Results 1,001-1,020 of 1,095 for speaker:Jimmy Devins
- Economic Competitiveness (10 Dec 2008)
Jimmy Devins: I have given the facts.
- Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)
Jimmy Devins: I welcome the opportunity to address the House this evening. There are two issues I would like to talk about, which were raised last night. I want to deal with the national skills strategy, and I will also explain to the House the elements of our innovation strategy. The safeguarding of Ireland's competitiveness and future prosperity requires us to maintain advantage over our competitors...
- Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)
Jimmy Devins: I am sure the Deputy has plenty of points to make if they do not.
- Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)
Jimmy Devins: That is what we are doing.
- Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)
Jimmy Devins: That is not in the report.
- Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)
Jimmy Devins: I read it last night.
- Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)
Jimmy Devins: On a point of order, I want to point out to Deputy English that in the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment's speech last nightââ
- Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)
Jimmy Devins: We have.
- The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)
Jimmy Devins: We all acknowledge that we are coming through a tough period as the impacts of the international recession begin to manifest themselves as daily occurrences. As we face the biggest economic challenge for some time, it is no consolation to know that we are not alone and that we share these difficult times with most developed western economies. If anything, this compounds our problems....
- FÁS Training Programmes. (10 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Since the beginning of last year, there has been a significant contraction in activity in the construction sector. As a result of this contraction, we have witnessed a substantial reduction in the number of people employed in the construction sector in the past 12 months. This has had a severe impact on the individuals who are currently...
- FÁS Training Programmes. (10 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: I will give the Deputy the rest of the reply.
- Community Employment Schemes. (10 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: I thank Deputy Feighan for raising this issue. The FÃS community employment programme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed-term basis. Community employment helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by...
- FÁS Training Centres. (10 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: I thank Deputy Costello for raising this issue. I will outline briefly the respective roles FÃS and the Tánaiste play in training and employment offices. The Tánaiste's role is to provide public funding and overall policy direction to FÃS rather than to get involved in its day to day operational management. Decisions of this nature are day to day operational matters for FÃS as part of...
- FÁS Training Centres. (10 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: The centre will be located in the same building as the new office of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, thereby facilitating those seeking to avail of the services of both offices. The expectation is that the premises will be ready and operational by July. FÃS also plans to further develop the Employment Services office at D'Olier House by increasing the public usage area in...
- Home Help Service. (10 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank Deputy Crawford for raising this issue, as it provides me with an opportunity to reaffirm the Government's continued commitment to providing services for older people generally and, in particular, the important area of the home help service. Government policy is to...
- Seanad: Child Poverty: Motion (11 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: I apologise to the House on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Mary Hanafin, who is unavailable because she is attending a Cabinet meeting. I thank Senators for the opportunity to outline to the House what the Government is doing with respect to child poverty, early education, access to medical cards and meeting the housing needs of our population. The Government has tabled a counter motion...
- Seanad: Company Closures (17 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: I thank Senators Ryan and Hannigan for raising this matter on the Adjournment, which I take on behalf of the Tánaiste. It is with deep regret that the Government has learned of the closure of the SR Technics operation at Dublin Airport. The company's operation in Cork, which employs approximately 200 persons, remains unaffected. The Tánaiste, with the Secretary General of the Department of...
- Job Protection. (24 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: I will take that question.
- Job Protection. (24 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: Pharmaceutical exports from Ireland are valued at â¬34 billion annually, achieved by 80 companies employing 20,000 people. The pharma and biopharma sectors are extremely important for Ireland and have experienced significant growth in recent years. The outlook for Ireland in terms of development and manufacturing is that in spite of intense competition, we will still secure investment in...
- Job Protection. (24 Feb 2009)
Jimmy Devins: The Tánaiste has met with GSK and there may be new opportunities available there. The takeover of Wyeth by Pfizer is undergoing due diligence in the international arena. US and EU competition law must be examined. It is believed that it will proceed around September or October and the IDA estimates there will not be any great implications for this country but we must wait and see what happens.