Results 2,061-2,080 of 14,473 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Seanad: Representative Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers Bill 2023: Second Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gceathrar Seanadóir as ucht a ráitis. I thank the Senators for being here on a Thursday and for their contributions. Senator Sherlock did not miss the substance, but I think it is important that we proceed, and that we have this Bill in place. We are continuing to place pressure on the Department of Justice. Senator Gavan referred to the Multi-Party...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Co-operative Sector (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist agus as an tuaraisc ón gcoiste faoi cúrsaí na gcomharchumann. The issue as to whether the Department would establish a co-operative development unit is part of the bigger issue we are considering regarding overall supports for the co-operative sector. I acknowledge the work of the Deputy and committee on this. As he knows,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Co-operative Sector (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: Absolutely, we do not disagree. As the Deputy knows, the legislation for the co-operative movement is more than a century old. The best thing is to have contemporary legislation that reflects some of the trends the Deputy has just spoken about. Doing that will be a step change for the sector. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has been clear that he wants us and the Department to engage widely...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Co-operative Sector (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: Absolutely. We are completely at one with regard to the potential of co-ops. They have also been important community vehicles to deliver community services such as water over the years. There is huge potential here. We absolutely support that kind of model of social inclusion and social progression. The most important thing is we have a contemporary legislative framework and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Regulation (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: Technologies and their applications continue to advance at pace and it is a challenge globally to develop regulation that is flexible and adaptable to future progression. My Department is active in the negotiations of digital regulation at EU level, and continues to make the case in Europe for the need to strike a balance between measures necessary to secure the digital economy without...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Inflation Rate (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: In my view, profit restraint on the part of firms has an important role to play in reducing headline inflation in the coming years. Recent analysis from the Central Bank of Ireland suggests that profits have contributed significantly to ‘Gross Value Added inflation’ – which is an alternative measure of inflation - in both 2021 and 2022, compared to a lower average...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: European Parliament (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: The draft EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) sets out harmonised rules for the design, development, placement on the market and use of AI systems in the Union. The Regulation aims to ensure the protection of fundamental rights and user safety, as well as to build trust in the development and uptake of AI, thereby enhancing EU investment and innovation. The proposal aims to address the risks...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: Performance has been strong in the first half of the IDA strategy 2021-2024 despite the difficult global economic environment. Total employment in IDA client companies reached 301,475 in 2022 - a 9% increase on 2021 - with over 24,000 net new jobs created. Furthermore, 260 investments of the 400 targeted over the lifetime of the Strategy for regional locations have been won. Employment...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Regulations (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: Officials from my Department have been engaged in the negotiations on the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) since the proposal was published by the Commission in April 2021. The Act will put in place a horizontal EU regulatory framework which will apply to AI designed, developed or used in the EU, addressing the risks generated by specific use cases through a set of complementary,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Consumer Protection (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with, and enforcing, competition and consumer protection law in Ireland and its mission is to make markets work better for consumers and businesses. The CCPC aims to improve consumer welfare across the economy by enforcing over 40 legislative instruments, including product...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regional Development (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: Balanced regional enterprise development continues to be a key policy for me and this Government, and is reaffirmed in the Department’s White Paper on Enterprise. The Department contributes to this agenda in several ways, including through the development, implementation and oversight of nine Regional Enterprise Plans. The Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan covers Laois, Offaly,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Information and Communications Technology (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: AI and other digital technologies are touching and transforming every aspect of our lives. In order to ensure Ireland is prepared for this transformation, Government developed a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy; AI – Here for Good, which was launched in July 2021, and set out a vision that Ireland would be an International leader in using AI to the benefit of our population,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regional Development (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: Balanced regional enterprise development continues to be a key policy for me and this Government, and is reaffirmed in the Department’s White Paper on Enterprise. The Department contributes to this agenda in several ways, including through the development, implementation and oversight of nine Regional Enterprise Plans. The South-East Regional Enterprise Plan covers Carlow,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Exports Growth (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: My Department regularly explores ways to assist businesses and to create an environment that stimulates their growth. However, it is important that Government intervention is focused on those areas where there is there is a market failure. My Department, working with Enterprise Ireland currently offers a range of supports for exporting businesses, such as training, in-market support, and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regional Development (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 63 together. Balanced regional enterprise development continues to be a key policy for me and this Government, and is reaffirmed in the Department’s White Paper on Enterprise. The Department contributes to this agenda in several ways, including through the development, implementation and oversight of nine Regional Enterprise Plans. The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Information and Communications Technology (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: The proposed EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) sets out harmonised rules for the development, placement on the market and use of AI systems in the Union. This Regulation follows a proportionate, risk-based approach where certain particularly harmful AI practices are prohibited, while specific restrictions and safeguards are proposed in relation to certain high-risk areas. The Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: The Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) which was launched in September 2020 provided loans to SMEs and small Mid-Caps until 30 June 2022. No further loans were approved after that date. The scheme closed due to the expiry of the State Aid Temporary Framework. The State aid Temporary Framework was adopted on 19 March 2020 to enable Member States to use the full flexibility foreseen...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Regulation (29 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: My Department has no role in the registering of Irish domain addresses. The Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg) is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of the electronic communications sector in the State. The Electronic Commerce Act 2000 (as amended by the Communication Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007), provides that ComReg is responsible for the regulation of the...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Control of Exports Bill 2023: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus le rúnaíocht an choiste as ucht an chruinnithe seo.. I thank the Chair and secretariat for facilitating our meeting today. I am delighted to be joined by my colleagues: Dr. Eamonn Cahill, principal officer; Ms Carol Toolan, assistant principal officer; and Mr. Matthew Geoghegan, administrative officer. They put all the work into...