Results 8,521-8,540 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Commercial Credit: Commercial Credit (6 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As I outlined in my reply to Question Number 1742 on 29 September 2010 and Question Numbers 296 and 298 on 30 September 2010, my officials are working with their colleagues in the Department of Finance, the Credit Review Office, Enterprise Ireland and Forfás to address access to credit issues for viable SMEs including, the option of a loan guarantee scheme. Substantial progress has been...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (7 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: International benchmarking statistics reveal that Ireland imposes a relatively low burden of regulation on business. The Forfás Annual Competitiveness Report 2010 states that Ireland's regulatory environment is one of the least restrictive in the OECD in relation to product market regulation, the time taken to comply with tax payments is one of the lowest in the OECD across all categories...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (7 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The annual remuneration awarded to all board members of State agencies under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation is set out in the tables below. The amount awarded to board members is in line with guidelines issued by the Department of Finance. Enterprise Ireland 2007 2008 2009 2010 Chairperson €24,000 €24,000 €21,600 €21,600 Member €14,000 €14,000 €12,600...

Written Answers — Commercial Credit: Commercial Credit (12 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As I previously outlined in my replies to Question Number 1742 on 29 September 2010, Question Numbers 296 and 298 on 30 September 2010 and Question Number 312 on 6 October 2010, my officials are working with their colleagues in the Department of Finance, the Credit Review Office, Enterprise Ireland and Forfás to address access to credit issues for viable SMEs, including the option of a loan...

Written Answers — Departmental Strategies: Departmental Strategies (12 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, a Strategy and Action Plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015, is an integrated strategy that is global in scope and covers both existing and new high growth potential markets. It has set a number of ambitious targets to be achieved by 2015 i.e. to create 150,000 new jobs (manufacturing, tourism and traded services) with a similar number...

Written Answers — Credit for Business: Credit for Business (12 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Access to bank credit for businesses, particularly SMEs, has been central to Government Initiatives in addressing the crisis in the banking sector. Both the 2009 and 2010 Bank Recapitalisation arrangements provided specific commitments from the recapitalised banks to assist SMEs. Under the 2010 Bank Recapitalisation arrangement, AIB and Bank of Ireland have both committed to making available...

Written Answers — Task Force on Innovation: Task Force on Innovation (12 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together. The Report of the Innovation Task Force (ITF) provides a road map for positioning Ireland as an international innovation development hub. The report contains many new ideas, as well as calling for a reinforcement and better alignment of existing efforts and programmes. In May the Taoiseach asked me to chair the High Level Implementation...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am informed by IDA Ireland that IDA's units in Ballyshannon, and Donegal Town together with land holdings in the County are currently being transferred to the ownership of Donegal County Council. This transfer is part of IDA's rationalization programme, which was approved in 2009. A list of the various units involved is set out in the tabular statement. The transfer of these properties...

Departmental Strategy Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The strategy pursued by my Department is an integral part of the whole-of-government framework for economic recovery and growth adopted in 2008. We are focused on employment creation through support for Irish firms, large and small, and winning foreign direct investment to sustain and expand job opportunities and boost our economic output, and they are achieving results. Last month's...

Departmental Strategy Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The bureaucracy issue is the subject of a later question. I will deal with it in more detail at that point, if that is okay with Deputy Bruton, or I can deal with it now if that is his wish.

Departmental Strategy Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am sorry.

Departmental Strategy Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: In terms of what Deputy Bruton stated about the targets that we set ourselves, since I came into this Department at the end of March we have set various strategies in place. We have strategies for jobs, trade and innovation in terms of implementing the task force recommendations. As I see it, we are meeting all of those targets.

Departmental Strategy Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: On top of all of that, we are putting in place implementation policies to drive the projects that we have in place and to ensure that the commitments will be met. I am chairing the implementation group on innovation and the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, is chairing the trade council. Both of us are determined to ensure that the targets we have set ourselves would be reviewed on an...

Departmental Strategy Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will take two issues with Deputy Bruton. We have met our commitment under the Asia strategy. I note that Deputy Bruton took the 2009 figure but forgot to mention that Enterprise Ireland has indicated that this year it will get back 70% of the exports lost. I note that he forgot to mention that there was an 8% increase in services exports up to the third quarter.

Departmental Strategy Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I did not interrupt Deputy Bruton. When we are having a discussion I would like us to allow each other to make our point,-----

Departmental Strategy Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: -----and Deputy Bruton can interrupt.

Departmental Strategy Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Of course Deputy Bruton forgot to mention that there was a 3% increase in other exports. He forgot to mention that there was a €4 billion increase in the balance of trade, which is 29% up on last year. He forgot to mention-----

Credit Availability (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The provision of credit to our enterprise sector, especially SMEs, should primarily come from a properly functioning banking sector and any additional initiative on the State's part should not relieve the banks from their obligations in this regard. However, the Deputy will be aware that my officials are working with their colleagues in the Department of Finance, the Credit Review Office,...

Credit Availability (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Deputy for this opportunity to pay tribute to the Minister for Finance for all the initiatives he has taken. I indicated that this matter would be brought to the Cabinet and it was brought to it in July without any fanfare. The decision at Cabinet was that we would be given a mandate to work with the Department of Finance and the Credit Reviewer to examine the possibility of...

Credit Availability (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am glad the Deputy said there are specialist areas because that is our belief. It is also the belief of Forfás, which issued the report. It indicated there were specialist areas where it may not be possible for the businesses concerned to obtain a bank loan and that in such areas the State should step in. We are fairly positive that we can do so in certain circumstances. However, the...