Chambers’s Ireland Weekly Digest: 10th July 2017
- Peninsula HR – Guide on Accrual of Public Holidays While on Different Types of Leave
Unsure about how to handle situations where an employee’s leave falls on a public holiday?
What about different types of employment?
Read Peninsula’s handy guide to help you available online: https://www.peninsulagrouplimited.com/ie/accrual-public-holidays-different-types-leave/
- PAYE Modernisation
See attached Revenue information poster for employers on the changes to the PAYE system to be introduced in January 2019.
- EU-Japan Trade Deal – Benefits of Economic Partnership Agreement
The EU and Japan concluded trade negotiations last week and agreed in principle to a free trade agreement. Please find attached briefing document with details of what was agreed, the benefits for business and the potential benefits for Ireland.
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment – Green Public Procurement Survey
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment need the help of business to complete a survey on green public procurement.
As part of the GPP4Growth Project, the Department are asking stakeholders within different government agencies, local governments and Public Authorities (as suppliers/buyers) and companies (as suppliers of goods and services) to complete a national survey.
This survey will help the Department assess the current status, advantages and opportunities for GPP in Ireland while also allowing them to determine the enabling conditions and obstacles related to GPP implementation across the state.
The survey’s results will provide suggestions and recommendations to help GPP4Growth Project’s partners in addressing their actions towards implementing GPP in every partners region.
The survey for Businesses (suppliers) is here: https://goo.gl/forms/aZhWkQ4pdknniG802
- New Public Procurement Guidelines Launched
Minister of State with special responsibility for public procurement, at the Department of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Patrick O’Donovan T.D. launched the new guidelines and template tender documents by the Office of Government Procurement. The guidelines replace previous guidelines published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and take account of 2014 EU Directives, as implemented in Ireland.
The guidelines will support contracting authorities, including the Office of Government Procurement, the four key sectors (Health, Education, Local Government and Defence), individual Departments, Offices, commercial and non-commercial State bodies, and private entities which are subsidised 50% or more by a public body, when awarding contracts for goods and services.
The new guidelines can be found here
The updated template documents can be found here
http://ogp.gov.ie/templates-2/
- Leaving Certificate Grading System Changes
The Department of Education and Skills would like to draw employers attention to changes to the Leaving Certificate grading System being introduced this year. The Department of Education and Skills has introduced a new 8 point Leaving Certificate grading scale, replacing the old 14 point scale. The Leaving Certificate results, issuing in August 2017, will be the first set of results for which the new grading scale will apply.
Please find information leaflet here outlining the changes between the old and new systems to help familiarise employers with the grading system in advance of job application from school leavers of 2017. Further information can be found at www.transition.ie
- Trade News- Applications for New Round of Tariff Suspension/ Quota Schemes
On the 1st July, The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has today (1st July 2017) welcomed the new round of the tariff suspension/quota schemes and is calling for applications from manufacturers in the chemicals, microelectronic and related sectors. The tariff suspension scheme offers the possibility for such companies to import raw materials, components or intermediate products from outside the European Union free from tariff duty, if the item cannot be sourced in the EU.
The tariff quota scheme is designed to address shortages in the availability of required materials within the EU and can be applied for in the same way as suspensions.
Closing date and time for the receipt of the next round of applications is 5.30p.m. on Friday, 28th July 2017. Applications should be sent by e-mail to tariffschemes@djei.ie (Word format only) and posted to the Department at the address below. Please note that late or incomplete applications will not be accepted by the Department.
- ICC World Chambers Federation Newsletter
The latest newsletter from the ICC World Chambers Federation is now available online here
- SEAI Smart Lighting Grant
Do you want to reduce your energy costs and become more sustainable?
The Smart Lighting Grant is designed for small business like you to save on lighting energy costs. Companies who upgrade to energy efficient lighting could see saving of 50-90% on their energy bill.
To help finance this upgrade, SEAI are providing a grant to cover up to 40% of the costs of switching to energy efficient lighting.
Not only can you save between 50-90% of your lighting energy costs, but you will also be joining a community of sustainable businesses looking to operate smarter and more sustainably.
Small businesses with less than 50 employees, located in the Republic of Ireland, in the following sectors are eligible to apply; fitness centres, retailers, jewellers, hotels and B&Bs, pharmacies and nursing homes.
You can find out more here http://ow.ly/eJDM30d6VDt