Results 7,241-7,260 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We will let Mr. Houlihan finish and then we can come back in at the end; there is no problem. In fairness, we are straying into the whole area of the banking inquiry, which is not Mr. Houlihan’s job.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: I have made it clear now but you can come back in at the end. Is that okay? We have gone somewhat astray. I call on Mr. Houlihan to continue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We might do that at the next presentation and as well as the Department we could bring in some of the relevant stakeholders, including the auditing authority. It is unfair to call on Mr. Houlihan to comment on all of these issues and he is not really in a position to do so. We will give people a chance to go through their grievances with the more relevant bodies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: To be fair, Mr. Houlihan is going through the detail and it is not for him to answer for everyone.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We are going into even more depth and it is difficult to tease it out. I agree that there are more questions than answers. Does Mr. Houlihan want to continue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: I also wish to add a couple of questions. The Department has expressed a concern regarding proportionality in respect of small and medium-sized businesses. It is a big issue that while the same rules really should not apply in this regard, they do. Aside from small businesses, other companies, which in reality operate as charities, sporting organisations and so on, are also hit by audits...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: Yes, but even in this directive, I point out no such assurance on future viability is being sought. Moreover, it does not really comment on the management of the company. The problem over the years is that for a lot of the major entities, the non-executive directors have not really done their jobs. A grey area existed as to what is their job and while it is to be a voice and to watch over...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: That is the reason I sought clarity on the issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We might take up Mr. Houlihan on that offer. I think the joint committee will take this matter further as there is a lot to it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: Internal audit also was a problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: If Mr. Houlihan is agreeable I will take questions from two more speakers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We will have questions and answers shortly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: I thank Mr. Houlihan for a detailed presentation, which is what we want. It was useful to tease through the information. I call Deputy Calleary.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We will have an opportunity to prepare our own comment on this, which we can send directly to the Commission. We can decide that at the end of the meeting. I call Senator Cullinane.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: Are there many countries in that group? Is the UK in it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: Do other countries have the same concerns?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business of Joint Committee (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: Apologies have been received from Deputy John Lyons and Senator Feargal Quinn. We will go into private session to deal with correspondence and other housekeeping matters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: You are all welcome. This meeting is for the purpose of the scrutiny of EU proposals COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 by officials from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. I welcome Mr. Pat Houlihan, Ms Marie Dempsey and Mr. John Moynihan from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. They are here to brief the committee on COM (2011) 778, a proposed directive on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment and Youth Unemployment Issues and Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with IBEC and SFA (2 Oct 2012)

Damien English: That is when people have earned the right-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment and Youth Unemployment Issues and Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion with IBEC and SFA (2 Oct 2012)

Damien English: There is an enterprise grant available in those circumstances.