Results 2,921-2,940 of 4,491 for speaker:John Perry

Departmental Expenditure (28 Feb 2012)

John Perry: It is not propaganda.

County Enterprise Boards (29 Feb 2012)

John Perry: Much work has been done in advance of the decision to restructure and reposition the enterprise support model. The new structure of local enterprise office will build on the significant work done by county enterprise boards, as the Minister, Deputy Bruton, stated, to date. Therefore, the dissolution of county enterprise boards in their current legal format is not an end in itself and will...

County Enterprise Boards (29 Feb 2012)

John Perry: A one stop shop will be delivered. It is not rocket science to envisage that there will be supports such as mentoring. We know how effective the county enterprise boards have been to date. They will be working with local development units. The mandate of job creation will be under the Minister, Deputy Bruton, led by Enterprise Ireland. This will be managed by Enterprise Ireland, working...

County Enterprise Boards (29 Feb 2012)

John Perry: On the last point, where there has been a lacuna affecting enterprises with between ten and 50 employees, Enterprise Ireland will have overall responsibility and a mandate regarding the staff employed in local government and the enterprise staff in their new role. They will very much fall under the remit of the Minister, Deputy Bruton. It is very important that we develop expertise. There...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (29 Feb 2012)

John Perry: As announced in the Action Plan for Jobs, I propose to establish a new "one-stop-shop" small and micro-enterprise support structure. These "One Stop Shops" will be called "Local Enterprise Offices" and will build on the significant work done by the CEBs to date. The new structure will be achieved through the dissolution of the existing CEBs and the creation of a new Micro Enterprise and...

Seanad: Local Authority Housing (6 Mar 2012)

John Perry: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, who is on Government business and I am taking this Adjournment matter on his behalf. I thank the Senator for raising the issue. There is no specific national scheme in place to assist elderly people who wish to downsize their living accommodation by selling their house to their...

Seanad: Local Authority Housing (6 Mar 2012)

John Perry: Under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, housing authorities are required to make an allocations scheme in accordance with the Act. Obviously some local authorities do a superb job. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, has advised there is huge merit in the scheme. I have no doubt it is about the resources available in each local authority. In his overview of the...

Seanad: Election Management System (6 Mar 2012)

John Perry: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, would have been here only for he is on Government business this evening. The primary role of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in electoral matters, is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework...

Seanad: Election Management System (6 Mar 2012)

John Perry: The tone of the reply which I have given on behalf of the Minister is in keeping with what the Senator said because the presiding officer has huge autonomy to recruit new people. For the presidential election there was quite a turnover of staff and new people were employed by presiding officers. The Minister will take on board the Senator's comments, which are important. There will be a...

Social Welfare Payments (13 Mar 2012)

John Perry: I am happy to take this important matter on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection and I thank Deputy Keating for raising it. The quality of customer service that people receive at post offices is important to the Department and to An Post, which has responsibility for that service. The Deputy referred to the high numbers of customers collecting welfare payments at Lucan post office on...

Social Welfare Payments (13 Mar 2012)

John Perry: An Post currently has a network of 1,153 post offices and a further 173 postal agencies through which 50% of the Department's customer payments are issued. The Department of Social Protection accounts for a large volume of retail customers in individual post offices, the post offices provide agency services for a number of other entities, including a front line banking service, payment of...

Human Rights Issues (13 Mar 2012)

John Perry: I thank Deputy O'Brien for raising this important matter. The universal periodic review UPR, process was initiated in 2008 by the UN Human Rights Council, HRC, and is a process whereby the domestic human rights records of all 192 UN member states are reviewed every four years. The process is important in raising awareness of standards with regard to human rights on a global level. This is...

Human Rights Issues (13 Mar 2012)

John Perry: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. Those recommendations we were unable to accept, either at the original session in October or in terms of the addendum to the report which will be discussed on 15 March, raise serious issues where different rights and different issues of public policy need to be balanced. Ireland is committed to meeting the highest standards of human...

Human Rights Issues (13 Mar 2012)

John Perry: That is the balance. The Minister is very determined. We consider some recommendations to have already been implemented while other areas of implementation are underway, as indicated by the Minister, Deputy Shatter, at our review in October. As we are all aware, the protection and promotion of human rights require continuous review and updating. As society evolves, so must our response to...

Control of Firearms (27 Mar 2012)

John Perry: I thank Deputy Neville for raising this matter. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, who regrets he is unable to be present due to other business. Regarding the hunting licence issues the Deputy refers to, the Minister understands from his colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, that the relevant provisions of the Wildlife...

Control of Firearms (27 Mar 2012)

John Perry: On a point of clarification, the Minister has stated that there was a consultative panel, and obviously it is important that collaboration and dialogue would take place. I thank the Deputy for providing me with an opportunity to respond. As I have already mentioned, the Minister awaits a report from the Garda Commissioner on the settlement of the cases which were before the High Court and...

Control of Firearms (27 Mar 2012)

John Perry: The Minister, Deputy Shatter, will revert to the Deputy on that point. On the hunting issue, I will impress upon the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, the need to have a timely resolution to this matter in time for the next hunting season. I am sure the Deputy will welcome the Minister's commitment to conduct a major review of the Wildlife Acts, which I believe will be comprehensive, promised under...

Garda Resources (27 Mar 2012)

John Perry: I thank Deputy Kitt for raising this matter which I am sure is important to the communities in the areas mentioned. I am pleased to be able to set out the position on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Shatter. I have no doubt the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Cannon, is also aware of the situation. The House is aware that, under plans agreed by the...

Garda Resources (27 Mar 2012)

John Perry: The Deputy will be provided with a copy of my speech. I thank him for providing me with an opportunity to respond. As has been mentioned, the Commissioner and a senior management team are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the country. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored with regard to crime trends, policing needs and...

Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Mar 2012)

John Perry: I compliment Deputy McGrath on bringing forward this Private Members' Bill to empower the Financial Services Ombudsman to name firms against which he has made findings. I thank Members for what has been a most worthwhile debate on the question of extending the powers of the Financial Services Ombudsman to name in certain circumstances individual firms against which he has made findings. I...