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Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 29 Jan 2019

Written Answers Nos. 277-294

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Ceisteanna (277)

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

277. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the ten most common consumer complaints lodged with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in 2018; the number of complaints by each category, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3953/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition and consumer law in the State. The CCPC provides information to consumers on personal finance and consumer rights issues as part of its consumer protection and financial information functions. This information is provided to empower consumers to make more informed decisions and to take action for themselves, if required.

Section 9(5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions, including its day-to-day operational work regarding complaints made to it and I, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, have no direct function in such matters.

Notwithstanding this, the CCPC has provided me with a list of the ten most common consumer complaints received by it in 2018. The following table lists the complaints by category, as well as the number of cases that have been received under each heading.

Issue

Volume (Cases)

Goods & Services - Faulty

8020

Contracts - Charges/Payments/Deposits

3082

Goods & Services - Sale of Goods/Service Issues

2529

Contracts - Cancellation

1925

Contracts - Performance Terms and Conditions

1518

Consumer Rights Directive/ecommerce

1370

Motor Insurance

1258

Mortgages

1226

Pricing

857

Advertising

697

Work Permits Applications

Ceisteanna (278)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason a work permit application was refused in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4025/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Employment Permits section of my Department inform me that an application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit for the person concerned was received on 6 December 2018.

My officials inform me that on 21 January 2019, this application was refused as the remuneration on offer was below the minimum annual remuneration of €60,000 per annum for a Critical Skills Employment Permit when the occupation is not listed on the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List.

In addition to being informed of the decision to refuse this application, the applicant was also informed of the option to request a review of this decision within 28 days. My officials inform me that, to date, no such review has been requested.

The Deputy may wish to note that the occupation of the person concerned is eligible for a general employment permit, which has a minimum remuneration threshold of €30,000 per annum. A refusal to grant an employment permit does not preclude an applicant for submitting another application. Such an application should comply with all of the legislative requirements for the particular employment permit type.

Brexit Issues

Ceisteanna (279, 281)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

279. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which she remains satisfied with infrastructure under the remit of her Department in the case of a no-deal Brexit or hard-Brexit scenario; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4034/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

281. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the funding allocated to her Department for Brexit-related matters for a hard Brexit or no-deal scenario; the way in which this funding will be spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4037/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 281 together.

Since the June 2016 decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, my Department and its agencies have worked to put a wide range of Brexit supports in place for businesses. The package of Brexit supports encompasses finance, advisory and awareness. My Department's focus is on helping firms to improve their competitiveness and innovation, and to diversify markets.

My Department and its agencies are working to provide extensive supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. The suite of enterprise and finance supports now in place covers the spectrum of potential Brexit impacts and aims to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming weeks.

I made Brexit one of my top priorities in the allocations of funding for 2019 in my Department, and I have allocated further funding to Brexit-related support from agencies and offices of my Department as part of Budget 2019. I have allocated an additional €5 million capital funding to the Local Enterprise Offices, an increase of 22% for 2019, and a further €1 million allocated to InterTradeIreland to help SMEs prepare for the particular North-South challenges associated with Brexit. I have allocated an additional €3 million to Enterprise Ireland and €2 million to IDA Ireland to expand their global footprints and drive the diversification of trade and investment. Additional resources have also been distributed across Science Foundation Ireland, the Health and Safety Authority and the NSAI for 2019 to support enterprises adjust to the new relationships with the UK and pursue new opportunities.

InterTradeIreland, ITI, works with SMEs on an all-Ireland basis and is particularly well-placed, given its remit to develop cross-border trade, to help SMEs prepare for the particular North-South challenges associated with Brexit.

The ITI Brexit Advisory Service provides a focal point for SMEs working to navigate any changes in cross-border trading relationships arising as a result of Brexit. As part of the service, ITI has organised a series of awareness events focused on improving knowledge of customs processes and procedures and identifying actions that can be taken in areas such as logistics and supply chain management. To date, more than 4,000 SMEs have directly engaged with the Brexit Advisory Service.

ITI also offers a Brexit Start to Plan voucher scheme, which enables businesses to get professional advice on how best to plan and prepare for the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. This support helps businesses obtain advice on specific areas such as tariffs, currency management, regulatory and customs issues and movement of labour, goods and services. ITI vouchers are worth up to €2,250 (inclusive of VAT) each. Companies are finding the vouchers very useful and there has been strong demand which can be attributed to the media campaign conducted by ITI across a range of platforms. As of its most recent report and the end of November 2018, 811 businesses have applied for a Brexit Start to Plan voucher, of which 657 have been approved.

The Local Enterprise Offices, LEOs, in the Border Regions are the first-stop-shop for seeking guidance and support on starting or growing a business. The LEOs have organised various events to enable companies to learn about the potential impacts and opportunities of Brexit. In addition, 402 LEO clients have received one-to-one mentoring solely focused on Brexit.

The LEOs engage in a number of other schemes to help companies prepare for Brexit. Technical Assistance Grants for Micro Export are offered as an incentive for LEO clients to explore and develop new market opportunities. Also, additional capital funding of €5 million was announced in Budget 2019 for local enterprise development.

In addition, the six LEOs in the Border region are working together with their Northern Ireland counterparts under the EU Co-Innovate Programme. The aim of Co-Innovate is to give SMEs from the manufacturing and tradable services sectors in the eligible regions the tools and tailored support to help them to innovate, differentiate and compete successfully.

The €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme provides relatively short term working capital, one to three years, to eligible businesses with up to 499 employees to help them innovate, change or adapt to mitigate their Brexit challenges. The scheme is open to eligible businesses from all regions of the country, including those in the Border counties. Businesses can confirm their eligibility with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, and if deemed eligible, can apply to one of the participating finance providers for a loan under the scheme.

The scheme was launched in March 2018 and, as at close of business on 18 January, there have been 376 eligibility applications received, of which 337 eligibility applications have been approved and 65 loans progressed to sanction at Bank level to a value of €14.9 million. Brexit impacted exporters account for almost 50% of approvals, while manufacturing accounts for 38% of approvals and 20% of approved applications relate to investments in new products or markets.

The Future Growth Loan Scheme was announced in Budget 2019. The scheme will provide a longer-term facility, eight to ten years, of up to €300 million to support strategic capital investment for a post-Brexit environment by business at competitive rates. This is jointly funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Loans of €50,000 to €3 million will be available, with loans of under €500,000 being provided on an unsecured basis. The scheme will be available to eligible Irish businesses, including those in the primary agriculture and seafood sectors, to support strategic, long-term investment in a post-Brexit environment. The SBCI has issued an, “Open Call”, for financial institutions to apply by 11 February 2019 for designation as a lending partner under the Scheme. It is expected that this Scheme will be operational in early 2019.

Enterprise Ireland has established a, "Prepare for Brexit", online portal and communications campaign, as well as an online, “Brexit SME Scorecard”, to help Irish businesses self-asses their exposure to Brexit and a, “Be Prepared Grant”, to support SME clients in planning to mitigate risks arising from Brexit. It has also launched a new Eurozone Strategy to help SMEs broaden their export footprint beyond the UK.

Over 3,700 businesses have used Enterprise Ireland’s Brexit Scorecard to date, and 85% of EI client firms are now taking actions. EI is working closely with regionally-important larger companies in exposed sectors such as food to support strategic investments to build resilience – EI invested €74 million in these businesses in 2018. EI has also hosted 11 Brexit Advisory Clinics.

In addition, eligible EI client companies can respond to the threats and opportunities posed by Brexit by accessing the Agile Innovation Fund. This fund supports clients to quickly develop innovations and respond to opportunities and threats in new and existing markets. The new Fund allows companies to access up to 50% in support of innovation projects with a total cost of up to €300,000. A recent EI survey showed that EI clients that have availed of Innovation Capability, Funding and Collaboration support saw a 67% increase in global sales.

EI also recently launched a new Customs Insights Online course, which is a new online training support to help all businesses understand how customs work including the documentation and process required to operate and succeed post-Brexit. The Customs Insights course explains in clear and simple terms the main customs rules and included the key actions companies can take to prepare for customs after Brexit and the options from Revenue that are available to make the customs process more efficient. This will be available for any company to use whether they are importers or exporters and also whether they are agency clients or not.

The majority of the above schemes are open to all SMEs, not just agency clients. Enterprise Ireland will continue to engage with its clients to ensure they have the supports required to prepare for any kind of Brexit.

In my meeting with Commissioner Vestager on 24 January 2019, we discussed the severe challenges that Irish businesses, especially SMEs, will face when the UK leaves the European Union and the need for appropriate and timely State supports. We agreed that Irish officials will continue to work closely with the Commissioner’s team in addressing any State aid issues that may arise to ensure a rapid and appropriate response as the ultimate shape of Brexit and its firm-level implications become known. The Commissioner emphasised that the Commission stands ready to act urgently in mitigation against the impacts of Brexit on Irish firms.

In addition, in November 2017, the Commission approved a Rescue and Restructuring Scheme for Ireland for Undertakings in Difficulty. Under the scheme, an undertaking is considered to be in difficulty when, without intervention by the State, it will almost certainly be condemned to going out of business in the short or medium term.

This scheme was put in place as it was considered prudent to have contingency measures in place so that my Department can respond swiftly to changing circumstances as necessary. In May 2018, this scheme was extended to include Temporary Restructuring support for those enterprises with acute liquidity needs. To date, no enterprise has sought rescue and restructuring aid for temporary restructuring support.

With Brexit around the corner, I want businesses, particularly those around the Border counties, to know my Department and agencies are here to help. My Department and its agencies are providing extensive supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses are prepared for any Brexit scenario.

Brexit Supports

Ceisteanna (280)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

280. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the uptake of the various schemes by businesses to prepare for Brexit, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4035/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department and its agencies are working to provide extensive supports, schemes and advice to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. These measures aim to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming weeks.

In addition to the direct supports outlined in the following table, my Department and I have been very active in the, "Getting Ireland Brexit Ready", public information campaign. This campaign includes workshop events throughout the country aimed primarily at business and people most impacted by Brexit. Officials from my Department and agencies also participated in the Getting Ireland Brexit Ready events, which included Enterprise Ireland, IDA, the LEOs, NSAI and the HSA.

Further to the table, increased funding has been allocated to Brexit-related support from my Department and its agencies as part of Budget 2019. An additional €5 million capital funding has been allocated to the Local Enterprise Offices, an increase of 22%, and a further €1 million allocated to IntertradeIreland to help SMEs prepare for the particular North-South challenges associated with Brexit. Additional resources have also been distributed across Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the Health and Safety Authority.

The Future Growth Loan Scheme was announced in Budget 2019. This scheme is jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Loans of €50,000 to €3 million, with terms of eight to ten years, will be available, with loans of under €500,000 being provided on an unsecured basis. The scheme will be available to eligible Irish businesses, including those in the primary agriculture and seafood sectors, to support strategic, long-term investment in a post-Brexit environment. The SBCI has issued an, “Open Call”, for financial institutions to apply by 11 February 2019 for designation as a lending partner under the Scheme. It is expected that this Scheme will be operational in early 2019.

While many businesses have taken preparedness actions, a number have yet to do so. It is vital that businesses prepare themselves for Brexit impacts and take actions to mitigate. Firms that do business with the UK, whether buying goods or exporting products, should examine their supply chains to determine their vulnerabilities and take appropriate action.

Scheme

Uptake (18.01)

Brexit Loan Scheme

375 applications received, 336 approved by SBCI, 65 Loans progressed to sanction at bank level to a value of €14.94 million.

Enterprise Ireland Brexit Scorecard - online platform for Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit

3,902 Brexit Scorecards have been completed. 681 LEO clients have completed the scorecard.

Enterprise Ireland Be Prepared Grant

155 Be Prepared Grants have been approved

Enterprise Ireland Market Discovery Fund - A support to EI clients to research new markets

209 projects have been approved under this initiative

Enterprise Ireland Agile Innovation Fund - Gives rapid fast-track access to innovation funding

39 Agile Innovation projects have been approved

Enterprise Ireland Brexit Advisory Clinics

11 Brexit Advisory Clinics have been run with approx. 915 in attendance

Enterprise Ireland Brexit “Act On Programme” – A support funding the engagement of a consultant to devise report with recommendations to help clients address weaknesses and improve resilience

165 “Act on” Plans have been completed

Enterprise Ireland Strategic Consultancy Grant – A grant to assist EI clients to hire a strategic consultant for a set period

1,049 Strategic Consultancy Grants have been approved

Enterprise Ireland Brexit-exposed companies that have completed sustainable growth plans

706

Local Enterprise Office Technical Assistance Grant for Micro Export - an incentive for LEO clients to explore and develop new market opportunities

419 clients were approved assistance under the Technical Assistance Grant

Local Enterprise Office LEAN for Micro - The LEO Lean4Micro offer was developed in collaboration between the EI Lean department and the LEOs to tailor the EI Lean offer for LEO micro enterprise clients

221 LEO clients have participated in the programme

Local Enterprise Office Mentoring

471 mentoring participants solely focused on Brexit

Local Enterprise Office Brexit Seminars/Events

3,996 Participants at the Brexit Information events

InterTradeIreland Brexit Advisory Service

4,175 SMEs have directly engaged with the Brexit Advisory Service in 2018

InterTradeIreland Brexit Start to Plan Vouchers

There have been 811 applications, with 657 approved and 25 still pending assessment.

Pilot Online Retail Scheme administered by Enterprise Ireland

Applications are currently being assessed by Enterprise Ireland and the successful applicants will be announced in Q1 2019. There will also be a second call in 2019

Question No. 281 answered with Question No. 279.

Project Ireland 2040

Ceisteanna (282)

Declan Breathnach

Ceist:

282. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if e-hubs will be provided for entrepreneurship and start-ups in each county in view of her goal under Project Ireland 2040; the funding allocated to each local authority and local enterprise office, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4064/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Over the next 20 years, advances in digital technologies will transform the enterprise potential across the country, particularly in our smaller towns and rural areas. To maximise those opportunities, co-working spaces (or “eHubs”), are envisaged under Project Ireland 2040 as part of an ongoing suite of measures to encourage greater levels of collaboration between entrepreneurs in accessing available supports and assistance in helping to make their businesses grow.

These future eHubs will also play an important role in facilitating remote working which offers many benefits to businesses and to individuals and which contributes to balanced regional employment.

With regard to developing these eHubs, there are already cross-governmental efforts encouraging a bottom-up approach to strengthening the regions, notably through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, Urban Regeneration and Development Fund and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. In that regard, I recently announced allocations under the second call of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund. A number of the projects that have been offered funding are already prototype digital Hubs and should develop throughout the duration of their project into sustainable eHubs in their own right.

My Department is committed to working with companies of all sizes and across all sectors to develop and achieve their potential including in developing strong digital resources and skills in order to remain competitive.

Enterprise Data

Ceisteanna (283)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

283. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the investment made in County Louth and in the old Drogheda borough region, respectively, by agencies (details supplied) in each of the years 2008 to 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3886/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

This Government is fully committed to the creation of high-quality and sustainable employment across Ireland, including in County Louth. There are now 3,903 people employed in IDA client companies in Louth with 139 net new jobs added in 2018. The new National Development Plan recognises the importance of Dundalk and Drogheda as key centres in the context of the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor. Both towns have a strong track record in attracting multinational companies due to the quality of the local infrastructure as well as their proximity to Dublin's transport hubs. I am therefore confident that we will be able to sustain and grow investment levels in County Louth, including in Drogheda.

Enterprise Ireland, EI, supported companies employed 215,207 people throughout Ireland in 2018. EI is actively working with companies in Louth to drive competitiveness, innovation and market diversification. Payments to support these activities in each of the years detailed are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Enterprise Ireland Payments to Client Companies in Louth 2008-2018

County

Louth

2018

€3,079,928

2017

€4,063,517

2016

€5,569,603

2015

€4,396,281

2014

€1,603,265

2013

€2,153,930

2012

€2,561,842

2011

€2,235,346

2010

€3,901,224

2009

€5,266,959

2008

€1,915,865

Grand Total

€36,747,760

Note: (Payments Report excludes infrastructural clients, recipients of Employment Subsidy Schemes I and II, Community Enterprise Centres and Shannon Free Zone transfer companies, and Innovation Partnerships & Innovation Vouchers). EI does not have the data broken down by Old Drogheda Borough region.

LEO Louth is the, "first-stop-shop", for anyone wishing to start a business in the area. The LEOs were established on 15 April 2014 on foot of the County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Act 2014. Therefore, data for LEO Louth is only available from 2014 onwards. In addition, it should be noted that LEO investment figures for 2018 will not be available until a survey of LEO clients is completed in Q1 2019.

Table 2: LEO Louth Payments to Client Companies in Louth 2014-2017

County

Louth

2017

€209,493

2016

€227,426

2015

€195,023

2014

€225,203

Grand Total

€857,145

IDA Ireland is authorised by my Department to provide a range of financial supports to companies in the form of employment, capital, research and development, environmental and training grants. These grants remain an important means of encouraging firms to invest in Ireland, particularly in regional locations.

Information pertaining to these grants is collated on a county-by-county basis. Data on grants to specific locations and towns is therefore unavailable.

The following table provides a breakdown of grants paid by IDA Ireland to its client companies in County Louth between 2008 and 2017. I am informed by the IDA that information on the total of grants paid to client companies in 2018 will be made available once they have been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. This audit should be completed by mid-2019.

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.

Table 3: IDA Ireland Payments to Client Companies in Louth 2008-2017

County

Louth

2017

€33,831

2016

€262,056

2015

€993,000

2014

€35,000

2013

€0

2012

€279,334

2011

€489,051

2010

€347,207

2009

€282,000

2008

€1,245,000

Grand Total

€3,966,479

Company Registration

Ceisteanna (284, 285)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

284. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will clarify the appeals process on rejection of an application (details supplied) from the Companies Registration Office. [4091/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

285. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the word Irish was rejected as part of a domain word when seeking to register a company through the Companies Registration Office (details supplied); the reason for rejection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4092/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.

Due to insufficient details supplied by the Deputy in relation to the company concerned, I am not in a position to provide the information sought. However, I can advise the Deputy that the registration of proposed company names is determined by the Companies Registration Office pursuant to the provisions of Sections 26 and 30 of the Companies Act 2014. Certain words prohibited by statute are not allowed to be used in company names. Some generic words are not sufficient to distinguish similar company names. In this regard, applications are considered on the basis of the similarity of the proposed company name and names by which companies in existence are already registered. Details of general company names criteria can be found in CRO Information Leaflet No. 1, which is available at: https://www.cro.ie/Publications/Publications/Information-Leaflets.

I am informed that it is the policy of the Registrar of Companies not to permit domain suffixes in company names. The word “Irish” is permitted in company names. However, the word “Irish” would not be considered to be sufficiently distinctive if the proposed company name was otherwise too similar to that of a company already on the register.

Should an applicant wish to appeal the refusal of a company name by the Companies Registration Office, he or she may appeal in writing to the Registrar of Companies. The Registrar is independent in the exercise of her statutory functions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in relation to the exercise of those functions.

Small and Medium Enterprises Data

Ceisteanna (286)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

286. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of patents successfully lodged by indigenous small and medium enterprises, SMEs, in each year since 2011; the number of copyrights taken out on software by indigenous SMEs in each year since 2011; the number of other intellectual property obtained by indigenous SMEs each year since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4240/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Patents Office is the national intellectual property office, under the auspices of my Department, that is responsible for the administration of intellectual property, IP, rights in Ireland. Its statutory functions are concerned with the granting of patents, the registration of trademarks and designs and the administration and maintenance of these IP rights.

There is no registration procedure for copyright works under Irish copyright law. Copyright protection is automatic and arises upon the creation of an original work. As copyright is not a registrable right, the Office has no function or role in relation to individuals or companies seeking to obtain copyright protection for software.

While a total of 1,266 patents have been granted since 2011, it is not possible to distinguish indigenous SMEs from other applicants on any of the IP registers maintained by the Patents Office, as this information is not kept or recorded by the Office.

The Deputy should also be aware that SMEs can apply for patent protection to the European Patent Office; for trademark and industrial design protection to the European Union Intellectual Property Office; and for patent, trademark and industrial design protection to the World Intellectual Property Organisation, but none of these organisations would record the level of detail the Deputy seeks.

Legislative Process

Ceisteanna (287)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

287. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the legislation, including heads of Bills, from her Department that has been sent to EU institutions before publication for the period of the Thirty-second Dáil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4242/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

During the period of the Thirty-second Dáil, my Department did not send any pieces of legislation, including heads of Bills, to EU institutions before their publication.

Consumer Protection

Ceisteanna (288)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

288. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the regulatory regime for the placement of children’s toys on the market here; her plans to update the standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4363/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Directive 2009/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the safety of toys, transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 14 of 2011, places the onus on economic operators – manufacturers, distributors, importers – to ensure that only safe toys are placed on the market. If economic operators become aware that products on the market present a potential hazard, they must take appropriate measures, up to and including recall of the items, to ensure that the risk is removed. Any action taken by an operator must be notified to the relevant Market Surveillance Authority; in Ireland this is the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC.

Where the CCPC finds unsafe toys on the Irish market, it will act to ensure economic operators remove the particular toy from the market until it is in compliance with the legislation. The CCPC is part of an EU-wide network (known as Safety Gate) that allows for the rapid exchange of information between national market surveillance authorities on dangerous products, including toys, found on the EU market.

Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of unsafe toys. As investigations and enforcement matters generally are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC, I, as the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation have no direct function in the matter.

Should the Deputy have any information in relation to unsafe toys on the Irish market, he should make contact with the CCPC directly to provide any relevant information on these matters.

In relation to standards, economic operators can demonstrate conformity with the safety requirements of Directive 2009/48/EC when they comply with certain voluntary European Union, EU, harmonised standards. EU standards are based on a consensus, which reflects the economic and social interests of 34 European Committee for Standardisation, CEN, Member countries channeled through their National Standardization Organizations (in Ireland, this is the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI). CEN, in Technical Committee 52, develops the standards concerned with toy safety. The evolution of the relevant standards has taken into account new types of toys and technologies and thereby potential new hazards.

Work Permits Applications

Ceisteanna (289)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

289. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when a work permit application by a company (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4397/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Employment Permits section of my Department inform me that an application for a General Employment Permit for the person concerned was received on 12 December 2018.

It is currently taking six weeks to process applications for trusted partners and 15 weeks for standard applications. My Department is taking a number of steps to improve these processing times.

Ireland operates a managed, vacancy-led employment permit scheme with an occupation list system for in-demand occupations and those occupations where the evidence suggests that there is a ready source of labour available domestically or across the EEA. These lists of highly skilled and ineligible occupations are reviewed twice yearly in order to ensure that the employment permits scheme remains responsive to changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Ceisteanna (290)

John Brassil

Ceist:

290. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the provisions that exist for the cultivation of cannabis plants for use in medicinal products here; if no provisions are in place, his plans for such legislation in view of the increase in prescribing and usage of medicinal cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3758/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under current legislation - the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2016, and the regulations made thereunder- it is an offence to cultivate, import, export, produce, supply and possess cannabis except in accordance with a Ministerial licence. A related piece of Irish legislation, the Misuse of Drugs (Designation) Order 2017, limits the purposes for which such licences for cannabis can be issued, for example for forensic analysis or research - including research involving the cultivation of cannabis for use in approved clinical trials.

Furthermore, policy to date has not permitted the cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes and no licences have been issued for this activity.

The Department's priority at this time is the sourcing of suitable quality approved, affordable, finished cannabis products for medical purposes, i.e. those products that have been made in a GMP certified facility or equivalent internationally recognised quality standards.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (291)

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

291. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) waiting more than two years will be assessed for cataract surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3901/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive, HSE, is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (292)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

292. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3711/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive, HSE, is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (293)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

293. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a matter regarding staffing at a factory (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3714/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities, which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity; and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive, HSE, for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospitals Data

Ceisteanna (294)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

294. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of cataract surgeries cancelled nationally by hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3720/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

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