Results 401-420 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Strategic Communications Unit (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Communications is an essential part of effectiveness of any modern organisation. That is particularly true of Government Departments and public service bodies in all countries, given the impact of their activities on the lives of their citizens. Communication to the public is an essential service: people should know what their government is doing on their behalf, and why. That is why...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Rural Development (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative is one of the Department’s key policy responses to supporting job creation in all areas of the country, and is crucial to the Government in meeting the ambition to create an additional 200,000 jobs – 135,000 of which are outside Dublin – by 2020. The Regional Action Plans do not distinguish between urban and rural areas...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am very aware of the challenges faced by companies in the wake of the Brexit vote and my Department and Agencies continue to monitor and assess carefully the various Brexit-related issues that may impact on business in Ireland. Our focus remains on taking steps to mitigate the potentially adverse consequences Brexit may have for our economy whilst also ensuring that Ireland is well-placed...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Site Visits (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The IDA remains committed to increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in every region of Ireland by 30% to 40% by the end of the Agency's current strategy in 2019. I am heartened that the Agency's mid-year results for 2017 show that 54% of all job approvals so far this year are for investments located outside of Dublin. This is up from 37% at the same time last...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Portfolio (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The property in question is a 22.5 hectare IDA Ireland business and technology park located in Marlinstown, Co Westmeath. The park is fully zoned and serviced and is currently home to one IDA client company, an engineering and industrial firm which employs approximately 40 people at the site.   IDA Ireland continues to market the park to potential...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Succeed-in-Ireland initiative was operated by Connect Ireland on the basis of a contract with IDA Ireland that was originally agreed in March 2012. That original contract was due to expire on 26 March 2016. In advance of that date, however, Connect Ireland and the IDA jointly agreed to extend the term for a maximum period of one year. The purpose of that one-year extension...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 35 together. I am very conscious of the challenges as a result of Brexit faced by SMEs operating in close proximity to the border, many of which trade freely on both sides. My Department has been working with the Department of Finance, Enterprise Ireland (EI), Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and the Department of Agriculture and others...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The sustainability of our national infrastructure and housing in the context of our approach to attracting inward investment is being considered as part of the ongoing work to develop the new National Planning Framework. My Department is engaging in detail with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on these issues as part of that process. ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Initiatives (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Delivering sustainable employment and higher standards of living for all is the core objective of enterprise policy as set out by my Department in Enterprise 2025. The enterprise agencies IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, together with the Local Enterprise Offices are focused on the creation of quality employment, taking into account the multidimensional aspects that define quality:...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Competitiveness is integral to exports, jobs growth and as a means of achieving sustainable improvements in living standards. Improving competitiveness performance is a core focus of the work of my Department and wider Government policy and is particularly vital in light of the challenges posed by Brexit. The 2017/2018 Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to maintaining the OECD endorsed Action Plan for Jobs process; that Government will on an annual basis consult with all relevant stakeholders to draft a Plan that contains the best ideas for job creation and retention within available resources. The Action Plan for Jobs is one of the Government’s key instruments to support job...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The EU–Canada Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force provisionally from the 21st September 2017.  This means that Irish companies may now take advantage of the provisions of CETA including the elimination of tariffs on almost all key exports, access to the Canadian procurement market, the easing of regulatory barriers and more transparent rules for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Competition for foreign direct investment (FDI) remains intense. Ireland nevertheless attracts global FDI that helps to fuel employment creation and economic growth across the country. Multinational companies continue to invest and re-invest here with leading global firms from many sectors - including life sciences, ICT, engineering and digital media - all based in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Action Plan for Jobs is the Government’s key instruments to support job creation. The Action Plan for Jobs is working. 225,000 extra people are at work today than in 2012 when the first Plan was launched. 18,000 new jobs were created in the first six months of 2017. While the Action Plan is a whole of Government approach to support job creation, I am responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Given my Department’s responsibility for growing and internationalising business, we will actively contribute to developing a plan to deliver on our ambition to double our global footprint. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland already have significant presence in overseas markets which has delivered results over many years. Both are keen to deepen and strengthen that presence to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department recognises the key role that innovation has played in Ireland’s economic recovery to date. It contributes significantly to job creation, exports and investment and the competitiveness of the indigenous enterprise base. Innovation also contributes to embedding the foreign direct investment base in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland, an agency of my Department, supports companies...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation I recognise that investing in education, training and upskilling is vital for a strong workforce and to ensure a stable and healthy economy. This Government has shown its commitment to this through the Action Plan for Jobs 2017 which recognises the need for upskilling and reskilling jobseekers and the importance of providing training...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Portfolio (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The availability of an adequate supply of marketable land, office and industrial or technology buildings in advance of demand is a key element in IDA Ireland’s ability to compete for mobile foreign direct investment. The availability of property solutions eliminates the lead times normally associated with acquiring property, enables clients to plan their property needs with a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Online Business Voucher Scheme (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Cavan is the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other ‘soft’ supports such as training and mentoring.   The LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies including Revenue, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The company in question announced plans in 2015 to establish a facility in the IDA Business Park in Roscommon Town to manufacture ophthalmic products. A total of 50 jobs were announced at the time, to be created over a seven year period. I understand that 12 staff are now employed at the facility and that the company remains on track to create the remainder of the planned...