Results 1,841-1,860 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: We will wait until the TTIP regulation.

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: To be honest, it was a Cabinet decision and that is it. There is collective responsibility. It is not what Mary Mitchell O'Connor believes. That was a Cabinet decision and that is what we are going to do. I am one of those who wants broadband. I understand it is so important for us to ensure in bringing jobs to rural areas that they have broadband. As I said, I have been driving round...

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 was splicing - however one does - to make the broadband work down at the ploughing championship. It seemed easy but I was told it was complex. Of course, we must work our way through all of the contracts and that will delay us. If it was left to me, and the Deputy asked me my personal opinion, I would love to cut a lot of the red tape and just do it.

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 have heard loads about Waterford, in the Dáil and elsewhere. The Chairman mentioned one figure. That was a once-off, but the trend is that it is coming down. It has come down 2% and we are pushing to ensure that it comes down another 2%. We are not complacent. We are not taking it for granted that such is the way of Waterford. From having looked at Waterford, it is a great...

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: Exactly. I will visit there in the near future.

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: Microfinance Ireland was set up on 2012.

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: There was €10 million given in a tranche of funding and that is what we are using. That is why it is not showing up in 2016. We may look for more funding in the Estimates, depending on what moneys are left over. Microfinance Ireland is very good value. It started off very slowly. I have written to all the banks and I have had all the banks into our offices. Where customers of...

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 have just told the Deputy that we got that funding in 2012. Microfinance Ireland leverages funding also - €50 million from the banks. There was €25 million in funding altogether. We have been using that funding since. I support the continuation of the scheme. We will seek funding of €10 million in 2017 to secure the future of MFI.

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, in the budget.

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. I fight for the funding for our enterprises. I can tell Deputy Bríd Smith that my voice is heard loud and clear at the Cabinet table.

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 will.

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 agree with Deputy Tom Neville. There are many operating from the ground up. I am going to call on Ludgate, Skibbereen, and PorterShed, Galway. There are many other examples. I have been in Offaly and other counties and have seen what those concerned are doing. The impetus is from the grassroots and communities. I was recently invited to my own little village, Milltown, which has...

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 will give members a sense of what we are doing first, if they do not mind.

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: Turning to programme area B, the object of this expenditure is to foster and embed a world-class innovation system. This investment underpins enterprise development and drives commercialisation of research to build national competitive advantage across our economy. In 2016, the programme will provide funding of over €330 million to support strategic investments in research,...

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: Can I answer that?

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: First of all, I absolutely reject the allegation of propaganda. Second, we believe in what we are doing. We believe that innovation is hugely important. We have been involved in it for the last 15 years and we are seeing a payback. I can assure the Deputy that when Enterprise Ireland and the IDA are bringing FDI companies to our country, one of the first questions FDI companies ask...

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: STEM subjects comprise one of the areas that Science Foundation Ireland is pushing. That is one of the areas that I will push at every meeting and opening I attend. I assure the Deputy that when I meet these companies and we announce jobs, they often tell me that innovation expertise is so important. We build up that human capital and our programmes work in creating jobs. The proof is in...

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 will say is that Ireland has been ranked 14th in the world in science, which is up from 36th place in 2003. We are continuously climbing there. We are investing in innovation and education, including postgraduate degrees, to ensure that we have researchers who are at the cutting edge of technology and innovation. I never mentioned the word "excellent" - the Deputy did so. I never...

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 might be useful, just to help out here-----

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 the committee is working out its work programme, perhaps it should meet representatives of the agencies to put the points if it would help.