Results 101-120 of 137 for speaker:Tony McCormack

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Services (12 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: 144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will prioritise Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, ETB, for new UBU projects in 2025, given its status as the lowest-funded ETB under the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the urgent need for improved youth services in the region. [29525/25]

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Planning, Approving and Delivering Transport Infrastructure Projects: Discussion (11 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the witnesses for coming in and for their opening statements. Deputy Clendennen and I are from the constituency of Offaly. I will not say that Deputy Clendennen has jumped the gun, but he has jumped in before me on a couple of different issues. I will try to be as quick as possible. I cannot leave the N52 and the N80 alone. The N52 link road is important. I know we are being...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Planning, Approving and Delivering Transport Infrastructure Projects: Discussion (11 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: As Deputy Clendennen said, is not just about having a road there for the current users and adding to capacity by putting in something that is more robust and bigger. It is also about opening up that gateway and providing roads infrastructure that will create more jobs in the midlands area. It is a connection piece. It is connecting the two motorways so that people can go north to south or...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Planning, Approving and Delivering Transport Infrastructure Projects: Discussion (11 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: Absolutely. I agree.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: 82. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on her Department’s work on the implementation of the UNCRPD. [32481/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: I welcome the Department's leadership in advancing the national disability strategy. The shift towards to a whole-of-government approach embedding the UNCRPD into policy across Departments is critical to making rights real for people with disabilities. The move of disability policy from the Department of Health to the Minister of State's Department was a significant step towards a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (17 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: I appreciate the update on the Department's engagement with the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The UNCRPD is not just about legal commitments; it is also about meaningful lived change for people with disabilities throughout the country. The first report in 2021 was an important step but real transparency and accountability come from continuous engagement with the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (17 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: 87. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the implementation of pay increases for staff in the childcare sector. [32480/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (19 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: 16. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the additional supports being provided to SMEs to address rising costs and staffing challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33029/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (19 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the Minister and compliment his Department for all its hard work. We are in an economy with full employment. That does not happen by chance. I refer to all the work that has been done in the past and needs to be done in the future. We are in uncertain times. We are looking at tariffs. We are working with our European partners to negotiate tariffs with the United States. Now,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (19 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: I now turn to the issue of high-street retail, which is in serious decline. In towns like Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry and similar towns all over Ireland, we see more and more shops closing. Footfall is down, rent and staffing costs are up and the result is that once thriving town centres are slowly emptying out. This is visible, urgent and deeply worrying. The reality is that this cannot...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (19 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: 58. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures his Department is taking to support the economic rejuvenation of towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33030/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (19 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: 155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the means by which his Department is assisting businesses to plan for auto-enrolment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32981/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (19 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: 178. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on the introduction of the automatic enrolment retirement savings system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32980/25]

Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (18 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the witnesses for the opening statement. It is great to have the witnesses here. If we look at Europe, and the regulation and red tape we have, I hear from business and farming that we always seem to be the first country to implement whatever has been brought in, whereas other countries do not do so. I would like to know from the witnesses whether I am right in thinking that SMEs...

Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (18 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank Mr. Verdon. It gives some comfort that the smaller companies are not involved. Companies with 1,000 or more employees have the wherewithal to be able to look after the reporting and put together processes and procedures for recording this information and passing it on. It is similar for companies with 500 employees or more. I am delighted for the SMEs which are below the cap, that...

Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (18 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the witnesses. I might come back in with a couple of questions afterwards if we have time.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Industrial Relations (24 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: 7. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the plenary meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum which he chaired on 4 April 2025. [33561/25]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Industrial Relations (24 Jun 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the Taoiseach for his update and welcome the reconvening of the Labour Employer Economic Forum under his chairmanship. It is clear the forum plays a vital role in bringing Government, employers and unions together, especially in times of uncertainty. As someone who engages regularly with small business owners and retailers across the country and in my county, Offaly, I welcome the...