Written Answers Nos. 606-625
606. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications for employment permits by persons at a centre (details supplied) made since the Supreme Court ruling granting asylum seekers the right to work; and the number of these applications that have been successful. [14998/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom February 9th 2018, when section 16(3)(b) International Protection Act 2015 was struck down by the Supreme Court, until the date of entry into force of the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive, any eligible international protection applicants can access the employment permit system on the same basis as other non-EEA nationals. The opt-in process, involving formal discussions with the European Commission to ensure compliance with each aspect of the Directive, is expected to take four months to complete. The interim arrangements for the short period prior to the opt-in enables those seeking international protection to access the labour market through the Employment Permit Acts.
To date no applications for an employment permit have been received by my Department from International Protection applicants from the Mosney Direct Provision Centre in Co Meath.
607. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of expenditure on consultancy by her Department in each of the years 2015 to 2017; the number of consultants engaged by her Department in those years; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps that have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy and the reliance on consultants by her Department in these years and for the future. [15196/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department considers hiring external consultants in cases where there is not the necessary expertise to deliver the project in-house, in cases where an external assessment is deemed essential, or in cases where a project must be completed within a short time scale, and although the expertise or experience may be available in-house, performing the task would involve a prohibitive opportunity cost.
In each particular case, criteria specific to the project are used in selecting an outside agency or consultancy, including cost and value for money. Contracts are awarded based on the most economically advantageous tender (specifying, in addition to price, various other criteria including running costs, servicing costs, servicing costs, level of after sales service, technical assistance, technical merit, environmental characteristics).
My Department complies with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's guidelines for engagements of consultants by the civil service, having regard to public procurement guidelines.
In 2015, my Department spent €1,009,146 on external consultancy, and 17 companies were engaged: Indecon; Spectrum Logistics; Insight Statistical Consulting; Fitzpatrick Associates; Ernst and Young; Technopolis; CM International; The Economic and Social Research Institute; Byrne O'Clerigh Consulting; Trigraph; Capita Business Services; the University of Limerick; Mason, Hayes and Curran; Circa Group; Planet 21 Communications; Ward Solutions; Version 1 Software.
In 2016 my Department spent €496,871 on external consultancy, and 13 companies were engaged: Alan R Nuzum and Associates; Insight Statistical Consulting; the Economic and Social Research Institute; Indecon; PA Consulting; Technopolis; Trigraph; GPS Ltd; Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors; Capita Business Services; Sabeo; Ward Solutions; Storm Technology Ltd.
In 2017 my Department spent €1,133,297 on external consultancy and 18 companies were engaged: Alan R Nuzum and Associates; Indecon; Insight Statistical Consulting; Z-Punkt; PA Consulting; Technopolis; Research Matters Ltd; Behaviour and Attitudes; ASM Chartered Accountants; the Economic and Social Research Institute; Ward Solutions; Version 1 Software; Copenhagen Economics; Deloitte; IDC UK; KPMG; IFM Education; Prospectus.
608. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has been requested by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement for extra resources in 2017 or 2018; if so, the detail of the resources; and if they will be provided. [15298/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) has not asked my Department to provide extra financial or staff resources in 2017 and 2018. However, over recent years, a number of senior-level vacancies have arisen within the ODCE through a combination of retirement, promotion and transfer to other parts of the public service. In that context, the skill sets, competencies, roles and responsibilities associated with each of those posts have been reviewed and reconfigured by the Director to better reflect the organisation’s current needs.
609. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement is allowed to use unspent moneys set aside for legal fees for other purposes such as hiring additional staff. [15299/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn terms of staffing resource management, the Department operates under a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Service and Reform. The terms of the delegated sanction require the Department to deliver its programmes and services within its allocated pay budget. It is not open, therefore, for the Department to unilaterally use non-pay money such as the money provided for legal costs to supplement its pay budget.
The pay allocation provided to the ODCE in 2017 was €2.838m whereas the actual expenditure incurred on pay last year was €1.976m.
Over recent years, a number of senior-level vacancies have arisen within the ODCE through a combination of retirement, promotion and transfer to other parts of the public service. In that context, the skill sets, competencies, roles and responsibilities associated with each of those posts have been reviewed and reconfigured by the Director to better reflect the organisation’s current needs.
The number of Department staff currently in place in the ODCE is 36. In addition, the number of Gardaí assigned to the ODCE is 7.
The Department is currently engaging with the Public Appointments Service to fill, through open competition, two Forensic Accountant positions as well as two Enforcement Lawyers. At present, there are no requests for additional staffing from the ODCE.
Whilst the Office, along with a number of other State organisations, faces challenges in the recruitment of highly qualified professional staff, particularly in the current buoyant labour market, I am satisfied that it has sufficient pay monies.
Accordingly, the question of supplementing the ODCE’s pay allocation from non-pay monies does not arise.
610. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 321 of 27 March 2018, the status of a work permit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15323/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 13(1) of the Employment Permits Act 2006 states that a request for a review of a decision to refuse to grant an employment permit must be submitted by the applicant within 28 days of the date of a decision not to grant it.
In the application you refer to, the applicant was the employer, not the employee. As the decision to refuse to grant this employment permit was made on 8 February 2018, the applicant - the employer - had until 8 March 2018 to submit a request for a review.
On 27 February 2018, the Employment Permits Section received correspondence from the employee for whom the employment permit had been applied requesting a review of the decision. In response, on 27 February 2018, the Employment Permits Section replied to the non-national, clearly explaining for a second time that such a request could only be submitted by the applicant - the employer.
However, as no such request was received from the applicant within this timeframe, this application is now closed.
Please note that a refusal to grant an employment permit does not preclude the submission of another application for an employment permit.
611. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of legislative measures both enacted and published by her Department that originated in work carried out by the Law Reform Commission in each of the past ten years in tabular form; the details of each legislative measure in the corresponding year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15341/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not enacted or published any legislation which originated in work carried out by the Law Reform Commission in any of the last ten years.
612. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of companies supported by Enterprise Ireland in County Donegal in each of the years 2000 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [15941/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra613. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs at Enterprise Ireland supported companies in County Donegal in each of the years 2000 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [15942/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra614. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the list of companies and number of employees at each individual company supported by Enterprise Ireland in County Donegal in each of the years 2000 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [15943/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 612 to 614, inclusive, together.
Reflecting the strength of the Irish economy and of global markets in 2017, Enterprise Ireland client companies have reported strong employment performance. Enterprise Ireland’s 2017 employment survey reported:
- the highest employment in the history of the agency with 209,338 people employed in Enterprise Ireland supported companies;
- the highest net job creation in the history of the agency which saw 10,309 new jobs created after loses are taken into account;
- the lowest number of job losses since 1998; and
- employment growth across all regions, counties and sectors.
In 2017, 3,552 people were employed in Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Donegal. In the period 2015 - 2017 Enterprise Ireland paid €4 million to client companies in Donegal to support companies innovative, improve competitiveness and to diversify their global footprint.
The North East/North West Action Plan for Jobs aims to support the creation of 28,000 jobs across Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth by 2020. Sectors targeted as part of the plan include traditionally strong sectors for the region like Agri-food, Manufacturing/Engineering and Tourism as well as Internationally Traded Services, Cleantech and the Creative Sector.
Table 1 presents employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies across the period 2001 – 2017.
Table 2 presents the number of plants in Donegal supported by Enterprise Ireland across the period 2001 – 2017.
Please note that:
- Employment data for 2000 is not available.
- For business confidentiality reasons, Enterprise Ireland is not in a position to release employment figures at a company level.
- Enterprise Ireland collects employment figures annually via the Annual Employment Survey. Therefore, year to date employment figures for 2018 are not available.
Table 1: Employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Donegal across the period 2001 – 2017
|
County |
Donegal |
|
Year |
Total Jobs |
|
2001 |
4581 |
|
2002 |
4486 |
|
2003 |
3932 |
|
2004 |
3761 |
|
2005 |
3744 |
|
2006 |
3817 |
|
2007 |
3949 |
|
2008 |
3719 |
|
2009 |
3374 |
|
2010 |
3353 |
|
2011 |
3518 |
|
2012 |
3361 |
|
2013 |
3342 |
|
2014 |
3302 |
|
2015 |
3567 |
|
2016 |
3581 |
|
2017 |
3552 |
Source of data: Annual Employment Survey 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,2006, 2007,2008,2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Table 2: Number of plants in Donegal supported by Enterprise Ireland across the period 2001 – 2017.
|
County |
Donegal |
|
AES data |
No. of Plants |
|
2001 |
194 |
|
2002 |
197 |
|
2003 |
192 |
|
2004 |
189 |
|
2005 |
193 |
|
2006 |
192 |
|
2007 |
197 |
|
2008 |
184 |
|
2009 |
188 |
|
2010 |
182 |
|
2011 |
181 |
|
2012 |
180 |
|
2013 |
165 |
|
2014 |
144 |
|
2015 |
142 |
|
2016 |
139 |
|
2017 |
125 |
Source of data: Annual Employment Survey 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,2006, 2007,2008,2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
615. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of individual site visits in County Donegal organised by the IDA for potential investors in each of the years 2000 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [15944/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in Donegal to its client base. 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 - whether to Donegal or elsewhere - and the IDA always does its utmost to ensure that investors consider all potential locations when visiting Ireland.
The following table sets out details on the number of IDA Ireland site visits to County Donegal from 2003 to 2017. Data on site visits before 2003 is not available. Figures for Quarter 1 2018 will be compiled by the end of April.
Table of Site Visits to Donegal from 2003 to 2017
|
Year |
Number of Site Visits |
|
2003 |
3 |
|
2004 |
16 |
|
2005 |
4 |
|
2006 |
9 |
|
2007 |
3 |
|
2008 |
3 |
|
2009 |
3 |
|
2010 |
4 |
|
2011 |
2 |
|
2012 |
1 |
|
2013 |
7 |
|
2014 |
6 |
|
2015 |
5 |
|
2016 |
7 |
|
2017 |
2 |
616. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the regulation of personal contract plans for car purchase finance; the role of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15947/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the publication by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) of its report into the personal contract plan car finance market (PCPs). The report was the first comprehensive study of the PCP market in the State. I am also aware that the Central Bank published “An overview of the Irish PCP Market” in recent weeks.
The CCPC’s report made a number of recommendations including to the Department of Finance and the Central Bank. These include a call for PCP agreements to be brought within the scope of the Central Bank’s Consumer Protection Code, thus mirroring the protections afforded to consumers when they take out other forms of credit. I understand that the recommendations are currently under consideration by the Department of Finance and the Central Bank.
617. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the requirements relating to the publication of accounts in respect of Irish operations by suppliers of energy to domestic and business consumers. [16063/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe requirements regarding the preparation and publication of the financial statements of limited companies and groups are provided for by the EU Accounting Directive (2013/34/EU) and by the EU Regulation 1606/2002 and the International Financial Reporting Standards adopted by the EU under the provisions of that Regulation. These requirements are largely given effect in Irish law in the Companies Act 2014, mainly in Part 6 of that Act. The requirements concerning the financial statements of unlimited companies are governed by national legislation, which is also provided for in the Companies Act 2014.
The requirements for publication of financial statements are of general application and are not determined on the basis of the sector in which a company or group operates. Rather the requirements are determined according to factors such as where a company or its parent is registered, for example, within the EEA or outside of the EEA; and the corporate form of the Irish business, for example a branch or a subsidiary of another company or group.
Irish subsidiaries of companies incorporated in the EEA, may submit the audited group accounts of their parent to the Companies Registration Office (the CRO) instead of their own individual accounts provided that certain conditions are met.
An Irish company that is a subsidiary of another company while itself being the holding company of yet other companies is exempt from the requirement to prepare consolidated accounts where it and the group of which it is the holding company are included in the consolidated accounts of the larger group and other specified conditions are met. The conditions vary depending on whether the holding company of the larger group is incorporated in an EEA state or in a country outside of the EEA.
There are specific requirements where a company incorporated outside the State operates in Ireland through a branch, as distinct from a subsidiary. These are contained in Part 27 of the Companies Act 2014, “External Companies”, and are largely based on EU requirements. The company incorporated outside of the State must file its own accounts, not those of the branch, with the CRO. The exception to this is where the company is incorporated in a country outside of the EEA and that country does not require the company to prepare and publish its accounts. In those situations, the accounts of the Irish branch must be prepared and filed in the CRO.
618. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of an application for a work permit by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16259/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for a General Employment Permit for the person concerned was received on 5th April 2018. The Employment Permits Section of my Department is currently processing standard applications received on 7th February 2018 and this application should be processed within the next eight weeks.
619. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the options open to an American citizen (details supplied) to live and work here on a full-time basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16366/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit. The Employment Permits Section of my Department administers the Employment Permits system. All applications for employment permits are processed in line with the Employment Permits Acts and associated Regulations which lay down in legislation the criteria in relation to the application, grant and refusal of an employment permit.
To be eligible to apply for an employment permit a non-EEA national must have a valid job offer from an Irish registered employer.
Details on how to apply for an employment permit are available on our website at the following link -https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/
My officials have produced a comprehensive Frequently Asked Question document covering all aspects of the Employment Permits regime which is available here -https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/FAQs/Employment-Permits-FAQs-2018.pdf
My colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, has responsibility for issuing immigration permissions and visas.
620. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA-sponsored site visits to County Louth in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16394/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland is committed to increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in every region of the country by 30%-40% by the end of its current strategy in 2019. Site visits do represent an important tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in areas such as Louth and the IDA always does its utmost to ensure that overseas firms consider all potential locations when visiting Ireland. 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 client companies.
The following table sets out details on the number of IDA Ireland site visits to County Louth from 2014 to 2017. Figures for Quarter 1 2018 will be available by the end of April.
|
County |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Louth |
10 |
20 |
24 |
22 |
621. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of clerical officers and clerical assistants in her Department on temporary contracts by years of service; if these officers will be offered permanent positions in the Civil Service when they have served a fixed period of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16423/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently no clerical officers serving in my Department on a temporary contract. While temporary vacancies at clerical officer level may arise at various times and for various reasons, requests to fill these vacancies are undertaken through the Public Appointments Service (PAS). PAS, acts as the centralised recruitment assessment and selection body for my Department.
My Department has not recruited any Clerical Assistants since the amalgamation, in 1997, of the Clerical Officer, Clerical Assistant and Paperkeeper grades into a common clerical grade with a single set of duties.
622. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of general employment permits in circulation among non-EU or European Economic Area citizens; and the number being used specifically by citizens of the United States of America. [16509/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra623. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of critical skills employment permits in circulation among non-EU or European Economic Area citizens; and the number being used specifically by citizens of the United States of America. [16510/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra624. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of dependent, partner and spouse employment permits in circulation among non-EU or European Economic Area citizens; and the number being used specifically by citizens of the United States of America. [16511/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra625. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of reactivation permits in circulation among non-EU or European Economic Area citizens; and the number being used specifically by citizens of the United States of America. [16512/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 622 to 625, inclusive, together.
With the commencement of the Employment Permits (Amendment) Act 2014, nine different types of employment permits were introduced to facilitate various different employment permit scenarios from addressing specifically key skill shortages to temporary labour shortages, sporting and cultural occupations and exchanges for education purposes.
The Critical Skills Employment Permit and the General Employment Permit were introduced on foot of the Employment Permits (Amendment) Act 2014.
The specific information requested by the Deputy regarding the different types of employment permits is as follows:
|
Permit Type |
Number in Circulation |
Number held by Persons with US Nationality |
|
Critical Skills Employment Permit |
8,741 |
558 |
|
General Employment Permits |
4,890 |
237 |
|
Dependent, Partner and Spouse Employment Permits |
749 |
27 |
|
Reactivation Employment Permits |
73 |
1 |
