Results 181-200 of 260 for speaker:Tony McCormack

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (25 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: 249. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the Government’s strategy to support small and medium-sized businesses; and if he will provide details of any new financial or policy measures planned. [37625/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. In a country like Ireland, where we have 5.4 million people and our competitiveness is so important to us, our natural resources are mainly our agriculture and our people. After that we will have a sharp focus on wind energy in the coming years, but at the moment it is not there. Looking specifically at my area in Offaly, we have lost a number...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: Mr. Gibbons talks about the countries we are competitive with right across Europe, but there are also other countries coming into that competitiveness process with us that have a lower cost base.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: No, but what I am asking Mr. Gibbons is how we can have wage increases that do not affect our competitiveness. In what way can we go about it? I know the witnesses have spoken about productivity and building on productivity but I do not think that is the only answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: Those other competitive countries have natural resources that we do not have, such as an oil and gas, so we have to be very careful with the way we go about this and that we do not price ourselves out of the market. As I said, our natural resources are our people, our agriculture, and hopefully in the future, wind energy. I suppose fishing was in the past, but it is not as big as it was.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: It seems to be ongoing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: I know, and unfortunately we do have to respond to all those outside influences.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: I apologise for hogging the time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: Many people in business would say to me about reducing the cost of living, that the wage increases have contributed hugely to the cost of living and the price of goods and to what is in the shopping basket that most people will look at every day, week in, week out, because that is what they need to live on. They will look at that and a lot of those increases are coming from wage increases.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. The national development plan is probably one of the most important pieces of work we will do over the next few years. It is vital for our economy, country and society in general. It is important we get it right. Will the Minister outline how much is being invested in water and energy infrastructure, nationally and in the midlands? In many...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: Cathaoirleach, can I come in? The development plans are out for revision at the moment. In the case of Offaly County Council, a lot of work is being done on that in the background to try to have it ready for November. However, from speaking to other colleagues, it does not seem to be the case everywhere. It seems to be being pushed out further. This is vital for us to be able to build...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: It needs to be part of the planning.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: Earlier this year, I raised concerns regarding the capitation grant and was told it would be considered in the upcoming budget. With the budget approaching, I want to return to the issue. I have been speaking with school leaders across County Offaly, including St. Broghan's National School, Scoil Mhuire in Tullamore and Offaly School of Special Education. They are managing rising costs...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: 14. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy will next meet. [46860/25]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: The SEAI better energy warmer homes scheme is crucial for tackling climate change and energy poverty but in Offaly and across the country families are waiting up to two years for works to be completed - 12 months for a BER assessment, 14 months for a survey and further delays for retrofitting. Could the Taoiseach outline what steps are being taken, be it increasing the number of assessors...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Child Protection and Family Support: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank Ms Joyce for her opening statement. I thank Ms McDonagh and I know the great work she is doing with the Offaly Traveller Movement. We have been on a couple of committees together. I recognise, as she said earlier, that she has a very good relationship with Tusla. She also has a very good relationship and great working relationship with most or all of the bodies in County Offaly...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Child Protection and Family Support: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Tony McCormack: That is fantastic. I always ask students and young people who come to me and talk about doing college courses and recommendations, can you get a job afterwards and is there something out there for them. How successful were those people in getting employment from the engagement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank Ms Siobhán Finn and Mr. Neil McDonnell for their opening statements. I will concentrate on ISME, but in my next round I will have some questions for the other witnesses. The ISME opening statement does not read well. We are the dearest in some categories. We are second or third in the table for others. Ireland is not at the bottom of any tables in any way, shape, or form...