Results 41-60 of 1,021,335 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Jennifer Whitmore OR speaker:Francis Noel Duffy)

Business Support Package: Statements (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Thomas Pringle: According to the 2022 census, 32% of people in Ireland, including 15,300 people in Donegal, work from home for at least some part of their week. When considering business support packages, it is important that we also consider supporting businesses to offer the option of remote working and support the transition to remote working. There are companies with jobs that exist only online and...

Business Support Package: Statements (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I welcome the opportunity to speak. Unfortunately, we did not receive copies of the Minister's speech. He referred to small businesses being the backbone of society, something that has also been said in press releases. This is repeatedly said, and I fully agree with it. I also agree that small and medium businesses are the lifeblood of towns and villages the length and breadth of the...

Business Support Package: Statements (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank all Deputies for this useful discussion on the recent set of measures agreed to reduce costs for small and medium businesses. I would like to begin by reiterating the point made earlier by the Minister that small and medium businesses are vital to the success of the Irish economy. As someone with a business background, I understand the importance of supporting small businesses and...

Business Support Package: Statements (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The Regional Group and I have remained steadfast in our commitment to advocating for the prosperity and growth of SMEs within our towns and villages to ensure that the voices and needs of small business owners are not only heard, but also acted upon. Microenterprises and SMEs are not merely a segment of our economy, they are its very pulse. SMEs constitute 95% to 98% of all businesses,...

Business Support Package: Statements (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak during this debate. First, I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and wish her well. Business and, indeed, all of enterprise is going through a period of rapid transition. Just looking out the back window, there was the financial crisis, followed by the Covid closures, the Ukraine crisis and the impact that has had...

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I do not think Deputy Flaherty or I would generate a lot of activity for local hairdressers. Deputy O'Connor might generate more activity.

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

James O'Connor: I was waiting but the Ceann Comhairle took my joke. I join Deputy Flaherty in welcoming his guests. The issue we are discussing is of huge relevance at the moment. In my constituency of Cork East, whether in the local villages, towns or out in the countryside, time and again I meet small employers. I am not talking about the companies with between 50 and 100 employees. I am talking about...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters (23 May 2024)

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters (23 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Pearse Doherty - To discuss the condemning of the building belonging to Raphoe Community Playgroup due to the presence of defective concrete blocks and the possible closure of the service. Deputy Paul Murphy - To discuss the...

Business Support Package: Statements (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Business Support Package: Statements (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: There is no doubt that some small businesses in particular sectors like hospitality, small cafés, some retail and so on are struggling. We all come across them. There are certainly plenty of businesses in Dún Laoghaire town that are struggling and deserve and need assistance. However, I warn strongly against any idea that the way to help those struggling businesses is to attack,...

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Deputy James O'Connor and Deputy Joe Flaherty are sharing time.

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: If the Ceann Comhairle will indulge me, I welcome members of Drumlish Hill Club. It is a predominantly a female audience in the House. I think there are three men among 19.

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Blessed are they.

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I know we are talking about enterprise and retail but I want to get them out of Dublin as quickly as possible because they are spending too much money, so I want to get them back to Longford where it is to be hoped their money will be more productively spent. I think this is my first time to address the Minister in his new capacity. I commend him. I know he is a number of weeks into the...

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Chris Andrews: I thank the Minister of State. The cost of doing business is challenging for everybody. No even the Government would deny that. Is is challenging, particularly for smaller businesses. I have raised an issue before in this House about schemes right across the country. Different local authorities have different schemes for street furniture licensing. The Minister for housing has waived...

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Catherine Murphy: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. One of the things business people will tell you is about the high input costs, including, for example, energy. We have some of the highest energy costs in Europe. It depends on the particular business but they will tell you about insurance costs. They will all talk about them but some businesses are particularly impacted by it. The...

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: I am delighted to be given the opportunity to say a few words here this afternoon and to point out some of the excellent work that has been done by a slew of Ministers and officials across a number of Departments, led by the Minister, Deputy Burke, and following on, despite some revisionism, which we are used to, from certain parties across the Chamber, from a package announced a couple...

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: It was never off it. The Minister of State is just not very good at finding it.

Business Support Package: Statements (23 May 2024)

Neale Richmond: Sinn Féin's entire enterprise budget last year was €30.3 million. Within that, Sinn Féin says that there should be the creation of an Irish jobs agency. We have Enterprise Ireland. When we have a 15-minute intervention from the Sinn Féin spokespeople, and we will have more slating of this package, they really need to start looking at themselves and the sheer lack of...