Results 941-960 of 4,491 for speaker:John Perry

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

John Perry: A person can now apply direct.

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

John Perry: The Government has focused on small companies and start-up companies and the budget was totally devoted to entrepreneurship and start-up companies. I can assure the Senator that the Government's focus is on the domestic economy and its actions over the next 12 months will be very clear.

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

John Perry: This is a technical amendment to section 2(3) of the Bill. Section 2 of the Bill defines the functional area of a city or county council for the purposes of this legislation. One local enterprise office will be created in each local authority area with some exceptions due to the merging of some local authorities under the reform programme of the Department of the Environment, Community and...

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

John Perry: I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved during all Stages of the progression of this Bill through the House. This legislation is extremely important and I am delighted to see it pass through the Seanad. The reform constitutes a major commitment in the programme for Government and is a core element of the Action Plan for Jobs. In reaching this point, I thank in the first...

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

John Perry: I apologise for interjecting but as there is huge support available for that type of industry, I strongly advise him to contact the current enterprise board.

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

John Perry: I will send the Deputy a direct reply to those questions on which I can give clarification.

Other Questions: Regional Aid (10 Oct 2013)

John Perry: More than 51% of the country qualifies for category C regional aid. It was originally proposed that large enterprises would not be funded in the regions. We got that included. The regional aid is not a funding scheme for the EU. It is just a set of guidelines for enterprise support agencies in Ireland to follow. Following sustained engagement with the Commission and like-minded member...

Other Questions: Regional Aid (10 Oct 2013)

John Perry: ----- included, in Louth, PayPal and eBay; in Mayo, Allergan and the Lafferty Group; in Sligo, Abbott; in Galway, EA Games, Mylan and Cisco; and in Donegal, Abbott Ireland and Seatem. The Deputy is talking about getting regional development and getting people into the regions. Dublin and other large populated areas do not qualify for any of this assistance so we have that advantage. We can...

Other Questions: Regional Aid (10 Oct 2013)

John Perry: I am delighted this question was raised because it will come up in the European Parliament elections. People perceive regional aid as a pot of money from the EU. The Deputy has stated very clearly that certain areas of the country that were previously excluded are now included. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, is to be commended on his negotiations. If we had conceded, there was a significant...

Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (10 Oct 2013)

John Perry: Of the 39,000 jobs created, more than 19,000 were created in the domestic economy. On the issue of purchasing power, consumers have benefited from greater value for money in the retail trade, which has become extraordinarily competitive. Expenditure on shopping has declined significantly, although I recognise that people have limited budgets. Deputy Wallace raised the issue of rates....

Other Questions: Regional Aid (10 Oct 2013)

John Perry: I am pleased the Deputy tabled this question because the Irish Presidency fought with some success on this issue. The regional aid guidelines enable the State's industrial development agencies to pay grants, at enhanced rates, to businesses to support new investment and new employment in productive projects in Ireland's most disadvantaged regions. This helps the convergence of these regions...

Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (10 Oct 2013)

John Perry: The Government recognises that small and medium sized businesses are a key component of the Irish economy and the backbone of employment in Ireland. SMEs make up over 99% of businesses in the enterprise economy in Ireland and account for almost 70% of people employed. Supporting SMEs in the current difficult economic climate is a key Government priority. Government action to support small...

Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (10 Oct 2013)

John Perry: We are not only talking about taking action, we are delivering on it. Yesterday, officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform dealt with the issue of rates and the valuation process. Current property ratings are based on 1986 values. A review of rates in Dublin and, possibly, Limerick is currently ongoing. Rates for properties constructed during the boom are also based...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Microenterprise Loan Fund Applications (10 Oct 2013)

John Perry: In respect of microfinance, there will be a major event entitled Taking Care of Business in Dublin on 23 October. Other measures include the midlands think tank awareness and local enterprise offices which will be a real vehicle for pushing the 25,000 applications. The County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill is going through Seanad Éireann. In respect of Deputy Calleary's...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Microenterprise Loan Fund Applications (10 Oct 2013)

John Perry: I assure the Deputy that the Minister is actively working with the Minister for Finance with regard to the potential for the business sector. We recognise fully that the potential of Ireland lies in its 200,000 small businesses. The banks have very much obliged to support viable companies. We have had excellent facilitation from the Credit Review Office, which has been very successful in a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Microenterprise Loan Fund Applications (10 Oct 2013)

John Perry: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this important issue. Microfinance Ireland, MFI, began operations in October 2012. It is the first time such a scheme has been put in place in Ireland. By its nature, the scheme is demand driven. To date there have been 295 applications and 107 approvals for a sum of €1.62 million. Some 237 jobs are estimated to have been supported through the...

Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2013)

John Perry: That is provocation; get on with it.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Job Creation (9 Oct 2013)

John Perry: I thank Senator Higgins for raising this very important issue. I apologise for the absence of the Minister, Deputy Bruton. I share the Senator's concern about the loss of up to 30 jobs at ALS Minerals in Loughrea. In 2011, ALS Limited acquired the Stewart Group, a UK-based mineral testing services company which owned OMAC Laboratories in Loughrea. Following discussions with IDA Ireland, a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Job Creation (9 Oct 2013)

John Perry: I fully appreciate the Senator's significant commitment to Loughrea and I fully understand her view. IDA Ireland is actively working with new and existing overseas companies in Galway to encourage them to grow and expand. The following are some recent significant investments in the area, and it is important to put them on the record. On 17 May 2012, Merit Medical Systems Inc., a leading...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Job Creation (9 Oct 2013)

John Perry: I reiterate that implementation of the south-east action plan is proceeding well. The Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, also established the south-east forum which comprises all of the State stakeholders in the region. The Senator cannot say there is no plan. The aim of the forum is to oversee implementation of the action plan. It is the first such mechanism for the representatives...