Results 4,901-4,920 of 6,315 for speaker:Gerald Nash

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Water Meters Installation (14 Jan 2015)

Gerald Nash: The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (the Act) applies to Irish Water and all other employers/contractors engaged in activities relating to the installation of water meters and the Health and Safety Authority retains all powers conferred on it by the Act. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 duties are placed on employers in regard to the retention and...

Other Questions: Job Creation (17 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: This is not directly my area of responsibility. The Minister of State, Deputy English, is the expert on this. However, I am aware that Ireland has in the recent past ranked highest in terms of draw down of innovation vouchers from the European Union. Horizon 2020 is a significant element of that, ensuring that Irish companies continue to invest in research and innovation. Having led...

Other Questions: Job Creation (17 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: I thank Deputy Durkan for tabling this question. As he will be aware, Enterprise Ireland is the agency under the aegis of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with responsibility for the development of Irish enterprise - the majority of which can be classified as small and medium sized - thereby deepening Ireland’s footprint in world markets and supporting employment...

Other Questions: Job Creation (17 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: There has been significant infrastructural development throughout the country during the past ten to 15 years or more as a result of the efforts of successive Governments. The various regions are well placed to attract foreign direct investment and ensure that indigenous enterprises can grow. They are also well placed in the context of ensuring that companies can export. In that context,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wage-setting Mechanisms (17 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: The last thing I can be accused of is shying away from my responsibilities to protect the interests of low paid workers by ensuring the jobs we create pay well. We are revising and reframing the legislative framework to ensure we can do this. Since Deputy Paul Murphy arrived in the House a few weeks ago, I have not found him engaging on these issues to ensure we can develop the framework...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (17 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: Manufacturing has been an important sector in Ireland since the 1960s when it was ramped up. However, there has been a noticeable decline in employment in the sector in recent years and, in fact, dating back to the 1980s. There has been a similar trend across the developed world; other industrialised countries such as Germany, the USA, the Netherlands and Korea have experienced similar...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (17 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: There have been increases in manufacturing, particularly in the agri-business and food sectors. There would have been a concern about the patent cliff, but pharma is performing extremely well, too, as we can see in the job announcements made recently. Early in the new year Enterprise Ireland will launch its results for this year and I expect them to be very positive. I do not have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wage-setting Mechanisms (17 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: The OECD Employment Outlook 2014 contains data on the incidence of low and high pay in OECD countries. In this context, the report defines the incidence of low pay as referring to the share of workers earning less than two thirds of median earnings. It ranks Ireland in fourth position, not second, with a figure of 21.8%, behind the United States, Korea and Israel, with figures of 25.3%,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wage-setting Mechanisms (17 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: I certainly support wage rises in profitable companies and where circumstances allow. To answer the Deputy's question concisely about where I stand on the national minimum wage, clearly, we are in the process of setting up the low pay commission. I am in favour of ensuring changes to the national minimum wage on a progressive basis where circumstances allow. While clearly we are creating...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (17 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: As Deputy Calleary knows, the Minister, Deputy Bruton, commissioned a major report on the strategy for the manufacturing sector, which was published in April 2013. The strategy identifies an additional 20,000 jobs that can be created in manufacturing by 2016 and proposes key actions across a range of areas, including access to new funding, management training and support, cost reduction, the...

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (9 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: I agree with the proposers of this motion - and, I think, with all balanced and informed opinion - that the status quois untenable and dangerous. We are also agreed that what is needed is an early resumption of negotiations, with clear parameters and with a specific timetable. I believe in a free, sovereign, independent and democratic Palestine living peacefully side by side with Israel....

Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (9 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: Bertie.

Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (9 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: Commission a report. You would want a strong shelf for your reports.

Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (9 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: You did not build a single house.

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (3 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this issue. The confirmation by Vendata that Lisheen Mine is progressing its phased wind-down of operations at the lead and zinc mines outside Thurles, in accordance with plans agreed with employees in 2009, is of course to be regretted. I appreciate that the closure, although planned well in advance and not unexpected, will have a devastating impact on the...

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (3 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: I appreciate Deputy Lowry's remarks and reiterate the Government's commitment to working with the task force, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and other relevant agencies to ensure we can continue to attract employment and industry to the area. The aim is to address the issues that will emerge after the closure of the Lisheen site. It is an attractive site and I have learned more about it in...

Other Questions: Ministerial Appointments (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: I thank the Deputy for the question. The Construction Contracts Act 2013 seeks to ensure prompt payment practices throughout the construction industry which, as we are all aware, has suffered markedly throughout the economic downturn. It is intended that the legislation will provide easier access to payment for contractors who have carried out work, thus ensuring that those contractors who...

Other Questions: Ministerial Appointments (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: I recently took on responsibility for this legislation and to set up the infrastructure around it. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was responsible for it previously but it was no longer appropriate for that Department to be responsible for it. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, was particularly anxious that this process would be expedited and I...

Other Questions: Retail Sector (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: In regard to Waterford, I am looking forward to visiting the city and county earlier in the New Year with my colleague, Deputy Ciara Conway. During my visits to all areas across the country I will be meeting with retailers. I have a particular interest in trying to support the retail sector given the experience it has had over the past few years. Tomorrow, I will be visiting Carlow and...

Other Questions: Retail Sector (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: The issue of restructuring of debt is one I raise continually with senior banking officials when I have the opportunity to meet with them. As I understand it, Bank of Ireland has restructured 90% of the debt over-hangs to which the Deputy referred, which are obviously not exclusively in the retail sector but across the SME sector. Considerable further work needs to be done. We have...