Written Answers Nos. 171-189
171. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available for small businesses that may not survive if rent arrears are demanded to be paid by landlords post Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16354/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the difficulties that the necessary ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are putting on businesses right across the country. It is a difficult time for Business owners, employees and their families. With this in mind the Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.
I would urge business owners to seek the supports outlined above if they have not already done so. I would also suggest that small business owners contact their Local Enterprise Office who can signpost them and advise them of supports that may be available for their business.
Budget 2021 provided a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors. Details of the wide range of supports available are on my Department’s website.
172. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the agreement reached by the Spanish Government to trial a four-day working week under a small pilot project; if his Department is examining the matter and the possibility of introducing a similar pilot project here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16443/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and I understand the importance of flexible working, which can encompass a wide variety of practices, including part-time, job sharing, remote working and compressed hours. Such solutions allow for tangible benefits for employees including improving their work/life balance. Flexible working also assists in the development of an inclusive society.
My Department has not conducted research on the impact of moving to a four-day week, and it is not something I am currently considering. There is a large volume of work already underway on the topic of flexible working in my Department and across other Government departments. This was reflected in Pillar 4 of Future Jobs Ireland, which included a number of key deliverables with the objective of fostering participation in the labour force through flexible working solutions.
On 15th January 2021, Ireland’s first National Remote Work Strategy to make remote working a permanent option for life after the pandemic was published. The Strategy is built on three fundamental pillars:
1. Create a Conducive Environment
2. Develop and Leverage Remote Work Infrastructure
3. Build a Remote Work Policy and Guidance Framework
In the context of Pillar 1, I committed to legislate to provide employees with the right to request remote work. To inform this new legislation I am launching a 5 week public consultation very shortly and I encourage employers and employees alike to engage with this consultation and make their views known.
The forthcoming Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect will apply to all types of employment. I asked the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC to develop this Code as it will help employees, no matter what their job is, to strike a better work-life balance and switch off from work outside of their normal working hours. Because the Code is flexible, employees will have more options to work outside of traditional hours. It also reflects the fact that many employees are part of a global network, requiring contact with colleagues around the world.
173. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will re-establish the cooperative development unit as a worker co-operative development unit in order to coordinate the existing worker cooperative network and to provide capital and technical assistance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16444/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is preparing a general scheme of a Co-operative Societies Bill. This Bill will consolidate and modernise the existing Industrial and Provident Societies legislation and provide an effective and robust legislative framework for the diverse range of organisations using the co-operative model in Ireland, including worker co-operatives. The Bill will support the co-operative ethos and introduce new / expanded provisions across a range of areas relating to registration; corporate governance; financial reporting; powers of the Registrar of Friendly Societies etc. This will provide co-operatives with a modern, fit for purpose legislative basis on a par with other legal structures such as companies.
My Department does not discriminate nor favour one particular type of business model over another. As a consequence, there is no specific assistance dedicated to the co-operative model and there are no plans to re-establish the co-operative development unit. The enterprise agencies of my Department are available to provide advice, assistance, funding, as appropriate, to eligible enterprises and do not discriminate between co-operatives and other legal forms.
174. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the IDA seeking to establish links with businesses in Israel; if he will take steps to ensure that there is no cooperation between Ireland and the Israeli state, given its treatment and repression of the Palestinian people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16445/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland’s overseas teams and office network are vital to support the agency’s efforts in winning new Foreign Direct Investment across the world. From time-to-time IDA seeks to expand its global network of offices and teams. Many firms are looking to expand into new markets and Ireland is a proven location for global companies to grow and serve their customer base in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
IDA Ireland has decided to tender for a part-time Israel based Business Development Consultant. This person will represent IDA to support its efforts to win new investment. This is a model used across many territories. The Business Development Consultant will be expected to identify Israeli-headquartered target companies with potential for investing in Ireland, engage with senior decision-makers in these companies and present Ireland’s value proposition as an investment location.
IDA Ireland has advised my Department that as part of its normal evaluation and due diligence process across all geographies, it considers many factors including societal and reputational risk, that could be associated with investment activities prior to accepting a client into its portfolio.
As an Agency of my Department, I expect IDA Ireland to align with Ireland's well known position on the illegality of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, which informs our engagement with the State of Israel across a range of bilateral issues, including trade. Ireland distinguishes between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.
The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, are wholly opposed to Israeli settlements, which are contrary to international law, and are damaging to the prospects of peace.
UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted on 23 December 2016, calls on all States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. This Resolution reflected the position already held by Ireland, the EU and the UN for many years.
Ireland consistently raises human rights issues in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory at the highest international levels, including most recently at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Ireland remains steadfast in its support for a comprehensive two state solution which protects the future of both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.
175. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether the click and collect service is having a disproportionately negative effect on smaller family run retailers; if he will consider reversing the ban on non-essential retailers operating a click and collect or call and collect service in order to help these businesses survive the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16459/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand this is an incredibly difficult time for families and businesses across the country and I would like to thank them for their efforts at this difficult time. By each of us following the spirit of the rules and working together we can hopefully ease some restrictions soon.
S.I. No. 701 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 and S.I. No. 4 of 2021 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/) clearly sets out the temporary restrictions under Level 5. A list of essential services can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/ and the list of essential retail outlets at Level 5 can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/60ecc-essential-retail-outlets-for-level-5/
Under Level 5, only essential retail outlets will remain open and all measures in Level 5 will stay in place until at least April 5 2021. Further information can be found on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/
COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead which can be found on https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/, sets out the approach to the next phase, which is subject to ongoing review and taking into account the evolving epidemiological situation. All decisions taken by Government on the timing of any lifting of restrictions are informed by the public health advice at the time.
Level 5 does not restrict people from purchasing any product, it does however restrict people from physically going into non-essential stores, including clothes stores. This is to stop people making unnecessary journeys, congregating and browsing for non-essential goods, to limit the spread of the virus.
Under the current temporary restrictions while click and collect of non-essential retail items is no longer permitted, click or phone and delivery can continue.
Retailers can and have made arrangements, on compassionate grounds, for individual customers to urgently purchase a non-essential item in store. This is only in exceptional circumstances where it is not possible to plan ahead and avail of remote ordering services such as in emergencies, e.g., admission to hospital.
We are asking retailers to fully get behind the spirit of the regulations. In particular, we are asking retailers with mixed retail offering which have discrete spaces for essential and non-essential retail to make arrangements for the separation of relevant areas.
An Garda Síochána are engaging with retailers and enforcing the regulations where necessary.
We are asking retailers to operate staggered opening and closing hours, as well as facilitating starting and finishing hours, in order to minimise the impact on public transport and to continue to provide dedicated hours for vulnerable customers.
We are also asking retailers to exercise their best judgement and common sense on a case by case basis, to ensure those requiring urgent access to a non-essential item are accommodated.
My colleague Minister English has met regularly with Retail Forum members and representatives from the retail, grocery and distribution sector to continuously assess adherence to the public health restrictions.
The Government has introduced a wide range of supports to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and they can be found on my Department’s website https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
It is important to monitor gov.ie for the latest information, public health advice and guidelines from Government in relation to COVID-19.
176. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the monthly revenues the Companies Registration Office received in December 2020 and January, February and to date in March 2021 from company documents purchased; and the revenues generated from company documents from the corresponding months in December 2019 and January, February and March 2020. [16464/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Registrar of Companies is a statutory role and the Registrar has administrative independence in the exercise of this function. I am informed by the Registrar that final figures are not yet available for February and March 2021. The revenues (€) received from company documents purchased for the other months requested are set out in the following table.
|
December 2019 |
December 2020 |
|
241,730.00 |
237,698.00 |
|
January 2020 |
January 2021 |
|
241,472.50 |
213,746.50 |
|
February 2020 |
|
|
241,068.50 |
|
|
March 2020 |
|
|
240,725.00 |
177. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount the Companies Registration Office has paid to suppliers for its new information technology platform introduced on 16 December 2020; the number of complaints the office has received regarding the introduction of the new platform; and the nature of those complaints. [16465/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Registrar of Companies is a statutory role and the Registrar has administrative independence in the exercise of this function.
I am informed by the Registrar that the amount paid to suppliers for the CRO digital Transformation project is €2,930,100, including VAT.
I understand that the CRO receives a large volume of contacts and queries through a central helpline and also directly to individual business units. These queries to the central helpline cover topics including general or routine matters, issues with filing deadlines and extensions granted, late filing fees, waiting times and backlogs in relation to the helpline and a variety of issues relating to the new system while queries to the individual business units relate to issues handled by those particular units.
The CRO does not separately categorise IT related issues and is not in a position to provide specific details on these. However, I understand that IT related issues raised include those relating to processing speed and the potential knock-on effect on the then filing deadline of 26th February 2021; changes in the sequence of actions when filing; access issues to the new system and resetting of passwords; removal of some previous features that were no longer necessary; changes to functionality regarding the company watch list.
In relation to formal complaints, dealt with through the CRO complaint handling process, I understand that the number of such complaints regarding the introduction of the new system is 27 and that these primarily relate to issues concerning user unfamiliarity with the new system. As an example, some of the complaints relate to functions which are now “context sensitive” in the new system and only available in particular circumstances, while others relate to previous functions that were not considered necessary and are no longer available.
I am assured by the Registrar that the aforementioned issues relating to the IT system have been addressed. A small number of issues, not impacting on filing, remain and are being resolved on a prioritised basis.
178. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the ongoing challenges in introducing the new information technology platform of the Companies Registration Office; and if the office has withheld payments to suppliers due to the ongoing difficulties. [16466/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Registrar of Companies is a statutory role and the Registrar has administrative independence in the exercise of this function.
I am assured by the Registrar that the difficulties relating to the new IT system have now been addressed with the exception of a small number of issues which are being resolved on a prioritised basis. These include occasional issues arising for users who do not have customer accounts and are ordering documents on a once off basis and intermittent issues with the formatting of addresses which migrated from the old database.
I understand that the CRO has not withheld any payments to the developers of the system. The contract in place with developers includes, at no additional cost, any work required to resolve defects in development.
179. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Covid-19 supports and funds paid out per sector in 2020. [16538/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra180. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Covid-19 supports and funds paid out per sector to date in 2021. [16539/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.
I am acutely aware of the difficulties that these necessary ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are putting on all businesses right across the country. Business owners are making sacrifices in order to protect their communities.
As you are aware, the Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.
You will also know that Budget 2021 provided a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors.
Sectoral breakdown of funding is not available but the list of supports and funding allocation is available on my Department's website. Please see the following links for 2020 and 2021:DETE-Supports-Table-31-December-2020.pdf (enterprise.gov.ie) COVID-19 and Brexit Business Supports 2021 - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie)
It should be noted that I along with my Government colleagues are keeping all Government business schemes under review.
181. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to instances of litigation or the threat of litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts in each of the years 2017 to 2020. [16590/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have not been any instances of litigation or the threat of litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts by my Department during the period in question.
182. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that have been introduced for small businesses, as in the case of a business (details supplied) that has no choice but to offer redundancy packages to employees, given the business will struggle to reopen. [16690/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the difficulties that the necessary ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are putting on businesses. With that in mind, the Government has put in place an unprecedented package to help businesses, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme, low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.
I also recently announced the new Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID, details of which are available on www.enterprise.gov.ie. The closing date for Local Authorities to receive applications for this scheme is 21st April 2021.
If an employer must make an employee redundant, it is the responsibility of the employer to pay statutory redundancy to its eligible employees. However, in situations where an employer cannot sustain the cost of redundancy payments due to financial difficulties, the State may provide a safety net for both employers and employees by making the statutory redundancy payment to eligible employees on behalf of the employer.
When such a redundancy payment is made from the Social Insurance Fund, a debt is raised against the employer. The Department of Social Protection engages directly with the employer to ascertain their financial situation and their capacity to repay the debt. Where appropriate, an agreed repayment plan can be put in place to minimise financial hardship. For example, the debt can be recovered by way of instalments over a period of time.
The redundancy rebate scheme was abolished in 2013 as it was not deemed a targeted use of resources. In contrast, the Redundancy Payments Scheme as it now operates benefits employees whose employers are unable to make statutory redundancy payments. The scheme considers both an employer’s ability to pay and that the Social Insurance Fund can be reimbursed in the future, through debt repayment if an employer’s financial position improves. This is a more targeted use of funds.
183. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports available to private coach and bus operators who do not have a premises and do not pay rates to their local council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16711/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am keenly aware that businesses are continuing to make massive sacrifices to protect their communities. With this in mind the Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates. Details of the wide range of supports available are on my Department’s website: Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).
At an early stage of this crisis, it became apparent that the impacts on economic activity were going to remain with us for much longer than originally anticipated. It also became clear that many businesses were incurring costs such as rent, rates, insurances, maintenance, security and other utilities, on an ongoing basis without the ability to generate the revenues required to meet these costs. Most of these costs are associated with the running costs of a premises, while for businesses without a fixed premises, fixed costs will likely be lower as a proportion of their total expenses.
I acknowledge that many businesses who do not trade from a commercial premises have been severely impacted and, for those individuals and businesses, Government has already moved to provide income supports in the form of the PUP and EWSS which are payable regardless of sector and are available to employees, sole traders and proprietary directors.
Where gaps have been identified, Government has moved quickly to fill those gaps and to ensure that nobody is left behind. Self-employed individuals can now earn up to €960 over an 8-week period and still remain eligible for the PUP. The Enterprise Support Grant, introduced by my colleague the Minister for Social Protection was a one-off grant introduced to reimburse certain non-rate paying businesses who had closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for re-opening costs up to a maximum of €1,000.
In the 2021 Budget, the Government allocated significant additional resources to Departments to provide help to different sectors. I would highlight the €395m provided to the Department of Transport and the €222m allocated to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
These additional monies will go towards helping businesses, including self-employed and those that are not rate paying businesses, such as through the €30m for private bus operators and the €55m for a focused business scheme for strategic tourism businesses.
The Government is very much open to proposals as to how we can help further but the Government schemes are generally designed to help meet fixed costs that cannot be avoided and it is not possible to provide compensation for loss of personal income or profits.
I and my colleagues across Government will continue to keep the range of measures under review with the goal of setting our country towards economic recovery.
184. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports available for microbusinesses that do not pay rates to their local council but still have fixed costs to meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16778/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enterprise Offices were created as a “first-stop-shop” for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports such as training and mentoring to those wishing to start or grow their own business.
The LEOs offer direct grant aid to microenterprises, up to 10 employees, in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector which, over time, have the potential to develop into strong export entities. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the LEOs can provide financial assistance within four main categories, following the LEO Lifecycle of Pre-Start, Start and Grow as follows:
- Feasibility Grants (investigating the potential of a business idea)
- Priming Grants (to part-fund a start-up)
- Business Development grants for existing businesses that want to expand.
- Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters (as businesses begin exploring foreign markets)
The Trading Online Voucher Scheme offers financial assistance in the form of a Voucher of up to €2,500 in order to procure expert consultancy advice on trading on-line including website management and is delivered along with training and advice to help business trade online.
The issue of rates compliance or rates arrears has no connection to, or bearing on, the awarding or drawing down of grant aid from a LEO.
The Enterprise Support Grant, administered through the Department of Social Protection, assist’s self-employed recipients who are exiting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to re-start their business. The grant will be payable to self-employed micro enterprises which employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million and are not eligible for supports from other similar business reopening grants.
In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of supports for firms of all sizes. These supports are designed to build confidence, to further assist businesses in terms of the management of their companies and to allow them to begin looking to the future and start charting a path forward.
The Local Enterprise Offices will continue to adapt their supports to deal with the changing external environment ensuring that they are robust in their offerings to business in tackling existing and emerging economic challenges for new enterprises.
185. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor; the way they will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16799/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra186. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the proposed timeline of the implementation of the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16800/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra187. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the benefits the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor will bring to businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16801/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 185 to 187, inclusive, together.
The Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor initiative is a collaborative project led by a network involving eight local authorities, North and South of the border, Dublin City University and Ulster University. I was pleased to have had the opportunity to take part in the launch of this initiative on 24 March along with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
While not directly engaged, the Government is supportive of this initiative, and determined to help unlock the opportunities this cooperation offers. We have set out in the National Planning Framework how we want to build on the strengths of the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor to capitalise on the clear economic potential of the region. That will involve effectively planning and developing new growth areas, investing in infrastructure and connectivity, and also protecting distinctive landscapes, green spaces and rural activities along the corridor.
Further, through the New Decade, New Approach Agreement, the Irish Government has made a strong commitment to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to achieve greater connectivity on the island. This will help us to unlock the full potential of the all-island economy, the protection of which has been a central objective of Government over the last number of years, in particular as we have faced the challenges arising from Brexit.
Over the last two decades, the developing all-island economy has benefited business in terms of improved scale and greater efficiencies. This has happened because of the improvements brought about by peace, stability and an invisible border for goods, services, labour and finance.
We are pleased that the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland means that trade in goods in either direction on the island of Ireland, and between Northern Ireland and the rest of the EU, can continue as before the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
The Protocol is designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, to protect vital all-island supply chains, and to ensure the integrity of the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it. This will allow us to take advantage of the opportunities for cooperation between the key economic centres on this island.
There are potential benefits too for Northern Ireland in its implementation, with access to Great Britain, but also to the EU market of 450 million people. This access is unique, vital for all-island supply chains, and offers opportunities for trade, jobs and investment.
Belfast and Dublin have a great deal to offer each other, and this work to strengthen business links between the two cities is very welcome. There is potential for the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor to develop a unique international brand as a cross-border region with a particularly strong offering for Foreign Direct Investment, bearing in mind the continued access for businesses throughout the corridor to the EU’s single market.
The Government will work with the Northern Ireland Executive, through the North South Ministerial Council and other structures, to work towards a shared approach that will allow us to realise the development opportunities available.
188. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government has considered working with IDA biopharma industries to set up a vaccine manufacturing plant here for generic or third party manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccines; and the level of engagement he has had with the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, NIBRT, and manufacturing companies based here (details supplied) for site manufacturing of same. [16820/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COVID-19 Products Scheme was developed jointly by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland under the European Commission Temporary Framework that allows additional aid to be granted by EU Member States to companies that are developing or producing medicinal products and equipment used in the fight against COVID-19. Grant-aid under the scheme is available to eligible companies and IDA Ireland’s global team are actively marketing the scheme across its life sciences clients and the related sub-supply base.
The manufacture of medicinal products, including vaccines, is a complex activity that involves multiple production stages and manufacturing processes, specialist expertise, specific technology solutions and associated infrastructure and a well-coordinated global supply chain. The bulk of global manufacturing to date has been in dedicated vaccine production sites. Modification of an existing facility to manufacture a new product such as a vaccine, would require significant time and capital expenditure and a comprehensive regulatory assessment and is therefore not practical to meet the demands of speed and scale that are required to tackle the pandemic.
IDA Ireland is actively engaged across its portfolio of life science companies in response to COVID-19. In respect to the production of vaccines, this includes a focused and ongoing mapping of the sector. However, the response from the sector is that there is currently no available capacity within these pharmaceutical plants to produce COVID-19 vaccines.
Last October I convened a series of short meetings with several of IDA Ireland’s biopharmaceutical client companies to hear about the crucial role they are playing in the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic and particularly on the work being done in Ireland to assist in the global efforts to combat COVID-19. I will continue to engage with pharmaceutical and life science companies so that I can reinforce our strong and ongoing commitment to this critical sector and to support innovative companies that are taking the lead in developing the new products and processes that will further develop the industry here in Ireland and to help us in the fight against COVID-19.
189. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if advice will be provided on a matter (details supplied) in relation to developing a pilot town programme for retail development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16905/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am keenly aware of the critical role that the retail sector plays, as the largest private sector employer in Ireland, in contributing to the Irish economy.
The past year has been a difficult year for all businesses, including retailers. The impact of both the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit have posed significant challenges for businesses and it is vital that businesses continue to develop their resilience in the face of these and future challenges.
Addressing town centre renewal has been a focus of the Retail Forum, which my colleague Minister Damien English chairs, and in 2017 it developed ‘A Framework for Town Centre Renewal’ setting out a practical step by step action plan for stakeholders to work collaboratively to enhance their local town or village.
As you are aware, the Programme for Government has committed in outline to the development of a Town Centre First (TCF) policy which is being led by the Department of Community and Rural Development and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
In accordance with this commitment, a TCF inter-Departmental Group (IDG) has now been established to consider the regeneration of our towns and villages. My Department is participating on the IDG and the Retail Forum has established a Retail and Town Centre First Initiative Working Group to explore ways in which the Retail Forum can support this initiative.
