Results 4,641-4,660 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: I welcome our guests, Ms Adrienne Murray, CEO, Ms Geraldine Kelly, chairperson, and Mr. Pat Kilbane, head of finance and risk, of Microfinance Ireland. They are here to discuss the progress made since its establishment and related issues. They are very welcome. I thank them for coming in today. This meeting was organised at short notice because of committee changes and I appreciate them...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: Thank you very much for that detailed presentation. It is very informative and useful to members. It is timely that we have you before the committee to go through this after the first year of operation. A number of members are indicating, so I will call on Deputy Calleary first.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: The Senator might get a job out of it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: Is the 5% included in the 45% that were originally declined?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: Does that mean the original decline rate was 60% with a grant rate of 40% and then it went up to 45%?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: Before we move on to Senator White, I have a quick question on reasons for refusal. I presume some of the companies might not be in a position to pay back money owed in the first year or two. Is that factored into the process? Are principle holidays offered or does the money have to be repaid from year one?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: The issue for the county enterprise boards is that of displacement. They can only do it with new businesses because it is not interference.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: They do but in respect of initial grant aid, the State's rules are first on their list of priorities.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: It is not that at all. It is a rule of the State that they cannot do it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: Can Ms Murray pick up on those questions, as others also have questions?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: Perhaps we can take all the answers and then we can revert to this afterwards.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: A couple of questions remain to be answered and I believe Ms Geraldine Kelly wishes to respond.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: Before we conclude, I have a couple of questions of my own. First, today's session has been highly informative in respect of teasing through matters and we might make this an annual visit, if the witnesses have time in their schedule next year to do the same. However, I compliment the work Microfinance Ireland is doing. It is not the organisation's fault if the applications do not come in....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: From what Microfinance Ireland has dealt with, has Ms Murray a general feeling? Is there a particular reason they do not pursue an application? Is the amount of money an issue or not?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: Deputy Calleary had a question as well.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: "What is wrong?"
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: I will ask one more question. Ms Murray need not answer it today. She might come back on it. I would be concerned that in Microfinance Ireland's category of refusals there must be persons who are over indebted. There is no doubt about that and she has told us that as well. Among them, there are also some good ideas of job creation. The country could be missing out on potential...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: Does Microfinance Ireland pass them on?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: That is okay then.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Progress Update: Discussion with Microfinance Ireland (12 Nov 2013)
Damien English: That is good. It is important we recognise Microfinance Ireland is doing that work because I accept it is not in its reports. On behalf of the committee, I thank the representatives of Microfinance Ireland for coming in to join us today at short notice. I appreciate it.