Results 61-80 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Loan Guarantee Scheme (19 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: As I outlined to the House on several occasions in recent months, most recently on 2 December 2010 in reply to Question No. 98, my officials are working with their colleagues in the Department of Finance, the Credit Review Office, Enterprise Ireland and Forfás to address access to credit issues for viable SMEs, including the option of a loan guarantee scheme to assist the working capital...

Loan Guarantee Scheme (19 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Deputy for his acknowledgement that our priority is to protect taxpayers' money. We also want to ensure that the banks which have made a commitment of €12 billion up to 2012 meet that commitment. Mr. John Trethowan, who is leading the group that is working on a credit guarantee scheme, admits there is a sector within the broader SME sector comprising start-up, high-technology...

Loan Guarantee Scheme (19 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: The review group met in November and December last and another meeting is due. In the interim I have asked Enterprise Ireland to work with the banks. We are looking, for instance, at mechanisms that can be used by the banks to make use of the funds that are available under the European Investment Fund. That is also subject to review. I cannot give a date when the review will be completed....

Enterprise Support Services (19 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: The existing examinership process is effective and fair for companies of all sizes, large and small. The examinership provisions are contained primarily in the Companies (Amendment) Act 1990 and are widely recognised to have operated successfully in the two decades since their introduction, a period which has seen both sides of the economic cycle. The fundamental principle of the...

Enterprise Support Services (19 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand where the Deputy is coming from and I too am anxious that the process be expedited as much as possible. However, there is an important element that we cannot ignore, which is maintaining an impartial involvement. The courts afford that and thus ensure there is confidence in the process. As I said, proposals that have been submitted to the Department in regard to a so-called...

Enterprise Support Services (19 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: While the Department does not keep statistics on the number of examinerships, the Insolvency Journal website has noted a dramatic decrease in 2010 in the number of companies seeking protection from creditors by placing themselves in examination.

Job Creation (19 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: The role of my Department is to ensure that we have the right policies in place that will support and grow our enterprise base to facilitate job creation and job retention. The National Recovery Plan, published by the Government on 24 November 2010, provides a blueprint for Ireland's return to sustainable economic growth. It identifies the areas of activity, which will provide increased...

Job Creation (19 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: We should address three issues concerning job creation. The first one is to provide sufficient capital to agencies so they have money to expend and ensure that targets are met. IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the enterprise boards have sufficient cash and are satisfied that they can meet their targets given the capital provided. Second, the trade strategy itself outlines into 2015 the...

Job Creation (19 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am glad the Deputy raised that issue because our strategy targets emerging economies in India, Brazil, China and the Middle East. I have visited three such countries on trade missions. I was due to visit Brazil but could not do so at the time. We are targeting those markets, however. To this end, I am calling in all the ambassadors of emerging economies to make them aware of our purpose...

Illegal Downloading of Copyright Material (18 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Deputy John Cregan for raising this extremely important issue and assure him that it will get my priority attention. As regards the issue of illegal downloading of copyright material on the Internet, the first point I would make is that rights' holders of such copyright material already have a legal remedy to pursue anyone downloading such material. Under existing legislation, any...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (18 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: During 2010, IDA supported 985 companies. I have been informed by IDA that total employment in IDA Ireland supported companies increased to 138,968 in 2010. IDA Ireland client companies created a total of 10,897 new jobs in 2010, while IDA Ireland supported companies lost 9,545 jobs leaving an overall increase in IDA's total employment portfolio of 1,352. In the time available, it is not...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (18 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: The following table provides the names, job titles, salary scale and expenses of each non-civil service advisor employed by this Department in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011. Travel and subsistence expenses shown on the table include expenses incurred on official business at home and abroad, with the exclusion of air fares. No expense claims have been received for 2011 to date. ...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (18 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425, 426 and 428 together. In the time available, it has not been possible for my officials to compile all of the information requested by the Deputy in respect of foreign ministerial travel and foreign travel by officials of my Department and its Offices. However, I will forward the details to the Deputy in writing as soon as possible. With regard to the...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (18 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: The information requested by the Deputy is set out below. Minister Date Hotel Purpose Cost 2009 Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan TD) 28/7/09 Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick Publication of Mid-West Task Force Report €100 Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan TD) 29/10/09 Clayton Hotel, Galway IDA announcement €79 Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan TD) 5/11/09 Strand Hotel, Limerick Shannon Development announcement...

Written Answers — Charities Regulation: Charities Regulation (18 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's primary role is in implementing the Government's policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job-creation. We also have a remit to ensure fair competition in the marketplace, to promote consumer protection and to support a balanced employment rights regime. Our activity is, therefore, primarily focused on:...

Written Answers — Charities Regulation: Charities Regulation (18 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: ·facilitating the start-up and growth of indigenous enterprises,

Written Answers — Charities Regulation: Charities Regulation (18 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: ·increasing exports,

Written Answers — Charities Regulation: Charities Regulation (18 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: ·improving competitiveness, ·encouraging innovation and growth through investment in research and development, ·promoting fair competition for businesses and consumers, ·upholding company law, ·safeguarding the right of workers, including their entitlement to occupational safety and health, and ·facilitating a positive industrial relations environment. In this context, funding provided...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (13 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: All appointments made between 14 December 2010 and 13 January 2011, to bodies under the aegis of my Department are set out below. The Labour Court Body Name of Appointee Remuneration – Salaried Position Labour Court Kevin Duffy - Chairman €176,800 per annum Labour Court Jerry Shanahan - Member €104, 481 per annum Chairman Section 10 (3) of the Industrial Relations Act 1946 provides...

Written Answers — Export Credit Insurance Scheme: Export Credit Insurance Scheme (12 Jan 2011)

Batt O'Keeffe: This issue has recently been thoroughly assessed by my Department. Following the difficulties being experienced by some companies seeking Export Credit Insurance in 2009, my predecessor, the Tánaiste Mary Coughlan TD, arranged that an independent forensic examination of the Export Credit Insurance market in Ireland should be carried out to establish the desirability and merits of a...