Results 4,021-4,040 of 14,554 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (18 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of occasions that the Trade Council has met since September 2011; the number of occasions on which these meetings were chaired at Ministerial level; the issues that were discussed at these meetings; and his views on the operation and work of the Trade Council. [18154/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (18 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [18123/13]

Maternity Protection (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I commend my colleague, Deputy Seán Ó Feargháil, on putting forward this Bill and the Ceann Comhairle on facilitating this morning's change. On behalf of Deputy Ó Feargháil I rise to speak on this timely measure to address a serious anachronism in how the Oireachtas operates and to highlight a broader, deeper issue...

Maternity Protection (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: It is giving the option.

Maternity Protection (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: We would facilitate the Government.

Maternity Protection (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: I welcome all the contributions to the debate. In what was a busy day for the Minister for Justice and Equality yesterday, his office worked with us on the Bill. We recognise there are practical issues and we will not divide the House on the Bill but we are seeking to have it referred formally to a committee in order that it will not be filed away under any other business. It needs to go...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Retail Sector (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has had any recent meetings with RGDATA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18972/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Retail Sector (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: I acknowledge the work the Minister of State is doing in tidying up the licensing side of matters. Concerns have been expressed by RGDATA and other small business organisations about the practices adopted by AIB and Bank of Ireland regarding banking charges. For example, there has been a 165% increase in lodgment fees by AIB, the State-owned bank to small business. I know of a practice by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Retail Sector (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: It would be better if AIB did fewer glossy reports telling us what we know and took business seriously to give them a fair pitch in financing day-to-day business. What is happening is ridiculous. The banks are doing the bank robbery and robbing business. As the Government is the prime shareholder in AIB, will the Minister point out forcefully that these practices are not helping the growth...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bank Lending (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: I am in the same boat, so to speak. We tabled questions about legacy debt for the Department of Finance also. They are specifically tailored for this Minister.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his assessment of the recent Forfás report The Costs of Doing Business 2012; if he has prioritised any of the issues highlighted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18971/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: Electricity costs for SMEs in Ireland are now among the highest in the euro area and the fourth most expensive behind Cyprus, Malta and Italy. The cost of credit for new loans to Irish enterprise exceeds costs in the euro area for a range of loan types from the banks, but also from a State scheme, the microfinance scheme, which at over 8% is far higher than many euro projects. A warning...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: Forfás also points to the difficulties arising in the property sector, particularly the lack of availability of high-quality office space and the implications this has for enterprise. Is this something the IDA is dealing with or aware of? Are there specific proposals in this regard?

Other Questions: Job Creation Issues (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: I ask the Minister to outline the implementation procedure for the youth guarantee. Will his Department or the Department for Social Protection be the lead Department? More importantly, where is the budget line for the implementation of the guarantee? What is the current position on COSME? Is an agreement on a budget for it imminent? At the beginning of the Irish Presidency in January...

Other Questions: Microenterprise Loan Fund (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: I beg the forgiveness of the Chairman. Many questions have been referred to different Departments and there is a suggestion in the replies that we should table questions to different Ministers. The whole notion of the Action Plan for Jobs was a whole of Government approach. Deputy Peadar Tóibín and other Deputies cannot be coming in to the Chamber three days every week trying to...

Other Questions: Microenterprise Loan Fund (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: Not enough people are getting it.

Other Questions: Microenterprise Loan Fund (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: People do not know about it.

Other Questions: Microenterprise Loan Fund (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: What is the term of the loan?

Other Questions: Microenterprise Loan Fund (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: It has not put in an application yet.

Other Questions: Microenterprise Loan Fund (23 Apr 2013)

Dara Calleary: Most would be happier here at home.