Results 3,281-3,300 of 4,491 for speaker:John Perry

Topical Issue Debate: Burglaries in County Donegal (17 Jan 2013)

John Perry: I wish to thank the Deputies for raising these important matters. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, who regrets that he is unable to be present today as he is chairing a meeting of the Informal Justice and Home Affairs Council in Dublin Castle as part of our EU Presidency programme. The Minister is very conscious of the deep distress which burglary and...

Topical Issue Debate: Burglaries in County Donegal (17 Jan 2013)

John Perry: The Minister, Deputy Shatter, is very much in touch. He is chairing an EU meeting in Dublin Castle today, an obligation of the EU Presidency. On commitment, the Minister has been in constant contact with the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan. The resources of the State are being made available. The new cars are replacements for existing cars and are not additional, but they are brand...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2013)

John Perry: 294. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a Student Universal Support Ireland third level grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be processed and granted as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3137/13]

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Flood Relief (22 Jan 2013)

John Perry: I thank Senator O'Donovan for raising this important issue, which was debated before in the Seanad. A flood risk assessment and management study for the town of Skibbereen is being advanced by Cork County Council in partnership with the Office of Public Works, OPW, which is providing the funding. Consultants were appointed in 2011 and the project is currently at feasibility study and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Flood Relief (22 Jan 2013)

John Perry: I am delighted to note a definitive date has been set for April. The funding is in place for 2014 and that is important. I acknowledge Senator O'Donovan's involvement in this important issue and I compliment the voluntary committee in Skibbereen on the work it is doing. It is the Minister of State's intention, and that of the OPW, that there should be a public display so that there will be...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Fuel Rebate Scheme (22 Jan 2013)

John Perry: I thank Senator Conway for raising the important issue of the role of business and the survival of small companies. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Minister for Finance on the motion to introduce an excise rebate on diesel for passenger transport companies in the Finance Bill 2013. My colleague, the Minister for Finance, announced in his budget address the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Fuel Rebate Scheme (22 Jan 2013)

John Perry: I appreciate the Senator's concern for the road haulage companies involved. Obviously the Minister supplied me with a detailed submission but I will pass on the Senator's concerns. I have no doubt that the Minister will refer to it in the finance Bill in whatever way that he can.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (23 Jan 2013)

John Perry: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a Student Universal Support Ireland third level grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) will be processed and granted as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3256/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Education and Training (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: In reply to Deputy Nash, an undertaking was given in the programme for Government to introduce a more focused approach to how the State engages with and supports the unemployed to get back into the workforce. Pathways to Work, the Government's policy statement on labour market activation, sets out how the Government intends to do this and is a key element of the Government's strategy to get...

Topical Issue Debate: Education and Training (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: I assure Deputy Nash that I will bring his concerns to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, as he has raised important points. Some flexibility already exists within the initiative whereby a person who was temporarily in receipt of a carer's payment but was otherwise on the live register during the previous 18 months may be considered for the Momentum initiative, and there is a...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Rates (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton. Any reduction in social welfare payments or benefits is difficult for those affected. The overall concern of the Government in budget 2013 was to protect the primary weekly social welfare rates. To allow us to protect the core payments people...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Rates (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: I will raise with the Minister the Deputy's point on carrying over units. On the issue of doing a deal, I am certain the Minister is very conscious of the need to obtain best value for money. The previous Administration worked with the providers of electricity, telephone services and so forth. Many people switch providers.

Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Rates (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: I disagree. There is no better example of a population that obtains value for money than the older generation. They did not get carried away in the silly season and have always kept their feet on the ground. While the Deputy makes a good point, the Minister is conscious of the position of those who are in need. An allowance is available in cases of inability to pay. The Minister is doing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: The entire focus of Action Plan for Jobs 2012 has been on measures to protect existing jobs and support the creation of new jobs. It addresses issues of competitiveness, access to finance, support of enterprise and sectoral strategies. The enterprise support agencies of the Department, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the county enterprise boards, are all alert to the need for business...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: That is quite a different question from the question Deputy Tóibín asked. On enterprise and business, as the Minister, Deputy Bruton, correctly stated, it is difficult to get into private enterprise. There are the protections of PRSI and the workers will get the benefits. I took a Topical Issue debate on this last week. They will get the statutory redundancy from the State. It...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: HMV is in examinership in the UK and I understand there is a takeover bid in the UK for it. It is in receivership here, which is the difference. I hope a buyer will be found to salvage some of the business. The advice of the Attorney General on upward-only rents is quite clear.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: The advice was given by the Attorney General.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: As the Deputy will know from his own constituency, rents have reduced regardless of the existence of upward-only rent reviews. As I have often said, there is 13,000 sq. ft. of retail area per head of population, compared with 1,000 sq. ft. in the UK, which is part of the legacy of the previous Government. The point is that rents-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: That is only one aspect of the problem. The Deputy must remember that-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services (24 Jan 2013)

John Perry: It is about confidence and credit in the economy.