Results 121-140 of 3,222 for speaker:James O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: The point about private wire is very pertinent. It comes up quite frequently when I visit multinationals or large-scale employers in Cork that ESB Networks seems to have a very obtuse approach, even down to the length of time it allows for applications originally. I am glad to hear that this is a priority for the Department, because, unfortunately, it is a big issue. That is it for my time...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: I thank Deputy Hayes. We now go to Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: I will ask a question as a follow-up to Deputy Gogarty's questions. What is the threshold for a company to be considered by IDA Ireland as a foreign direct investment employer coming into the country and where is the cut-off? Is it the case that it has an excess of a certain number of employees or is it their market threshold? What is the definition of that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: I do not mean to be flippant but you cannot necessarily say that if a farmer in England wants to buy a farm in Ireland, that constitutes foreign direct investment. Where is the cut-off from the Department's point of view? Is it the case that the firm must be of a certain scale, a certain level or a certain financial value before the IDA deals with it? Do any of the witnesses know roughly -...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: The general scheme of thought - this has been raised by quite a few members - is that providing grant aid to people who already have significant financial resources is inflationary or a poor use of taxpayers' money. As a summary, these are a couple of the items raised by members. We will proceed now with our next speaker on the rota, Deputy McCormack.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: That is no problem. For the second round of speakers, Deputy Conway-Walsh has indicated next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: I will be brief and ask this before we proceed to Deputy Hayes. We have much of the skill set in the room here from IDA Ireland on this particular matter. I am conscious IDA Ireland's clustering of different industries has been a huge success. In life sciences, for example, there have been enormous IDA success stories with Carrigtwohill and Little Island in my own constituency. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: It is interesting to get insight into that. Does Mr. Hughes have any comments on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: I have enormous respect for the separation of the roles that the Department and the agencies have to do. It is important not to forget Enterprise Ireland, which is here with us too. We can see the difference between a town that has had success with bringing in an IDA client and one that has not. For example, Panadol is manufactured in Dungarvan and we have seen the spin-offs from that....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: The Senator is going back to Galway very happy tonight. We will go to Deputy Clendennen for his first round and then Deputy Hayes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: I thank the witnesses for their time today. While Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in the room, it would be brilliant for the committee to have the opportunity to do onsite visits to the respective agencies. We will be engaging with the Department and the Minister soon. It is very helpful. The witnesses are most welcome and I know the members here appreciate it. I have a bit of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: Very quickly, if that is all right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: I thank our witnesses for their contributions to today’s meeting, which will be useful when we come to consider whether the committee wishes to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the industrial development (miscellaneous provisions) Bill 2025. We will now suspend before we resume in private session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: General Scheme of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Discussion (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: To be fair to Deputy Conway-Walsh, I was going to raise that point as it is a valid question. I call Senator Crowe.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Provision (25 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 26. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will update the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34607/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 115. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the CMATS and BusConnects projects in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34139/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 132. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on projects in Cork east (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34138/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 251. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on a road project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33776/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 356. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the most appropriate category under which a steel and plant hire company should apply for a critical skills employment permits for a metal fabricator who is a non-EU/EEA national; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33733/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 393. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding modular accommodation for a special class at a school (details supplied); the position regarding application for associated SEN repurposing grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33731/25]