Results 1,321-1,340 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Bank Lending Policy. (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: All the banks that are covered by the guarantee will be included. Other stakeholders from broader industry, as well as representatives of bodies like Enterprise Ireland, will be represented too. Public interest directors have been appointed to the banks. There have been personnel changes within the top echelons of the banks. The first priority was to stabilise and capitalise the banks and...

Bank Lending Policy. (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I note the Deputy's concerns on this issue. With regard to the actual question, I can only oblige Standing Orders. Forfás is working with the Central Bank as we speak, analysing the credit supply going to small and medium-sized businesses.

Bank Lending Policy. (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: We are all well aware of the difficulties. Sometimes banks reduced overdraft facilities and provided term loans but that was not an increase in credit to small and medium-sized businesses. We know what was happening. Now we want to get Forfás and the Central Bank together to analyse this. Mazers 2 is also in there, assessing the credit demand. Let us be honest. There has been a drop in...

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I said I would publish it.

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: First and foremost, I thank the Deputies for their contributions to this debate and the Senators for their contributions in the Seanad. I look forward to the Committee Stage debate next week. There is a few issues to clarify. First, the purpose of this Bill is to address a few simple accounting difficulties that have arisen in the context of companies locating their headquartering...

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I thank Dr. Courtney, in particular, who is chair of the Company Law Review Group, and the other members who sit on that body reviewing company legislation with the purpose of consolidating it into one Bill, which we hope to publish in September next. As outlined by Deputy Morgan, there will be 1,200 sections in that Bill. It will be difficult and exacting, first, on the Company Law Review...

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: That is the purpose of the exercise, but only a small limited number of companies - roughly, five or six companies - will avail of this. That is the purpose, rather than putting an onerous cost on them unnecessarily that they can over a period of time move from US GAAP to Irish GAAP or IFRS. There are many acronyms in use in the Department. The other day I was at the world trade talks...

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: The two Deputies opposite represent Galway. Clustering is critically important. People should be proud of Galway in the context of the medical devices, for example.

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Yes, exactly.

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I accept that.

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I was just making the point that clustering and getting critical mass is very important. In Galway, for example, it concerns medical devices and some areas of life sciences. They have international standing because of the size and scale they have achieved. So the clustering of companies is very important. Equally, the Government cannot dictate where a company locates. The IDA's first...

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: When we have them secured in Ireland the issue of location arises. There is a regional policy in the IDA, which tries to point potential investors to where there may be a deficit of IDA-supported jobs. I thank Deputies for their contributions on Second Stage and I look forward to debating the Bill again on Committee Stage next Wednesday. I also wish to thank my officials who are working...

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Yes.

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (2 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Within my Department, the enterprise development agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and the County and City Enterprise Boards have continued to assist enterprises through their grant and advisory schemes. Enterprise Ireland (EI) is the lead government agency responsible for the development of indigenous enterprise. The deputy is incorrect in his assertion that EI will only deal with...

Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: It is disgraceful.

Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Do not forget Bandon.

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Unfortunately, I think normal politics have been resumed. Tradition has it that Oppositions propose while Governments reject, but the opposite could equally apply. It is unfortunate that this debate clashes with the budget debate in the Dáil, so it might be overshadowed in terms of the coverage it merits. That is regrettable. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Private Members'...

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: As I said at the outset, unfortunately, the harmonisation nature of the directive gives member states very little discretion regarding this legislation before the House. I commend Senator Ryan and the Labour Party on introducing this Bill, especially in view of the time of year. Senator Bacik referred to a number of issues regarding the psychology of purchasing vouchers in the first place....

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: When one goes into Brown Thomas or an equally high-end store, invariably one ends up going to the gift voucher department because otherwise one might be under some pressure if one bought an item in the wrong size. Seriously, reference was made to our blaming the consumer. We are trying to advise the consumer and make him or her aware of the risks that arise if one does not look at the terms...