Results 24,941-24,960 of 26,653 for speaker:John McGuinness
- Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (9 Dec 2008)
John McGuinness: The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were set up in 1993 to provide support for 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 they can provide both financial and...
- Written Answers — Small Business Sector: Small Business Sector (9 Dec 2008)
John McGuinness: The current financial situation is challenging for SMEs. I have met with the SFA and ISME to discuss a range of issues of concern to the SME sector. A primary concern is access to bank credit. The banking sector is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan T.D. My officials and I have been working closely with the Minister and officials of his Department...
- Written Answers — Irish Exports: Irish Exports (9 Dec 2008)
John McGuinness: Over the last five years the contribution of net exports to Irish economic growth has fluctuated year on year. In 2003 it was +1.49%; in 2004 +0.43%; in 2005 it was negative, at -1.29%; in 2006 +0.21% and in 2007 net exports contributed +2.64% to economic growth. For the first half of 2008 the relevant figure was +1.42%. In the calendar years 2003-2007, annual growth in total Irish exports...
- Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)
John McGuinness: Except in hurling.
- Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)
John McGuinness: I thank the Labour Party for tabling this timely and worthwhile motion. I have listened carefully to the contributions of Members on this topic which is close to my own heart and background. I come from the retail sector as I worked as a grocer in my own corner shop trying to make a living following in the footsteps of my parents. I witnessed significant changes in the shopping patterns of...
- Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)
John McGuinness: Local authorities should be acutely aware of what is going on in their communities and businesses.
- Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)
John McGuinness: Local authorities should heed the constant call by public representatives, who are sensitive and understanding about this issue, to freeze their rates and examine their planning mechanisms to ensure reasonable planning applications relating to change of use and so on, which are not contentious, are approved expeditiously to enable economic activity. The fees and charges applied to planning...
- Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: The European Union provides support to European small and medium-sized enterprises in different forms such as grants, loans and, in some cases, guarantees. Support is available either directly or through programmes managed at national or regional level, such as the European Union's Structural Funds. SMEs can also benefit from a series of non-financial assistance measures in the form of...
- Written Answers — Small Business Sector: Small Business Sector (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: My Department provides funding to a number of State Agencies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs), Enterprise Ireland, and FÃS, through whom assistance is delivered directly to small businesses in the North Dublin region. Enterprise Ireland's activity is focussed on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs in manufacturing and internationally traded...
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: Like the Opposition I welcome the opportunity to debate the issues associated with the SME sector in the current economic situation with the loss of jobs and so forth. However, one cannot take this debate without considering the world situation. I understand the comments of Deputy Costello concerning the global situation, which was mentioned twice. Let us consider the position throughout...
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: No one could have predicted the Americans would nationalise the banks and that a further â¬800 billion would be tossed into the USA economy, that China would do likewise in the past few weeks, or that the property sector there could be as effective as it is here. We are not immune from the impact of the global economy, because we have strived in recent years to be a part and parcel of the...
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: It is important to recognise what is happening.
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: The Opposition Deputies present should examine their counties and the work of the county enterprise boards, some 35 of which are doing an excellent job. The budget in my Department has been increased by 9%.
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: The budget of the county enterprise boards has been increased by 16%. Some 2,700 companies and businesses are registered each month and 1,000 of those companies are registered by women.
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: Today in Mullingar some 4,000 women met to discuss the promotion of their businesses, to discuss how to gain from State agencies and how to gain a better understanding of ways to create and grow their business.
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: They displayed a confidence in the future and in what they could achieve within their own communities and businesses by way of job creation. I take my hat off to them. However, there are very few in the House who recognise their achievements.
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: There are very few on the Opposition benches who recognise the work of Enterprise Ireland on behalf of small companies. They consider the reverse scenario. Deputy Stagg is incorrect.
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: The question is how ones deals with the situation.
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: One does not deal with it by crying into one's beer. One deals with it by standing up and taking the challenge to the outside economies.
- Small and Medium Enterprises: Motion (Resumed) (26 Nov 2008)
John McGuinness: They are engaging with me and distracting me from the Chair. Enterprise Ireland should be used in the same way as the county enterprise boards, whereby there is seamless availability of support, funding, mentoring systems and continued education.