Written Answers Nos. 47-67
47. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the review and appeals of work permits for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59604/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that on the 29th of October 2022 the appeals in respect of the applications (in the details supplied) were refused by the appeals officer. The refusal reason in each case was explained in the refusal letter that issued to the applicant.
Once the reviewing officer has made a decision in respect of an appeal, it is not possible for this decision to be revisited.
The applicant was also advised that a 90% refund of the fee paid would be refunded on receipt of the completed electronic funds transfer mandate form which was issued with the refusal decision.
48. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a list will be provided of all schemes and programmes under the remit of his Department for which a means test applies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59653/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not operate means tested schemes or programmes. Regarding programmes run by Enterprise Ireland (EI), EI must ensure that there is ‘need for money’ when an application for a programme is received, however, ‘means testing’ does not apply to any support that is provided by EI.
49. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide the attendance record of his Department at all joint policing committee and city and county development board meetings since 2015 to date, in tabular form. [59680/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that there are no records of my Department’s attendance at joint policing committees or city and county development boards from 2015 to date.
50. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Canadian companies IDA Ireland and Connect Ireland have engaged with in relation to setting up in the State in 2021 and to date in 2022. [59706/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere were 17 site visits to Ireland from Canadian companies in 2021 with 16 to date in 2022. In response to COVID, IDA migrated many of its business development and client engagement activities to digital platforms.
There are 61 IDA client operations of Canadian origin, which employed c. 8,350 people in 2021. This represents a 10% increase over 2020 numbers (numbers of clients & numbers employed). The top sectors represented by Canadian companies in Ireland are 1)?Technology and Business Services 2) Financial Services and FinTech and 3) Industrial Technologies & Life Sciences.
Six of the Top 10 largest Canadian companies have a presence in Ireland (Revenue Aug 2022). Three of the Top five Canadian Banks have a presence in Ireland. Four of the Top five Canadian Software companies have operations in Ireland. It is estimated that there are approximately 75 Canadian companies with presence in Ireland employing over 15,000 people in total.
There have been several high-profile announcements involving Canadian companies in the last 18 months including:
In July this year, Telus International increased its investment in Ireland with the opening of their new facility in Ballina, Mayo that will support the company’s creation and enhancement of data to enable better AI via human intelligence which followed on from their announcement in February of this year of 300 new jobs at its sites across Ireland (Cork, Dublin & Ballina) in areas such as support, shared services, cloud, analytics, AI and data annotation;
Optel Group from Quebec announced it was expanding its base in Ireland with a new state of the art manufacturing facility in Limerick back in February of this year also;
November of last year saw Scotiabank expanded further in Ireland driven by Brexit - with the Dublin site now the primary relationship manager for all EEA clients for the bank;
September of 2021 saw Greenfield Global – a global leader in the production of ethanol, high-purity speciality alcohols and solvents announce the official start of its operation in Portlaoise. The 40,000 sq ft manufacturing facility employs ca 40 people today serving clients in the lifesciences sector across Europe;
Also in Laois, N’Ware Technologies - an expert in the field of Enterprise Resource Planning and business applications software, created 25 new roles with the establishment of its European HQ in Mountrath Co Laois in July 2021;
Trulioo, a Vancouver headquartered tech unicorn (valued at 1.75BN) in the electronic identity and address verification space announced it would grow its Dublin operation to 70 people over the next 2 years in June 2021;
IDA Ireland has developed digital content which can be accessed by potential investors. It has also put in place an E-Site Visit experience for potential investors. The use of digital platforms by IDA staff has contributed to an enhanced digital engagement with existing clients and also in hosting E-Site visits with potential new investors.
51. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Corporate Enforcement Authority has considered or will consider using officers on secondment from other jurisdictions in order to assist with establishing best practice at the new agency. [59707/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) was established on July 7, 2022. The CEA’s mission is to promote and serve the public interest by ensuring high levels of compliance with company law through effective advocacy and proportionate, robust and dissuasive enforcement.
My Department has worked with the CEA to ensure it has the necessary human resources required, both civil service and members of An Garda Síochána, to undertake its statutory functions.
In preparation for the establishment of the agency the Department approved an additional 14 civil servants to be assigned to the CEA. In addition, the CEA’s full-time Garda complement will increase from 7 to 16 officers (comprising of 1 Detective Inspector, 3 Detective Sergeants and 12 Detective Gardaí). Recruitment of additional Gardaí is underway and on November 8, 2022, five new Detective Gardaí became CEA officers, having been successful at interview. This increased complement will enable the agency to take on a greater volume of criminal investigative work.
As an Agency, the CEA has more autonomy, particularly the ability to recruit required skills and expertise. The CEA’s strategy 2022-2025 sets out the importance of recruiting suitably qualified and experienced staff, sourced, to the maximum extent practicable, through open competition thereby providing the CEA with access to the widest pool of available talent. The strategy also commits the CEA to developing effective relationships with domestic, EU and international peers.
Staffing of, and secondment to, the CEA are operational matters for the agency. While I have no function in this regard, I have informed the CEA of the matters raised by the Deputy in her question.
52. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will give consideration to attempting to replicate an arrangement in the UK (details supplied) in the interests of Ireland’s film talent and workers, with a view to making the section 481 tax credit conditional on compliance with such an arrangement. [59710/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s system of industrial relations is, essentially, voluntary in nature. The responsibility for engaging in collective bargaining and the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers, rests with the employer, the workers and their representatives. It is important that the autonomy of both employee and employer bodies and their respective members in such matters is respected by the State. Collective agreements are voluntarily negotiated by the parties to said agreement.
For its part, the State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms i.e. the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court, to support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences.
With regards to the S481 Film Tax credit, any changes to the design of that incentive are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance.
53. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will agree to meet with representatives of an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the organisation's concerns regarding the implications of contracts not being possible and the impact of designated-activity companies being considered as their employers on workers' rights and conditions in the film sector, in view of the statement by the Minister for Finance at the Oireachtas Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and An Taoiseach, on 23 November 2022. [59712/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA fixed-term employee is a person who has entered into a contract of employment where the end of the contract is determined by an objective condition such as arriving at a specific date, completing a specific task or the occurrence of a specific event. The Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act, 2003 offers significant protection to fixed term workers and the purpose of this legislation is:
1. to ensure that fixed term workers are afforded no less favourable treatment than their comparable permanent counterparts; and
2. to prevent employers from abusing employees by employing them on a series of successive short, fixed term contracts.
If an employee who commenced employment on a fixed-term basis on or after 14th July 2003 has had two or more fixed term contracts, the combined duration of the contracts shall not exceed four years. After this, if the employer wishes the employee to continue, it must be with a contract of indefinite duration unless the employer has objective grounds for renewing the contract of employment again on a fixed-term basis.
However, the Act does not apply in circumstances where an employee is not re-employed by an employer following completion of a fixed-term contract. An employer must inform a fixed-term worker of any vacancies which become available in order to ensure that he/she has the same opportunity to secure a permanent position as other employees.
The Workplace Relations Commission’s Customer Service and Information Unit provides information on employment, equality and industrial relations rights and obligations, and can be contacted at Lo-call 1890 80 80 90 or 059-9178990 or via its website www.workplacerelations.ie. A complaint may be made using the Workplace Relations e-Complaint Form available on the WRC website.
54. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to the 38 former employees of a facility (details supplied) in Raheen, Limerick, who lost their jobs early in 2021 and who are still fighting to receive their proper redundancy package; if he will intervene to help resolve the issue and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59827/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI extend my sympathies to the former workers in the organisation referenced by the Deputy who have been made redundant. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved and for their families.
By law, it is the employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy to eligible workers. In situations where an employer is genuinely unable to pay statutory redundancy entitlements due to financial difficulties or insolvency, the State provides a safety net and may make the statutory redundancy payments on the employer’s behalf from the Social Insurance Fund.
However, negotiations on enhanced redundancy packages over and above the statutory entitlement are entirely a voluntary matter between employers and workers. The State has no role in this matter.
For its part, the State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms, that is, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court, to support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences.
Ireland’s system of industrial relations is essentially voluntary in nature. The responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers rests in the first instance with the employer, the workers and their representatives.
Recommendations arising from the WRC and the Labour Court are not legally binding. While I strongly encourage parties to engage in the industrial relations process in a constructive manner and to comply with any Recommendations arising from this process, the State cannot compel a party to comply with a Labour Court Recommendation.
55. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the process for the inclusion of Eircode postcodes that were missed in the original surveys contained within amber intervention areas in the roll-out of the NBP; the average NBI connection time for these premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59610/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 18 November 2022, over 107,400 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 25 counties, with over 95,700 premises passed across 25 counties and available for immediate connection. Construction is underway across 26 counties demonstrating that the project is reaching scale. To date, the level of connections is increasing on a daily basis and is in line with projections, with some areas exceeding expectations.
In July 2019, in order to finalise the mapping exercise required under the State Aid Guidelines on Broadband and to ensure the NBP High-Speed Broadband Map was up to date, my Department conducted a consultation in relation to the High-Speed Broadband Map. This consultation sought submissions from operators who wished to have their existing high speed broadband networks or plans to invest in high-speed broadband networks over the following 7 years included on the Department’s High-Speed Broadband Map. The Map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high-speed broadband services and the areas included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan. The High-Speed Broadband Map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie and is colour coded and searchable by address and Eircode.
This consultation was part of a significant engagement with industry initiated in July 2013 where my Department engaged in an extensive process of mapping and monitoring broadband availability in Ireland. This has been supported by a number of public consultations conducted from 2013 to 2019. All operator submissions were fully assessed against my Department’s published assessment criteria and operators were informed of the outcome of this assessment in November 2019.
The NBP High Speed Broadband Map is dynamic. This means that the intervention area can be updated to include newly constructed premises, it can reflect new commercial plans, and can deal with previous plans that have failed to materialise. This flexibility allows for an increase or decrease in the number of premises included in the State Intervention area, if appropriate to do so.
There are now over 560,000 premises covered by NBI’s work programme following the addition of premises by the Department, subsequent to the signing of the contract in which 537,000 premises were originally identified.
NBI will ensure all premises in the Intervention Area are passed, ensuring that nobody is left behind. NBI is currently in discussions with the Department about the timeframe for delivery of premises added to the programme in areas where NBI has completed or has significantly advanced its build under the original project scope.
56. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status of the private wire consultation paper; the reason for the delay in its publication; the impact this delay is having with regard to compliance with EU legislation and the timelines involved; the impact this will have on the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59632/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a commitment to review the policy position on the development of private networks/direct lines (Action 115). A consultation paper on policy options for private wires was due to be published in Q1 of this year. Unfortunately, the consultation was delayed. However, work on progressing this matter is ongoing within my Department and officials are currently engaging with parties within industry as part of the consultation formulation process. It is envisaged that the consultation will be published by early next year.
I appreciate that private wires/direct lines are an issue that is of interest and importance to many stakeholders. Publishing a consultation and, ultimately, providing a clear policy position on the issue of private wires/direct lines is a priority for my Department. My officials look forward to engaging with interested stakeholders as they continue to develop this important policy area.
57. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a list will be provided of all schemes and programmes under the remit of his Department for which a means test applies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59654/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not operate any schemes or programmes for which a means test applies. My Department provides funding to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme. The eligibility criteria for that scheme includes qualifying payments from the Department of Social Protection, one of which is the Fuel Allowance which is subject to means testing by that Department.
58. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide the attendance record of his Department at all joint policing committee and city and county development board meetings since 2015 to date, in tabular form. [59681/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not sit on any joint policing committees or city and county development boards.
59. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59828/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is acutely aware of the impact that the increase in global energy prices is having on households. That is why throughout 2022 Government introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports and as part of Budget 2023 introduced a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion. This includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) will be credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT) in each of the following billing periods - November/December 2022, January/February 2023, and March/April 2023.This is a measure which uses the single eligibility criterion of a meter point registration number (MPRN), to ensure payments to each domestic electricity account are made as soon as possible, without any additional means testing. As such, it is being applied automatically to all domestic electricity accounts which are held with suppliers on the effective date for each payment as set out in the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme II Regulations 2022, Statutory Instrument 521 of 2022, i.e. 27 October 2022 in respect of the first payment, 20 December 2022 in respect of the second payment, and 27 February 2023 in respect of the third payment. If a customer switches supplier, it will be the supplier with which they had their account on the relevant effective date that will make the payment to that customer. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has responsibility for oversight of the scheme and can be contacted on customercare@cru.ie or 1800 404 404. The CRU also has a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members: oireachtas@cru.ie.
60. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport the reason train station waiting rooms are closed to the public in wintertime, including at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59584/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issue of the opening or closure of particular train station waiting rooms is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
61. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on train punctuality (details supplied) according to the existing timetable over the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59585/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The issue raised by the Deputy regarding train timetables and punctuality in the last six months is an operational matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
62. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if the 404 bus terminus will be changed to the stop located at Cloonarkin Drive, Oranmore; if the bus stop located at Cloonarkin Drive, Oranmore will be moved to another location (details supplied) in order to allow space for a bus shelter at that stop; if another way of accommodating a bus shelter at that stop is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59638/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops and bus shelters.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
63. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport when the new speed limit guidance document for local authorities will be completed and issued to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59648/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Action 6 of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy a review is underway to examine and review the framework for setting of speed limits including specific consideration of the introduction of a 30km/h default speed limit in urban areas. This review is nearing completion and as part of the work of the group a detailed assessment was carried out on the existing framework of speed limits including the current guidance document for the ‘Setting and Managing of Speed Limits in Ireland’. Although the Action 6 review has not been completed, work has already commenced on updating the guidance document given its importance and will be overseen by a Department led working group. It is planned that an update of the guidelines will be available in 2023 that will account for the findings of the Action 6 review. As the task is expected to be complex it may be necessary to do so on a phased basis.
64. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if a list will be provided of all schemes and programmes under the remit of his Department for which a means test applies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59666/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no means tested schemes or programmes administered by the department.
65. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the reason staff are being charged to park cars for work in Cork Airport. [59667/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, daa has statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin and Cork Airports. As such, matters in relation to the terms and conditions of employment of staff are matters for daa.
Accordingly, as the issue raised by the Deputy is an operational one, I have forwarded your request to daa for a direct response. If a response is not received within 10 days, please contact my private office.
66. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the number of staff employed by the DAA who left within six months of completing a DAA-funded training course. [59668/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for his question.
As the Deputy will be aware, daa has statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin and Cork Airports. As such, matters in relation to staff training are matters for daa.
Accordingly, as the issue raised by the Deputy is an operational one, I have forwarded your request to daa for a direct response. If a response is not received within 10 days, please contact my private office.
67. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide the attendance record of his Department at all joint policing committee and city and county development board meetings since 2015 to date, in tabular form. [59693/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not attended joint policing committees and city and county development boards from 2015 to date.
