text:
Question No. 52 is in the name of Deputy Bríd Smith. Permission has been given to Deputy Gino Kenny to take the question in the House.
Other Questions
Employment Rights
Bríd SmithCeist:
52. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will consider supporting the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016 currently undergoing scrutiny on Committee Stage rather than introducing a draft proposal of her own that seems to deal with the same issues of low hours and precarious hours contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23045/17]
Will the Minister consider supporting the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016 currently undergoing scrutiny on Committee Stage rather than introducing a draft proposal of her own?
I am not in a position to support the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016 for the reasons my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, and myself explained during the Second Stage debate on that Bill last summer. In summary, the Bill as drafted is flawed, lacks balance and does not achieve its stated aim. Moreover, it would have very significant adverse consequences for employers' rights across the economy, including job losses.
In contrast, the draft legislative proposals approved recently by Government for priority drafting are balanced and focused in particular on low-paid and more vulnerable workers. They are in response to a specific commitment in the programme for Government. The proposals address a number of key issues which have been identified as being areas in which current employment rights legislation can be strengthened to benefit the employees without imposing unnecessarily onerous burdens on employers and businesses. These are not comprehended by the Private Member's Bill.
The Government's proposals are the result of extensive consultations, including the public consultation by my Department following the University of Limerick study on zero-hour contracts and low-hour contracts. They also encompass a detailed dialogue process with ICTU and IBEC over a period of several months.
I am referring the draft legislation to the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for the committee to consider and determine if it wishes to engage in pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed Bill.
I am slightly puzzled as to why Fine Gael opposes the Sinn Féin Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016. What the Minister has said is that a similar proposal is being drafted currently. In the era of new politics - much is made of that around here - this is old politics. It is actually quite cynical. I understand that the Bill is going through pre-legislative scrutiny currently. However, it is being grounded by the vested interests of the employers' groups. Where I am from, there are a lot of people on low pay and doing very insecure work. It is imperative that a Bill copperfastens workers' rights, particularly in the low-pay sector. It is up to the Minister of State to support Deputy Cullinane's Bill. It is quite a good Bill, though in some ways it does not go far enough. It is imperative that the Government works with parties that it normally disagrees with in the age of new politics.
The Bill does not focus on low-paid vulnerable workers. Instead, it requires that all workers in every sector of the economy are given additional hours on request unless the employer can prove severe financial difficulties.
It does not.
The Bill itself entirely misses the point of banded hours. I will tell the Deputy about what it does not do and what the Government's Bill does. Our Bill ensures that workers are better informed about their core terms of employment at a very early stage. That is important for any employee taking on a job. It strengthens the existing minimum compensation provisions for low-paid workers who are called to work and are not provided with the work itself. The six-month reference period in the Sinn Féin Bill is far too short to take into account the normal peaks of businesses, including seasonal businesses as well. The six-month period would certainly produce a skewed result. The Bill requires that every employer in the country displays notices in their workplaces indicating the number of hours being allocated to workers. The Bill, in our view, does not deal with the range of issues that we have encompassed in our Bill. We are also prohibiting zero-hour contracts in most circumstances, which is not included in the Sinn Féin Bill. We are ensuring that workers on low-hour contracts who consistently work more hours each week than are provided for in their contracts are designated those hours. We have seen many examples in the past where workers are on 15-hour contracts but are working 40 hours or so per week. This will strengthen the employees.
Thank you.
I ask Deputy Gino Kenny to study our Bill when it is put together-----
The Minister of State has exceeded his time by one minute.
I think he will be satisfied enough that we are going to ensure that workers are protected.
I will study the Bill when it comes out. I ask the Minister of State not to take offence to this, but Fine Gael does not have a great track record on workers' rights in this country - far from it.
We create jobs.
The Minister of State should acknowledge that there are a lot of workers in this country who are extremely exploited and a lot of companies that are making vast profits from workers' labour. They are very vulnerable at the moment. Anything that copperfastens workers' rights will be welcomed. In the era of new politics, I believe Deputy Cullinane's Bill should be supported and not ground down.
I wish to express my disappointment with the Minister of State's response to Deputy Gino Kenny's contribution. I am involved in the jobs committee. We have been scrutinising Deputy Cullinane's Bill. We had a lot of representation from business organisations. The one thing that united them all is that they came in with no solution as to the problem we have. Deputy Kenny said it there as well. There are a lot of people in this country affected by this. It is not just the zero-hour contract but also the banded hours contract. I think the Minister of State misunderstood what banded hours means. The Bill is not asking for extra hours, it is asking for people to get the hours they actually work and for the hours to be defined. That would allow people to go to their local credit union and get a loan or probably even a mortgage because they would know exactly what hours they were working. I am very disappointed that the Government is not supporting that amendment.
Workers need to be protected. We have a huge problem in this country with people on low pay and precarious hours. People do not know what days they are working from one week to the next and cannot organise child care or get loans when they need them. The Bill has been scrutinised very strongly. We have been doing that for a number of months. We have had a balanced view in the last couple of weeks with the trade unions and USI having come before the committee. I believe the Bill is well-crafted and deserves to come back to the Dáil.
I ask both Deputies to hold back until they see the proposals in our Bill. I think they have seen most of them already. This is a carefully crafted Bill. It is good legislation.
It is a response to the UL study. It took a lot of time, in consultation with the unions and IBEC, to put it together. Sinn Féin's Bill is flawed and we will not put flawed legislation through the House. Employment legislation takes time to prepare. It is very hard to change legislation once it is in place. It is much easier to put a bit of work into and consult on it. There were 48 submissions after the UL study. This is good legislation and the response we have received from all sides has been very positive. We have heard very few concerns from employers about the banded hours we are proposing because the banded hours Bill will reflect the amount of time an employee has worked over an 18-month rather than a six-month period. It is more real and in the interests of the employee. We want to protect low-paid workers. That is the idea behind the legislation. It is to protect low-paid and vulnerable workers who have been abused in recent years. I ask Deputies to support our Bill when it is brought before the House.
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
Maurice QuinlivanCeist:
53. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to facilitate a Dáil Éireann debate on the CETA before the summer recess; the reason a debate has not been held to date; and her views on whether the investment court system is compliant with Bunreacht na hÉireann. [23033/17]
Thomas P. BroughanCeist:
55. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the EU-Canada comprehensive econimic and trade agreement; the status of the transatlantic trade and investment partnership negotiations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22956/17]
Maureen O'SullivanCeist:
56. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide the source of her information from the European Union on which chapters of the CETA will be provisionally applied and which will not, which she described to Dáil Éireann on 23 March 2017; the dates these provisional applications in each chapter are expected to take place; and if she will report on the area of transport which was not mentioned. [22662/17]
Mick WallaceCeist:
64. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way in which the regulatory co-operation forum set up by the CETA agreement will function; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23040/17]
Deputies Thomas P. Broughan, Maureen O'Sullivan and Mick Wallace will also be speaking. I have asked the Minister the question before. Will she facilitate a Dáil debate on the CETA before the summer recess? Why has a debate not been held to date? Does she believe the investment court system is compliant with the Constitution? Does she believe we will have to have a referendum on the issue?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 55, 56 and 64 together.
On 30 October 2016 the EU-Canada comprehensive economic and trade agreement, CETA, was signed by representatives from Canada, the European Union and its member states. On 15 February 2017 the European Parliament voted in support of the provisional application of the CETA. As I have said many times before in the House, the provisions relating to investment protection, investment dispute settlement and the investment court system are excluded from the provisional application. The main provisions offering new opportunities for Irish industry and business will come into force once Canada has completed its own procedures.
The process of ratification can now commence in the member states according to their constitutional requirements. In Ireland's case, the Dáil will be part of the final decision to ratify the agreement. Canada is finalising its internal implementation procedures to allow for its ratification of the agreement. It is expected that the CETA will provisionally apply from summer 2017. The Council's decision on provisional application of the CETA is available on the public register of documents on the Council's website. The document reference number is 10974/16. The decision provides that the majority of the provisions of the agreement will be provisionally applied.
Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan has asked which chapters will and will not be provisionally applied. The position is that only Articles 8.1 to 8.8, inclusive, Article 8.13, Article 8.15, with the exception of paragraph 3, and Article 8.16 will be provisionally applied in chapter 8 and only in so far as foreign direct investment is concerned. Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 13.2, Article 13.3 and Article 13.4, Article 13.9 and Article 13.21 of chapter 13 shall not be provisionally applied in so far as they concern portfolio investment, protection of investment or the resolution of investment disputes between investors and states. Article 20.12, Article 27.3 and Article 27.4 and paragraph 7 of Article 28.7 shall not be provisionally applied. The provisional application of chapters 22 to 24, inclusive, of the agreement shall respect the allocation of competences between the European Union and the member states.
On Deputy Mick Wallace's question, the CETA will establish a regulatory co-operation forum to discuss regulatory issues of mutual interest and develop bilateral co-operation activities. The forum is expected to enhance information sharing between Canadian and EU regulators, facilitate the development of more compatible regulatory measures, resulting in fewer barriers to trade and making it easier for the European Union to do business in Canada. The forum will be co-chaired by a senior representative of the Government of Canada and a senior representative of the European Commission and relevant officials from the European Union and Canada. The forum cannot change existing legislation or develop new legislation on its own and will not have any decision-making powers. It can only make recommendations to regulators and legislators. Any initiative entailing a change in EU regulations can only be introduced and pursued outside the CETA framework in compliance with the ordinary legislative procedure of the European Union.
I fully support provisional application of the agreement. I am of the view that there should be no impediment to Irish companies immediately taking advantage of the provisions of the CETA, including eliminating tariffs on almost all key exports, access to the Canadian procurement market, easing regulatory barriers and ensuring more transparent rules for market access such as a single website for public procurement.
To answer Deputy Maurice Quinlivan's question, it is important to wait to see the benefits of the CETA come into being before the CETA is put before the Dáil for ratification. We can then have a fully informed, evidence-based debate on the value of the agreement to Ireland.
To address Deputy Thomas P. Broughan's question on the EU-US transatlantic trade and investment partnership, TTIP, following the US presidential election, the negotiations are effectively on hold.
I have previously made my position crystal clear. I have asked the Minister if she thinks we need to hold a referendum, but she has not answered that question. It is vitally important that elected representatives in Ireland have the opportunity to scrutinise this trade deal and debate in the Dáil the pros and cons. On numerous occasions I have called for a debate to be held on the CETA, yet the Government continues to ignore the issue. Sinn Féin has serious concerns about aspects of the deal and believes parts of it will have a negative impact on Irish SMEs and the farming community, in particular. Legal advice obtained by my colleague, Matt Carthy, MEP, has indicated that the investment court system contained in the CETA is not compliant with the Constitution. The approach of implementing first and debating later is a drastic departure from normal democratic principles. The only conclusion to which I can come as to why the Government will not facilitate a debate on this topic is that the deficiencies in the agreement will be highlighted by Opposition parties, including us. The Minister has not answered my questions. I again ask her to outline a date for when the agreement will be debated in the Dáil.
With the permission of the Members, I will take the four supplementary questions together.
It is extraordinary for the Minister to say we will provisionally apply many sections of the CETA agreement without having a debate in the House and without seeking its approval. It seems to be an extraordinary way to proceed, given, in particular, the decision of the European Court of Justice on the Singapore Agreement that the approval of national parliaments was required when there was an investor state dispute settlement mechanism. On the positive side of the CETA, will it involve the Department's agencies such as IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland liaising with provincial governments in Canada and the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario?
It has been asserted that 99% of tariffs have been removed. In terms of the 1% of tariffs that remain, to what areas or goods do they apply?
I went to the reading room in the Department to get some information on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP. I examined some of the grave concerns that were expressed about that agreement. The Minister has said that TTIP is now totally on ice because of President Trump's attitude to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, TPP, and to the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, which involves Canada. Is the Department still working on the basis that there is a possibility that the TTIP negotiations will resume at some point in the future?
I hope the information provided by the Minister in her response will clarify what chapters and what sections of chapters are provisionally included. I have been told by people who have been trawling through the EU documents that there is a lack of real, reliable and specific information in the public domain on the provisional application. There was an EU press release which said that the investment court system, ICS, that is supposed to reform the investor-state dispute settlement, ISDS, within CETA has no basis in fact or law. It is not mentioned at all in the CETA legal text. It is vital, therefore, that we await the judgment of the European Court of Justice. A ruling was made on the EU-Singapore agreement that trade agreements with ISDS are mixed agreements and will require the unanimous agreement of the European Council of Ministers and ratification at EU, national and regional levels.
When will the provisional application begin? There are real fears that this could be a race to the bottom and that we will be looking at very poor quality jobs that will not provide a decent income.
I asked the Minister to outline the way in which the regulatory co-operation forum set up under the CETA agreement will function. In response, the Minister told me that it will mean fewer barriers and will make it easier for EU countries to do business. She also said that the forum will only be able to make recommendations. It will have no effect on how regulations are formulated. The Minister is telling us that the forum is just a talking shop with no power. It is just another smoke screen and will not serve any real purpose.
The Minister said that the forum will make it easier for EU countries to do business. This Government regularly boasts that this is a great little country in which to do business and it is - for big business. If one has a small business or a family business, this is not an easy country in which to do business. It is a great place if one is running a multinational corporation or a large foreign direct investment company but trying to run a small business in Ireland today is not easy.
CETA will make the playing field even less level and more unfair and I cannot see how it will benefit the people of Ireland.
Deputy Wallace made reference to small businesses. There are approximately 285,000 small business owners in this country employing approximately 700,000 people. I assure Deputy Wallace that my focus, as well as that of my Department and the Ministers of State, is to make sure that jobs are coming through. Believe it or not, we are embarking on a trade mission to Canada next week and more than 25 Irish companies will be taking part. The only reason they are going there is to sell their products and when they do, that will create jobs and that is what is important to us. It is vitally important that we go out and find markets because of Brexit. As Minister, I am fully in favour of going to Canada and finding whatever business we can.
I love listening to the Deputies talking about poor jobs, small jobs and badly paid jobs but these companies are paying well. There are Canadian companies in Ireland employing approximately 2,800 people. Those companies have invested almost €11 billion in Ireland. It is also interesting to look at Irish companies trading with Canadian companies. In 2015, foreign direct investment stocks in Canada from Ireland amounted to over €4 billion. There are over 400 Enterprise Ireland client companies doing business in Canada and please God, as a result of our trade mission next week, there will be more companies doing business with that country. There are 50 Irish companies with a local presence in Canada employing an estimated 6,000 people. These are Enterprise Ireland clients and they include Kingspan, Leading Edge, Keyword Studios and the Kerry Group. In 2015, Enterprise Ireland client companies exported more than €280 million worth of goods and services to the Canadian market. When I hear that, I know that it equals jobs. Export growth to Canada among Enterprise Ireland clients was greater than 7% in 2015 and was 14% in 2014.
I now invite the Deputies to ask a short supplementary question.
The Minister mentioned that she will be visiting Canada on a trade mission at the end of the month, during which she will discuss CETA and other issues. It would be beneficial to have a debate in the Dáil before then to ensure that the Minister and the Government are made aware of the very real concerns of various sectors about this agreement. The decision of the European Court of Justice this morning outlines that EU trade deals that include investor protection must be ratified by all 38 national and regional parliaments. This is a very welcome decision which ensures that member states will retain control over major trade decisions into the future. What is the Minister's response to the European Court of Justice's decision this morning? Will the Irish Parliament debate and vote on CETA?
The figures the Minister read out are quite impressive and I hope she will pursue that area vigorously. I read recently that Toronto has four very strong GAA clubs. There is a large network of young Irish men and women emigrants across the Canadian provinces, which provides great connections for us. That said, all our citizens would like us to debate the agreement. Why are we embarking on the provisional implementation of the treaty when so many, not least those in our agricultural sector, still have grave concerns about the agreement?
I have a specific concern regarding transport too. As an insight into the post-CETA world and ISDS, Canada has already sued the EU in attempt to get it to lower its standards on endocrine disrupters, potentially cancerous pesticides and plastics and wires, including those found in children's toys. That kind of action will increase and there is a likelihood of further pressure from Canada on the EU to drop some of its protections.
Next Tuesday I am holding a meeting in the audiovisual room on CETA. It would be great if the Minister could attend-----
I will be in Canada.
-----or an official from her Department. I hope we can thrash out some of the issues that are coming up with regard to CETA and that we can debunk some of the myths around the agreement.
I am pretty fond of going to Canada too. Indeed, I worked there for a couple of years. I am all in favour of us exporting to Canada but that does mean that I should be in favour of the fact that CETA will challenge some regulations. There is no doubt that there will be a drop in certain standards to meet the interests of big business and the public will be poorly served by that. If there is a reduction in regulations that will have an impact on workers' rights and on the environment. We are all in favour of exporting to other countries and creating jobs but not for the price of downgraded working conditions and reduced environmental standards.
On the question of Dáil ratification, it is important that we wait to see the benefits of CETA coming into being before putting the agreement to the Dáil. Then we can have a fully informed, evidence based debate on the value of the agreement to Ireland. Reference was made to meat and worries about meat production.
I would like to refer to a letter sent from Meat Industry Ireland, which is under the stewardship of IBEC. While it urges "strict caution on the EU's approach to tariff-reduced or tariff-free meat import access as part of trade agreements", it supports "the ratification of the trade agreement between the EU and Canada". I remind the House that 14% of the Irish diaspora live in Canada. We have sought to ensure we can open trade with Canada as a response to Brexit, which is coming down the tracks. The Ministers of State, Deputies Eoghan Murphy and Pat Breen, and the Taoiseach have been to Canada. As I have said, I am leading a trade mission with really good Enterprise Ireland businesses and companies with the hope of winning more trade, more investment into Ireland and more jobs. I am not going to apologise. I think we are on the right route. I think this is the way to go.
IDA Ireland Supports
Shane CassellsCeist:
54. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will liaise with IDA Ireland and Meath County Council to help to facilitate and expedite the provision of a football pitch on IDA Ireland-owned lands in the Johnstown area of Navan, County Meath for the purpose of providing facilities for this residential area of Navan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23016/17]
Shane CassellsCeist:
59. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to outline the progress that has been made in securing additional investment in the IDA Ireland business park in the Johnstown area of Navan, County Meath. [23017/17]
I am delighted to raise the IDA Ireland business park in Navan with the Minister. I know that having worked in nearby Rathfeigh some time ago, she has a good appreciation and knowledge of this part of Navan and County Meath. I want to raise two questions with her. First, what progress is being made in securing additional investment in the IDA Ireland business park in the Johnstown area of Navan? My second question involves a social issue relating to land in the Johnstown area. Will the Minister liaise with IDA Ireland and Meath County Council to help to facilitate and expedite the provision of football pitches and sporting facilities on lands in Johnstown that are owned by IDA Ireland? Such facilities are needed by those living in the residential area that adjoins the IDA Ireland business park in the town.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 59 together.
I know the area referred to by Deputy Cassells very well. I was privileged to be able to rear my children in County Meath. I sent them to school in Skryne and reared them in the Seneschalstown-Hayestown area. We used to use the Johnstown road regularly.
My priority as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is to drive creation of high-quality and sustainable employment across Ireland, including in County Meath. We are making significant progress towards achieving our regional development targets, which include an increase of between 30% and 40% in foreign direct investment in the mid-east region, which incorporates counties Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. There are 56 multinational companies based in this region, 17 of which are located in Meath and employ 1,496 staff. IDA Ireland is committed to increasing investment in County Meath by ensuring there is an adequate supply of modern property solutions and supporting the development of the county's foreign direct investment base. The agency is encouraging its client base in the county to undertake further investment projects. IDA Ireland will continue to work with local authorities and other relevant agencies to support the development of further quality infrastructure in County Meath. The Deputy will appreciate that my focus and that of the IDA must remain on how best to attract investment and jobs to the county. The IDA Ireland property in Navan is potentially attractive to investors. The agency continues to promote the site to its clients. Nevertheless, I have brought the Deputy's request to the attention of the agency.
The area in question has grown exponentially since the era when the Minister lived nearby. Approximately 10,000 people are now living in 3,000 homes in this pocket of Navan. As a growing town, Navan needs substantial attention when it comes to jobs, especially considering that one of the main employers in the area, Tara Mines, is in a precarious position because it is involved in the extraction of zinc, which is a finite resource. There were no IDA Ireland site visits to County Meath in the first quarter of this year. There were just eight such visits in all of last year. This pales into insignificance by comparison with our neighbours in County Westmeath, where there were 36 such visits, and in County Louth, where there were 24 such visits. The Minister spoke about investment in County Meath. The strategy in the county must stretch beyond securing back-office facilities for Facebook in Clonee. We need to see investment in the heart of our county. We need to ensure there are quality jobs in the areas where people are being housed under the national planning framework strategy.
One of these questions relates to social facilities. I have asked the Minister to ensure her Department liaises with Meath County Council in this regard. I do not want to confuse the two issues. Two questions I tabled separately have been grouped. There is scope within the IDA Ireland business park in Johnstown for the release of some of the land that adjoins a residential area in which there are 3,000 homes. This would facilitate the development of football fields and social amenities. My colleague on Meath County Council, Councillor Tommy Reilly, has raised this issue and has been working diligently with the council's enterprise section and with IDA Ireland. I ask the Minister to work with her Department and IDA Ireland to help Johnstown Football Club, which was founded in 2004, to extend its facilities. The only open lands that are available in this part of Navan are the excess lands in the IDA Ireland park. I ask the Minister to help those involved with the football club to realise their dream of providing additional facilities for young people in the locality.
I am aware that there are 3,000 homes in this part of Navan. I was in Johnstown shopping centre on bank holiday Monday. The Deputy has quoted statistics for IDA Ireland site visits. I remind him that companies which are already here in Ireland like to expand. It would be very difficult for me to hand this valuable land over for the development of a football field. Having worked as a school principal in Skryne, which is football country, I understand exactly how important land is for those involved in football. As I mentioned, I have brought this request to the attention of the agency and I will follow it up. However, I must inform the Deputy that as of now, we would like to make sure the land to which he refers is kept for investment.
I am disappointed to hear that. I appeal again to the Minister to work on this issue with Meath County Council and my colleague in Navan, Councillor Tommy Reilly. The successes at the IDA Ireland park in the town include Generali PanEurope, Timoney Technology, Welch Allyn and Lir Chocolates. Last Christmas, the Meath County Council's director of economic services, Kevin Stewart, submitted a planning application on behalf of Meath Enterprise Board, on which I formerly sat. This application would allow for the construction of an advanced technology building of 2,500 sq. m on the land in question. It has been specifically pitched to provide for the development of a purpose-built facility for new startups and companies that are looking at the potential of Navan. I would like to discuss the Navan economic plan with the Minister so that we can consider where Navan is going. I ask her to place a renewed focus on the proactive measures that are being proposed by the council's economics section, particularly the lodging of a planning application for a building of 2,500 sq. m to supplement what is already happening in companies like Generali PanEurope and Welch Allyn. I am also calling on her not to rule out what I have suggested on the social amenity side. There are 3,000 people living in this part of Navan. The Minister said she was there on bank holiday Monday. Johnstown Football Club needs a pocket of IDA Ireland's extensive and expansive landbank. I ask the Minister to work proactively with IDA Ireland in this respect so that the football club can develop.
I agree with the Deputy. The local enterprise office in Navan supported 927 jobs in 2016. Hardly anybody talks about what Enterprise Ireland does in counties like Meath. It supports 7,007 jobs in County Meath. As I said earlier, IDA Ireland supports 1,496 jobs in the county. I will take the Deputy up on his invitation to meet him in County Meath very soon to talk about the plans for the county.
I appreciate that.
I look forward to it. The other Deputies from County Meath are also invited.
I thank the Minister.
Zero-hour Contracts
Thomas P. BroughanCeist:
57. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to set out how she intends to tackle the prevalence of zero-hour contracts; her policies in relation to pay and conditions in if-and-when other uncertain contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22955/17]
In 2015, the University of Limerick produced a paper on the prevalence of zero-hour contracts. I made a submission in that respect at the end of 2015. We discussed precarious work and banded contracts earlier. The Minister announced a couple of weeks ago that she intends to introduce legislation on this matter. Will she legislate to ban zero-hour contracts and, especially, if-and-when contracts, where there is no contractual obligation to provide work at all?
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We have already dealt with it but it is important we discuss it again because, as the Deputy rightly pointed out, this is important legislation.
On 2 May the Government approved draft legislative proposals as a response to the programme for Government commitment to address the problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The draft legislation was referred to the Office of the Attorney General on 4 May for priority drafting of a Bill.
Regarding zero-hour contracts, the intention of the proposals is to avoid the contagion of an increase in these practices in this jurisdiction. The proposals provide that an employer will no longer be able to engage an employee on a contract within the meaning of section 18 (1)(a) or 18(1)(c) of the Organisation of Working Time Act where the stated contracted hours are zero unless it is genuinely casual, emergency cover or short-term relief work.
Other employees, including those with uncertain hours and those on if-and-when contracts, will benefit from the following proposals: ensuring that employees are better informed about their employment arrangements and especially their core terms shortly after commencing work; strengthening the provisions around minimum payments to low-paid workers who may be called into work for a period but not provided with that work; providing that workers on low-hour contracts, who consistently work more hours each week than provided for in their contracts of employment, are entitled to be placed in a band of hours that reflects the reality of the hours they have worked over a reference period; and reinforcing the anti-victimisation provisions for employees who try to invoke a right under these proposals.
The formulation of the Government's approach to the ending of zero-hour contracts will be very important. Clearly, across a wide range of sectors of our economy, especially in the retail, hospitality and caring sectors, we have seen what the Mandate trade union has called the gross exploitation of workers. In the next period in which the legislation is being drafted, it is critical the Minister of State is prepared to stand up to organisations such as IBEC which have spoken out against the imposing of what they call onerous restrictions. We would be counting on Ministers, including the Ministers of State, Deputies Halligan and Finian McGrath, to stiffen their resolve in that regard. The Citizens Information Board reported that 7% of its 1 million queries annually relate to employment and specifically to zero-hour and if-and-when contracts, which are contracts without any contractual obligations to give hours. I look forward to the legislation but I hope that the Government will move to act on this issue.
A debate on the gig economy in UK is taking place in the lead up to the general election there. It relates to what people are prepared to do about companies such as Uber in the gig economy. Is our Government thinking along the lines of the Labour Party in the UK in terms of taking drastic action to address the gross maltreatment of workers?
I am aware of the Uber case in the UK. We have been closely monitoring it. An appeal will be lodged, therefore, I would prefer not to comment on it.
Considerable time and effort went into the preparation of this legislation. We also engaged in consultation. We received 48 submissions following the completion of the University of Limerick study, which were very useful. We engaged in consultation with IBEC and the unions over a lengthy period. The Deputy can appreciate the degree of bargaining that took place with people raising their own cases during those discussions, which took place from September last year to March of this year.
The key issue is that we have good legislation. The four areas that will be covered in the legislation are the four the Deputy outlined. They include that an employee would be entitled to information at the start of his or her job, to know exactly who he or she is working for, the name and address of the employer, the hours he or she will work and how much he or she will be paid. There are 15 items listed but the employer does not have to provide those details until two months after the employment has commenced. It will not be onerous on an employer to provide information on the main areas that will be covered. An employee is entitled to know that information. We hope that the legislation we will put in place will be balanced. It will help low-paid workers, and I know the Deputy represents low-paid workers. There are three other areas and I might cover those when I reply to the Deputy later.
I thank the Minister for that information. I, and perhaps other Deputies, have received some complaints about job search websites. Constituents are concerned that some of the jobs advertised on those websites do not exist and that they are being used as a means for recruiters to access data on jobseekers. Sometimes misleading positions seem to be advertised where there is a mismatch between the salary versus the experience required and when applicants make contact they are told that the positions have been filled and then they are told about alternative positions, zero-hour and if-and-when contract positions. Could the Department examine the role of recruitment websites and recruiters generally to ensure they are not acting as a funnel to put vulnerable young people starting out on their work careers into precarious employment?
The idea behind this legislation is to eliminate precarious employment and that is something we have done in the proposed legislation. It has been referred to the Attorney General's office for priority drafting and it is important that we would get it back as soon as possible to put it in place to protect low-paid workers.
I will follow up on the issue the Deputy raised about job advertisements, if he wishes, and revert to him on it. If he has more information on it, I will discuss it with my Department officials to see if we can deal with that type of activity that is happening with respect to jobs that are being advertised.
The future of work is a major issue and the Deputy mentioned the gig economy. There will be a change in the way we will be working in ten years' time. We should not forget the rights of our employees, regardless of what changes occur in the digital economy in the next five to ten years. There is good legislation in place and it has been proven to protect the interests of employees. We should bear that in mind in moving forward with any legislation, regardless of the massive changes that will arise with the development of the digital economy in the next five to ten years, but we must be mindful that people come first.
Brexit Issues
Thomas P. BroughanCeist:
58. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the grave uncertainty regarding Brexit is impacting negatively on the motor industry and car sales sectors; the steps she will take to address these impacts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22954/17]
We had an opportunity to discuss Brexit with the visit of Mr. Michael Barnier to this House last week. I commend the Ceann Comhairle on his role in allowing the Dáil to have that discussion, which was very valuable. A concern is that the impact of Brexit is beginning to be felt in our country. One area that has felt the impact, which has been made known to me, is the motor trade. We have seen a huge increase in the imports off used cars in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 2016. Has that been brought to the Minister's attention as it is a matter of concern?
This Government, through the Action Plan for Jobs, has taken decisive action to support all sectors of the economy recover from the deepest recession we have experienced in recent decades. This sustained focus on job creation has resulted in the creation of over 209,000 additional jobs since 2012. The unemployment rate has declined from over 15.1% in 2012 to 6.2% in April this year.
The motor industry was impacted during the recession in the same way as all other sectors. The sector has recovered substantially over the last five years. New vehicle registrations reached their highest level since 2009 last year. While the data for the first four months of 2017 indicates a decline of over 9% compared with the same period last year, registrations remain above the levels in 2015 and immediately preceding years.
Data from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, also indicates an increase in imported vehicles being registered, in part reflecting the weakening of sterling and consumers seeking value for money.
The outlook for consumer spend remains positive. According to data provided by the Department of Finance, personal consumption expenditure is growing and consumer sentiment in March was higher than it was in February. Headline retail sales are up and the total number of private cars has increased over the year. Overall, consumer spending, employment trends and taxation receipts confirm that Ireland's economic fundamentals remain solid. This positive outlook should continue to benefit the motor sector in its recovery to a sustainable level. Additionally, my Department is undertaking extensive preparatory work and consultation to anticipate the impact of Brexit on key sectors, including the retail sector. As chair of the committee for responding to Brexit in my Department, I will continue to ensure we address the challenges and, of course, the opportunities arising from Brexit.
I thank the Minister for her response but there are growing concerns. We had reports yesterday concerning the slowdown in growth of our exports to the UK in the same period and they are less valuable to us now because of the decline in sterling. There is a fall-off in the hospitality industry of people coming here; I know this relates to the Department of the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, rather than the Ministers who are present.
The motor trade is a very important industry in this country and it has over 40,000 workers, contributing approximately €1.5 billion to the Exchequer last year through vehicle registration tax, VAT and so on. That was significantly up on 2015. As the Minister states, the industry saw significant recovery after the recession. We will have a debate this week on the outrageous price gouging in car insurance for younger and older drivers, which is very annoying. I am glad to hear the Minister will have a sectoral response to the motor industry, as well as other areas of indigenous industry. I wonder if there are already any responses that could be taken in budget 2018 to alleviate concerns in the motor trade.
I hear what the Deputy is saying. He indicated there was a slowdown in exports to the UK but I make the emphatic point that overall, the Enterprise Ireland companies exported €21.6 billion of goods and services in 2016 but in 2015 they exported goods and services worth €20.5 billion, which means the value increased by €1 billion over that year. We are continuing to monitor the matter. I stated earlier that Enterprise Ireland is making sure that companies reach out to the eurozone, and we have put out a target of a 50% increase in this by 2020. I will make sure we will help Enterprise Ireland and the companies it supports in reaching those targets. The Deputy is correct that we are undertaking a sectoral impact assessment of Brexit, including the retail sector. This work will be completed later in the year and will help to reveal the Brexit issues, including in the car market.
Science Foundation Ireland Remit
James LawlessCeist:
60. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on whether the shift in Science Foundation Ireland's mission from basic oriented research to applied research, as per the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Act 2013, has been detrimental to the funding of frontier research here with attendant loss of skills; her plans to redress the balance; if the research priorities set out by ministerial directive following that Act are due for review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22982/17]
Before introducing the question I put on record the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, and I travelled to the European Space Agency recently as part of a very useful trade mission. I acknowledge and recognise the Minister of State's cross-party and collaborative approach in that matter and it was an excellent trip. The question is in a related field regarding Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, and its remit, specifically whether there has been a detrimental effect in research areas because of too much focus on applied research at the expense of basic research.
I thank Deputy Lawless for his company in the visit to the European Space Agency, where a number of contracts were signed for Irish companies. The Deputy was part of the discussions and I am glad he was there.
Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, funds a comprehensive suite of oriented basic and applied research funding programmes to deliver excellent research with impact in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths, STEM. The annual budget for 2017 amounts to €162.5 million. Science Foundation Ireland's legal remit was extended in 2013 to allow it to fund applied research in line with the Government's policy of research prioritisation, which was adopted in 2012. This broad remit enables Science Foundation Ireland to support an important range of work from early stage investigations, novel discoveries through to pre-commercial activities. The adoption of research priority areas has not affected the level of funding by Science Foundation Ireland as over 80% of funding is currently committed to oriented basic research projects.
My Department and its agencies are important funders of research, with spending on research and development of €394 million in 2016. I am conscious of the time allowed to answer the question and I will speak later about the three specific areas, which are oriented, applied and frontier research. Frontier research is beyond the frontiers of what is called "current understanding". The criteria for funding frontier research is typically excellence alone, with no requirement for alignment with particular themes or priorities. The Irish Research Council, IRC, makes competitive awards on the basis of excellence only. Its budget for 2017 is €34.15 million, including €2.5 million for new frontier research laureate awards.
The original remit of Science Foundation Ireland in 2003 was to promote, develop and assist oriented and basic research. That remit was changed in 2012 to include applied research and research in frontier science, as mentioned by the Deputy. I agree we need to look further on further funding for frontier research.
We can work together on that. I was aware of the changes in the SFI Acts in 2012 and 2013, when the policy was changed. At the time, Deputy Calleary would have spoken for my party and raised concerns. I know the academic community at the time were also concerned about the shift in emphasis. There was also the issue that for the first time, research priorities were being directed by the Ministers, as opposed to allowing academics to decide. Undoubtedly, commercial activity is needed along with frontier research but the view in the academic community and those involved with high-end research, certainly at an academic level, would be that the shift was a bridge too far. It is the equivalent of Isaac Newton in the orchard, when he watched the apple fall, being told to go back to study cider fermentation instead of discovering gravity. Groundbreaking discoveries happen when somebody with a great mind is looking into matters without a focus on the goal or outcome.
Deputy Calleary put these questions when the Bill was passed and 900 scientists wrote to The Irish Times in 2013, expressing their alarm and dismay at the Government's approach in 2013. Unfortunately, in 2017 we are seeing a similar pattern. I joined the March for Science with a number of academics and researchers - people at the top end of their fields - only a few weeks ago and the same concerns were again being voiced. The Government needs to change direction in the matter and I ask the Minister of State to take that on board.
It is a very good question and I make the point that Action 3.8 of Innovation 2020, Ireland's strategy for research and development, science and technology provides for a new programme to fund frontier research. As I stated, in April 2017, I launched the Irish Research Council's frontier research laureate programme with initial funding of €2.5 million and I can assure the Deputy that the Department is currently leading on a refresh of research prioritisation. A number of studies have been completed to form the evidence in a base for that exercise, which will include looking into frontier research. I absolutely agree with the Deputy that frontier research is an absolute necessity when it comes to funding, especially as science and technology advances over the next number of years. The Deputy met many scientists at the European Space Agency who specifically deal with frontier research rather than oriented and applied research. After the review is done by my Department, we will contact the Deputy and if he would like to make any submission to the review, he should feel free to do so. I could meet the Deputy personally to speak about this.


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Business Process Re-engineering
Business exists in an ever-changing environment. Business processes, like technology, become obsolete and inefficient if they do not evolve along with the environment in which they exist. Obsolete business processes can result in:
- Cumbersome manual paper based processes
- Islands of unconnected information
- Little, if any, metrics to monitor performance
- Serial processing and redundant re-keying of the same data
- Limited use of technology
The Solution: A Smart Approach to Business Process Renewal
Smart PlanIT's Business Process Renewal Services (BPR) provide a proven and practical approach to assessing current state processes, defining areas for improvement, detailing process change requirements and implementing desired improvements. Our approach combines detailed current state analysis with innovative renewal techniques and the introduction of technology and industry best practices to identify a desired target state for your processes. We look at more than just the process itself. We evaluate process enablers, such as:
- People - roles, responsibilities and organizational structure
- Technology - systems and infrastructure supporting the process
- Policies and Procedures - documentation and business rules governing the process
In addition, our techniques drive out key business indicators and metrics that can be compared to industry norms to evaluate the health of a process and assist in identifying areas for improvement.
Our approach however, is only half the solution. Smart PlanIT's Process Analysts have utilized our methods within many organizations to derive tangible business benefits. Our consultants can lead BPR initiatives and/or act as mentors to organizations wishing to develop internal BPR skills. We have the experience and the approach to make BPR a success in your organization.
Smart Benefits
Successful organizations are those that can adapt to change and find innovative ways to get work done. Business Process Renewal (BPR) provides a means to address business pain or proactively prepare for anticipated changes or market opportunities. Benefits from BPR are:
- Reduced process cycle times
- Improved customer service and satisfaction
- Improved employee satisfaction
- Improved utilization of technology investments
- Reduced time-to-market for products and services
- Processes aligned with business objectives
- Improved internal and external communication

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Recalling Ram 1500 (DT) Pickups
The Public Authority for Consumer Protection, in cooperation with Dhofar Motors, has launched a recall campaign for 42 2018 Ram 1500 (DT) pickups, depending on the chassis numbers from 1C6SRFFT0KN509800 to 1C6SRFLT9KN719963.
This recall comes only for adjustable pedal vehicles, which contain a disassembled bottom plastic screw, which moves the brake pedal to be replaced during adjustments; resulting in the separation of the brake pedal from the set of adjustable pedals, resulting in the driver being unable to apply the brakes using brake pedal which increases the risk of collision without warning. Therefore, the company will add a piston break to the pedal shaft of the pedal set as a base stop on the side of the accelerator and a brake block at the end of the pedal adjustment course to act as secondary brakes in case of plastic bottom failure.
These recalls confirm the efforts exerted by the PACP in the field of traffic safety in cooperation with the agencies operating in the field, and in line with its keenness to carry out continuous reviews of all products offered in the Sultanate markets in order to provide the necessary protection for consumers in all fields.
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Kids Corner
No one imagined that greed and deviousness would reach such a staggering level that thought exist only in movies and investigative drama shows , yet it became a stark reality when some merchants sought to make a profit on the account of health and safety of the young and adults alike utilizing the God-given intellect that they posses into destruction and evil instead of serving public good , the devious plan used ( Back to school ) season by carving holes inside books and hiding chewing tobacco inside in away from the inspectors notice targeting the younger generation with these destructive materials that effect the health , mind and safety of our kids .
The Judicial officers noticed that consumers come very frequently to a specific shop during one of the inspection tours which raised their suspicions to strengthening the monitoring and follow up on that matter , students were spotted in the shop as well , the Officers expediently intervened to inspect the shop , the inspection did not reveal anything at first , however , the officers noticed a stack of books and decided to inspect it , surprisingly , they found more than 600 pouches of chewing tobacco on its way to be sold and distributed on consumers and students , the officers immediately issued a violation and referred the case to the General Prosecution to deal with the matter as per the Law
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Dinosaur National Monument
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The largest quarry of Jurassic Period dinosaur bones ever discovered is on this site 20 miles east of Vernal. A year-round visitor center has been built over the quarry to protect the fossilized dinosaur bones. Dinosaur National Monument is also popular for whitewater rafting on the Green and Yampa Rivers.
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- Miles From SLC: 193 mi/311 km east of Salt Lake
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11625 East 1500 South, Jensen, UT 84035
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While visiting NRF in New York, Caroline Baldwin explored some of the city's most interesting stores. Here is her selection with a Google Map for those who want to visit the stores:
Converse Soho
Footwear brand Converse's SoHo flagship is a huge warehouse space that allows lots of breathing space. An area of the store dedicated to gaming encourages customers to try out their video game basketball skills, on giant screens.
Downstairs the Converse Workshop allows shoppers to play with a seemingly endless array of fabrics and designs, to customise their personal shoes, from same day printing to six-week fabric production.
Converse Flagship Store 560 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
The Dreamery by Casper
The online mattress market has ballooned, but not everyone is comfortable to buy without trying. Pop-up stores from the likes of Casper were introduced to reassure such customers by letting them get hands-on. After a number of pop-ups – including one in London – Casper now has a number of permanent stores, including its Dreamery branch on New York's Mercer Street.
The spacious store features a number of what can only be described as adult-sized wooden wendy houses, in various pastel colours. As well as being perfect Instagram fodder, these provide literal test beds for Casper's various mattress products. The store has several tablet devices for browsing the entire range and making purchases.
And it isn't called The Dreamery for nothing. Casper has included pods at the back of the store where visitors can book a 45 minute 'nap session' online and pop-in for a spot of shuteye. The brand's website suggests: "Wind down in the lounge, change into PJs, and lie down in your own Casper Nook — a perfectly private, quiet pod with an outrageously comfortable bed."
The Dreamery by Casper 196 Mercer St, New York, NY 10012
American Eagle Studio
In late 2017 US fashion retailer American Eagle Outfitters celebrated its 40th anniversary with a new store concept on Union Square. The American Eagle Studio focuses on a hot trend: customisation.
Customers browse seemingly endless aisles of the denim, with iPad minis used for digital signage. When making a purchase they are offered free personalisation services to create truly personal jeans. Sewing machines - and more iPads, which guide shoppers through the personalisation experience – mean the bespoke changes can be made immediately, and 15 minutes later their jeans have been stitched and are ready to share via social media.
Further technology in this store includes digital concierge iPads in the changing rooms, offering an easy way to ask for help from a human. The iPad also features a bar code scanner so shoppers can scan products for more information or options, as well as calculate basket spend as they shop.
Most obviously the store also features a laundrette where students can do their laundry for free and while they wait they can "hang out with friends or study in the studio bar and seating area and enjoy the view of Union Square".
American Eagle Studio 19 Union Square W, New York, NY 10003
Fujifilm Wonder Photo Shop
Smartphones have fundamentally changed consumer habits regarding photography, rendering traditional cameras redundant to everyone apart from dedicated hobbyists and professional photographers.
From selfies to holiday snaps – or even quick pictures of car park bay numbers in case we forget them – photographs have become an important and functional part of our daily lives.
Fujifilm understands this and wants to get people excited about film again, or at least get people to print some of the thousands of photos being stored on their phones.
However, nobody gets excited by the options available for printing images.
Fujifilm's Wonder Photo Shop has digital kiosks to aid in printing images, but this bulky technology demystified by blending in bright colours, wooden fittings and comfortable sofas. Large digital screens helps to demonstrate hero products , while the store also offers photography workshops.
Fujifilm Wonder Photo Shop 176 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010
Amazon Books
In a space that feels like a hybrid of a traditional book shop and an Apple store, Amazon Books presents traditional paperback books sit on shelves next to the e-readers that some thought would spell the end of the printed word.
This store softens digital signage with wooden finishes and a coffee shop that mathces the laid back feel of the store.
Amazon Books 7 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001
Also worth noting is Amazon's 4-Star store in Soho (72 Spring St, New York, NY 10012), which curates a selection of products rated four stars or higher by Amazon customers.
Sephora 34th Street
Cosmetics brand Sephora's largest store houses more than 13,000 products and a wealth of in-store technology.
Interactive screens blend with Sephora's black and white colour palette, all brightly lit. Tablet devices guide customers to their ideal shade of foundation, with links to a 'skincare IQ test' to measures skin moisture levels with a handheld machine.
Augmented reality (AR) mirrors allow customers to virtually try on looks if they have don't time for an online appointment with a beauty advisor.
Sephora x Google – a prominent collaboration with the online search giant - integrates shopping and beauty video tutorials via the Google Home Hub. Customers can play with the devices in store (and also purchase if they wish). Meanwhile, customisation is on offer here too, with a desk that allows shoppers to have perfume bottles engraved with a personal message.
Sephora 112 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001
Nike House of Innovation 000
This futuristic warehouse space feels more like a cross between a museum and a laboratory than it does a shop. Store assistants wear white lab coats. Plain white trainers are displayed under glass to show the stages of designing them, from the famous Nike tick to the shade of the laces.
Customers can book onto a masterclass session to experiencethis process, in a glass room, personalising their own trainers while an audience of shoppers looks in through the clear walls.
The rest of the 6,317 sq m (68,000 sq ft) space is dedicated to shoppimg, with a sprinkling of technology to make the customer experience as seamless as possible. However, most of this technology is out of sight.
On closer inspection there are a few calls to action to download the Nike app. This transforms the experience of the store by providing access to a locker to pick-up online orders, or the ability to scan a shoe to request your size so you can try it on. And if your mission is to just quickly buy a pair of trainers, it is possible to purchase them on the app and walk out of the shop.
Nike House of Innovation 000 650 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Here's a link to our Google Map with all the locations of the above stores. And for more insights, check out the hashtag #ERstoretourNYC on Twitter.


text: HOLIDAY TRENDS such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, don't hold the same weight they did even three or four years ago. The notion of holiday shopping sales offering the best deals is also suspect. Take for example Amazon's annual Prime Day, which occurs each year in July and has successfully created its own unique, recurring sales event and related media cycle. The ubiquity of everyday online shopping and competing deals offered at specific points-in-time has resulted in a loss of demand for and lesser need to focus all online sales promotions on one specific shopping day such as Cyber Monday. With online deals beginning to show up days or weeks before the holidays, and extending well into mid-December, Cyber Monday seems to be transitioning more to a Cyber November, or even a Cyber Everyday mindset. For retailers hyping up their 2017 Cyber Monday deals - it's time to take a step back and reevaluate what you can be doing now for this new Cyber Everyday mindset. Blame the Kids Generational differences are causing major shifts in the popularity of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals as well. According to a recent study by Natural Insight, a workforce management company, 88 percent of consumers ages 4559 plan to shop in stores this year and 80 percent of consumers age 18-29 plan to make purchases in brick-and-mortar locations from November through December. However, the survey also revealed only 15 percent of shoppers plan to shop on Black Friday itself. Many feel that they can get the same deals that the store flyers advertise from the comfort of their own couch without having to brave the crowds and frenzy that can come with Black Friday sales floors. Understanding the "Me Channel" Even with store traffic in decline in recent years, eMarketer noted that foot traffic was down 12.3 percent in November and December 2016 compared to previous averages - there is hope for the brick-and-mortar store. Consumers are still going. The difference is that now, they are looking for an in-store shopping experience that offers them something unique from what they get online. Retailers need to quickly grab the attention of these in-store customers with the convenient experience they desire, or run the risk of falling prey to showrooming. This is even more important during the holiday season when consumers are more prone to mission shopping with a planned list. Another shift in the nature of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales is the actual products and services that con- Eighty-eight percent of consumers ages 45-59 plan to shop in-store this year. sumers seek. Increasingly, shoppers are looking to buy experiences more than traditional gift items. Research from The Journal of Positive Psychology showed that "people enjoy greater well-being from life experiences and consider them to be a better use of money." Following this mindset, there is an expected surge in the purchase of subscription services (e.g., Birchbox or Lootcrate) and experiential giving (e.g., gifting a cooking class or a trip) projected for 2017's holiday season. These experiential gifts are luring customers out of stores and onto the web, which is fostering the Cyber Everyday mentality of the modern day shopper, especially Millennials, who value experiences over goods. Rolling with the Changes History, and now, data, tell retailers that Black Friday is here to stay for the long haul even if it changes its form over time. The hyped phenomenon of Cyber Monday, on the other hand, may be losing momentum. The rise of e-commerce, generational differences, shifts in shopping behaviors and increases in experiential gift giving are all factors. The holiday shopping season will always be a unique time for retailers, but the consumer mindset has shifted from single-day buying frenzies into a weekslong journey of seasonal discounts both online and in store. Retailers who remain fluid, adaptive and frictionless will be able to survive and thrive by meeting consumers' shopping demands and preferences. O Bart DeFoor is a principal consultant at North Highland with more than 18 years of consulting experience with the last 10 years concentrating on the retail industry. He has a proven track record of delivering value in the in-store environment, merchandising, and marketing space for big-box retailers, and is a sought after resource in the areas of category management, assortment planning and product merchandising. November/December 2017 RETAIL-MERCHANDISER.COM 11http://www.RETAIL-MERCHANDISER.COM


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The easiest way to make sure you get the vitamins and minerals you need is to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement. A high quality multivitamin acts as a nutritional insurance policy, providing a wide range of essential nutrients that the body needs to stay healthy. Basic nutrition comes in many forms such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, and phytonutrients extracted from plants. Essentials (Without Iron) is a high potency multivitamin and mineral formula without iron that contains optimal levels of all the most important nutrients the body needs to perform at peak levels.
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Common Siding Repair in Parkville MO Issues a Homeowner May Experience
Making sure the outside of home stays appealing is important. One of the first things a person will notice about a home is what type of exterior covering it has. There are some different exterior coverings on the market, which can make finding the right one a bit difficult.
For years, homeowners have used vinyl siding due to its appeal and durability. Over time, there are some Siding Repair in Parkville MO issues a homeowner may have to deal with. Here are some of those issues and what needs to be done to fix them properly.
Problems With the Siding Warping or Buckling
Among the most common problems, a person may have with their siding is warping or buckling. The best way to detect this problem early on is by inspecting it on a regular basis. If a person starts to notice that their siding is bowing out a bit, calling in professionals to take a look is a must.
Generally, this problem will be caused by drastic temperature changes and even installation mistakes. By hiring a professional, a homeowner can get their damaged siding fixed in no time. The professionals will remove the warped pieces of siding and reattach new pieces.
Siding Cracks are Quite Common
If a homeowner starts to notice big cracks in their siding, the first thing they need to do is call in a professional to help them out. Often the only way to fix this issue is by completely replacing the siding. Professionals will be able to offer homeowner guidance regarding the type of replacement siding to get.
Attempting to do this type of work alone will usually lead to big problems in the long run. The money paid to professionals for this type of help will be worth it in the long run.
Before hiring Siding Repair in Parkville MO professionals, a homeowner will have to do a great deal of research. The team at Ameristar Roofing can get this type of work done with ease. Call them or Browse our website to get more information about the work they can perform.


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The Kidneys and How They Work
the cure of the whole."
A kidney problem may never happen to you. Many people go through life without ever suffering a kidney problem. But anyone who has had to live with kidney stones, a chronic kidney infection, or kidney cancer knows how such conditions can impact your living.
Chronic kidney disease is a growing health problem in the United States. Approximately 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease. The United States Renal Data Systems 2009 Annual Data Report determined that 15.1% of all adults above the age of 20 years have chronic kidney disease. Thus, 1 in 7 individuals has kidney disease. There were over 570,000 persons on dialysis or who had received kidney transplants in 2009.
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs with brownish-red in color each about the size of a fist, located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage.
There's one on each side. They get their blood supply through the renal arteries directly from the aorta and send blood back to the heart via the renal veins to the vena cava. (The term "renal" is derived from the Latin name for kidney.)
The kidneys process about 200 liters of blood every day and produce about 2 liters of urine. Each kidney weighs about ¼ pound.
The nephrons are the heart and soul of the kidney. They are the functional filters that make everything work and there are approximately one million of them in each kidney. Considering that each kidney is about the size of a fist that should give you an idea of how small a nephron actually is. You are born with your total complement of nephrons. No new ones can ever be formed - ever. You can never regenerate lost capacity. It is true, however, that the loss of nephrons can compensated for without new ones being formed because the kidneys can redistribute workload, but again, only up to a point. For example, if you remove one kidney, the nephrons in the remaining kidney will increase their workload to make up the difference. That is why you can survive with just one kidney; that is why you can donate a kidney. But this ability to compensate is not infinite. There is a limit, and as you cross that limit through the plugging up of nephrons with kidney stones or the killing of nephrons from diabetes, you will start to get sicker and sicker as you progressively lose kidney function. Therefore, it is vital that you keep as much kidney function as possible as you age and that you maximize the ability of nephrons to perform at peak levels for as long as possible.
Each nephron is made of a glomerulus and a tubule. The glomerulus is a miniature filtering or sieving device while the tubule is a tiny tube like structure attached to the glomerulus. In non-technical terms, a nephron consists of the blood vessels that carry blood into and out of the nephron, a ball where the primary filtering takes place, and a series of tubules and ducts that both finish the filtering and then reverse direction and pump important bio-chemicals back into the bloodstream to achieve homeostasis.
The main function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess water from the blood. The waste products are generated from normal metabolic processes including the breakdown of active tissues, ingested foods, and other substances. The kidneys allow consumption of a variety of foods, drugs, vitamins and supplements, additives, and excess fluids without worry that toxic by-products will build up to harmful levels. When blood flows to the kidney, sensors within the kidney decide how much water to excrete as urine, along with what concentration of electrolytes. For example, if a person is dehydrated from exercise or from an illness, the kidneys will hold onto as much water as possible and the urine becomes very concentrated. When adequate water is present in the body, the urine is much more dilute, and the urine becomes clear. This system is controlled by renin, a hormone produced in the kidney that is part of the fluid and blood pressure regulation systems of the body.
As the first step in filtration, blood is delivered into the glomeruli by microscopic leaky blood vessels called capillaries.
Here, blood is filtered of waste products and fluid while red blood cells, proteins, and large molecules are retained in the capillaries. In addition to wastes, some useful substances are also filtered out. The filtrate collects in a sac called Bowman's capsule.
The tubules are the next step in the filtration process. The tubules are lined with highly functional cells which process the filtrate, reabsorbing water and chemicals useful to the body while secreting some additional waste products into the tubule.
The kidneys are connected to the urinary bladder by tubes called ureters. Urine is stored in the urinary bladder until the bladder is emptied by urinating. The bladder is connected to the outside of the body by another tube like structure called the urethra. The substances the kidneys remove includes the breakdown products of harmful compounds that get into our bodies one way or another. The waste and extra water become urine. The flow of urine is important function of our bodies as toxins are released through the urine. Our bodies need to empty themselves of waste and excess fluids or they can build up inside of us. When the kidneys are not functioning effectively, urine flow can be affected and toxins can remain in our bodies instead of being excreted.
- Removing waste by-products from the blood after digestion, muscle activity, and exposure to chemicals or medications and make urine
- Maintaining a balance of water and concentration of minerals, such as sodium, potassium, and phosphorus, in your blood
- Producing certain hormones related to keeping bones strong and healthy, and helping with the creation of certain red blood cells. When it fails to perform these functions, a kidney problem arises.
- Calcitriol, active form of vitamin D, which regulates absorption of calcium and phosphorus from foods, promoting formation of strong bone.
- Erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Special cells in the kidney monitor the oxygen concentration in blood. If oxygen levels fall, erythropoietin levels rise and the body starts to manufacture more red blood cells.
- Renin, which regulates blood volume and blood pressure.
Two healthy kidneys give us more renal function than we need. Some people are born with only one kidney and lead normal, healthy lives, as do the many people who donate kidneys to relatives or friends.


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Four more dengue cases reportedJuly 11, 2013
Karachi: Four more dengue viral fever cases were reported in Karachi, said Dengue Surveillance Cell Sindh on Thursday.
Focal Person for Dengue Surveillance Cell Sindh Dr M Shakeel Aamir Mullick said that a total of 416 dengue fever cases have been reported in Sindh province since January 2013, out of them 405 were reported in Karachi alone, while 11 were in rest of province.
He said three dengue patients expired in Karachi this year so far. Mullick said that eight dengue patients were still admitted to different hospitals of the Sindh and four new cases were reported in Karachi on 11th July.
However, four patients were discharged from hospitals after treatment.


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Superfoods for your daily life
Superfoods are full of nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals that offer interesting properties for our health. They are completely natural and allow the body to increase its performance. Depending on the superfood, the advantages for the organism can vary, but above all they help to improve digestion, regulate sleep, prepare the body to resist diseases and the list goes on.
Now that you know how important superfoods are, we're going to recommend some that you should incorporate into your diet.
Superfoods that you should include in your daily meals:
- Maca: Maca is a silver derived from the mountains of Peru, rich in nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants. It has the ability to regulate hormone levels and increase energy levels. There are even studies that show that it prevents fertility problems. We can find it in the market in powder form, being very practical to use in shakes.
- Spirulina: The main peculiarity of this superfood is that it has 65% protein composition. Most foods do not even reach 27%. In addition to helping us to increase the daily energy level, it also manages to maintain bacterial balance, reinforces the body's defenses and detoxifies it. It also improves the immune system in general.
- Chia: Chia seeds include calcium, potassium, fiber, phosphorus, manganese and other important minerals. And it tastes like nuts! Many athletes include them in sports drinks to strengthen the body's energy. It also helps to satisfy hunger, so it is ideal to lose a few extra pounds.
- Cocoa: You have to be very careful with industrial chocolate, milk chocolate and other derivatives. The cocoa that is really good for the body is pure dark chocolate (+ 70% cocoa). It can give you energy for your day, in addition to having a high antioxidant power.
- Goji berries: Goji berries are also antioxidants, having the ability to improve the digestive processes of the body, the defensive system, the bloodstream, even our intellect. In addition, they are a good source of vitamin C.
- Hemp seeds: And we finish with this superfood, being a source of very nutritious vegetables. They involve almost 50% protein, in addition to providing Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. They also represent a good source of fiber.
Bring these superfoods to your diet, in a balanced way, and you will see how your life quality improves. If you need more information or want to put yourself in the hands of a professional do not hesitate to take a look at our trusted professionals.
Include superfoods in your day and your health will improve.
Equipo Meaning
In Meaning we want to discover all the different paths that connect with our personal growth and wellbeing. Only through exploration can we find the best version of ourselves.


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Business Directory
Rocky Mountain Jeep Rental at Pleasant View Resort
549 S Gunnison Ave
Lake City
Late model 2 & 4 door Colorado Mountain Edition Jeep Wranglers and 2 seat and 4 seat RZRs. Take an unforgettable trip over the Alpine Loop and neighboring vistas. Visit Colorado's most spectacular sights: American Basin, Cinnamon & Engineer Pass, Animas Forks, Silverton, Carson & Whitmore Falls. Ghost towns and incredible views abound and our 4x4s will get you here. All of our Jeeps are automatic transmission, air conditioned, lifted and have upgraded mountain tires. Prompt, friendly service.
Located in: Jeep & OHV Rentals


text: About Amora Hotel Riverwalk 649, Bridge Road, RichmondMelbourne, 3121 Imagine cruising up the Yarra and arriving in style at Amora Riverwalk. Marry in the gardeand relax with guests afterwards in the spectacular fairy-lit marquee. Amora Riverwalk is a truly spectacular venue for your wedding and reception and can cater for up to 200 guests in the all weather marquee, or elegant function rooms overlooking the gardens and river. Amora Hotel, Riverwalk, Melbourne situated on the crest of the city and overlooking the Yarra River provides the perfect setting for your special day. We offer a range of function rooms and catering options for wedding receptions. Surrounded by lush plants and overlooking the parklands and Yarra River, our clear marquee is the perfect setting for a relaxed garden luncheon. For a more formal evening reception the fairy lights, which line the ceiling, create a magical atmosphere for your special night. Our contemporary Bridge and Yarra Room with a parquetry dance floor offers an elegant setting for a larger formal wedding reception, whilst for a more intimate reception the Park Room is ideal. The parklands overlooking the river, complete with rotundas, makes a picturesque setting for a more informal ceremony and garden photo shoot. Experience Weddings the way they should be…….. Stress-free, Affordable and Unforgettable We have three different rooms that cater for different numbers of guests. The maximum in one room seating 130 guests for dinner Our all weather, fairy lit Marquee can be set up and personalised "your" way We offer a variety of wedding packages to suit your needs, plated, cocktail and buffet. The rotunda's in O'Connell Reserve our Park Room or Marquee are perfect for wedding ceremonies as well. Accommodation is included for the Bride & Groom. Special accommodation rates are available for family and friends. We are happy to cater for Wedding Receptions below fifty guests Upcoming Wedding Fairs Find out when the next Wedding Fair at Amora Hotel Riverwalk is


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Transport and Infrastructure Minister Mehmet Cahit Turhan, Istanbul Bosporus will pass through the tunnel in the Great Istanbul Tunnel, reported that the work of the final stage.
Turhan, TRANSIST 11. In his speech at Istanbul Transportation Congress and Fair, he pointed out that transportation is one of the most important sectors which affect the economic development and welfare of the countries today.
Advanced transport systems; Turhan pointed out that it offers social-economic opportunities and benefits to people as well as facilitating accessibility to production areas, markets and investments; intense population growth, steps that push the boundaries of science and technology; stressed that low cost, high capacity, faster, safer and more comfortable transportation needs make it compulsory all over the world.
As a government for this and similar reasons, starting from the day they start to serve as a strategic sector indicating that the Turhan, said:
Ir For us, the issue has two aspects, human and commercial. If we look at the issue from a human point of view, our population has exceeded 80 million and the majority of this population lives in cities. Migration from village to city in 1950s increased exponentially over a short period of time. This situation started to serve as a basis for many socioeconomic problems especially in cities after the 1980. 1980s can also be the beginning of our country's opening years. As is the case in many areas, the transport and infrastructure area has unfortunately made progress beyond the dynamics. Of course, we paid for it as a nation, we paid as the state, we pay. Elbette
That no economic sense for the international dimension of the sector in Turkey Turhan striking, referring to Turkey's geographical location advantages of hosting so, history can not be told when thrown at the right moves for these benefits. Turhan, Turkey is too heavy to pay the price for it, said the strategic issues as they approached the government since the beginning of these reasons.
Tarih We have written history in the transportation area "
Mehmet Cahit Turhan, the last 16 years in the field of transportation has made significant progress by specifying, found the following evaluations:
A We have written history in the transportation area. Moreover, we realized all this with the strength and support of our nation despite global crises, regional chaos and the calamity attacks in our country. Which country, no matter how advanced, no matter what until production makes science in how scroll will show if it shows how much effort in marketing their products may, if there are problems in the transport system there in social life, in business, there is a problem in the economy. From this point of view, we have invested 16 billion liras in the last 515 year to strengthen our transportation infrastructure and integrate with the world. Biz
Turhan stated that there is a privilege of highways in these investments, and 2017 of the domestic passenger transportation as of 89 and 90 of the freight transportation were made by road.
Turhan, with studies indicating that Turkey's progress on the road divided the 80 percent of road traffic, the words continued as follows:
N 6 is a thousand kilometers of divided road, 26 thousand 400 kilometers have reached. Thus, 39 of our total road network was divided way. In addition, we reduced life losses in traffic accidents. In the rapid urbanization process in our country, a rapid increase in vehicle ownership and hence the increase in mobility increase the usage of motorways and traffic volume on highways. As a matter of fact, in the last 30 year, vehicle-kilometer value increased by 15, ton-kilometer value was 145, passenger-kilometer value increased by 73. These figures clearly show the accuracy of the studies we have carried out on the highways. Either we, like the previous administrations, would have turned out to be very dire, if we had the understanding that 'the wheel will revolve'. Biz
"We have reached the highway tunnel length 50 to 460 kilometers"
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Turhan, Turkey is located in the north-south axis today, pointing out that it came at a critical crossroads 3 continent united position in the world, Turkey's transportation infrastructure; reported that they have re-planned the east-west axes as well as the north-south axes.
Turhan, east-west highway corridors 8 thousand 524 kilometer-long section of the 7 thousand 637 kilometers opened to traffic, 333 km continues to work on the construction work, and the remaining 554 kilometers, the project preparation and preparation of the preparation process was passed.
18 the resulting 12 thousand 146 kilometer-long north-south corridor from the axle 10 thousand 314 kilometers of the physical and geometric improvement of the completion of the ongoing work at the thousand 108 kilometers, while the 724 kilometers Turhan indicating that the design and procurement work, "We delivered Road tunnel length from the 50 kilometers 460 kilometers. If the 524 is 171 pieces in kilometers, there is still work going on in our country. Ül
Turhan, in his speech, gave information about global-scale projects such as Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, Osmangazi Bridge and Eurasia Tunnel.
Turhan also gave the following information regarding the Great Istanbul Tunnel project:
The Istanbul Bosphorus will pass through the underground. With this project, we will realize a first in the world. In one pass, in a single tunnel, we'll build the 3-story tunnel. The Bosphorus Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge will be significantly reduced by this tunnel. 6,5 million people will use 9 different rail system, will be connected by express subway.
The 30 station will be in the XnumX-kilometer-long İncirli-Gayrettepe-Altunizade-Sogutlucesme line. Moreover, this giant tunnel will be fully integrated with Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport and Altunizade-Ataşehir-Sabiha Gökçen lines. Thus, our citizens will be able to reach Istanbul Airport from Sabiha Gokcen Airport in less than an hour without changing the train by using the Istanbul Grand Tunnel. When our works are completed, all districts of Istanbul will be connected by metro.


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01 – "The Black Stallion / Fire & The Legend" – The Black Stallion – Carmine Coppola
I just love the opening fanfare for this track. It's almost of a stature that it could be used as an Olympic Flame fanfare. The latter half of the cue features cimbalom, one of my favourite instruments.
02 – "Main Theme" – Reconciled Through The Christ – Nathaniel Scott
Very synthy sounding score to an independent film, but it's the thematic material of the theme that is the attraction and the actual sound of the synths becomes secondary.
03 – "The Same Old Story" – Wichita Town – Hans J. Salter
Up to hearing this I had associated Salter with his horror score. This score here for the late '50s TV show is about as western in style as western music can get. And it's a great listen. A great re-recording from around the same time as the music was composed for the show. Light and airy music.
04 – "The World Needs You Now" – Transformers: Dark of The Moon – Steve Jablonsky
Not the highlight score of the series this one: a bit to industrial for me on the whole. But when the familiar themes are crow-barred into this track it raises the music out of the average.
05 – "Someone Has To Pay" – Derelict – Moritz Schmittat
One of the quieter episodes of this short score and it's a lovely soaring piece featuring orchestra and chorus.
06 – "Amália Tends To The Poor" – Amália – Nuno Malo
A short cue this one but it is long enough to show off how beautiful it is. Lovely acoustic guitar over a sea of strings.
07 – "The Attic" – The Red Canvas – James Peterson
I like the way the music builds in this short track from quiet beginnings to louder and ending with a strong emotional statement.
08 – "The Next Day" – Anonyma: Eine Frau in Berlin – Zbigniew Preisner
Starting off with a string ostinato, there's a strong statement of a theme that I consider to be one of Preisner's strongest. I am not as familiar with this as I should be and I could feel myself hoping the theme would be played when I began to hear the piano enter the track.
09 – "Bond Smells A Rat" – Diamonds Are Forever – John Barry
One of the quintessential "Bond in danger" pieces this one. Blaring brass with orchestra ticking down the time. It even has time for a sultry sax solo in the middle.
10 – "Firing Range" – Waiting For "Superman" – Christophe Beck
Great, but bare, track that is somehow slightly unsettling. Pizzicato strings hurry you along with scratchy low-register strings add to the awkward feel to the cue.


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Lebanon man waives hearing in northside shooting
A 19-year-old Lebanon man waived a preliminary hearing Thursday on charges related to the discharge of a handgun that wounded a 15-year-old boy on Nov. 1.
James Coward, of 302 E. Weidman St., waived the hearing. He's been charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, receiving stolen property and five counts of recklessly endangering another person.
Police said Coward was handling a .22-caliber revolver inside his home when it discharged, hitting the 15-year-old boy in the upper left thigh. Four other people were in the immediate area of where the gun was discharged, police said. The teen was released from WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital a day after being wounded.
Police were dispatched around 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 1 for a possible gunshot victim being loaded into a vehicle.
Police stopped the vehicle at North Second Avenue and East Lehman Street and found the wounded 15-year-old boy. Coward was also in the van, police said. Coward initially told officers that the 15-year-old was shot while they were walking in the 100 block of East Scull Street, according to a police affidavit.
Police obtained a warrant, searched the home and found a .22-caliber revolver that had been reported stolen, according to the affidavit.


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Job: Administrative Assistants / Receptionists/ Customer Service Reps
Location: Treasure Valley
Volt Workforce Solutions is looking for talented, reliable, and driven individuals that are looking for positions such as Administrative Assistants, Receptionists, Clerical, and/ or Customer Service Representatives to join our workforce. We regularly work with companies from all over the Treasure Valley and strongly believe that our workforce creates the difference that make good companies, great! If you are looking for these types of positions, apply today!
Responsibilities include:
As a Volt employee, you can expect the highest level of support. We have a long-standing tradition of developing lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with our employees. Contact a Volt representative by applying to this posting online for immediate consideration. Submit your resume today!
To learn more about Volt, please visit: http://www.volt.com and to see more of our job postings, please visit: http://jobs.volt.com
Volt is an Equal Opportunity Employer.


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One big point of discussion at Facebook's F8 Conference was a new app called Facebook Analytics. The new tool, when officially released, will help the advertising staff at Ad House to more accurately track visitors across mobile apps and websites, a tracking tool that is already available to us in most of our digital advertising. This new depth of information will allow us to analyze funnel activity, segment consumer groups based on varying characteristics, and analyze groups of people who act in certain ways, for example, purchasing behaviors.
Not only will this app provide greater insight for social media marketing approaches, but it will also once again confirm the lifetime value of Facebook advertising, and help Ad House to more fully optimize the platform, re-engage customers through dynamic remarketing techniques, and more fully utilize the platform in order to net greater returns for our clients.
Interested in developing social media marketing and Facebook ads for your business? We offer free, no-obligation consultations, and are always available to chat and apply the insights we've gained through decades of experience in advertising to help your business succeed. Let's get started today!