Results 9,241-9,260 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Workers' Rights: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Damien English: Regarding the Government's role, we will make sure that the legal rights of the workers are fully vindicated. That means making sure they get at least two weeks' payment per year of service, which is the statutory minimum redundancy payment. If the liquidator in the company cannot pay that, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection will pay for it out of the social...

Workers' Rights: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Damien English: There are suggestions of levies and such which we are prepared to look at.

Protecting Jobs and Supporting Business: Statements (16 Sep 2020)

Damien English: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the chance to say a few words back on the issues raised, and also to identify some of the things I am working on with our own Department. The commentary in general has been around the supports for business, which is important, but we also must bring the conversation on in the months ahead to new concepts and new ideas for the future of business. We are...

Protecting Jobs and Supporting Business: Statements (16 Sep 2020)

Damien English: The Deputy had plenty of time but did not want to do it. In our Department we do analyse what is happening in other countries and we do compare it. Our offering is quite competitive compared with every other country. It is fine if the Deputy finds something in another country that she thinks is good and that we should copy here. The Deputy should mention it, bring it to us and we would...

Sick Leave and Parental Leave (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Sep 2020)

Damien English: I heard some of the earlier contributions and will discuss them with my colleagues. I agree with Deputy Harkin that the Bill deals with an important issue. We might have different views on the speed at which we can change but most Members are in favour of bringing in measures in this space, which is a positive move. I thank the Labour Party for leading this debate and giving us the...

Seanad: Statutory Right to Sick Leave Pay: Motion (7 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I thank Senators for all their contributions and for the opportunity to address the House on the Government's position on this motion on the Bill put forward in the Dáil a few weeks ago. I understand Senator Sherlock had a big involvement in and commitment to it and I welcome that. I certainly welcome the opportunity to have this discussion. The Tánaiste clearly said on behalf of...

Trade Union Representation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Munster, the proposer of the Bill. I understand the motives behind it. We have had discussions here already in the past few weeks. I note the Deputy is prominent in flagging the issues affecting local business. It is not just that as in general, the Deputy wants to bring forward the discussion as well. I listened carefully with interest to both Deputies Munster and...

Trade Union Representation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Imelda Munster and her team for putting forward the Bill and for the discussion around it. While I might not agree on the necessity for it, it is still no harm to have the discussion and to go through it. It is wrong, however, to portray this Government, including my party and our role in the Government, as being against improvements in workers' rights and conditions....

Trade Union Representation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Oct 2020)

Damien English: The Deputy should check the speeches.

Trade Union Representation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I know that. I did not name Deputy O'Reilly.

Trade Union Representation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I do not doubt that for one moment. I did not refer to Deputy O'Reilly at all, to be clear.

Trade Union Representation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I seem to have touched a nerve.

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I thank my colleagues for affording me the time to address a few issues in the context of the budget. I will focus mainly on my Department. This is a pro-jobs budget, which is what we need if we are to keep businesses open and jobs in place once the various restrictions are lifted. This budget will show our business community that there are supports to help them get them through Covid...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Oct 2020)

Damien English: The pandemic has caused untold damage to people's lives and livelihoods. We recognise that and the budget is an attempt to respond. Too many businesses have been severely impacted by the restrictions needed to ensure public health safety during the pandemic. The agenda has to be to protect public health while also trying to ensure we can keep our economy alive and open, keeping people in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I am happy to hear suggestions and ideas that the Deputy has because we are still working through the SME growth task force. We will look at all ideas and initiatives. The economic recovery plan will be published in November, for which a €3.4 billion recovery fund has been set aside to fund ideas and new initiatives and to target certain sectors through our agencies. There is also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Oct 2020)

Damien English: To be clear, our business supports and all the initiatives we have announced, such as the July stimulus package of more than €5 billion, the budget package of close to €18 billion that was just announced and the business supports from the Department, do not discriminate by age and certainly would not do so. We support business and job creation and that is what we are trying to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I reiterate my point about business supports. If the Deputy wants to bring forward any initiatives or new ideas, we will work with them. We have worked with the events sector and the arts sector to try to respond. Naturally, the budget cannot plug every gap and every hole in the finances-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Oct 2020)

Damien English: -----but we are trying to reach out to the different sectors with the various schemes. Many businesses in the Deputy's county of Tipperary will benefit from the rates waiver. Rates have been cancelled for this year and will be subsidised by local government. There is also a fund for next year. The main asks of us from business were the restart grant, the Covid restrictions support scheme,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (15 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Harkin for her question and I assure her we are focused on balanced regional development and protecting the viability of businesses and SMEs throughout the country. This was the case generally even before Covid but it is certainly the case in relation to Covid and Brexit, which is coming down the tracks. We have taken a strong regional approach over the past seven or eight...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (15 Oct 2020)

Damien English: I agree that we do not need to hear more of the same and I constantly try to put out the view that people in here talk down rural and regional Ireland, though there are many opportunities and supports. The whole design of having the regional enterprise funds and regional plans is to tap in to the entrepreneurial spirit of those regions and get collaboration across State agencies and, more...