Díospóireachtaí Parlaiminte Parliamentary Debates Dáil

Vol. 973 Thursday, No. 7 18 October 2019 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES Insert Date Here DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Ceisteanna - Questions 787 18/10/2018A00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions 787 18/10/2018A00300Economic Competitiveness 787 18/10/2018B00600Brexit Supports 790 18/10/2018C00600Personal Injuries Commission ��792 18/10/2018D00450Regional Development Initiatives 796 18/10/2018E02600Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions 800 18/10/2018E02700Enterprise Support Schemes 800 18/10/2018F00100Brexit Supports 802 18/10/2018F00900Retail Sector 804 18/10/2018G00600Job Losses 806 18/10/2018H00400International Bodies Membership 808 18/10/2018J00300National Development Plan Funding 810 18/10/2018J01100National Development Plan Funding 812 18/10/2018K00300Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions 813 18/10/2018N01400Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation 821 18/10/2018P00400Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil 825 18/10/2018P00700Freedom of Information (Oversight of the Office of the President) (Amendment) Bill 2018: First Stage 825 18/10/2018P01500Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill 2018: First Stage 826 18/10/2018Q00800Competition Act 2002 (Section 27) Order 2018: Motion 828 18/10/2018Q01100Taxation Agreement: Motion (Resumed) 828 18/10/2018R00600Road Traffic (Quads and Scramblers) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] 831 18/10/2018W00100Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters 834 18/10/2018W00300Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) 834 18/10/2018GG00400Visit of Swiss Delegation ��853 18/10/2018GG00600Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2018: Second Stage 854 18/10/2018NN00500Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2018: Referral to Select Committee 866 18/10/2018OO00100Local Government Bill 2018: Order for Second Stage 866 18/10/2018OO00400Local Government Bill 2018: Second Stage 867 18/10/2018PP00150Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) ��869 18/10/2018PP00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed) ��869 18/10/2018PP00550Site Acquisitions ��869 18/10/2018QQ00200School Transport Provision 871 18/10/2018QQ01000Schools Site Acquisitions ��874 18/10/2018RR00450Schools Site Acquisitions ��876 18/10/2018SS00300Special Educational Needs Staff 877 18/10/2018TT00100Schools Building Projects Status 879 18/10/2018TT01100Schools Building Projects ��881 18/10/2018UU00250Schools Building Projects Status 883 18/10/2018UU00950Third Level Costs 884 18/10/2018VV00600Schools Building Projects Status 886 18/10/2018WW00500School Curriculum 889 18/10/2018XX01300Capitation Grants 892 18/10/2018YY00600Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate 894 18/10/2018YY00700Foreign Conflicts 894 18/10/2018ZZ01100Housing Issues 897 18/10/2018BBB00450Public Transport 901 18/10/2018CCC01850Residential Institutions Statutory Fund ��904 18/10/2018EEE00100Report on Gender Budgeting: Motion 907 DÁIL ÉIREANN Déardaoin, 18 Deireadh Fómhair 2018 Thursday, 18 October 2018 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 1030 am Paidir. Prayer. 18/10/2018A00100Ceisteanna - Questions 18/10/2018A00200Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions 18/10/2018A00300Economic Competitiveness 18/10/2018A004001 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the actions being taken to reduce the costs of doing business here and reverse Irish competitiveness deficiencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42974/18] 18/10/2018A00500Deputy Billy Kelleher: What actions are being taken to reduce the cost of doing business in Ireland and to reverse Irish competitiveness deficiencies? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter? The reason I ask the question is we consistently accept we are an expensive place to do business in terms of the regulatory burdens placed on business and equally the costs that are built in across the broader economy, including finance, insurance, credit, childcare, housing and all those key areas What is the Minister doing to address these issues which are a barrier to business? 18/10/2018A00600Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Heather Humphreys): I thank the Deputy for raising the matter Ireland’s overall competitiveness performance remains positive. Our improved fiscal position and increased cost competitiveness have all contrib- uted to Ireland’s improved international competitiveness. This improvement is reflected in a range of metrics, notably economic growth, increased employment, falling unemployment and a strong trade performance Notwithstanding this strong position, addressing Ireland’s cost competitiveness remains a key economic priority for Government and we continue to monitor Ireland’s cost base and analyse the factors that are crucial to improving our cost competitiveness Recent reports published by the National Competitiveness Council found that the cost base for enterprise is internationally competitive across a range of metrics, for example, the cost of 787 Dáil Éireann starting a business, communications costs and average income taxes The council also high- lighted that Ireland remains a relatively high-cost location and cost pressures are evident in residential property, credit, energy, labour and business service costs A range of initiatives in the Action Plan for Jobs 2018 are in train across Government to enhance our cost competitiveness and productivity, improve the ease of doing business, reduce the administrative burden and drive greater efficiencies across the enterprise base. Through the Action Plan for Education and Pathways to Work, the Government is working to ensure the pipeline of talent can meet the demand for labour to reduce labour cost pressure My Depart- ment has reviewed the policies underpinning the current employment permits regime to ensure it is fully supportive of Ireland’s emerging labour market needs, whether they are skills or labour shortages in certain sectors The work of the Personal Injuries Commission, whose second and final report was published in September 2018 by my Department, the implementation of the report on the cost of motor insurance and the complementary work of the cost of insurance working group should help to reduce insurance costs for businesses I launched the €300 million Brexit loan scheme in March 2018 which supports the working capital needs of companies on which Brexit has, has had or will have an impact My Depart- ment, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,

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