Written Answers Nos. 141-160
141. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Taoiseach if any former Secretary Generals are seconded from his Department; the locations of same; the purpose of the secondment; the remuneration they are in receipt of from his Department or additional allocation to the agency or institution to which they are seconded arising from the secondment. [29272/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo former Secretaries General of my Department are seconded from my Department to another organisation.
142. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if his Department is in full compliance with the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/554 of 5 April 2022 on the recognition of qualifications for people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; if he will set out a list of the professional qualifications or professions recognised under the aegis of his Department; if Ukrainian qualifications are now recognised in each case; if electronic applications can be made for such recognition; the web address or email address to which such applications should be sent, or if physical application is necessary; and the exact procedures and address for such applications. [29974/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecruitment to my Department and to the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of my Department, is mainly undertaken through the Public Appointments Service both at graduate and non-graduate level.
Where necessary, the Public Appointments Service uses the NARIC foreign qualifications comparability service provided by Quality and Qualifications Ireland. The NARIC website has information in Ukrainian about its academic qualifications recognition service which can be accessed here: www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-03/naric-guide-ukraine.pdf.
143. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the amount that his Department has given to organisations (details supplied) in each of the past five years; if his Department has given money to organisations that have board members, directors, staff and employees that were members of former or existing paramilitary organisations; if so, the name of these organisations; the level of funding that has been given to each in each of the past five years; the steps that are taken to ensure that any organisation in receipt of funding from his Department has no toleration of sectarianism or community control; if all funds allocated by his Department are fully and openly competed for by way of a tender process or other transparent and fair competition; and if not, the recipients of funds that were not allocated by a tender process or open and transparent competition. [30516/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently does not administer grant funding schemes to community organisations and has not provided funding to the organisations referred to in the past five years.
Please note that when contracting services, my Department adheres to all necessary procurement requirements and Public Financial Procedures.
144. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the economic policy unit of his Department. [26543/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Economic Policy Unit is part of the Economic Division of my Department. The Unit supports me, as Taoiseach, in delivering sustainable and balanced economic growth and in advancing the Government’s economic priorities, including through supporting the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment, and related Senior Officials Groups, and the Cabinet Committee Sub-Group on Insurance Reform.
The Unit advises me on significant national economic policy areas and issues including inflation, public finances, pensions, labour market reform, enterprise policy, insurance, and sectors including manufacturing, pharma, retail and hospitality. The Unit also provides me with briefing and speech material on economic and related policy issues.
The Unit coordinates Ireland’s participation in the European Semester process, including preparing the National Reform Programme, and is also responsible for liaison with the Central Statistics Office.
145. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Well-Being Framework for Ireland overseen by his Department. [26544/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Well-being Framework is the result of a Programme for Government commitment to develop a set of well-being indices to create a well-rounded, holistic view of how Irish society is faring. The overarching vision for the Well-being Framework is enabling all our people to live fulfilled lives now and into the future. As other countries have done, work on this initiative is being progressed on a phased basis.
The first phase of this work culminated in a First Report on a Well-being Framework for Ireland, which was approved by Government and subsequently published in July 2021. It was informed by significant consultation with stakeholders, carried out by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).
Phase two of this work was rooted in wide-ranging consultation and research, and included the launch of a Well-being Portal, and the CSO’s Well-being Information Hub, providing comprehensive accessible information and an interactive dashboard of key indicators respectively. A resulting Second Report – Understanding Life in Ireland: A Well-being perspective – was published on 2 June.
This Second Report includes an updated Well-being Framework for Ireland, which has 11 dimensions of Well-being, and sustainability (via a tagging approach) and equality as cross-cutting themes. It also includes an approach for embedding this initiative over time into policymaking, including:
- Annual published high-level analysis of the well-being dashboard and incorporation into the Budget process;
- complementary continued embedding into expenditure and evaluation policy:
- Promotion of relevant research and policy developments; and
- clear supporting structures and opportunities for engagement.
A high level analysis of the dashboard supporting the Framework was also published 2 June - Analysis Report - ‘Understanding Life in Ireland: the Well-being Dashboard’. This analysis, which will be published annually, is intended to provide an overall picture of the country’s progress, using data that facilitates a longer-term view of quality of life, and will form an input to the Budget process.
This cross-government initiative will continue to be led by the Department of the Taoiseach, and jointly sponsored by the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform.
146. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, the agency under the aegis of his Department. [26545/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Economic and Social Council (NESC) advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland.
The NESC work programme, in 2022, includes five main areas:
- It will carry out a major piece of research and consultation on climate, biodiversity and how to achieve a just transition in agriculture;
- It will continue to help us deepen our understanding of how to deliver more affordable and sustainable housing systems drawing on international and national experience, including ongoing work in Ireland on cost rental;
- NESC is supporting work on Ireland’s well-being framework by examining how well-being frameworks are implemented in practice;
- NESC has undertaken an extensive programme of research and consultation to support the Shared Island Initiative. It produced a report on the Shared Island in Q1 2022, which made recommendations in five key areas: economy and infrastructural investment, social policy, climate and biodiversity, well-being frameworks and data coordination; and
- It will examine aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic to help identify strategic lessons about public governance and how government can be supported to arrange and manage its activity to deliver the best results for society.
The NESC Council published five reports in 2021 and one report in 2022:
- Shared Island: Shared Opportunity NESC Comprehensive Report (Council Report No.157)
- Grounding the Recovery in Sustainable Development: A Statement from the Council (NESC Report No. 152)
- Shared Island: Projects, Progress & Policy Scoping Paper (NESC Report No. 153)
- Digital Inclusion in Ireland: Connectivity, Devices & Skills (NESC Report No. 154)
- Ireland’s Well-Being Framework: Consultation Report (NESC Report No. 155)
- Collaboration on Climate and Biodiversity: Shared Island as a Catalyst for Renewed Ambition & Action (NESC Report No.156).
As reports are finalised in the relevant areas they are brought to Government for approval in advance of publication.
147. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the full extent of all meetings, events and gatherings that he attended during his attendance at the 2022 World Economic Forum in Davos. [30939/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI attended the World Economic Forum in Davos on 25 May, where I participated in a panel discussion on the theme of European Unity in a Disordered World, chaired by Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum. My fellow panellists included: Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Eduard Heger, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic; and Christine Lagarde, President, European Central Bank.
I attended a lunch hosted by the Washington Post and had the opportunity to meet and engage with a wide range of other leaders, including the Prime Minister of Moldova, and my colleagues at the European Council the Prime Ministers of Greece and Croatia and Chancellor of Austria, as well as a number of other European, Middle East, African and Latin American leaders.
I also met bilaterally with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, at his request, and with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba. The latter gave me his assessment of the evolving situation on the ground in the east of the country. I also met briefly with the Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko.
I had meetings with senior executives of a number of multi-national firms with operations in Ireland and attended and presented at a dinner event hosted by IDA Ireland with representatives from 30 multinational companies with significant operations or interest in Ireland.
148. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Reform Programme. [25829/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland submitted its National Reform Programme (NRP) for 2022 to the European Commission on 4 May. The NRP was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and published on gov.ie thereafter.
The NRP is an element of the European Semester, the annual cycle of economic and fiscal policy co-ordination among EU Member States. As part of the Semester, Ireland, along with all other Member States, is required to prepare and submit an NRP to the European Commission each year. No NRP was submitted in 2021 as the Semester process was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NRP provides an overview of economic reforms and policy actions under way in Ireland, including in response to country-specific recommendations received. In 2022 the NRP also fulfilled one of the two bi-annual reporting requirements on Member States under the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Development of the NRP was coordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach with input from relevant Departments and agencies. As part of this process stakeholders were invited to make submissions on the key challenges to be addressed in the Programme.
149. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Well-Being Framework for Ireland overseen by his Department. [25830/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Well-being Framework is the result of a Programme for Government commitment to develop a set of well-being indices to create a well-rounded, holistic view of how Irish society is faring. The overarching vision for the Well-being Framework is enabling all our people to live fulfilled lives now and into the future. As other countries have done, work on this initiative is being progressed on a phased basis.
The first phase of this work culminated in a First Report on a Well-being Framework for Ireland, which was approved by Government and subsequently published in July 2021. It was informed by significant consultation with stakeholders, carried out by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).
Phase two of this work was rooted in wide-ranging consultation and research, and included the launch of a Well-being Portal, and the CSO’s Well-being Information Hub, providing comprehensive accessible information and an interactive dashboard of key indicators respectively. A resulting Second Report – Understanding Life in Ireland: A Well-being perspective – was published on 2 June.
This Second Report includes an updated Well-being Framework for Ireland, which has 11 dimensions of Well-being, and sustainability (via a tagging approach) and equality as cross-cutting themes. It also includes an approach for embedding this initiative over time into policymaking, including:
- Annual published high-level analysis of the well-being dashboard and incorporation into the Budget process;
- complementary continued embedding into expenditure and evaluation policy:
- Promotion of relevant research and policy developments; and
- clear supporting structures and opportunities for engagement.
A high level analysis of the dashboard supporting the Framework was also published 2 June. - Analysis Report - ‘Understanding Life in Ireland: the Well-being Dashboard’. This analysis, which will be published annually, is intended to provide an overall picture of the country’s progress, using data that facilitates a longer-term view of quality of life, and will form an input to the Budget process.
This cross-government initiative will continue to be led by the Department of the Taoiseach, and jointly sponsored by the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform.
150. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach the number of investigations that are ongoing in his Department into leaks of documents to the media. [25831/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently two such investigations ongoing.
151. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the funding of the Workplace Relations Commission by 50% and 100%, respectively, in tabular form. [28836/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Workplace Relations Commission is funded under the Workplace Relations programme of my Vote. The Commission does not receive any 'capital' funding but it does receive 'current' funding to support its operations. A total of €15,931m has been provided to support the Commission in 2022. The table below outlines the estimated cost of increasing this allocation by 50% and 100%.
|
- |
REV Allocation 2022(€,000) |
50% Increase(€,000) |
100% Increase(€,000) |
|
Workplace Relations Commission |
15,931m |
23,896m |
31,862m |
152. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of establishing a new Irish enterprise agency to assist small and medium enterprises trading domestically. [28837/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs defined in the Programme for Government, this Government values the role of SMEs and micro-enterprises in our economy as creators of employment all over Ireland. The SME and Entrepreneurship Growth Plan provides a set of recommendations directly from the business community to the Government of long term strategic importance for SMEs and entrepreneurs.
Balancing our enterprise policy between FDI, export only businesses and indigenous firms, is an important policy consideration and one which was touched upon by the OECD in its 2019 report on entrepreneurship and SME policy in Ireland.
The OECD report refers to 250,000 active enterprises in Ireland of which 92% are microenterprises. Such a high number presents challenges in terms of the State’s engagement and compliance with the EU's state aid rules when engaging with enterprises.
In terms of provision of business and advisory assistance to indigenous local businesses there is already extensive help available, ranging from information/awareness, advisory, financial schemes, grants for regional enterprise development, delivered through a network of bodies with a wide reach into urban and rural localities, including Enterprise Ireland (EI), the 31 Local Enterprise offices (LEOs), InterTrade Ireland (ITI), and MicroFinance Ireland (MFI).
My Department administers schemes, such as the Online Retail Scheme, assisting small and medium enterprises trading domestically who were adversely affected by the Covid 19 pandemic to continue trading during the pandemic, work that would not normally come under the Enterprise Ireland remit.
Enterprise Ireland is also in a position to assist domestically focussed companies who wish to undertake Research and Development. There have been many non-EI client companies who availed of offers such as the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund and Innovation Vouchers in recent years and there is no barrier to a domestically trading company seeking such R&D support.
Indeed, Sector specific help is available from a range of other State agencies, such as Skillnet Ireland which works with all sectors, Bord Bia, Teagasc and Bord Iascaigh Mhara in the food, drink and seafood sector, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland in the hospitality and tourism sectors, and the Arts Council, Design & Crafts Council, and Screen Ireland in the creative sector.
Currently My Department officials are working on an Enterprise White paper which is examining all aspects of Enterprise Policy, including enterprises trading domestically.
153. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of establishing a workers’ co-operative development unit within his Department. [28838/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe co-operative model is one of a number of legal options for an enterprise structure available to those considering establishing themselves in business. My Department does not promote one structure over another and the enterprise supports developed by the Department and its agencies are available to co-operatives, including worker co-operatives, where they meet the criteria for such supports.
The statutory framework governing co-operatives is in need of comprehensive reform and my Department is finalising 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 include new/expanded provisions across a range of areas including registration; corporate governance; compliance; financial reporting; and powers of the Registrar of Friendly Societies. It will introduce measures to make it easier to set up co-operatives and facilitate their access to finance. This will provide co-operatives with a modern and fit for purpose legislative basis on a par with other legal structures such as companies.
It is premature at this stage to speculate on how co-operatives could most appropriately be supported into the future and if establishing a development unit catering for the needs of worker co-operatives would be necessary. In the context of enactment of the Co-operative Societies Bill, my Department intends to engage widely with stakeholders including the co-operative sector, professional advisers, development agencies, relevant Government departments etc. to raise awareness of the modernised legislative basis that will underpin co-operatives and provide an attractive alternative for entities wishing to operate under the co-operative ethos.
154. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing funding for Enterprise Ireland, by 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%, respectively, in tabular form. [28840/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding provision to Enterprise Ireland covers two subheads on the Department’s Vote, Subheads A7 and B4, which span general supports to indigenous firms and for research and development/innovation supports. My Department has allocated a total of €332.32 million in respect of these subheads in 2022. The cost of increases of 10%, 20%, 25% and 50% are set out in the table below
|
- |
REV Allocation 2022(€,000) |
10% Increase(€,000) |
20% Increase(€,000) |
25% Increase(€,000) |
50% Increase(€,000) |
|
Enterprise Ireland A7Jobs and Enterprise Development |
197,016 |
216,717 |
236,419 |
246,270 |
295,524 |
|
Enterprise Ireland B4Innovation |
135,304 |
148,834 |
162,364 |
169,130 |
202,956 |
|
Total |
332,320 |
365,551 |
398,783 |
415,400 |
498,480 |
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund is administered on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment by Enterprise Ireland. This fund has an allocation of €67m for 2022 which is not included in the 2022 total figure for Enterprise Ireland.
155. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing funding to InterTrade Ireland by 50% and 100%, in tabular form. [28843/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the funding provision to InterTradeIreland is provided on a North-South basis and annual allocations are finalised in conjunction with the Northern Administration. The allocation provided through the Department’s Vote is adjusted proportionally given the joint-funding arrangement in place.
A total of €11.586m was provided by my Department to InterTradeIreland in 2022. The costs to increase this by 50% and 100% are set out in the table below.
|
- |
REV Allocation 2022(€,000) |
50% Increase(€,000) |
100% Increase(€,000) |
|
InterTradeIreland A4 |
11,586m |
17,379m |
23,172m |
156. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing funding to IDA Ireland by 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%, respectively, in tabular form. [28844/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of €220.538m has been allocated by my Department to support the Industrial Development Authority for 2022. The table below sets out the estimated costings of increasing IDA funding by 10%, 20, 25% and 50% respectively.
|
- |
REV Allocation 2022(€,000) |
10% Increase(€,000) |
20% Increase(€,000) |
25% Increase(€,000) |
50% Increase(€,000) |
|
IDA Ireland A5 |
220,538m |
242,591m |
264,645m |
275,672m |
330,807m |
157. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of ensuring that all workers in the public and civil service are paid a living wage. [28845/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently there is no official living wage in Ireland. It is important that Ireland’s statutory National Minimum Wage and the Living Wage concept are not confused. The Living Wage has no legislative basis and is therefore not a statutory entitlement.
The National Minimum Wage is a statutory entitlement and has a legislative basis. The Low Pay Commission annually assesses the appropriate level of the National Minimum Wage.
In 2021, I asked the Low Pay Commission to examine the programme for Government commitment to progress a living wage over the lifetime of the Government and to make recommendations to me on how best we can achieve this commitment.
To assist its work, the Low Pay Commission commissioned a team of researchers in Maynooth University to conduct research on the living wage. This research was to consider the policy, social and economic implications of a move to a living wage and the process by which Ireland could achieve it.
The Low Pay Commission submitted its Living Wage Report to me on 31 March 2022, along with the accompanying research report from Maynooth University. I plan to publish the LPC report and recommendations today and will initiate a public consultation. Following the public consultation, a specific proposal will be brought to Government in the autumn on progressing to a statutory living wage. The implications for the public sector pay bill will be addressed in the context of that specific proposal.
While the living wage initiative is being considered, the Government will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission with regard to any future changes in the minimum wage. The Low Pay Commission is required to submit its annual recommendation on the National Minimum Wage to me on or before the third Tuesday in July.
158. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of establishing a 12-month working group within his Department focused on the way to legally deliver a right to collective bargaining. [28846/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2021 I set up the High-level Working Group under the auspices of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) to review collective bargaining and the industrial relations landscape in Ireland.
The work of this group is ongoing.
159. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of increasing the capital budget for the Workplace Relations Commission by 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%, respectively, in tabular form. [28848/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Workplace Relations Commission is funded under the Workplace Relations programme of my Vote. The Commission does not receive any 'capital' funding but it does receive 'current' funding to support its operations. A total of €15,931m has been provided to support the Commission in 2022. The table below outlines the estimated cost of increasing this allocation by 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%.
|
_ |
REV Allocation 2022(€,000) |
10% Increase(€,000) |
20% Increase(€,000) |
25% Increase(€,000) |
50% Increase(€,000) |
|
Workplace Relations Commission - WRC |
15,931m |
17,524m |
19,117m |
19,914m |
23,896m |
160. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of establishing a workers’ rights enhancements working group within his Department. [28849/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is difficult to estimate the likely cost of establishing any working group on workers' rights enhancements without additional information on the envisaged remit and membership of such a group. However, it should be noted that there are already a number of statutory and informal working groups in the employment rights policy space.
Established in 2015, the Low Pay Commission makes annual recommendations to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment designed to set a minimum wage that is fair and sustainable. As well as fulfilling its usual role in making recommendations to Government on the minimum wage, the Commission is undertaking the important work of developing a Living Wage for Ireland.
Work is also well underway to establish an independent Employment Law Review Group, comprising expert stakeholders, which will help shape the formulation of policy and legislation to ensure that Ireland’s employment law framework remains fit for purpose and adapts to the evolving contemporary workplace.
The Tánaiste has also agreed to convene a working group to examine issues around employment status and discuss the potential to improve systems by which correct employment status can be determined. I Chair this Group which held its first meeting on Wednesday 13th of April. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, ICTU, Ibec, the Construction Federation of Ireland and ISME are all represented as members.
