Written Answers Nos. 91-110
92. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the impact of the student enterprise programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62051/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Student Enterprise Programme is a national initiative organised by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). The Programme aims to foster an enterprise culture among post-primary students in Ireland. It embeds entrepreneurship and encourages students to consider entrepreneurship as a career path in the future. In November I launched the 21st Student Enterprise Programme for 2023.
The Student Enterprise Programme is the country’s largest second level enterprise programme with over 25,000 students taking part last year. The programme sees secondary school students from each of the 31 LEO localities compete in three categories: junior, intermediate and senior. The Programme combines classroom learning with real life experiences and equips students with the skills to set up and run their own business. It helps students to enhance creativity and improve their communication skills.
The programme has a great impact on fostering entrepreneurship in young people across Ireland. Students who take part benefit from the programme as it enables them to explore the concept of entrepreneurship, while helping build an entrepreneurial mind-set. The programme can help develop students’ ability to work as part of a team in a practical way. It also focuses on helping students enhance their creativity by encouraging them to build innovative businesses.
Not only does the Student Enterprise Programme encourage and foster a love of entrepreneurship, it also creates understanding on what is involved in starting a running a business from idea right through to making sales. No matter what these students do in later life they will acquire skills in this programme that they can bring with them into jobs and hopefully their own companies in the years to come.
Ultimately the programme opens up the possibility of becoming an entrepreneur to all students and helps to create future generations of successful entrepreneurs.
93. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total budget for the national local enterprise week in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61851/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Local Enterprise Week 2022, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) hosted a programme consisting of over 220 virtual and physical events including 12 free National Spotlight events on topics such as “Future Proofing Your Small Business”, “Internationalising Your Business”, and “Going Green”.
These events took place nationwide and featured topics and themes that sought to identify and address some of the key issues facing micro and small enterprises around the country.
These free-to-enter events were open to all, from budding entrepreneurs to established businesses and provided an opportunity to get expert advice on key areas of business from financial skills, raising finance, exporting, and boosting your business online to future trends such as sustainability and digitalisation.
The 31 LEOs funded the events through their annual budget allocation for enterprise training and development programmes, and the total cost of Local Enterprise Week is estimated at €511,911.
While Local Enterprise Week is seen as important to all businesses who attend, for many entrepreneurs it represents their first steps in starting a business and the positive engagement with their Local Enterprise Office will be key in building confidence and providing them with the assistance to continue on that journey.
94. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he or his Department have any plans to strengthen the joint labour committees and employment agreements and orders. [62041/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2022, the Tánaiste tasked a High-Level Working Group under the auspices of the LEEF to review Ireland's collective bargaining and the industrial relations landscape. The Group's final report was published in October and is available on the DETE website.
In the final Report, the Group have developed three principles which could result in meaningful reform of collective bargaining and industrial relations in the State. The first of these aims to restore the Joint Labour Committee process to its intended operation. The Tánaiste has asked DETE officials to carefully consider the Report, consult with stakeholders and develop proposals for Government in respect of its implementation. These proposals may well include examining how the recommendations need to be incorporated into legislation.
In addition, at five-year intervals, the Labour Court reviews all establishment orders for the Joint Labour Committees. The next Labour Court review will take place in 2023.
95. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that former workers in a company (details supplied) have established that the company planned its tactical liquidation a year before workers were sacked; if the attention of the Government was drawn to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62116/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra110. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department's attention was drawn to a £200 million floating charge to a company (details supplied) that was signed off between two other companies on 9 April 2019, and that exactly 12months to the day when the charge became valid, the workers in the Irish branch of the company were sent a generic email to inform them that they were to be made redundant, which demonstrates that the liquidation was planned, pre-ordained and tactical to the parent company and sacrificing Irish workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62132/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 110 together.
The liquidation referred to by the Deputy is proceeding under the supervision of the High Court and the Government cannot interfere with that process.
The procedures for liquidations are set out in the Part 11 of the Companies Act 2014. In general terms, a company is permitted to initiate a winding-up where it has complied with the requirements of the Companies Act 2014. A company both during normal operation and in a winding-up process must of course also abide by all relevant legal requirements, including the treatment of employees and creditors and disclosure to the Revenue Commissioners as well. However, the provisions of the Companies Act 2014 provide safeguards to prevent the abuse of the liquidation system. These include preferential payments under section 621 which provide for categories of employee entitlement such as wages owed, holiday remuneration, superannuation benefits, ill health payments and social welfare contributions.
Insolvency cannot merely be asserted - it is defined in the Companies Act and is scrutinised in the courts. In addition, the liquidator of an insolvent company must report to the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) on its demise and must apply to the High Court for the restriction of each of the directors of the company, unless they are relieved of that obligation by the CEA. When it comes to workers, the Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes obligations on employers who are proposing collective redundancies, including official notification to the relevant Minister and a 30-day consultation period to allow employee representatives adequate opportunity to consider the employer's proposals and make constructive proposals in response.
Following constructive engagement with the Social Partners, the Department published a Plan of Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency in May 2021. The Plan sets out several commitments to safeguard further the rights of workers in these circumstances including:
- To introduce amendments to employment law and company law dealing with matters related to collective redundancies following company insolvency, - To develop a Guidance Document to provide clear and accessible information in relation to the rights and remedies available to employees in such circumstances,
- To establish a new Employment Law Review Group.
Good progress has been made to date on the Plan:
- A Guidance Document was published in December 2021. This provides clear and accessible information to employees facing a collective redundancy situation following a company insolvency on their rights and the remedies available to them.
- Four company law actions have been implemented - three on the quality and circulation of information to workers as creditors through the Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Act 2021 and one action on imposing a statutory obligation on directors to consider the interests of creditors in the period leading up to insolvency through the European Communities (Preventive Restructuring) Regulations 2022.
Progress has also been made on drafting Heads of Bill in respect of the remaining employment law actions that require legislative effect. It is expected these measures will cover amendments to the Protection of Employment Act 1977, which protects employees during collective redundancies.
In respect of company law, in December 2021 the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) submitted its report following its consideration of the issue of splitting of corporate operations from asset holding entities in group structures. The Group ultimately concluded that the incidence of abusive practices in corporate restructuring, while attracting significant attention, is in fact low. This conclusion was supported by the then Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement which noted that its reviews of liquidations indicated that in over 90% of all liquidations, company directors had acted honestly and responsibly. Nonetheless, the CLRG made a number of recommendations which my Department has analysed and progress has been made in drafting amendments to the Companies Acts 2014 to further enhance the regulatory framework.
It is intended that the General Scheme of a Bill to provide for the amendments to company law and employment law under the Plan of Action will be proposed to Government in early 2023.
Finally, work has commenced on the establishment of the Employment Law Review Group. In advising the Minister, the Review Group will seek to ensure that the State’s suite of employment rights and redundancy legislation remains relevant and fit for purpose and is updated to reflect international developments. This work involves drafting Terms of Reference, organising suitable membership and agreeing a workplan. The Group will initially be established on a non-statutory basis in 2023. The appropriate legislation to have the Group placed on a statutory footing will be drafted as soon as possible thereafter.
96. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the early experience with the small company rescue scheme is demonstrating that it has the capacity to allow viable businesses restructure arrangements in order that jobs and livelihoods can be sustained. [62031/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to say that the Small Company Administrative Rescue Process has been very well received since its commencement on 7 December 2021. Officials from my Department worked closely with stakeholders, via the Company Law Review Group, in developing the legislation to ensure that the process reflected a fair balance of the sometimes, competing interests of parties affected by corporate rescue. Therefore, I am not surprised that industry practitioners, small business representatives and experts in the field of insolvency have welcomed the Process.
The Process was designed to provide a timelier and more cost-effective alternative to examinership which comparatively minimises requirements for court oversight. As such the Process is a welcome addition to the corporate rescue toolkit for our small company sector which accounts for over 98% of companies and employs in the region of 788,000 people.
The availability of the Process as a means to restructure can also encourage creditors to engage constructively with viable companies in distress diminishing the necessity to enter into it.
My Department is closely monitoring usage of the Process and to date, 22 companies have formally engaged with it.
97. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he continues to promote, encourage and support investment leading to job creation in Ireland both in the FDI and indigenous sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62060/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy notes in his question, both the inward investment and the indigenous enterprise sectors play critical roles in job creation in Ireland.
In 2021, Enterprise Ireland-backed companies employed over 200,000 individuals across Ireland and directly invested €9.79 billion in the Irish economy in the form of wages and salaries.
IDA Ireland reported strong annual results for 2022 on Monday 12th December with a substantial increase in growth in FDI employment on 2021, numbers are now at the highest FDI employment level ever. Growth in employment in 2022 brought the number of people employed in the FDI sector in Ireland to over 300,000. The results show continued substantial growth in FDI in 2022 despite a difficult global economic environment with 33,000 new jobs created in 2022.
My Department, working with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, continues to focus on promoting, encouraging and supporting investment from the FDI and indigenous sectors to support job creation.
With regard to the FDI sector, this Government and IDA Ireland recognise that competition for FDI is intensifying. Despite global challenges, FDI is well placed to remain a vital contributor to Ireland’s prosperity and future success. That is why this Government and IDA Ireland continue to strengthen Ireland’s value proposition to remain an attractive FDI destination. IDA Ireland continues to review its overall enterprise policy, which has been very successful to date, and will continue to constantly self-evaluate to make sure Ireland remains competitive and an attractive place in which to invest and create jobs.
With regard to the indigenous sector, Enterprise Ireland launched its new three-year strategy, ‘Leading In A Changing World’ 2022-2024, in January 2022. This strategy fully aligns with the Government's ambition to bring job opportunities and growth to all parts of Ireland increasing total employment to a record high of 2.5 million by 2024 with an ambitious target of creating 45,000 jobs over the next three years.
98. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeframe for non-working EEA nationals visas to be processed; the number of employment permits that have been awarded in counties Cavan and Monaghan and declined since March 2020 and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62130/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for an employment permit where there is a surplus of those skills in the domestic and EEA labour market. EEA Nationals do not require an employment permit in order to work in the State.
The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that the processing times for Critical Skills and Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit applications is 1 week.
Processing times for General Employment Permit applications for Trusted Partners is 1 week, with Standard applications taking 2 weeks to process for applicants.The aim is to maintain this high-performance level into the future.
Since March 2020, a total of 1,947 employment permits have been issued and 142 employment permit applications have been refused from counties Cavan and Monaghan.
99. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the site selection process for the new advance technology building between the IDA and Mayo County Council will conclude; if he can confirm that this strategic acquired landbank will be used to future-proof zoned service sites for attracting foreign direct investment to the region. [62103/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was pleased to join the Chair and Interim CEO of IDA for the launch of their annual employment results for 2022 on 12 December, with the announcement of a substantial increase in growth in FDI employment on 2021. The numbers employed in IDA client companies are now at the highest level ever.
The growth in employment in 2022 brought the number of people employed in the FDI sector in Ireland to over 300,000. The results show continued substantial growth in FDI over 2022 despite a difficult global economic environment with over 32,000 new jobs created.
Growth in the regions continued with employment growth recorded in every region of the country, again this year over half of all investments won went to regional locations.
The IDA’s property investment in the regions is aimed at supporting economic development and job creation across IDA’s, Enterprise Ireland and local LEO’s respective client base.
It is essential that the West Region and Mayo has a competitive, sustainable property offering to enable the attraction and retention of investment and jobs.
IDA Ireland have publicly committed to build a new (second) Advance Technology Building in Mayo to support the winning of new investment and job creation.
The site selection process for the new building is well underway. On conclusion of site selection, the design and planning phases will commence. The specific dates for commencement of construction are wholly dependent on and subject to the successful outcome of these processes. IDA will use its best endeavours to deliver the building in a timely manner. IDA Ireland has engaged with Mayo County Council on its plans.
100. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the ways in which his Department is supporting small and medium sized enterprises and indigenous businesses to grow and expand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62049/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra127. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will be bringing forward any new measures to support the SME sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62122/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 127 together.
As part of the Programme for Government a commitment was made to deliver a National SME Growth Plan to map out an ambitious strategic blueprint for SME’s and entrepreneurs. The SME and Entrepreneurship Taskforce was appointed to produce a report with a broad range of measures to help SMEs to start up, scale up and access foreign markets, as well as recommendations to help SMEs become more productive and ready for a digital, green economy. The Taskforce, chaired by myself and my colleague, Minister Calleary, is currently overseeing the implementation of 10 agreed priorities.
These priority areas are access to finance; digital transformation; increasing first time exporters; enhanced assistance for high-potential businesses; clustering and networks; SME management skills; reducing the regulatory burden on SMEs; delivery of a single portal for business information and assistance; ensuring comprehensive enterprise agency coverage for SMEs; and increased SME participation in public procurement. The Department supports SMEs, particularly through the enterprise agencies, by providing access to advice, training and direct financial grants. My Department works to ensure an adequate supply of credit to SMEs through State-backed loan schemes and equity investment schemes. We have introduced the Digital Transition Fund to support companies at all stages of their digital journey. The Green Transition Fund builds capacity in manufacturing businesses to develop decarbonisation plans and funds investments in carbon neutral technologies and energy monitoring systems.Information on all these programmes is available through the supportingSMEs.ie website, which includes quick links to areas of interest such as Scaling, Access to Finance, Exporting, Climate, Skills and Digitalisation as well as a filtering tool to direct users to specific programmes. The new White Paper on Enterprise sets out an ambitious vision for enterprise policy, to protect our strong economic position, and respond to challenges and opportunities that have emerged as a result of the pandemic, wider economic and geo-political developments, digitalisation and an increased urgency to decarbonise industry.
102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he continues to monitor developments in the high-tech industry sector, with a view to ensuring insofar as is possible the minimisation of any job losses and the continued quest for investment in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62059/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he continues to liaise with the tech industries in order to minimise any negative impact due to worldwide downturns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62302/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 158 together.
My main concern is for the staff and their families who will be affected by down-sizing in certain tech companies. We will assist any employees affected as they seek alternative employment or other opportunities.
As a country we are close to full employment, with high demand for tech, marketing and other skills across all sectors. There is a strong pipeline of new investments from overseas and within Ireland in a range of sectors, including tech, and we expect many positive announcements in the coming months.
IDA’s annual employment figures, announced yesterday, were exceptionally good – 24,000 net new jobs and over half of all new investment in regional locations. Still, in the face of such global uncertainty, we are likely to see companies adopt a cautious approach, so slower growth is likely in 2023.
When the uncertainty in the global tech sector began to emerge a few weeks ago, I convened a meeting with senior IDA and Enterprise Ireland staff along with Ministers of State Damien English and Dara Calleary. I issued a press release after that meeting on 7 November stating that we had asked for engagement with the major tech companies to be intensified, through the IDA and Enterprise Ireland.
Since then, I have engaged with the companies directly through my own office, through officials in the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment and its agencies. I wanted to convey at those meetings that I was available to help in any way that I or the Government could do so. I also wanted to receive assurances that the companies would adhere to their statutory obligations, and we have received those assurances.
As the Deputy will be aware, we published a new White Paper on Enterprise last week setting out ambitious targets for the indigenous and multinational sectors.
Notwithstanding the recent retrenchment in the tech sector, the future is digital. There is going to be more data, more robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality and autonomous transport. There will be a huge expansion of the tech sector in the medium term and we will make sure that Ireland is at the forefront of that.
103. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the up-to-date position regarding the delivery of a new IDA advanced facility in Kerry Technology Park, Tralee; the status of employment levels that is currently at the existing Central Pharma plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62088/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra113. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is concerned with figures detailing employment numbers in IDA-supported companies in County Kerry in comparison with every other county; if the differences can be explained; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62087/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 113 together.
On 12 December, IDA Ireland posted its annual results for 2022. There are now 229 IDA client companies in the South-West Region, employing 52,228 people, an increase of 8% on the 2021 figure. The FDI performance in the region has been consistent over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 30%. Counties in the South-West region also benefit hugely from the direct and indirect employment generated by IDA client companies located in the South West.
The South-West has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services and Engineering & Industrial Technologies. It has also won significant investment across all these sectors over a sustained period which has contributed significantly to employment growth and positive economic impacts on other sectors of the economy. At the end of 2022, there are 17 IDA client companies in County Kerry employing 2,020 staff directly which is an increase of 4.5% on the 2021 employment figure.
The IDA’s property investment programme is aimed at supporting economic development and job creation across IDA’s, Enterprise Ireland's and local LEO’s respective client base. It is crucial that the South-West region has a competitive, sustainable property offering to enable the attraction and retention of investment and jobs.
IDA Ireland is committed to building a new (second) Advanced Technology Building in Tralee. On the 6 July 2022, IDA Ireland announced that it has signed Heads of Terms with Shannon Commercial Enterprises DAC to progress with the acquisition of the remaining lands at Kerry Technology Park, Tralee. Progress on this IDA land acquisition is ongoing. IDA Ireland is proposing to identify a site within the land bank to accommodate the construction of an Advance Building Solution announced as part of the IDA Strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024. The completion of the building in Tralee is dependent on completion of the various stages of site selection, design, and a statutory planning process and subject to IDA Board approval.
This significant investment by IDA Ireland in the South-West Region aims to future-proof the property offering in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the region and to Kerry in particular.
IDA Ireland is committed to winning opportunities for Kerry as demonstrated in IDA Ireland’s Strategy Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021-2024, which commits the organisation to winning new investments for every region of Ireland. There is a target of 800 investments for Ireland over the period, 400 of which will be outside Dublin. The South West Region (Kerry & Cork) has the largest target of any region outside Dublin of 118 investments.
There is a strong focus on supporting existing IDA client companies already in Ireland to minimise downsizings or closures and while some industry sectors are performing well others have been impacted significantly as a result of the pandemic and/or a downturn. IDA Ireland continues to monitor and work with these companies in relation to providing supports and assistance to enable these companies to continue to transform and grow.
104. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new IDA and Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs in County Carlow to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62106/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland has worked hard to create a welcoming environment for FDI in all parts of the country and the strong regional spread of jobs and investment in the latest IDA results demonstrates the Government's commitment to regional development. Over half of investments in 2021 went to regional locations, and under IDA's current Strategy half of all investments from 2021 to 2024 will be targeted to regional locations.
IDA Ireland reported strong annual results for 2022 on Monday 12 December with a substantial increase in growth in FDI employment on 2021, numbers are now at the highest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) employment level ever.
Growth in employment in 2022 brought the number of people employed in the FDI sector in Ireland to over 300,000. The results show continued substantial growth in FDI in 2022 despite a difficult global economic environment with 33,000 new jobs created in 2022.
There are 79 IDA client companies in the South-East region, employing 14,932 people. The FDI performance in the region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 25%.
In 2021, County Carlow had 4 IDA client companies employing 1,477.
Enterprise Ireland supports companies in every county of Ireland to start and scale, innovate, and remain competitive on international markets, now and in the future. The contribution of Enterprise Ireland client companies to the Irish economy is very important, particularly from a regional and county perspective.
The 5,000 plus manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland and are spread across a wide range of sectors. In 2021, Enterprise Ireland supported companies employed 207,894 people.
Enterprise Ireland’s Strategic Ambitions for 2022-2024 is focused on Leading in a Changing World in every county throughout the country, including Carlow, by:
- Creating and developing export-focused Irish enterprises delivering growth.
- Becoming a world-leading location to start and scale a business
- Achieving competitive advantage through customer-led innovation and digitalisation
- Leading globally on sustainability and achieving climate action targets
In 2021, County Carlow had 69 EI client companies employing 3,500.
Employment figures for both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland for 2022 will be available in January 2023.
105. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will add bus drivers to the State’s critical skills shortage list to address the bus driver shortage in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62097/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s employment permits system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine roles that are either in critical short supply or are ineligible for an employment permit.
These lists undergo periodic evidence-based reviews guided by relevant research, a public/stakeholder consultation and the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group and relevant policy Departments, including the Department of Department of Transport who have policy responsibility for this sector.
The role of Bus Driver is currently on the Ineligible Occupations List and, as such, an employment permit cannot be granted for this occupation.
In order to have an occupation considered for adding to or removing from the Occupations Lists, or for a quota to be created, recruitment difficulties should be demonstrated as due to shortages across the EEA and not to other factors such as salary and/or employment conditions. Sectors are also required to engage structurally with the public employment service of the Department of Social Protection.
Officials from my Department are engaging with colleagues in the Department of Transport on the need for the role of Bus Driver to be eligible for employment permits and are currently considering whether Bus Drivers should be removed from the Ineligible Occupations List.
The Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances.
106. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way that employees benefit from the Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61852/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022 came into effect on 1st December.
The new law gives employees a legal entitlement to receive tips and gratuities paid in electronic form and requires that such tips and gratuities should be paid to workers in a manner that is fair in the circumstances. Any charge called a ‘service charge’ or anything that would lead a customer to believe it is a charge for service, will have to be distributed to staff as if it were a tip or gratuity received by electronic means.
The Act prohibits employers from using tips and gratuities to ‘make up’ contractual rates of pay. An employer cannot make a deduction from a person’s wage in relation to tips and gratuities. This is to ensure that tips and gratuities are additional to the wage and are not subsumed into the wage.
The Act requires the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to review the legislation after it has been in effect for one year. This will allow the Minister to assess the effectiveness of the measures and assess whether any further measures are necessary.
This new law builds on the suite of legal rights that the Government is introducing to protect workers, which includes the Sick Leave Act 2022 and the Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Directive.
107. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 20 of 27 October 2022, the status of the development of the White Paper on enterprise; the timeline for the publication of the new White Paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62034/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn securing Government approval on Wednesday 7th December, I published the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 which is available on my Department's website at: www.enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/publication-files/white-paper-on-enterprise-2022-2030.pdf
The White Paper sets out the Government’s enterprise priorities in the period to 2030 set against an ambitious vision for Ireland’s enterprise policy, to protect Ireland’s strong economic position, and to respond to challenges and opportunities that have emerged as a result of the pandemic, wider economic and geo-political developments, digitalisation and an increased urgency to decarbonise industry. The White Paper vision is for a sustainable, innovative and high-productivity economy, with rewarding jobs and livelihoods in the period ahead.
To achieve the White Paper vision, Government will focus on seven priority enterprise policy objectives:
1. Integrating decarbonisation and net zero commitments where our targets are a 35% emissions reduction from Industry by 2030 and 45% emissions reduction from Commercial Built Environment by 2030.
2. Placing digital transformation at the heart of enterprise policy where our target is that 90% of SMEs are at basic digital intensity by 2030.
3. Strengthening the Irish-owned exporting sector where we are targeting 2.5% average annual growth in Irish-owned enterprise productivity by 2024, a 50% increase in the number of large Irish exporting companies by 2030, 2,000 additional Irish-owned exporters by 2030, and over two-thirds of Enterprise Ireland assisted new jobs between 2022 and 2024 will be created outside of Dublin.
4. Enabling locally trading sectors to thrive where our target is a 1% average annual increase in multifactor productivity growth in domestic sectors of the economy by 2025.
5. Advancing Ireland’s FDI and trade value proposition with targets of a 20% increase in IDA client expenditure in Ireland by 2024, and at least half of all FDI investments between 2021 and 2024 to be located outside of Dublin.
6. Stepping up enterprise innovation such that Gross Expenditure on R&D will increase to 2.5% of Gross National Income by 2030 and the Number of High-Potential Start-Ups is increased by 20% by 2024.
7. Building on strengths and opportunities where our targets are five national cluster organisations funded under a new National Clustering Programme by 2025 and unemployment not to exceed one percentage point of national unemployment rate in any region.
Implementation of the White Paper will be regularly reported on to Government through a monitoring and tracking of progress against identified targets.
108. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a company (details supplied) made him or his Department, aware that it was going to lock staff out of its Dublin office on 18 November 2022. [62046/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department and my office met with senior staff of Twitter in Ireland on Monday 7 November in relation to media reports that the company would seek to reduce its global headcount. There was no specific indication given as outlined in the Deputy's question.
My concern remains with those impacted staff, for whom I understand the statutory consultation process is underway, with final decisions yet to be reached. IDA will continue to keep in close contact with Twitter’s Irish management to offer support during this process.
109. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has had discussions with the management in a company (details supplied) regarding recent reports of workers being invited to take unpaid leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the release of its third-quarter results in late October, Intel announced it would seek cost reductions in 2023 due to market decline. This included global restructuring and reducing operational expenditure. I understand Intel is engaging with staff in Ireland and offering voluntary unpaid leave options as part of this cost review process.
Last week I received a notification from Intel proposing a number of employees be made redundant on both a voluntary and involuntary basis. The statutory consultation process with staff is underway and final decisions yet to be reached. I am assured that the company is mindful of its legal obligations in this regard.For the avoidance of doubt, there is no requirement under the Protection of Employment Act 1977 for employers to notify the Minister of offers of periods of voluntary unpaid leave to employees.Section 12 of the Protection of Employment Act 1977 provides that employers proposing a collective redundancy must notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of the proposed collective redundancy. This applied to involuntary redundancies. Collective redundancies arise where, during any period of 30 consecutive days, the employees being made redundant are:
- 5 employees where 21-49 are employed,
- 10 employees where 50-99 are employed,
- 10% of the employees where 100-299 are employed,
- 30 employees where 300 or more are employed.
I recently met with the CEO of Intel who confirmed that the company remains committed to Ireland. Intel is a significant economic contributor to Ireland and an important regional employer to Co. Kildare, with the majority of its 5,000 strong workforce employed at the Leixlip campus. Intel and Ireland have a great relationship since the company first came to Ireland in 1989, and the company has made significant investments in our country over the past 30 years. The company is eager to maintain its manufacturing talent which is a key function of its operations here now and into the future. Officials in my Department, through IDA Ireland, engage with the company on an ongoing basis both to seek to minimise the impact of any redundancies and to offer any supports during this period.
