Results 4,641-4,660 of 26,433 for speaker:John McGuinness

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: SME Recovery (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: It is a cop-out. The Government, at any stage, could have brought in the appropriate legislation. Mr. Moran is dancing around the issue. Why, in his opinion, is the money not being made available as freely as it should be by the different Departments managing the system? Are they ignoring the policy or are they deliberately making it difficult?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: SME Recovery (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: Mr. Butler has delivered the message of the day.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: SME Recovery (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: The message cannot be ignored. The package had better be heavily geared towards the sector we are discussing. We must take note of the fact that at other hearings - in different scenarios and in the context of different sectors - we heard the same message that the stakeholders were not consulted. I am shocked to hear Mr. Butler say that. I hope the Government and the Departments have...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Hospitality Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: What engagement have the witnesses had with the Government or senior officials in the respective Departments to put forward their requests for supports and for the inclusion of those supports in the July stimulus package? Have the witnesses been consulted in respect of the July stimulus package?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Hospitality Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: I realise what Mr. Cummins is saying with regard to his engagement with the Departments and other agencies. He has put before them his ask. I want to know the response. What we have heard so far in these hearings about the SME sector, particularly micro-businesses, is that it has been loud in its declaration of what is required but that the follow-up from the Department has been extremely...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Hospitality Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: Is that the experience of the other witnesses?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Hospitality Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: Mr. Cribben wants to see a wide-ranging package of grants in the July stimulus that will support the general business sector he represents. If I am reading him correctly, loans may be considered by the sector but only if they are at 0%.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Hospitality Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: May I ask him about the banks and older borrowings within businesses that have come through the recession and the financial crash? Is there a demand within the sectors to bundle those loans and seek support for those loans in the long term with help from the Government? This would allow businesses to deal with long-term debt and short-term requirements for capital, with them getting all of...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Hospitality Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: Are the utility services playing ball?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Hospitality Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: What has been the response of the banks?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Hospitality Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: Do the witnesses expect the employment level within the sectors to drop and will they be looking for assistance in terminating employment contracts and effecting redundancies and so on? Has there been reaction from members in all of this? What has been the response from Government?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Hospitality Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: Essentially, what Mr. Cribben is asking for here is a huge injection in the July stimulus and for each Department and Minister to understand that this is urgent and required now.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Arts and Entertainment Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: If I may go back to the question about the local authorities and their funding, in spite of the fact that it is local authority funding, it will now have to come from central government too because the local authorities are challenged. In Kilkenny, I am acutely aware of the great role the arts and the network relating to arts projects, festivals and so on play in the economy. Through the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Arts and Entertainment Sector (30 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: What about the response by Government in terms of providing the necessary funding? In the context of not being able to get back fully until mid or late 2021, it is important from the figures that have been presented that they reflect the possibility of a longer recovery for the sector. There is a need to support EPIC and the other parts of the industry that act behind the scenes. I hope...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: The Chairman and Deputy Carroll MacNeill did very well this morning sorting out the problems of the world for the public.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: Is that what happened in the case of Seas Suas?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: Will that organisation be included?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: Okay.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: I will let my constituency colleague go first.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

John McGuinness: I cannot say I am surprised or shocked by the evidence given by the witnesses today. Throughout the tenure of a number of Governments, the State has shown scant regard for front-line workers except, of course, when the house is on fire, when a pandemic is under way or when something terrible is happening. In those cases, the State is wonderful. The hypocrisy, disrespect and disregard for...