Results 24,861-24,880 of 26,653 for speaker:John McGuinness

Industrial Development Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: It may bore him somewhat that I must return to the sections of the Bill but if he waits he will find that interesting too. The comment that all of the debate came from the other side of the House was not exactly accurate. There were several contributions from this side as there were from the Opposition, expressing the same level of interest. In respect of section 3, I too support the...

Industrial Development Bill 2008: Referral to Select Committee (26 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Industrial Development Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (26 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce the Industrial Development Bill 2008 and outline its main provisions. The Bill provides for the transfer of shares held by Shannon Development to Enterprise Ireland and it amends sections of the Industrial Development Acts of 1986 and 1993. These amendments relate primarily to the statutory limit on aggregate...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: Am I safe?

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this pre-budget debate. I consider Deputy Coveney to be a reasonable guy. I have heard him speak at committee meetings at various stages and I am interested in the contribution he has just made. It is different. It was made without political rhetoric. I also listened to his colleague Deputy Bruton and the suggestions he made. I have paid...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: Fine. There is nothing wrong with it. I propose not a bad bank but an asset or property bank, which could be saved as we go along in terms of the assets and property portfolios it holds. It would give the banks that have the real thrust of business interests in mind the opportunity to be banks. I want to turn to costs. I ask the ESB to cut its costs by 25% now. That is what it can do to...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: It is 20.

Written Answers — Prompt Payment of Accounts: Prompt Payment of Accounts (24 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together. The Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997 requires Government Departments to report each year on details of their accounting practices. While I have not carried out an analysis on the speed and efficiency of payments made by Government Departments and public bodies to private businesses, an examination of the Annual Reports of Government...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (24 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: Financial and non-financial assistance for small businesses and services in Ireland is delivered by a large number of bodies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) (www.enterpriseboards.ie), Enterprise Ireland (www.enterprise-ireland.com) and FÁS (www.fas.ie). The individual concerned should, in the first instance, contact their local CEB, who will then advise how best to...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Inspections: Health and Safety Inspections (24 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: I have made inquiries and understand that, in addition to routine inspections initiated by the inspector, the plant operator requested further visits for verification purposes. Verification visits are necessary when seals on instruments are broken for adjustment or repair or where scales in use are exchanged from non-trade to trade use. In some cases two-day visits are required because of...

Written Answers — Regulatory Burden: Regulatory Burden (24 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: The extension of the audit exemption regime to small companies limited by guarantee is currently being examined by the Company Law Review Group as part of its 2008/2009 Work Programme and I will consider their recommendation(s) in the matter.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Mar 2009)

John McGuinness: Following earlier contacts with the Revenue Commissioners Mr. Doherty made representations to my colleague Mr. Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, whose office passed the enquiry to the Tánaiste for reply. The matter concerns the application by the Revenue Commissioners of VAT rules. This is a matter for which the Tánaiste has no responsibility. Accordingly, a reply issued on...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Inspections: Health and Safety Inspections (25 Feb 2009)

John McGuinness: The number of meat plants inspected over the three-year period is as follows: 2006: 8; 2007: 22; and 2008: 11. The following table details the meat plants inspected and the dates of inspection. No breaches of the legislation requiring prosecution were found. Following the resolution of an industrial relations issue relating to the hiring of private haulage for the conveyance and lifting of...

Export Credit Insurance. (24 Feb 2009)

John McGuinness: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter, with which I am familiar and which is of great concern to the exporters and companies he mentioned. Since the State withdrew from the provision of export credit insurance in 1998, exporters have been able to avail of such insurance on the open market as commercial operators made such cover easily available and there was significant take-up...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (24 Feb 2009)

John McGuinness: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Priority Question No 67 and Oral Question No 76 on 10 December 2008, where I set out in detail to the House, the various initiatives and measures in place to address the credit crunch and its impact on SMEs, through Enterprise Ireland, the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards, FAS and my own Department, as a follow-up to the Small Business Forum's Report....

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (24 Feb 2009)

John McGuinness: The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were set up in 1993 to provide support for small businesses with 10 employees or fewer (micro-enterprises) in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role and...

Work Permits. (24 Feb 2009)

John McGuinness: The schemes are reviewed every six months. There is a constant change in the context of the labour market and that change is reflected in the review. The statistics, both here and across Europe, indicate that the numbers coming in to seek employment are reducing quite rapidly. There is a need for us to adjust accordingly and as that change takes place, depending on the area about which we...

Work Permits. (24 Feb 2009)

John McGuinness: The fees issue is under review and out for consultation at present. The comments made by the Deputy can be taken into consideration in the context of that review.

Work Permits. (24 Feb 2009)

John McGuinness: Deputy Naughten has just answered his own question. It is being reviewed and he just acknowledged it is being reviewed.

Work Permits. (24 Feb 2009)

John McGuinness: Deputy Naughten asked one question and answered it. He answered his own question——