Results 61-80 of 245 for speaker:Tony McCormack

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. In a country like Ireland, where we have 5.4 million people and our competitiveness is so important to us, our natural resources are mainly our agriculture and our people. After that we will have a sharp focus on wind energy in the coming years, but at the moment it is not there. Looking specifically at my area in Offaly, we have lost a number...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: Mr. Gibbons talks about the countries we are competitive with right across Europe, but there are also other countries coming into that competitiveness process with us that have a lower cost base.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: No, but what I am asking Mr. Gibbons is how we can have wage increases that do not affect our competitiveness. In what way can we go about it? I know the witnesses have spoken about productivity and building on productivity but I do not think that is the only answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: Those other competitive countries have natural resources that we do not have, such as an oil and gas, so we have to be very careful with the way we go about this and that we do not price ourselves out of the market. As I said, our natural resources are our people, our agriculture, and hopefully in the future, wind energy. I suppose fishing was in the past, but it is not as big as it was.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: It seems to be ongoing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: I know, and unfortunately we do have to respond to all those outside influences.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: I apologise for hogging the time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: Many people in business would say to me about reducing the cost of living, that the wage increases have contributed hugely to the cost of living and the price of goods and to what is in the shopping basket that most people will look at every day, week in, week out, because that is what they need to live on. They will look at that and a lot of those increases are coming from wage increases.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. The national development plan is probably one of the most important pieces of work we will do over the next few years. It is vital for our economy, country and society in general. It is important we get it right. Will the Minister outline how much is being invested in water and energy infrastructure, nationally and in the midlands? In many...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: Cathaoirleach, can I come in? The development plans are out for revision at the moment. In the case of Offaly County Council, a lot of work is being done on that in the background to try to have it ready for November. However, from speaking to other colleagues, it does not seem to be the case everywhere. It seems to be being pushed out further. This is vital for us to be able to build...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: It needs to be part of the planning.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: Yesterday on Eden Quay, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed by a group of four or five men. Disturbingly, those involved used e-scooters as getaway vehicles. They were dressed in black clothing and were able to leave the scene quickly. This is not an isolated issue. Across the country, e-scooters are increasingly linked with antisocial behaviour, drug activities and reckless use on footpaths,...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (23 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: 18. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to address delays in accessing children’s disability services in County Offaly, in particular access to speech and language therapy and other interventions through the children’s disability network teams; if additional staffing or resources are planned to reduce waiting lists and ensure timely...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disabilities Assessments (23 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: 40. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current waiting times for children in County Offaly to access assessments of need and therapeutic supports through the children’s disability network teams; the actions being taken to ensure compliance with statutory assessment timelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50109/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: 35. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his response to the recent decision by the UN Security Council in relation to the UNIFIL Mandate. [48983/25]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Meetings (18 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: 73. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on his attendance at the recent informal Meetings of EU Defence Ministers. [48982/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Policy (18 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: 127. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an update on the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce. [48944/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: 131. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the development of renewable energy. [48943/25]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Disability and Equality: Disability Services (8 Sep 2025)

Tony McCormack: 1974. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the amount being paid by her Department to a facility (details supplied) for the provision of care to its clients; if her Department is aware of instances where clients of the facility have been arrested on several occasions while away from the facility and not under staff supervision; and if she will make a statement on the...