Results 10,461-10,480 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Billy Kelleher: ——but equally I heard very little commentary five or six years' ago that we should have slowed down the process. Every party's view was that we should further reduce taxation on property development. They were advocating the creation of a further inflationary bubble in an already over-inflated market——

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Billy Kelleher: ——and then the commentators said it had been foreseen by everybody. The fact is it was not foreseen by anyone. None of the international organisations monitoring various economies or independent observers highlighted it.

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Billy Kelleher: I am not waffling.

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Billy Kelleher: If Senator Phelan looks back——

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Billy Kelleher: ——at any of the commentary from the IMF, the OECD and the European Union, it can be seen that very few foresaw what would happen which culminated in financial meltdown across the world in 2008. It will have to be dealt with on a transnational basis. It would be very difficult for the Government on its own to deal with the fallout from an international credit crisis. It has to be dealt...

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Billy Kelleher: This should be part of our longer-term strategy. We must be conscious of the continuing need to promote Ireland as a centre of excellence for learning, which is something that has come under attack in recent days. The Minister for Education and Science has announced that the perceived dumbing down of diplomas and other third level qualifications will be investigated. While I do not accept...

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Billy Kelleher: And Deputy Mary O'Rourke.

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Billy Kelleher: Job creation is at the top of the Government's agenda. It is the driving force behind so much of our work in stabilising the public finances and getting the banking system working again. It is the reason at a time when there is a significant current budget deficit, we are continuing to invest so heavily in our capital programme, in building necessary infrastructure and investing so much in...

Seanad: Job Creation: Statements (3 Mar 2010)

Billy Kelleher: That was a very important first step in making sure we did not have a systemic run on the banks and economic meltdown in Ireland. We moved on to nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank but, importantly, we also had a capitalisation programme for the two major banks, following which Mazars prepared an analysis of lending to SMEs. We are aware that businesses are finding it difficult to access...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (2 Mar 2010)

Billy Kelleher: EU relations with Colombia are conducted in the framework of regional relations between the EU and the Andean Community, comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In 2007, negotiations aimed at concluding a comprehensive Association Agreement between the EU and the Andean Community were formally launched. Such Agreements cover all facets of relations between the EU and these...

Road Traffic Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Billy Kelleher: Only if one is getting on a scooter.

Employment Agency Regulation Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome the comments from Deputies this morning and in the previous debate we had three weeks ago. Based on those contributions, there is broad agreement for the thrust of the Bill. As it flows through this House and meanders through the parliamentary process we look forward to listening to the contributions of all Deputies on Committee and Report Stages and thereafter of the Members of...

Employment Agency Regulation Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Billy Kelleher: The contrary was the case. Nobody could accuse the EU of trying to undermine workers rights. A strong body of legislation here has come about sometimes as a result of prompting from the EU. In the area of health and safety as well as across the board we have seen that the European Union is committed to the protection of human rights. I think the Deputy will accept there is not much use...

Employment Agency Regulation Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Billy Kelleher: We shall see how it goes then, but we shall stay in here for as long as possible to ensure the policies we are pursuing-----

Employment Agency Regulation Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Billy Kelleher: We owe it to the people to fulfil our mandate. The policies we are implementing need to continue in the current difficult circumstances. We would be reneging on our duties if we went earlier than that. The code of conduct will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. That should clarify the matter. It is a voluntarist code, but there is a statutory code of conduct as well. It is...

Employment Agency Regulation Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Billy Kelleher: About this time last year-----

Employment Agency Regulation Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Billy Kelleher: It is important to look at the facts. We were castigated for entertaining the discussions for too long.

Employment Agency Regulation Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Billy Kelleher: Discussions can take time, particularly when they are very complex, involving decisions-----

Employment Agency Regulation Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Billy Kelleher: Discussions and partnership are about respecting everyone's view as opposed to the iron fist. We were trying to get consensus in dealing with the very difficult challenges facing the country. We were all aware of the pressures, with the enormous growing deficit and the world financial crisis feeding into grave instability in this country as well.

Employment Agency Regulation Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Billy Kelleher: For that reason we wanted to give as much time to all the parties involved in social partnership to come up with solutions that might address all the difficulties that faced Ireland, not only in the context of-----