Results 1,381-1,400 of 6,430 for speaker:Gerald Nash

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: Over the years Fianna Fáil has perfected the art of arrogance. We have seen here that very few lessons have been learned. It should take a very sharp look at its very recent history and the lack of humility and any sense of apology for the serious mistakes which were made on the route to bankrupting this country. I ask Deputy Troy and his colleagues to reflect on that before they make...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: As a Government we have accepted that mistakes were made in setting up this major public utility. The timeline involved was very ambitious and any public utility of this magnitude would require a seven to ten year lead-in period. We wanted to do it over three years and found it very difficult to do so. We have put our hands up and the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, has admitted that mistakes...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: That information comes from an MLA member and long-standing MP. If people doubt the veracity of what I say, they should check that information.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: It is a load of nonsense that Sinn Féin continues to insist there are no water charges in Northern Ireland. There are.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: This is paid through the massive household tax in Northern Ireland, but it is inevitable that because of the introduction of tens of thousands of water meters in Northern Ireland, we will see direct charging for water there soon. The charges there have been only postponed until 2016, until the general elections in Northern Ireland and here are over.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: It is also claimed north of the Border that staff working on the maintenance of the water network are receiving threats from armed gangs over the issue. Sinn Féin wants assurances that those workers will be protected, yet they are strangely silent on the intimidation and threats and sometimes physical violence faced by workers contracted to Irish Water here. Once again, we see one...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Industrial Relations (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: As the Deputy is aware, I recently published the heads of the proposed industrial relations (amendment) Bill 2014. The heads of the Bill are available and are currently the subject of pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. I will set out the two main purposes of the Bill. First, it will provide for the reintroduction of a mechanism for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Industrial Relations (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: The Deputy's initial question asked whether enterprise-level agreements will be sectorally applied. Those agreements would not be sectorally applied, of course, because they are agreed between two contracting parties, in many respects. Broadly speaking, the registered employment agreements would be applied across a sector, as was the case with the registered employment agreements system...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Industrial Relations (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: It is a matter in which I am interested personally apart from the fact that I am the Minister of State with responsibility for it. I understand that the issues involved in the dispute in question have been referred to the Labour Court. From the industrial relations point of view, it is important that the court can make determinations on the relevant questions of employment law. I have...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: The Action Plan for Jobs is a multi-annual strategy initiated in 2012 to ensure a cross-Government approach to optimising the environment for enterprise, such that a net additional 100,000 jobs will be created by 2016. Good progress is being made on the implementation of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014. Ireland's ranking in terms of competitiveness and ease of doing business continues to...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: To refer back to Deputy Coppinger's question, the total gross Exchequer expenditure by the Department in 2013 was €791.9 million, and 57% of this represented total capital expenditure via agencies under the Department's remit. Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and many other agencies under the aegis of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation have done remarkable work in recent...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: I thought you were on the left. I thought you were interested in job creation.

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: I find it quite depressing that somebody who claims to be of the left seems to be so anti-jobs and anti-employment. I do not inhabit the world in which Deputy Coppinger lives. I believe our State agencies should be supported in creating jobs.

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: Deputy Coppinger would do a very good job if she returned to the thousands of her constituents who work in the foreign direct investment sector and explained to them she is not in favour of State support for Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, which support many of the jobs those constituents have and in which they work extremely hard.

Other Questions: Retail Sector (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: I can assure the Deputy there is a sense of urgency about the position of the retail sector at present and in terms of addressing the serious issues around employment and so on in the sector. As part of this year’s Action Plan for Jobs, we have established the Retail Consultation Forum under the aegis of my Department to provide a platform for a structured engagement between the...

Other Questions: Retail Sector (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: In regard to Waterford, I am looking forward to visiting the city and county earlier in the New Year with my colleague, Deputy Ciara Conway. During my visits to all areas across the country I will be meeting with retailers. I have a particular interest in trying to support the retail sector given the experience it has had over the past few years. Tomorrow, I will be visiting Carlow and...

Other Questions: Retail Sector (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: The issue of restructuring of debt is one I raise continually with senior banking officials when I have the opportunity to meet with them. As I understand it, Bank of Ireland has restructured 90% of the debt over-hangs to which the Deputy referred, which are obviously not exclusively in the retail sector but across the SME sector. Considerable further work needs to be done. We have...

Other Questions: Ministerial Appointments (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: I thank the Deputy for the question. The Construction Contracts Act 2013 seeks to ensure prompt payment practices throughout the construction industry which, as we are all aware, has suffered markedly throughout the economic downturn. It is intended that the legislation will provide easier access to payment for contractors who have carried out work, thus ensuring that those contractors who...

Other Questions: Ministerial Appointments (25 Nov 2014)

Gerald Nash: I recently took on responsibility for this legislation and to set up the infrastructure around it. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was responsible for it previously but it was no longer appropriate for that Department to be responsible for it. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, was particularly anxious that this process would be expedited and I...

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (3 Dec 2014)

Gerald Nash: I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this issue. The confirmation by Vendata that Lisheen Mine is progressing its phased wind-down of operations at the lead and zinc mines outside Thurles, in accordance with plans agreed with employees in 2009, is of course to be regretted. I appreciate that the closure, although planned well in advance and not unexpected, will have a devastating impact on the...