Results 2,941-2,960 of 15,504 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: The Attorney General is going through all the issues involved and we await his judgment. I would not be cheeky enough to give the Attorney General a timeline. There is a very strong relationship between both countries economically, societally and culturally and it is in our interest to develop and strengthen it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: I agree with the ambition. I acknowledge the Deputy is the chair of the Ireland–Canada parliamentary friendship group, and I thank him for his work on this. I agree with him in that I know the growth can be achieved. I have seen the work of some of the companies. As I said to Deputy O’Reilly, we, particularly Enterprise Ireland, have identified fintech. We had a very good...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: Not that I am aware of. We are trying to bed down what we have. Other markets are also demanding our attention but I know the team in Toronto services the area pretty diligently. We had some companies from Saskatchewan with us during the trip, given the connections there. Ideally, I would love to have more bodies and resources in the region but it is an Enterprise Ireland matter. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: Some of them are. If they are hungry enough, they are. I do not mean that in a smart way; it is just that we got a sense of it from the companies we met, which were in construction and fintech. The whole plan of one of them was to set up its product and service so as to invest in Canada. It did that during Covid. Others have built on existing relationships and solutions and have adjusted...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: We had some very good meetings, many of which were actually in Cork, which seems to have a good Canadian presence. I will do my best for the people of Cork.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: We have two IDA Ireland executives in Toronto at the moment, and they are backed up by the North American team, who give them really good support. I thank Mark Shorten, vice president for financial services and life sciences. He led out on this and did considerable work. I also thank Deirdre Moran, the country manager. We met representatives of several companies that are very happy with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: I did not put on the jersey.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: I think there is. We already have a huge presence. Off the top of my head, I do not know how many Canadian students are here in Ireland. They are one of the biggest cohorts that are here to study at third and fourth level. I know the Minister, Deputy Harris, was out there earlier this year as part of the St. Patrick's Day missions. He had engagements in his capacity with colleges in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: I acknowledged the strength of the relationship. I did not have the chance, though James Maloney was due to join us. He is highly thought of among the Irish community and our officials, and he is somebody who is a very good friend. I did not have the chance to meet him. I have to say that the current Canadian ambassador to Ireland is an absolutely wonderful force of energy. She is all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: On Deputy Shanahan's first point, I did not meet anybody with a Waterford accent, but I met somebody from Newfoundland with the biggest Donegal accent I have ever heard, and she has never been in Ireland. The connections are strong in Newfoundland in particular. We have to ratify every trade deal. All trade deals have to be ratified by the Oireachtas. This is an EU-Canada trade deal so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: Again, I will make the point that the Attorney General is going to make the financial conclusion. Without referring to CETA specifically, we are a small country. We maybe like to think of ourselves as being a bit bigger than we are. We need trade, and we need free and open trade. Trade agreements have been the foundation of our economic success, and our ability to use trade agreements at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: We are by no means the first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: I do not have specific figures on food and drink, but I know that Canada exported nearly $82 billion worth of agriculture and food products last year. Enterprise Ireland is trying to identify the opportunities that are there for Irish companies to assist some of that market. As I said, we launched a partnership with Moffett engineering systems, which is the new generation of the Moffett...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: Before we conclude, I thank the committee. It was an interesting discussion. I assure members, before they travel out there, of the strength of the relationship, which, as I said, goes back generations, and the ambition on both sides of this relationship in terms of expanding it, not only in business and economically but also culturally and socially. They will get a sense of that strength...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: I am conscious that this is subject to agreement but one cannot cherry-pick bits of the deal that suit. The Government has gone through every aspect of the CETA deal and feels it is good for Irish companies and Canadian companies, and that it will strengthen our relationship and even the business and commercial relationship. The Deputy will get a sense of that when she visits. Hopefully,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: The Department and the unit are in regular contact to try to get a sense of progress. We do not have a timeline on it. In fairness to him, and I know from other issues we are dealing with him on, his office is pretty stretched. It is important that we get clarity. The relationship is there, and the potential relationship is absolutely enormous. Building on potential - and using every...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-Canada Trade Relations: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: This was cited by a number of community leaders we met, particularly in Vancouver. Vancouver has become a huge attraction for Irish emigrants and Irish students. It is a very welcoming city and there are huge opportunities there. It was cited that there is a much easier system to manage there. We would like to get people home as well. We hope to bring as many people home as we can, and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nitrates Usage (21 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: I absolutely agree with the Deputy regarding the vilification of farmers. It is wrong. If we are to have a proper debate on climate change, which is real and happening and will be very real for every person, then vilifying one sector will not allow that. It is wrong and I agree with the Deputy that everybody has to shoulder the burden here. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, deals daily...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (21 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: Go raibh maith ag an Teachta. Aontaím leis go gcaithfidh daoine a chur in iúl go bhfuil suim acu sna tithe nua san Aird Mhór. He will also be aware of the first home scheme which is delivered via a strategic partnership between the State and participating mortgage lenders. It is targeted at first-time or fresh start buyers and will improve access to newly built homes by...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Nitrates Usage (21 Nov 2023)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue, which is timely in advance of the Commissioner's visit this week. The Government recognises the importance of maintaining Ireland's nitrates derogation and is committed to seeking to maintain it into the longer term. However, to do this, we must all act together to improve water quality. Our current derogation includes a requirement...