Results 25,201-25,220 of 26,653 for speaker:John McGuinness

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: Deputy Harney cannot change the direction or the culture of that Titanic in three years. It will take longer, cost more and will be a hard slog for a Minister whose courage and ability no one has any reason to doubt, but whose hands are tied, as everybody here knows, by faction fights, vested interests and inertia.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: Labour and Fine Gael came into this House knowing this.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: However they couldn't resist the call of the headline and the lure of cheap publicity, which they put before the respect they should have for someone who is doing a great job in difficult circumstances on behalf of this country. I have no difficulty admitting that we have made mistakes.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: Neither have I any difficulty in understanding how and why those mistakes were made and accepting them as the natural consequences of a steep learning curve. Change, ideally should be the child of foresight and planning, but is frequently an orphan who arrives on the doorsteps of governments, commercial enterprises and individuals bearing gifts or problems, or both, all needing immediate...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: How dare they twist statistics and exploit understandable mistakes to make petty political points? How dare they use exterior events over which we have no control as examples of mismanagement?

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: It is true that we made mistakes, but it is untrue that we could have prepared in any real way for the fact that we were going to do so well. Infrastructure development of all types everywhere follows success as, initially, do mistakes. Nobody can prepare for something that may happen, the extent of which is unknown, by spending money yet to be earned. It is disingenuous to suggest...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: Can the Opposition Members tell me, with their pockets full of flawed statistics, the answer to one question? How is it, amid all the doom and gloom they laid before us yesterday, that the Central Statistics Office announced this morning that Ireland is creating a net extra 1,300 jobs a week? Please explain. As an economy we are where we should be: fighting for our share of the high-end...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: They were voted on by some of the Deputy's colleagues.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: The truth would be fine.

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (4 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: The current trading arrangements under the Cotonou Agreement must come to an end on the 31st of December 2007 if the EU and our Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) country partners are to meet our international obligations in the World Trade Organization. Accordingly, the EU and the 6 ACP regions agreed some years ago to negotiate new arrangements, namely Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs),...

Seanad: State Airports (4 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: I thank both the Cathaoirleach and Senator Buttimer for their welcome and their kind remarks. The State Airports Act 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. As part of the airport restructuring process, the boards of Cork and Shannon airports are required to prepare business plans for eventual separation. As they are inter-linked, the...

Seanad: State Airports (4 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: The Senator can take it that it is work in progress and plans are awaited. That process must be completed before either of the two Ministers will make a statement on that matter.

Seanad: State Airports (4 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: That is a matter for consideration once the business plan and everything else is considered. As I outlined in my reply, a process exists and we must wait for that process to be completed.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments (4 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this issue. The Minister assures the Senator and the House that he appreciates the importance of adequately resourcing the courts system in County Donegal and elsewhere. The question of additional judicial resources in the northern circuit or in the Donegal district is, however, a matter...

Seanad: Hospital Services (4 Dec 2007)

John McGuinness: I omitted to mention to Senator Ó Domhnaill that I appreciate his comments and suggestions and that I will bring them to the attention of the Minister. I thank Senator Keaveney for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The Government decided in July 2005 to improve geographic access for patients in the north west to radiation oncology services. It was decided to facilitate access to...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Nov 2007)

John McGuinness: The Company Law Review Group, as part of their Work Programme for 2006/2007, to examine the issue of 'Limited Liability Partnerships'. This follows from concerns, particularly by the legal profession, about the consequences of unlimited liability on partners in a firm. This is one of several issues under consideration by the Company Law Review Group and I expect to receive the report of the...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (28 Nov 2007)

John McGuinness: Section 120 of the Companies Act, 1990 imposed a reporting obligation on every recognised stock exchange in relation to the exercise of functions under Part V (Insider Dealing) of the Act. The scope of that reporting obligation, as applying to the Irish Stock Exchange, was reduced significantly on the coming into operation on 6 July 2005 of the Market Abuse (Directive 2003/6/EC) Regulations...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (28 Nov 2007)

John McGuinness: The WEF's report is based on analysis of statistics and personal opinion from business managers in ranking 131 economies. In his introduction to this years Global Competitiveness Report, Mr. Schwab the Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) says the report comes amid a time of uncertainty for the global economy. Ireland has maintained its position since last year despite the...

Written Answers — Company Liquidation: Company Liquidation (28 Nov 2007)

John McGuinness: I understand that the judgement given in the case cited by the Deputy does not constrain the rights of creditors generally to seek to bring actions under Section 251 of the Companies Act, 1990. Rather, it provided clarification on the circumstances in which the Courts will consider granting orders to creditors under the relevant Section. In this case, it would appear that the applicant...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (28 Nov 2007)

John McGuinness: The current round of trade liberalisation talks in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Doha Development Agenda Round (DDA), covers all aspects of international trade, including agriculture, industrialised goods, services, rules and trade facilitation. As a small open economy, Ireland has much to gain from a well-ordered rules-based world trading system. Accordingly, we are working for a...