Results 3,081-3,100 of 3,132 for speaker:James O'Connor

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

James O'Connor: 394. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if reconsideration will be given to a decision to deny additional SNA allocation to school (details supplied) for the reasons outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33734/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 396. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on an extension for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33774/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 397. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on an extension of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33775/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 567. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding pension payment to person (details supplied); when payment will issue given that proposed recipient has been waiting for a number of years for Department sign off having reached pension age in early 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33732/25]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Projects (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 687. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has considered the possibility of cleaning or dredging a harbour at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33777/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Projects (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 774. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33771/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Projects (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 775. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33772/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Projects (24 Jun 2025)

James O'Connor: 776. To ask the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33773/25]

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: Apologies have been received from Deputies Brian Brennan and Tony McCormack. We pass on our sympathies to Deputy Brennan on the passing of his mother. I will explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the...

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 appreciate that, Mr. Hughes. I will now allow members to comment. Senator Comnor Murphy of Sinn Féin is first.

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 am next on the speaking rota. I welcome the witnesses and thank them for the work they are doing. I am interested in the scope of incentivising and accelerating decarbonisation and the digital transition, which is a fundamental part of this legislation. The IDA in particular is dealing with large multinationals. Is there a strong request coming from them for grant aid to support work...

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 appreciate that. On the same question of consultancy grant aid, the premise of what I am saying is that you are dealing with some of the largest employers in the State. We have an example of a State agency that is providing consultancy grant aid for that. Without referring to a particular company, will Ms O'Sullivan give us an insight into or an example of the type of money involved in...

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 appreciate that. Thanks for your very helpful information. On a broader point, of the 27 EU member states, Ireland now has the most expensive commercial electricity. How often has this been raised with the IDA? For me as a policymaker, it seems alarming. What is IDA Ireland's view on this and what is its strategic outlook?

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: Thank you, Ms O'Sullivan. Mr. Hughes, would you like to comment?

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.