Results 4,321-4,340 of 12,377 for speaker:Louise O'Reilly

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Redundancy Payments (23 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: 193. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way the redundancy loan scheme for businesses announced during summer 2021 will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45856/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Before I ask my question, I will briefly raise the issue of the practice of sending opening statements to committees at the last minute, which the Chair has commented on. It happens quite a lot and it is not helpful. It means we do not have an opportunity to engage with the material and it does not enhance the quality of the debate. The Minister said the statement was not cleared until...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Is the Minister talking about, ideally, getting this done in the next couple of weeks, months or by the end of the Government's term?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Is the Minister concerned at all about the introduction of the ICS into our legal system? It is clear that it will put the interests of corporations above those of ordinary people and the rights of people living here. It is not right or sensible to solidify a situation whereby corporations can sue national governments. We know this has happened. The Australian Government was sued for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Okay, I will clarify that. National courts can act in the public interest. Investor courts act in the interests of the corporations. They are separate entities. It is apples and oranges to try to compare the two. These are special investor courts. I am not talking about a trip down to the Four Courts. I am talking about a special, separate system - the Minister knows I am - whereby our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Indeed, and I appreciate that is the Minister's position. In 2017, his colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, described CETA as being written and negotiated by big corporate interests and their lobbyists. He said that it was wrong. The Minister clearly does not share those views but I want to go beyond the trade aspect, which is operational. The aspect that gets me every time...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: I might return to my question about details beyond the trade aspects of this deal that are operation. I apologise if the Minister disliked the use of the word "enamoured" but what exactly is it that he supports and feels we need that is so important? I am genuinely struggling with it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Indeed. Is it the case, however, that other countries have not ratified the agreement, and, indeed, that Cyprus will not ratify it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: France, the Netherlands and Germany have not ratified it. I believe in the Netherlands it is because the government does not have a majority in their Senate. It is not true to say that we would be the only country that we would hold this up. There is a sense of urgency coming from the Minister and he says he wants it done as soon as possible, etc., but I do not get that this is necessary....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Is it the Minister's intention to hold a vote in the Dáil and the Seanad? He mentioned other countries where it was ratified in their equivalent of the Dáil but not their senate. Is it his intention to have a debate and vote in both?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Returning to the ongoing discussion, I am struggling with this aspect as well. As it stands, Canadian companies can sue the Government in the national courts, as can citizens, etc. However, these proposals allow for separate systems, the likes of which we have not signed up to previously. We have not signed up to anything like this proposed system. In that respect, therefore, the Minister...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Designed to be responsive to whom is what we must be clear about. The Minister has repeatedly said that he does not think that anyone will have a change of mind on this issue. However, I always come to committee meetings with an open mind. I like to have my opinions confirmed, though, and that has happened this morning. SMEs are the backbone of the economy in respect of employment, etc....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Indeed, but it is a bit disingenuous for the Minister to say that he believes there will be a benefit for SMEs if the trade aspects are in place and being utilised at the moment, as we have established. If he does not have the figures to hand, that is fair enough, but he should not say that there will be some kind of benefit for SMEs if he does not know that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: Come on now. The Minister is citing a benefit and saying that this is a good thing but he does not know that this is going to be a good thing for SMEs. He is speculating. That is fair enough but it is only speculation; there is no hard evidence. If he has such evidence, I would be grateful if he would share it with us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: There is a difference between what we feel and what is written down. If the Minister has the information, he should share it with us so that we can all engage with it. That would be beneficial.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: May I ask just one quick question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: The Minister mentioned that he was going to consult the Attorney General-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: The Chair has said he will indulge me with one question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: The Minister said that he was going to consult the Attorney General. I understand the issues around such advice but if he would, in some way, shape or form, share the views of the Attorney General on the matter, that would be helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Louise O'Reilly: It was the Minister who mentioned the issue of leaking so I wanted to clarify that. Does he have a timeframe for the ratification? He said he wanted to move as soon as possible. How long is a piece of string on that? Has he a timeframe in his mind? Given the public statements from some members of the Government parties regarding their opposition and concerns about this, is he concerned...