Results 11,201-11,220 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Labour Market (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: Has the Minister's Department a long-term plan in place to deal with the skills shortages in various sectors? Is the current employment permit system fit for the purpose of sourcing non-EU labour? What are the strategies in place to deal with labour shortages across the economy?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Labour Market (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Minister for the reply. There is no doubt, based on the assessments made by the Department and stakeholders in industry, and by those who analyse the broader economy, that there are massive labour and skills shortages across huge swathes of the economy. The construction sector will have considerable difficulties meeting the demand that will be placed on it in the years ahead in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Labour Market (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: I accept all that but the harsh reality is that the economy does need labour. There are considerable shortages in certain areas, including construction, agriculture, hospitality and transport. There are now shortages across the health care sector. There are labour shortages across huge swathes of the economy. If one wishes to highlight an indictment or failure of policy one need only look...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: 68. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions being taken to reduce the costs of doing business here and reverse Irish competitiveness deficiencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30834/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: What actions are being taken to reduce the cost of doing business in Ireland and to reverse Irish competitiveness deficiencies? I ask this question in light of the alarm bells being sounded in terms of how the economy is progressing and the inefficiencies creeping into the cost of doing business and the impact this is having on our competitiveness.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: There is no doubt that trade is improving and that we have increased growth, rising employment and decreasing unemployment but this is camouflaging major deficiencies within the broader economy. For example, insurance costs, childcare costs, housing costs, rental costs and so on are feeding into and underpinning uncompetitiveness in the broader economy. While we have a successful economy,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: American Chamber of Commerce Ireland carried out a review of the housing shortage and found that there would be a requirement for 30,000 one and two-bedroom apartments in the greater Dublin area between now and 2022 to address the issue of facilitating accommodation for companies and FDI. Leaving aside indigenous housing need, we need to increase supply for FDI. Regardless of how one...

Other Questions: Brexit Supports (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: Will the Minister of State at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, update us on the uptake of the Brexit be prepared support grants provided by Enterprise Ireland to its client base? Will he make a statement on the matter?

Other Questions: Brexit Supports (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: Behind the Minister of State's comprehensive reply there is poor uptake of the various schemes available to companies, for example, 2% of Enterprise Ireland's, EI, clients. EI was established for export. Only 2% of the exporting companies supported by EI have applied for the be prepared grant. There are 250,000 small businesses in this country and just 2,311 have filled out the Brexit...

Other Questions: Brexit Supports (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: The last thing we need to do is scaremonger business but at the same time we need to make sure there is access to information and that businesses are prepared for eventualities. There is one certain eventuality: on 29 March next year the UK will cease to be a member of the European Union. That is a certainty. What comes after that is grave uncertainty. We have to support businesses by...

Other Questions: Consumer Protection (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: 74. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is satisfied with national consumer legislation in place to protect consumers from false advertising from online blogger influencers. [30637/18]

Other Questions: Consumer Protection (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: Is the Minister satisfied with the national consumer protection legislation in place to protect consumers from false advertising from online blogger influencers. Observing how retail has evolved in recent years, there is a need to look at how we protect consumers when we have people who have a huge social media following. I refer to big bloggers who are key influencers in people's...

Other Questions: Consumer Protection (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: This was brought about because of a complaint which was upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland. The complainant said the blogger had photoshopped and filtered her face while advertising a Rimmel foundation. I am not quite sure whether the Minister of State uses Rimmel foundation. I do not. The important point, however, is that people who are key influencers of...

Other Questions: Consumer Protection (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: To be helpful to the Minister of State, the foundation in question keeps ones skin moisturised for up to 25 hours, providing a flawless foundation and finish all day for work and play. I asked the question to ascertain whether the Minister of State was satisfied-----

Other Questions: Consumer Protection (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: I have buckets of it in my car. If the Minister of State is satisfied, that is fine. However, bloggers and key influencers hold huge sway over how people view a product. We should consistently observe this issue and keep on top of it to ensure that, as online purchasing becomes more prevalent, those participating will be obligated to ensure a product is advertised accurately. Otherwise...

Companies (Statutory Audits) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: Are we discussing all the amendments together?

Companies (Statutory Audits) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Minister. Nobody wants to be argumentative about ensuring compliance with company law. In recent times, there have been some high profile cases of people breaching company law. We need, therefore, to ensure integrity in the process and that we have a system in place where suppliers and people who trade with companies have confidence in the accounting system and certainty that...

Companies (Statutory Audits) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Minister for listening to us. The European Union set out the thresholds for companies needing audits under EU Directive 2013/34/EU as companies with a €12 million turnover, €6 million on the balance sheet or over 50 employees. All we are saying is that small companies late with their filings should still be able to go to the District Court and apply to retain the...

Companies (Statutory Audits) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: I move amendment No. 4:In page 8, to delete lines 4 and 5.

Companies (Statutory Audits) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (10 Jul 2018)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Minister and her officials who provided briefing materials to us, as well as briefing time. We can have consensus on this issue. I accept it may need to be kept under review but the amendments were put forward for the right reasons. I thank the many organisations, professional bodies, accountancy firms and individual companies that got in touch with us and related their...