Results 2,301-2,320 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Other Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes.

Other Questions: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am aware that Deputy Wallace asked about the precautionary principle in another question that will be taken later. The proposed EU-US free trade agreement is one of a number of new-style trade agreements that the EU is negotiating, covering not only covers tariffs, services and investment but also regulatory coherence and co-operation. Such an agreement would be the world’s...

Other Questions: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I do not think so, but Deputy Wallace is pulling questions together.

Other Questions: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes, I know, and then the Deputy mentioned CETA and also the precautionary principle. I am finding it hard, but I will do my best.

Other Questions: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I note the Deputy's concerns about the precautionary principle in the EU treaties. However, the treaties are foundation documents for all European decision making so TTIP negotiators must be cognisant of those in all negotiations. Any final agreement will be subject to scrutiny by every individual government across the European Union. Each of the 28 member states will be able to raise...

Other Questions: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: A total of eight persons have visited the reading room: three officials and five Deputies. The EU-US free trade negotiations are the most open and transparent trade negotiations to date. Reports relating to each round of discussions with all information on the EU position in the negotiations are published on the European Commission's website. Unlike the EU, the US does not publish its...

Other Questions: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am sorry, but what question is the Deputy asking?

Priority Questions: IDA Expenditure (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I understand the Deputy is referring to Carrisbrook House, the lease on which was taken over by IDA Ireland from September 2013 on the assignment of properties from Forfás to the IDA. Prior to this, the lease had passed through number of State agencies since a 65-year lease was first taken out in 1969. Carrisbrook House was 85% vacant for a number of years, despite having been actively...

Priority Questions: IDA Expenditure (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The decision to exit the lease was not made lightly. The IDA commissioned the services of a professional property company to review a number of options, including the early surrender of the lease. The agency carefully considered this advice, along with that of a real estate company and a financial services consultancy which also provided professional options. After almost two years of...

Priority Questions: IDA Expenditure (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: This happened in September 2013 when the IDA acquired the building on the assignment of properties from Forfás. I became aware of the situation in the past number of weeks. The decision to enter into this lease was taken a very long time ago, in 1969. Given the nature of the lease and its terms, the State's hands were very much tied in terms of options to exit its contractual...

Priority Questions: Motor Insurance (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Deputy tabled a question that is totally different from the one he has just asked. I will answer that in the supplementary reply. He asked for the timetable for the review of the book of quantum and that is the question I will answer now. The Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, is an independent statutory agency and, as Minister, I am not permitted in my executive function to...

Priority Questions: Motor Insurance (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In addressing the spiralling costs of motor insurance, the Department of Finance is undertaking a review of the policy in the insurance sector in consultation with the Central Bank and other Departments and agencies. The objective of the review is to recommend measures to improve the functioning and regulation of the insurance sector. The review will include an examination of the factors...

Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Deputy. He quoted some figures which I will take on board. The World Bank's annual Doing Business report measures and tracks changes in regulations affecting business. Ireland has achieved an ease of doing business ranking of 17 out of 189 economies. That is up two places from the previous year. The Deputy also asked about tax and, obviously, it is hugely important. UK...

Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Ireland's competitiveness has improved considerably over the past five years. Ireland has moved from 7th in the IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook, up from 16th. Our improved competitiveness has been central to recent strong economic growth. However, as the National Competitiveness Council has warned in recent months, the global outlook is precarious. The recent UK referendum...

Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Deputy. There is huge uncertainty around this issue. The Deputy asked me about capital gains tax and corporation tax. I can assure him that I am working with the Minister for Finance and the Department of Finance. We have put in a submission, as have other interested parties, and we will be following up that in the budget.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Site Visits (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The number of site visits to a particular county is better viewed against the background of the wider progress IDA Ireland is making in generating new jobs across the country. This can be seen in the Agency’s record 2015 results, in which a total of 18,983 jobs were created with employment in IDA Ireland client companies rising to over 187,000. The Agency has also made regional...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Regional Action Plans for Jobs initiative is a concrete example of the targeted approach being undertaken to boost employment in the regions.The core objective of the North East/North West Plan is to have a further 28,000 at work in the region by 2020. We are aiming to ensure the unemployment rate is within the 1% of the State average. Key sectors targeted as part of the Plan include...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Site Visits (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I want to emphasise that IDA Ireland is doing its utmost to secure new investments for not just these three counties but across Ireland as a whole. Regional development is a cornerstone of the Agency’s five-year strategy, as is evident from the ambitious target set to increase investment by 30%-40% in each region outside Dublin. National statistics in connection with job creation and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Export Controls (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: All export licence applications are considered by my Department having regard to EU sanctions. There are currently no sanctions in place in relation to Saudi Arabia. The European Parliament resolution cited by the Deputy called for “an initiative aimed at imposing an EU arms embargo against Saudi Arabia”. No arms embargo has been announced or introduced. If an EU embargo...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (20 Jul 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The 14th round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations between the EU the US took place from 11–15July, 2016 in Brussels. During this round, negotiators discussed all three pillars of the proposed agreement namely market access for EU and US companies, regulatory cooperation and trade rules. Both sides have now arrived at proposals covering 97% of tariff lines,...