Results 41-60 of 3,591 for speaker:Damien English in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits (27 Oct 2022)

Damien English: Again, I thank Deputy Burke for raising this issue. We keep this under review. The changes were put in place last November in our Department and then the Departments of Health and Justice followed suit. The three Departments are working quite closely to try to prioritise this area. When it comes to judgments on the permits, we have made a lot of changes in our own Department to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits (27 Oct 2022)

Damien English: I agree. It is important that we have streamlined the process. It is now much more accommodating to the situation regarding stamp 4 and family reunification. The issues the Deputy raises probably cross over with the Department of Finance and Revenue as well as the Department of Social Protection. I am certainly happy to raise them. We have been for a long number of years trying to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits (27 Oct 2022)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Colm Burke for raising this very important matter and assure him that we have tried to work with the Departments of Health and Justice to improve the situation. The State's employment permit system is designed to supplement Ireland's skills and labour supply over the short to medium term by allowing the recruitment of nationals from outside the EEA where such skills or...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health and Safety (27 Oct 2022)

Damien English: The fact that the code of practice is being published next week means we are moving it pretty quickly. It will be in place in 2023, which I must remind the Deputy is only about eight or nine weeks away. It is not as if we are saying this will be in a couple of years’ time. To be fair, there is a process to go through when updating these regulations. I assume the Deputy wants this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health and Safety (27 Oct 2022)

Damien English: Again, we analysed the Deputy’s Bill and we felt that amending existing regulations was a more appropriate and pragmatic way of achieving the objectives of that Bill. We probably will have achieved the same things. The Deputy’s Bill, as drafted, focused primarily on improved workplace ventilation. However, both the Department and the HSA believe that workplace ventilation goes...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health and Safety (27 Oct 2022)

Damien English: As the Deputy is aware, following our discussion that night on his Private Members’ Bill on workplace ventilation, which was not opposed by the Government, I asked the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, to start immediately a formal review of the existing provisions on workplace ventilation to determine what further enhancement measures could be considered. Following this review, a...

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Referral to Select Committee (12 Oct 2022)

Damien English: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Damien English: I will try to deal with some of the questions that were raised. I welcome the interest in this Bill and the discussion and debate around it. I thank my colleagues who have stayed for a long time. I recognise there is great interest in this legislation and I look forward to working with Deputies on Committee Stage to bring through the Bill. I acknowledge there is annoyance that we did...

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Damien English: That was not me.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Damien English: The Deputy did not write to me.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Damien English: I will check that.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Damien English: The Deputy might correct that.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Damien English: I have no problem checking, but could the Deputy please correct the record? She did not write to me. I will check the issue for her.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Damien English: I will check the matter for the Deputy in any event.

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (12 Oct 2022)

Damien English: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to bring this Bill before the House today. It has been a long road to get it here and there has been a lot of work involved with the committee, colleagues and with public consultation too. As Deputies are aware, the past year has seen a surge in applications for employment permits. That has put a lot more pressure on the...

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6 – General (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Damien English: I welcome budget 2023 as one designed across the Government to help individuals, workers and their families, as well as the business community in Ireland, with the rising cost of living and of doing business, mainly because of Ukraine's war with Russia. This budget also future-proofs our country by investing in our young people, education, science and innovation. We are investing in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (15 Sep 2022)

Damien English: I am glad to inform the House that following the completion of the recruitment process, IDA Ireland appointed Brian McGee as the new south-east regional manager in July 2022. This appointment will enable IDA Ireland to promote regional development in the south east, which is at the centre of IDA Ireland's 2021 to 2024 strategy, Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth. IDA Ireland will seek...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (15 Sep 2022)

Damien English: Yes, Brian McGee was appointed in July.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (15 Sep 2022)

Damien English: I hope he is at his desk working because he was appointed in July.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services (15 Sep 2022)

Damien English: I will absolutely make sure that Carlow is not forgotten. We could not possibly forget it with the Deputy here. As the Deputy knows, in IDA Ireland's strategy there is a target to complete an advanced building solution in Carlow in 2022. It could end up being early in 2023 but it is a commitment and it will happen. There is also a commitment to bring additional investment to the...