Results 11,081-11,100 of 12,295 for speaker:Mary Butler

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test Waiting Lists (5 Dec 2017)

Mary Butler: 446. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons on waiting lists for driving tests by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51580/17]

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: I direct my question to both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. On page 81 of the programme for Government it is stated the Government is committed, with Tusla, to providing targeted intervention services for children. The Waterford unit of the ISPCC is being closed on Friday, 1 December. It is manned by 35 volunteers and two full-time staff who take 30,000...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (29 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: 66. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which she plans to address the shortfall in pension payments for persons retiring since 2012 in view of the inequality between persons retiring pre and post 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50505/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Delays (29 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: 60. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the significant time delays for the appeals process in relation to social protection payments which can take six months to be completed. [50504/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business of Joint Committee (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: We are now in public session

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business of Joint Committee (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: I will deal with that matter in private session. Is it agreed that we go into private session? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: I remind members, visitors and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are either switched off completely or left in flight mode for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when left in silent mode. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: I thank the delegates for their remarks. Ms Buckley referred to banking charges. The joint committee is doing quite a body of work on the cost of doing business. We have already decided to hold a meeting in January with the banking federation and the banks as we are hearing a great deal about how difficult it is for some people to access finance and meet the associated costs. We will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: It is interesting that there has been an emphasis on banking today. At our first meeting, there was a huge emphasis on commercial rates. We spent most of the meeting discussing that issue. When I owned a small shop for 17 years, I was a proud member of RGDATA. I compliment RGDATA, NOffLA and the CSNA. It is nice for small independent shops that are not part of a chain like Centra or Spar...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: It needs to be stated that some local authorities are better than others. I am from Waterford. When I was on the council a few years ago there were incentives by Waterford City Council to try to encourage new businesses. It was quite constrained but there were some rates holidays for specific areas. For the first year, there might have been a 12-month holiday, the second, six months and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: There was no excise increase this year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: I understand that but there is stock in hand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: Most consumers do, especially when it comes to cigarettes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: Ms Martyn would you like to make a comment? On a scale of 1 to 5 what is the most difficult thing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: As the Deputy joined us a little late, he may not be aware that we decided to invite representatives of the banks to appear before the committee as we heard a great deal about banking. Does membership of RGDATA or the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association confer any advantages on a smaller retail outlet such as a Londis store in terms of purchasing power? I know Centra stores buy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: I did not realise that RGDATA represented such companies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: I agree wholeheartedly with Senator Reilly. Small shops have a social value. We sold our family business. I remember there was a particular lady who could buy everything in one go but she used to come in seven days per week because I was the only person she spoke to every day. As with the post offices, one can never underestimate the social value of the small shop. Members are very much...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: I thank the Senator. I thank the witnesses for coming here today to engage with the committee. Before we suspend, I invite Senator James Reilly to take the Chair, as we already agreed, because I must vacate it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: In our private session we determined that we would be bringing in representatives of the banking sector and credit unions, because that is a large part of the cost of doing business in this country. We accept that. I wish to ask Mr. Davitt a question about rates. Does he have suggestions as to how he would change the current assessment mechanism to better reflect the huge difference...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Retirements (28 Nov 2017)

Mary Butler: 144. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on progress implementing the recommendation in the interdepartmental report on fuller working lives (details supplied); the public sector employers with which his Department has been in contact on this matter; if in the context of his statement to Dáil Éireann on 20 June 2017 the review has been completed;...