this information the processor decided that the role was essentially administrative in nature.
The decision was made to refuse the application on 18th January 2018, and the applicant has been notified of this decision in writing and of their right to request a review of this decision in line with the provisions of the Employment Permits Acts within 28 days. My officials inform me that to date no review has yet been requested.
A refusal to grant an employment permit does not preclude an applicant from submitting another application for an employment permit. Such an application should comply with all of the legislative requirements pertaining to the particular employment permit type.
314. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the national and regional job targets under the programme for Government and Enterprise 2025 in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the latest quarterly national household survey data; the most recent figures for these targets in each region; the job targets up to 2020 on an annual basis, by region, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7495/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe national jobs target in Enterprise 2025 was for 2.18 million people to be in employment by the end of 2020. This is aligned with the goal under the 2016 Programme for a Partnership Government to deliver an extra 200,000 jobs by 2020, of which 135,000 will be outside of Dublin. These targets are on course to be met and exceeded with employment in the State having increased by 91,000 since the end of Quarter 1 2016.
With a strong focus on job creation and retention, the annual Action Plan for Jobs provides a framework for collaboration between Government Departments and Agencies to achieve this objective.
Between June 2015 and January 2016, my Department published eight Regional Action Plans for Jobs, aimed at raising employment levels in the regions and facilitating them to achieve their economic potential. Each plan contains a series of actions with timelines for delivery between 2015-2017, through improved collaboration between enterprise agencies and other stakeholders supporting enterprise development in the regions. A key objective of each of the plans is to have a further 10 to 15 per cent at work in each region by 2020, with the unemployment rate of each region within one percentage point of the national average. The attached table shows our progress towards these employment targets up to Quarter 2 2017.
On 16 January 2018, the Central Statistics Office released the Labour Force Survey for Quarter 3 2018, which has replaced the Quarterly National Household Survey as the official source of data for employment and unemployment in Ireland. The data presented in the report incorporates adjustments to previous releases to take account of revisions to population estimates arising from the 2016 Census of Population. Due to the break in the time-series of regional employment data, comparisons that span Quarter 2 to Quarter 3 2017 cannot be reliably made. As a result, the data presented in the table attached spans Q1 2015 - Q2 2017.
Regional Employment Performance Q1 2015 – Q2 2017 (thousand):
|
Total Change since Q1 2015 |
||||
|
Region |
Q1 2015 |
Q2 2017 |
Number % |
|
|
North East/North West |
207.3 |
219.3 |
12 |
5.7% |
|
Midland |
116.8 |
126.3 |
9.5 |
8.1% |
|
West |
184.5 |
200 |
15.5 |
8.4% |
|
Dublin |
612.7 |
660.9 |
48.2 |
7.8% |
|
Mid-East |
241.2 |
260.5 |
19.3 |
8.0% |
|
Mid-West |
156.4 |
173 |
16.6 |
10.6% |
|
South-East |
205 |
221.2 |
16.2 |
7.9% |
|
South-West |
290.5 |
319.9 |
29.4 |
10.1% |
|
State |
2014.4 |
2181.2 |
166.8 |
8.2% |
Target: increase of 10 to 15 per cent at work in each region by 2020
Source: Labour Force Survey Quarter 3 2017, CSO
315. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the review of the work permits regime; and the criteria that apply. [7496/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the focus of the employment permits regime in recent years has been to ensure that the skills requirements of enterprise in the State can be met through economic migration where necessary. However, as the State approaches full employment, labour as well as skills needs are beginning to manifest and my Department is being pressed to open up the employment permit regime to lower skilled workers in certain sectors and occupations.
However, economic migration alone is not a sustainable long-term solution to skills and labour shortages and indeed can, in some circumstances, help to perpetuate those shortages in the economy. The development of particular skills in the resident labour force can depend upon a judicious deployment of economic migration as a supplementary rather than a primary source of those skills, and adjustments must be made with this in mind.
While there is some anecdotal evidence of a tightening labour market in some sectors, the fact remains that there are 238,000 on the live register, and with a potential pool of 18.5 million unemployed in the EU 28. Thus my Department needs to be prudent in considering whether to open up the labour market to unskilled non-EEA workers on wage levels at or just above the national minimum wage.
In this context, I have decided that my Department undertake a review of the economic migration policies underpinning the current employment permits system, to ensure it is fully supportive of Ireland’s emerging labour market needs, be they skills or labour shortages in certain sectors.
The principle objective of this review process is to consider the policy rationale for the employment permit system where the economy is improving and the labour market is tightening. An Inter-Departmental Group has been established to inform the review and it is made up of relevant State Departments, including Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform; Justice and Equality; Housing Planning and Local Government; Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Transport, Tourism and Sport; Education and Skills; Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The IDG met for the first time on 9 February last.
The review process will also include a public consultation, with feedback sought from relevant stakeholders and interest groups.
I have requested that a report be submitted to me before the end of June.
316. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA supported jobs here; the number of jobs created and lost, respectively, in 2017, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7498/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland’s performance in 2017 resulted in the third consecutive year of strong growth under the Agency's current Strategy. By the end of last year, total employment in the Agency's client companies stood at 210,443, of which 122,000 are employed at firms located outside of Dublin. I look forward to working closely with the Agency and across Government to grow those numbers further in 2018.
The following table provides a detailed breakdown of employment by IDA Ireland client companies in each county for 2017.
|
2017 |
New Jobs Created (Gross Gains) |
Jobs Lost |
Additional Jobs Created (Net Change) |
Total Jobs |
|
Carlow |
75 |
2 |
73 |
875 |
|
Cavan |
31 |
79 |
-48 |
1,155 |
|
Clare |
446 |
406 |
40 |
6,775 |
|
Cork |
2,388 |
971 |
1,417 |
35,248 |
|
Donegal |
375 |
25 |
350 |
3,389 |
|
Dublin |
10,956 |
4563 |
6,393 |
88,318 |
|
Galway |
1,281 |
517 |
764 |
17,696 |
|
Kerry |
105 |
16 |
89 |
2,186 |
|
Kildare |
275 |
1222 |
-947 |
9,282 |
|
Kilkenny |
138 |
118 |
20 |
782 |
|
Laois |
4 |
0 |
4 |
119 |
|
Leitrim |
89 |
3 |
86 |
889 |
|
Limerick |
1,028 |
178 |
850 |
10,677 |
|
Longford |
77 |
275 |
-198 |
474 |
|
Louth |
295 |
186 |
109 |
3,702 |
|
Mayo |
272 |
44 |
228 |
4,462 |
|
Meath |
71 |
106 |
-35 |
1,491 |
|
Monaghan |
14 |
1 |
13 |
150 |
|
Offaly |
74 |
48 |
26 |
940 |
|
Roscommon |
153 |
10 |
143 |
1,128 |
|
Sligo |
63 |
169 |
-106 |
2,184 |
|
Tipperary |
341 |
44 |
297 |
3665 |
|
Waterford |
682 |
85 |
597 |
6,850 |
|
Westmeath |
235 |
14 |
221 |
2,794 |
|
Wexford |
284 |
16 |
268 |
2,948 |
|
Wicklow |
99 |
69 |
30 |
2,264 |
|
Grand Total |
19,851 |
9167 |
10,684 |
210,443 |
317. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the ratification procedure at EU and member state level for ratification of potential European trade agreements with the Mercosur trading bloc relating to market access and quotas; the elements that fall under exclusive EU-level competence; and the areas that require national level approval. [7499/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU’s suite of Free Trade Agreements (FTA’s) has evolved over time, from the ‘First Generation’ FTAs dating back to the 1970’s which focused on tariffs for goods, to the current ‘New Generation’ of FTAs which go beyond the reduction or elimination of conventional tariff barriers to include; non-tariff and regulatory barriers, services, investment, recognition of professional qualifications, intellectual property rights, access to public procurement, regulatory cooperation, sustainable development, labour and environment.
As the Deputy will be aware the Common Commercial Policy is an exclusive competence of the European Union under the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union. The Lisbon Treaty extended this competence to cover foreign direct investment, as well as making the European Parliament a co-legislator alongside the Council on trade matters. The European Commission acts as lead negotiator on behalf of all EU countries regarding trade agreements with non-EU countries. Member States (in Council) approve negotiating directives (or mandates) before negotiations begin, are kept informed of developments as the negotiations proceed and have final approval at Council.
The European Commission sought the opinion of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in relation to the competence of the European Union to sign and conclude the EU Singapore Free Trade Agreement. The CJEU’s Opinion issued on 16 May 2017, and found that the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the Republic of Singapore (EUSFTA) cannot be signed and concluded by the EU alone: it has to be signed and concluded both by the EU and by each of its Member States, i.e. that it is a ‘Mixed Agreement’. The Opinion found that some aspects of the agreement fall within the EU’s exclusive competence while other aspects will require additional approval from national and regional legislatures. These are referred to as ‘shared competences’. The competences shared between the EU and the Member States are provisions on investment protection in so far as they relate to non-direct foreign investment (i.e., portfolio investments); and provisions on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). The implications of the Opinion therefore are that areas relating to market access and quotas as raised by the Deputy fall within the exclusive competence of the European Commission. 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 all Member States, including Ireland, according to the requirements of their national law.
Therefore, the ratification process regarding individual trade agreements, including any future EU trade agreement with Mercosur, must be taken on a case-by-case basis depending on the issues comprehended by the agreement. Where appropriate, my Department seeks legal advice on the appropriate ratification process to follow in each case.
318. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on the policy of reversing the cuts imposed on HSE employed pharmacists, and that does not include self-employed pharmacists, which it is perceived further discriminates against self-employed pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6966/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge the contribution made by pharmacists and other health professionals who provide services under contract on behalf of the HSE, through reductions in the fees in respect of these services, to addressing the unprecedented economic crisis which the State faced over recent years.
In the context of the publication by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, of the Public Service Pay and Pension Bill 2017, on 7 November 2017, I announced that in 2018 I will undertake a process of engagement with representative bodies of contracted health professionals, aimed at putting in place a new multi-annual approach to fees, in return for service improvement and contractual reform and in line with Government priorities for the health service.
