Results 4,761-4,780 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Unemployment Levels. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: The budget did not contain even one significant initiative to deal with unemployment. The only initiative taken on the issue of unemployment in the budget was to make it more difficult to qualify for jobseeker's benefit and restrict the period over which it is paid. I have asked about county enterprise boards previously. Will the Minister agree to strengthen the role of the county...

Unemployment Levels. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: Hear, hear. I thank the Minister of State.

Unemployment Levels. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: It is the Cathaoirleach's soothing voice.

Official Engagements. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: I compliment the Minister on her mission to the United States. It is important that she should continue that role regarding foreign direct investment with IDA Ireland. Did the extreme importance of Ireland's young, vibrant, well-educated and highly-skilled workforce, its low tax regime and flexible policies come across during her mission? While I acknowledge such projects have long...

Departmental Agencies. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: It would appear that the Tánaiste wants a specific investigation. From her inquiries with FÁS and her Department, is she satisfied that the steps taken on new procedures in accountancy and auditing will be put in place, thereby ensuring no recurrence of a matter that may be the subject of an investigation? We should not prejudge an outcome until after a full investigation has been carried...

Departmental Agencies. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: I do not want to cut across him, but will the Tánaiste ask the Minister of State to set out a programme whereby this aspect of FÁS's mandate can be accelerated? It will not be an easy task, but it could be worthwhile. FÁS has done much positive work and many fine people work for it, but perhaps more people should be on the ground. One of the Ministers of State referred to how many...

Departmental Agencies. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: That is right.

Employment Rights. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: Is the Minister of State satisfied that all those involved are acutely aware of the importance of competitiveness in the economy at this point?

Employment Rights. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: As usual, we acknowledge the efforts of the Acting Chairman.

FÁS Investigation. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: I mentioned it six times.

Live Register. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: Question 2: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views, in view of the fact that the numbers on the live register have increased by more than 100,000 in a little more than 12 months, on whether Ireland is facing an emergency in terms of job losses; the steps she is taking to stem the number of job losses; if she will provide new training opportunities...

Live Register. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: The loss of jobs in the economy exercises every member of the Labour Party, which has prepared a comprehensive document entitled, Labour's New Deal: Key Proposals for Economic Recovery. The proposals constitute a stimulus package to try to reflate the economy and address some of the issues arising, particularly in the employment area, while recognising the deep human and social cost of...

Live Register. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: I will ask about Tallaght first. Is the Minister of State concerned about the crisis facing many small and medium size enterprises arising from the credit famine, which is contributing significantly to the massive increase in unemployment levels? A large factory shedding 300 jobs will make headlines but I suggest that the hidden cost of a factory closure will be another 300 jobs lost down...

Live Register. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: The Minister of State should look at what the banks did. They proved the Labour Party right. The Government did not give a penny to small businesses but helped those who were already successful. The Labour Party's approach was to protect the small people.

Live Register. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: The Labour Party is proud of its actions. The banks did exactly what we said they would do.

Live Register. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: I will not listen to claptrap from the Minister of State about what my party did.

Live Register. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: We have been proven right. The banks have done nothing for the people. The Government was worried about the land developers and speculators.

Live Register. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: I am not being populist.

Live Register. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: Unfortunately, we have been proven correct.

Special Report on New EU Legislation: Statements. (20 Nov 2008)

Willie Penrose: I compliment Deputy Perry and the other members of the Joint Committee on European Affairs on this important and comprehensive report. It makes proposals on improving our work. I have always been an advocate of this process. As Chairman of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs I was concerned that we had insufficient resources to scrutinise and interpret the legislation with...