Results 13,021-13,040 of 15,080 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: This Government has adopted an proactive approach to supporting Irish businesses across multiple crises over the last number of years. It is important to acknowledge the challenges that firms have faced over the last number of years, and I am aware of the concerns of businesses facing increased energy costs. As part of Budget 2024, this Government provided a €257 million package for my...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: Balanced regional enterprise development is a key focus for me and this Government as set out in the White Paper on Enterprise. My Department contributes to this agenda in several ways, including through the development, implementation and oversight of nine Regional Enterprise Plans, or REPs. The South-East REP is implemented at a regional level by a Steering Committee made up of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: The Increased Cost of Business Scheme (ICOB) has successfully paid out €244m to date to 75,000 SMEs right around the country, including over 38,000 SMEs in the retail and hospitality sector. The ICOB scheme is now closed to registrations. In answer to the Deputy's question, I can report the following statistics for Cork City and County. To date, Cork City Council has paid out...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Insurance Industry (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: The Injuries Resolution Board’s Annual Report 2023 showed how the organisation has delivered savings of over €75 million in avoided costs due to personal injury claims being resolved through its non-adversarial model rather than proceeding to litigation. It is important to acknowledge that there has been a significant reduction in the cost of injury claims through the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Middle East (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: My Department is the National Competent Authority with responsibility for Export Controls, including Controls on defence-related exports and exports of dual-use goods. Controls on the export of dual-use items are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Insurance Industry (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: This Government has prioritised reform of the insurance sector via our ‘Action Plan for Insurance Reform’ published in December 2020. The Action Plan set out 66 actions to create a more competitive, stable and consumer-friendly insurance environment. The action plan is now almost complete. Among key actions completed are the introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines;...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Insurance Industry (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: I welcome the 2023 Annual Report from the Injuries Resolution Board. The report provides further evidence of what has been achieved through government’s ‘Action Plan for Insurance Reform’. In 2023 the Board’s work delivered savings of over €75 million in avoided costs due to injury claims being resolved through the Board’s non-adversarial model...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Insurance Industry (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: In 2023 the Injuries Resolution Board delivered savings of over €75 million in avoided costs due to personal injury claims being resolved through the Board’s non-adversarial model rather than proceeding to litigation. These are real savings that should be passed onto insurance policy holders. In the 20 years since its establishment the agency is estimated to have contributed...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: The National AI Strategy is part of a suite of Government digital strategies under the overarching National Digital Strategy, Harnessing Digital, published in February 2022. My Department is responsible for implementing the actions in both strategies that relate to digitalisation and AI adoption in enterprise. The overall aim of the AI Strategy is to drive the development and adoption of...

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (5 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, set out to Deputy Cullinane on Committee Stage that the de-nicotinisation of tobacco products is only one of multiple endgame measures that will be considered as the next steps in the elimination of tobacco smoking in our country. It is well recognised that success in addressing public health problems such as tobacco consumption entails multiple...

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (5 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: No.

Seanad: Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: I am pleased to bring before the House the Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024, which will amend the Companies Act 2014. The Bill has completed its passage through the Dáil and I acknowledge the co-operative support of all Deputies across the House on Committee Stage. I note the constructive engagement, particularly on the provisions giving...

Seanad: Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóiri Crowe agus Ahearn as páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht thábhachtach seo. I thank the Senators for their remarks about the Bill and the work of the bodies. I assure the House the legislation not only provides safeguards for Members but provides the Minister of the day with the ability to draft regulation should changes be...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Consumer Protection (5 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: I am not aware of any claims of unfair competition and market abuse by SOLAS in relation to the Safe Pass Programme. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with and enforcing competition law in Ireland. The CCPC is independent in the performance of its statutory functions as per section 9(5) of the Competition...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Regulation (7 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with, and enforcing, competition law in Ireland. The CCPC is independent in the performance of its statutory functions. Investigations and enforcement matters are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC and I as...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Corporate Governance (22 Jan 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department is committed to ensuring that the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) is appropriately resourced, both in terms of the human resources and financial supports required. Budget 2025 included a budget increase for the CEA which included an increase to its pay allocation for the hiring of additional specialist staff identified in the CEA’s assessment of its requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Financial Services (22 Jan 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department has no statutory powers to intervene on issues related to the governance of friendly societies. The Registrar of Friendly Societies is a statutory role and is administratively independent in the exercise of this function. Section 68 of the Friendly Societies Act 1896 sets out that disputes in a friendly society are decided in manner directed by the rules of the society....

Government’s Response to Storm Éowyn: Statements (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: I have been across County Mayo and across the country in recent weeks and I have seen at first hand, as many colleagues have, the very devastating real effects of Storm Éowyn on communities and families throughout the country. I assure people in every community, in rural and in urban areas, that we are working hard and doing all we can to get their power, water and communications back...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Code (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: This is my first time since my appointment to address the House in this form - I spoke earlier on the storm debate - so I thank Deputies for their good wishes. I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on her election and Deputy Buckley on his re-election. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am sorry to hear about the case he described. As he will know, in some of its laws, the State...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Dara Calleary: In 2024, my Department approved 2,061 applications for career breaks and special leave, both paid and unpaid. This includes Force Majeure, attendance at a court case as a witness or as a member of a jury. Within this figure, five applications were specifically related to civil servants and/or their spouses undertaking temporary roles within EU institutions. Due to the limited number of cases,...