Results 8,721-8,740 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: Deputy Martin Kenny talked about the co-operative movement. The Deputy needs to focus on the local enterprise offices, LEOs, which play an important role throughout the country in assisting companies to start up and entrepreneurs. In County Leitrim last year, they created 39 new jobs. I visited the LEO office in Carrick-on-Shannon at Leitrim County Council and I have seen for myself at...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: There are 571 clients availing of LEO training. There is much progress being made in the economic opportunities in Leitrim. The Government is determined to do a lot more here and the focus will continue on regional development to explore how we can create new job opportunities-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: -----for the people of Leitrim and the wider area, which must also be taken into account.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: The House got good answers.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Skills Shortages (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: I will try to stick to the time. Access to a high quality, innovative and adaptable talent pool is critical for the sustainable growth of the Irish economy and keeping Ireland competitive. For this reason, equipping the workforce with the skills required for the jobs of today and for those of tomorrow is a strategic priority for the Government. While skills policy is primarily a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Skills Shortages (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: I will deal with the competition in the next round of the question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Skills Shortages (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: 11 o’clock The Department of Education and Skills, the national skills council, the regional skills fora and the expert group on future skills needs are all looking at the issue. That is the reason we have so many FDI companies operating in various sectors in this country. Deputy Kelleher is correct in that it is important that we update the skills. The drop in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Skills Shortages (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: Only last Friday-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Skills Shortages (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: -----the EU Commissioner ranked Ireland sixth in the context of the digital economy and how we have embraced the skills, which is up three places. We are going in a very positive direction.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Skills Shortages (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: It is difficult to stop when one has such good news to report.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Skills Shortages (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: We have acknowledged that there are skills shortages and that things are changing. However, we have to take account of the collaboration that is taking place to address the situation. First, there is interdepartmental collaboration and then there is collaboration between multinational companies in the private sector with third-level institutions and the Department. That is key. There is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Company Closures (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: What Deputy Harty said is correct. The situation is very much on my mind. We both share the same concerns about employment in County Clare but I think there is good news for the county. First, I will deal with his question. In November 2015, Roche Holding AG announced the decision to close its facility in Clarecastle following a review of its worldwide manufacturing network....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Company Closures (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: Deputy Harty is a medic and he understands the changes in the way drugs are being made. As he is aware, the plant at Clarecastle is not suitable for the next generation of pharma production methods because pharma companies are moving to smaller-volume products. IDA Ireland is working hard. It is talking to companies but it is difficult to get a buyer for an old facility as it would cost a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Company Closures (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: We do not fail in delivering jobs to the county. Only last Tuesday morning, I made a good announcement together with the chief executive officer of the Californian company, Microsemi, for the town of Ennis, which is close to Clarecastle. We announced that a €3.2 million contract had been awarded to the company by the European Space Agency for a general support technical programme to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Company Closures (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: There is positive news for the county. Let us be positive about employment.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Company Closures (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: We will try to ensure that there will be a buyer for the Roche plant but it is proving difficult. IDA Ireland is working hard.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ticket Touting (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: I thank the Deputy for her question. The Minister is currently seeking to finalise legislative proposals on ticket resale. The main element of current proposals for legislation on ticket resale is for a ban on resale above the face value of the ticket or on resale at a price in excess of 10% above face value. While the Minister shares the Deputy's concern to ensure that ticket markets work...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ticket Touting (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: Two Private Members' Bills have been introduced in this area. The Bill tabled by Deputies Rock and Donnelly provides for a ban on the resale of tickets above face value while Deputy Quinlivan's Bill provides for a ban on the resale of tickets in excess of 10% of the ticket price. The Minister commends the initiatives taken by the Deputies and she is fully sympathetic to them. I can...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ticket Touting (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: Any legislation that is put in place must be in the interests of music or sports fans.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Ticket Touting (24 May 2018)

Pat Breen: While the Minister remains open to some form of price cap legislation, she has to consider all the options.