Chambers Ireland Weekly Digest-16th July 2018
- Consultation on Irish Water’s Non-Domestic Tariff Harmonisation
The CRU has published Irish Water’s proposals for a new Non-Domestic Tariff Framework which will apply to Irish Water’s non-domestic (business) customers. The purpose of the Framework is to generate a more harmonised suite of tariffs for non-domestic water and wastewater customers.
The Framework will set out the ‘rules’ for how tariffs are designed and how customers will be transitioned to their new tariffs over time. Irish Water hopes that a more harmonised approach will benefit customers in terms of transparency, simplicity and equity.
The CRU wishes to seek views from interested parties on each of Irish Water’s proposals before the CRU makes a decision on the tariff design and transitional aspects of the new Framework.
To view the relevant information, please visit https://www.cru.ie/document_group/establishing-irish-waters-non-domestic-tariff-framework/
2.Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation – Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund – Call for Expressions of Interest
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation have launched a Call for Expressions of Interest under the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund.
Disruptive technology is that which has the potential to significantly alter markets and their functioning and significantly alter the way that businesses operate. While it involves a new product or process, it can also involve the emergence of a new business model. Disruption is about the combination of technology and business model innovation.
Two thematic areas in particular may be of interest:
Energy, Climate Action and Sustainability – Decarbonising the Energy System and Sustainable Living
Food – Food for Health, Smart and Sustainable Food Production and Processing
More details on the call can be found here.
3.Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment – €500m Climate Action Fund – Call for Applications
The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten T.D., has launched the first ‘Call for Applications’ under the Government’s new €500million Climate Action Fund, which will support initiatives from the public and private sector that will help Ireland reach its climate and energy targets.
The €500million Fund is a central element of the Government’s National Development Plan 2018-2027.
The focus of the Climate Fund will be to support a broad range of projects that, in the absence of support from the Climate Action Fund, would not otherwise be developed. This will include projects that demonstrate innovation and capacity building.
The deadline for applications is October 1st 2018.
For full details of the Climate Action Fund, click here.
4.Enterprise Ireland – Competitive Start Fund – Marine & Agritech
The purpose of Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Start Fund is to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capacity to succeed in global markets.
The fund is designed to enable those companies to reach key technical and commercial milestones.
This call for applications focuses on the Marine & Agtech Sectors and is open to applications active in these sectors including the following sub sectors:
Marine Sector: boat and infrastructure building, marine renewable energy, bio-pharma opportunities, sensors and IOT applications, financial services associated with the sector, components, composite repair, parts manufacture, marine services, other engineering and technical activities.
Agtech Sector: Individual technologies or a combination of technologies related to farm equipment, weather, seed optimization, fertilizer and crop inputs, irrigation, remote sensing (including drones), farm management, and agricultural big data.
For further information on these funding calls, how to apply for them and the application deadlines, click here.
5.Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation – Brexit Preparedness Notices
Efforts are currently underway to reach an agreement to ensure the withdrawal of the UK from the EU occurs with minimum disruption and to put in place a framework for a future relationship which will enable the closest possible EU-UK relationship post Brexit.
However, the UK’s notification of its intention to withdraw from the EU has created significant uncertainties. The European Commission has therefore sought to clarify what the situation will be for a number of business sectors in the event that no agreement is reached to mitigate the impacts of the UK’s withdrawal.
Notices have been issued in respect of industrial products, company law, trademarks, auditing and import and export licenses as well as a range of other areas. A list of the notices published to date are available to view on the Commission’s website at the following link: European Commission Brexit Preparedness
The Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation (DBEI) is encouraging firms to review these notices and consider relevant actions that may be required to mitigate any potential negative impacts that may arise for them in terms of Brexit.
If you have any queries regarding these Brexit Preparedness Notices or the industrial sector which your business operates in, with regards to preparing for Brexit,
please contact our EU & International Affairs Manager Emma Kerins, via her email address: Emma.Kerins@chambers.ie
6.Commission Rules of Origin Questionnaire and Test Tool
The European Commission has released an online test tool and questionnaire, aimed at exporters, that has been designed to give information to operators and to help address their needs in relation to Rules of Origin.
The below link will give you access to the anonymous questionnaire and the test version of the online tool. It will take approx. 10-15 minutes to complete the form.
http://madb.europa.eu/madb/indexPubli.htm
After filling in the questionnaire you are asked to try the test version of a ‘decision tree’. This ‘tree’ is a draft tool to aid EU exporters in determining whether their products comply with the Rules of Origin set out in our FTAs.
The questionnaire will be available online until 31 July 2018.
7.Save the Date: European Parliament of Enterprises 2018
The European Parliament of Enterprises (EPE), hosted by Eurochambres every two years, is scheduled to take place in the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, the 10th of October 2018. More information on the event will be circulated in the coming weeks.
Several Chambers have sent delegates to the EPE in the past and their Chambers have benefitted because of their participation.
If you have any questions about the event, please contact emma.kerins@chambers.ie