Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

More documents

Recommendations

Info

423 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 424[Mr. Martin.]foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland, includingits regions. Data on job creation are compiledfrom an annual employment survey carried outby Forfás. County data for 2004 will not be avail-able until mid-2005. The number of IDA Irelandsupportedcompanies in County Laois and thenumbers of jobs created and lost in those companiesin each of the years 1998 to 2003 are setout in the following tabular statement.Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003Number of IDA Supported Companies 8 5 5 6 5 5Number of Job losses in IDA Supported Companies 108 393 34 59 43 17Number of jobs created in IDA Supported Companies 7 23 41 13 30 2Grocery Industry.209. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment his views onwhether the abolition of the groceries orderwould result in job losses in the retail sector; ifbelow-cost selling will continue to be bannedhere; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [5847/05]Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment(Mr. Martin): The consumer strategy groupwas established to deliberate on a wide range ofconsumer matters. I am awaiting the report ofgroup and I expect that it will contain recommendationson the groceries order. On receipt ofthe report, I will consider the group’s findings inconsultation with my Government colleagues andinterested parties before deciding what action isappropriate.Job Creation.210. Mr. Kenny asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment the numberof IDA Ireland-supported firms, which were setup here in 2004; the number of existing IDAIreland-supported firms which increased thenumber of Irish workers they employ; the numberof such increase; the location and number of newjobs created in each firm; the proportion of thesenew start-ups which was located in the BMWregion; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [5879/05]Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment(Mr. Martin): IDA Ireland is the agencywith statutory responsibility for the attraction offoreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland and itsregions. In its 2004 end-of-year statement, IDAIreland indicated that 2004 was the best yearsince 2000 in terms of the quality, depth and valueof the investment decisions won. It indicated thatan estimated 10,800 new jobs were created.However, more precise data on job creation arecompiled from an annual employment survey carriedout by Forfás, and final figures for 2004 willnot be available until mid-2005.According to the 2003 survey, which was publishedin mid-2004, 21 new greenfield projectssupported by IDA Ireland started operations duringthe year, of which one third was in the BMWregion. The survey also indicates that 426 existingcompanies created 8,673 new jobs. Employmentdata on individual companies are provided on aconfidential basis for survey purposes only.Industrial Development.211. Mr. Kenny asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment the workundertaken by Enterprise Ireland in 2004 in facilitatingthe expansion of Dublin companies toregional locations; the details of firms which relocatedin 2004; the number of employees who relocated;and if he will make a statement on thematter. [5933/05]Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment(Mr. Martin): The implementation ofregional development strategy is a day-to-daymatter for the industrial development agenciesconcerned and not one in which I am directlyinvolved. However, in line with stated Governmentpolicy, Enterprise Ireland seeks to encouragea balanced spread of regional development.Enterprise Ireland’s strategy in this regardincludes encouraging companies, where relevant,to locate outside Dublin and its environs to lessdeveloped regions.One of the ways in which Enterprise Irelandfacilitates client companies that wish to relocateto regional locations is by making it financiallymore attractive for them to establish or grow outsideDublin and the mid-east region. Forexample, Enterprise Ireland provides higher levelsof funding assistance for companies that areexpanding or establishing a business in the BMWregion. In the BMW region, the grant aid rate forbuilding competitiveness is 45% of eligibleexpenditure, while in the south-east, south-westand mid-west regions it is 30%. In the Dublin andmid-east regions, the rate is 25%.The availability of suitable building infrastructurecan be an important factor in encouragingcompanies to expand outside Dublin. EnterpriseIreland makes its client companies aware of availablebusiness space in the regions and conductsitineraries to regional locations for companieswho might be encouraged to relocate.In this regard, the institutes of technology arekey players in Enterprise Ireland’s regionaldevelopment strategy. They are recognised as avital component of the innovation system in eachregion. Since 2001, Enterprise Ireland hasapproved funding of almost \25 million for 11
425 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 426regionally based incubation units in the institutesof technology to encourage knowledge-basedcompanies to locate therein.Enterprise Ireland has also approved fundingof \24 million for the provision and operation ofover 100 regionally based community enterprisecentres. Community enterprise centres areregarded as key partners in the development ofnew enterprises and enterprise culture in theregions.Ultimately, the choice of location for new andexpanding Irish businesses is influenced by manyfactors, including the promoter’s home base,proximity to markets, availability of physical,educational and research infrastructure, access toraw materials and availability of skilled labourand research facilities, to name but a few. In lightof Irish promoters’ tendency to locate close totheir roots, and taking account of all the otherfactors, Irish companies have shown themselvesto be less mobile than their foreign counterpartsboth at start-up and expansion stages.In 2004, Lir Chocolates Limited moved fromDublin and relocated to Navan, County Meath,when moving to bigger premises. It is not possiblefor Enterprise Ireland to verify if the sameemployees moved with the company to its newlocation.Retail Sector Developments.212. Mr. Wall asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment the positionregarding a submission (details supplied); theaction he intends to take to alleviate the concernsraised; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [5944/05]Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment(Mr. Martin): The concerns raised in thesubmission on changes to the retail planningguidelines are the responsibility of the Ministerfor the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment. Accordingly, I have arranged toforward a copy of the submission to that Ministerfor his attention.On the groceries order, I am awaiting thereport of the consumer strategy group, which wasestablished last year to deliberate on a wide rangeof consumer matters. I hope to receive thegroup’s report soon and I expect that it will pronounceon the groceries order in its findings. Iwill consider the group’s recommendations inconsultation with my Government colleagues andinterested parties before deciding what action isappropriate.Metrology Service.213. Mr. Naughten asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment further toQuestion No. 124 of 16 December 2004, the progresson the inspection regime under the metrologylaw; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [5988/05]Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment(Mr. Martin): I understand from the legalmetrology service of the National StandardsAuthority of Ireland that measures are being progressedto facilitate the early resumption ofinspection in meat plants. An issue that remainsto be resolved relates to the contracting of hauliersfor the carriage of the necessary test weightsto and from different premises. Legal aspectsrelating to the establishment of such contracts arebeing considered and it is expected that this issuewill be clarified shortly, following which quotationsfor the provision of haulage services willbe sought with a view to resumption of inspectionsshortly thereafter.Construction Industry.214. Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister forEnterprise, Trade and Employment if there areworkers at the Dublin Port tunnel project working12 hour shifts at \45 per day; and if he willinvestigate the matter. [6000/05]Minister of State at the Department ofEnterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr.Killeen): The Department has not received anycomplaint about working conditions at theDublin Port tunnel and, accordingly, I am notaware of any workers on the project working 12-hour shifts at \45 per day.The wages and employment conditions ofworkers employed in the construction industryare governed by the Registered EmploymentAgreement (Construction Industry Wages andConditions of Employment) Variation Order,which is enforced by the labour inspectorate ofmy Department. If the Deputy is aware of evidencethat particular employers are in breach ofthe employment regulation order, I ask that thisevidence be brought to the attention of thelabour inspectorate.Pension Provisions.215. Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social andFamily Affairs if a person (details supplied) inCounty Mayo has been awarded the old age noncontributorypension. [5550/05]Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr.Brennan): The person concerned applied to myDepartment for this pension in January 2005. Followingan investigation of his circumstances by asocial welfare inspector, a deciding officer determinedthat he was not eligible because his means,deriving from both a farm and capital, exceededthe maximum weekly statutory limit. He was notifiedof this decision as well as his right of appealagainst it to the independent social welfareappeal’s office.Under social welfare legislation, decisions onclaims must be made by deciding officers andappeals officers. These officers are statutorilyappointed and I have no role in regard to makingsuch decisions.
Page 1 and 2: 337 Questions— 22 February 2005.
Page 43: 421 Questions— 22 February 2005.

Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?