Results 1,821-1,840 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Was it the question about the credit guarantee scheme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In total since 2012, €50 million has been lent to small and medium enterprises under the scheme supporting 2,500 jobs. We can get the 2015 figure and forward it to the Deputy. We are a little disappointed with the credit guarantee scheme and we are looking at other ways to make sure small and medium enterprises can draw down the money that is available. The Deputy asked me if the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: That is it. There will be full expenditure use on the capital side. There might be a small saving on the current side due to staff vacancies being filled. We may seek additional funds for next year due to the increased demand to support new jobs.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: They are, yes. As I said, they delivered 7,122 jobs in 2015.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes. They invite me down to see these enterprises. Is the Limerick LEO a good one?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: They are very good. I ask members to refer people who are thinking of starting microenterprises to their local enterprise office. The Deputy asked about Brexit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Funding will be part of the 2017 Estimates process but I am pleased that we are providing IDA Ireland with an extra €500,000 in current moneys this year. That is extra money. We will also look to ensure IDA Ireland has the resources and the people on the ground in the countries from which we are hoping to attract foreign direct investment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I met members of the chambers of commerce from Dundalk, Newry and Drogheda. I also met the people who were implementing this action plan and heard about the issues they wanted to raise. Brexit was a major focus on the day. They were not looking for money. They were looking for supports. Representatives of InterTradeIreland were present also. They were very worried in terms of the grant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Please remind me if I leave out questions. First, Deputy Donnelly asked whether I would like to see less spending. I would not because we need to create jobs. While the unemployment figures have fallen to approximately 178,000 people, that still is quite challenging and, consequently, I will not ask for the departmental figures to be downgraded. We need-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I do not. The Department is extremely careful with money. All the moneys are audited and we get good value for money from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. My view is that more money is needed for the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, which would be money really well spent. A question was asked as to whether programmes and local enterprise offices, LEOs, are evaluated. All...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes, there is. We have conducted a client survey through Enterprise Ireland and the results are highly positive with a satisfaction rate of more than 70%. We also have carried out mystery shopping in order to have a good idea of what is working and what needs to be improved. At present, we are examining how to drive best practice across the LEO network and I am satisfied that good progress...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes, that is additional funding, which was included in the programme for Government.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: It is €200 million for the IDA and €300 million for Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Over the next five years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: What I have stated already today is hot off the presses. It is that I have allocated an additional €500,000 this year to the IDA to make sure it can deal with the Brexit issue. No decision has been made as yet regarding the 2017 allocations. The Deputy mentioned the effects over the years to come and I note the Department is in the act of putting together the Estimates for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: When I refer to the enterprise case, I mean the case for Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the LEOs and Údarás na Gaeltachta. I also will seek extra money for Science Foundation Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: We certainly have not announced the money for EI today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: We have announced it for IDA Ireland. Extra resources will also go to EI and the LEOs, if we have money - I stated we were not totally finished spending on the current and the capital side. As I said, I am dealing with Ms Julie Sinnamon, the CEO of Enterprise Ireland, every second day and we are quite happy that EI is managing it really well at present. We must wait a number of months,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: It is not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (22 Sep 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: It has been discussed at Cabinet and we will continue to discuss it. I will be discussing it with the Minister, Deputy Noonan, but it is really not appropriate to discuss it here today under the Estimates.