Results 581-600 of 1,132 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Mr. Courtney talked about the recommendations the commission has given and how the Government has always supported them. There have been about ten increases in the minimum wage since 2011. Mr. Courtney talked about the percentage and how close we are getting to 60%. From where we were in 2011, we are at 51% now. Has that percentage consistently increased as we have gone along? Did it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Is that in the living wage or the minimum wage in comparison to the living wage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: It is the percentage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: The fear from a business perspective is about trying to get to 60% but we have been almost there before, at 58%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Is it recognised that the market is strangely and very unusually, an employees' market at the moment, that they can dictate what job they want, where they want it and the terms and conditions? An awful lot of business owners would say that the employee is interviewing the employer rather than the employer interviewing the employee. There is a balance here. You do not want it entirely the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: When the commission decided that, was it taken into account that businesses have had a very difficult three or four years with Covid, the cost of living and the war in Ukraine? They have faced major challenges.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: That is not taking into account that we need to increase the minimum wage, obviously, and we have done that. Do the witnesses get the sense that there is a real fear on the part of businesses? I come from Tipperary. Particularly in small rural towns, there is a real fear about survival. A minimum wage increase in Cahir, where I am from, is very different to a minimum wage increase in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I request a debate with the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Byrne, on the sports capital grant, the timelines and when clubs will know more about whether they have been successful. This is obviously an important year and the Government has been very good to support sports clubs during the past three years but for obvious...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Can we have a debate with the Minister for Education or the Minister for Transport, whoever is in charge of it at the moment, concerning the request that over-70s be able to drive school buses? We have a critical situation in Tipperary. We have a shortage of people able to drive buses but we have businesses contracted with Bus Éireann which have people aged over 70 who would be able to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and answering the questions so far. I will follow up on what Deputy Bruton was talking about in relation to just 1% of businesses really engaging in it. Mr. Meally spoke about how the business sector accounts for slightly less than 40% of the energy demands and 250 companies account for 80% of that 40%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: It is a massive area and we have targets to hit for 2030 and 2050. I acknowledge the good work that Skillnet is doing. I see it my own county of Tipperary and in Clonmel in particular, and in the agricultural sector. We have targets to hit and informing and educating companies is really important in the long run. I am sure that Skillnet does not have enough staff to meet every single...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I am delighted Dr. Sharkey mentioned MSD, because I am going there on Friday to meet them for an update on these issues. The company has been a huge employer for Clonmel for 40 years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Yes, I agree. I have family working there so I know I know it quite well, as do most families in Clonmel. We know that about 200 of those 250 engage. Of those 50 that have not, is there a plan in place to improve engagement? Regarding the targets we have to hit for 2030, do we have separate targets for those 250 companies? Even though they are doing extremely well, do we have targets...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Is it possible to provide the committee with the information on those 250 businesses and what they have done and achieved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: For the 250 businesses?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: What percentage of the total is that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Of those 50 companies, is it a particular sector or is it just random businesses that have not engaged?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I also wish to be associated with the comments about the former Cathaoirleach, Tras Honan. She was a trailblazer in her own right and had connections to my home town, Clonmel and Tipperary. Her sister Carrie Acheson was also a T.D. for a period. I offer my condolences to her family and her extended family, including the Barlows in Clonmel, on her very sad passing. She was inspirational to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: They should be convicted.

Seanad: Recent Violence in Dublin City Centre: Motion (29 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I do not always agree with Senator Clonan but I agree with almost everything he said about things that have been amplified by people across the country, including people in both Houses. That needs to be addressed. Everyone here is coming from a very genuine background and believes what he or she is saying is correct, but there have been contributions even today saying "violence" and...