Results 10,421-10,440 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: The debate on this Bill provides an opportunity to explore the proposals put forward by Fine Gael to deal with the difficult situation, nationally and internationally, in the context of the global credit crisis, the global recession, our internal difficulties and the dynamics that have stemmed from that. The Bill could be described as a smoke and mirrors emergency measures in the public...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: -----Bill and it does not provide for anything in terms of what we are trying to do, which is to restore competitiveness in the economy, increase exports, attract foreign direct investment and ensure we can sustain the growth that is projected at the end of 2010. For all those reasons-----

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: -----this Bill is not credible and it exposes the bankruptcy of proposals, particularly of Fine Gael, which has tried to be all things to everybody other than on the occasions of the responsible position it took on the bank guarantee in September 2008. Since then it has opposed almost every measure while saying out of the other side of its mouth that if it was in Government, it would address...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: It is amazing that we have set up regulators and independent organisations and agencies to act independently, yet this Bill suggests that the Government should interfere in every possible way with their independence. We cannot have it every way.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: This Bill will be deservedly roundly rejected.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (2 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010 is targeted and focused and has the purpose of amending section 35 of the Competition Act 2002 to enable the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to appoint whole-time members, on a temporary basis, to fill current vacancies in the Competition Authority. A number of recent departures at Competition Authority member level, the most recent being...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (2 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: As was the organisation a beneficiary of the Senator's appointment.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (2 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: I thank Senators for their contributions in this area. As was pointed out, and to which most Senators referred, this legislation is quite specific in the context of ensuring we have the statutory requirement for the make-up of the Competition Authority. To be honest and open, the position is that the original Act did not foresee the number of resignations from the authority at the one...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (2 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: I mentioned that at the outset. Mr. John Travers has been appointed to facilitate the setting up of the voluntary code of practice. There will be a provision in the forthcoming legislation on the amalgamation of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency to bring that into statutory effect but we must have balanced legislation that is fair and reasonable to all sides, from...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (2 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: That may be, but I make the point that no one has come forward. I have asked the Competition Authority to be proactive in investigating that as opposed to waiting for a person to come forward and present evidence. If there is hearsay evidence, has the authority the competency to try to find evidence to highlight whether "hello" money is being used in the broader industry? I have travelled...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Senator, as I am pleased to have the opportunity to address this issue. As evidenced by previous debates, broadband availability has been recognised as a priority for Government in the national development plan, the programme for Government and, most recently, in Building Ireland's Smart Economy — A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal, which placed further emphasis on...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: Just to reiterate, detailed planning is now underway for a scheme which would offer a basic broadband service to unserved premises. The key qualifying criteria are that the premises in question is outside the areas cover by the NBS, in a rural location as defined under the rural development plan or not capable of being serviced by an existing service provider.

Seanad: Job Creation (1 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I wish to outline in broad terms that there are great challenges globally on the international scene in efforts to encourage inward investment, especially because there is a consolidation of many multinational companies throughout the world. This, of itself, creates uncertainly and can slow the pipeline. In general, IDA Ireland is actively...

Seanad: Planning Issues (1 Jun 2010)

Billy Kelleher: There have been various Government statements on planning policy and national roads over the past number of years, going back to the Development Control Advice and Guidelines issued in 1982 and the more comprehensive statement in 1985, Policy and Planning Framework for Roads, by the then Department of the Environment. Policy statements made since then have been broadly based on the 1985...

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (13 May 2010)

Billy Kelleher: The whole aim of Government policy on banking has been to return the banks to a position where they can access funds and lend these funds on to viable businesses and households to support enterprise growth and economic recovery. The Government has taken decisive action in order to get credit flowing again. The Bank Guarantee Scheme, the 2009 Recapitalisation Scheme, the nationalisation of...

Written Answers — Asia Strategy: Asia Strategy (12 May 2010)

Billy Kelleher: The Government's Asia Strategy spanned ten years, from 1999 to 2009, and has been very successful in developing Ireland's Trade and other links with the key Asian economies. Ireland's exports to the eight priority countries of the final phase of that Strategy rose very significantly, from €4 billion in 1999 to €9.6 billion in 2009, ahead of the target. We also achieved a five-fold...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (12 May 2010)

Billy Kelleher: The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) have primary responsibility for the delivery of State support to the indigenous micro-enterprise sector i.e. businesses which employ 10 or less workers. In the current economic climate, entrepreneurship, and the growth and development of small Irish businesses, is central to economic recovery and it is essential that Irish enterprises continue to...

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (12 May 2010)

Billy Kelleher: Government policy on banking has been to return the banks to a position where they can access funds and lend these funds on to viable businesses and households to support enterprise growth and economic recovery. The Government has taken decisive action in order to get credit flowing again. The Bank Guarantee Scheme, the 2009 Recapitalisation Scheme, the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Banks...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 May 2010)

Billy Kelleher: Ireland is totally committed to taking persistent, determined and effective measures to eradicate torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including through our work in the EU and in other international fora such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe....

Departmental Properties (12 May 2010)

Billy Kelleher: We are back to where we started.