Results 10,521-10,540 of 16,611 for speaker:Peadar Tóibín

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: We are now going to consider the topic of the future of community, social and economic development and co-operation in Border counties with representatives of Border Communities Against Brexit and the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, ISME. It should be noted that the committee invited the Confederation of British Industry in the North of Ireland to address us on this topic...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: B'fhéidir go tosnóidh mé, más féidir. This is probably the biggest decision made affecting the island of Ireland for 30 to 40 years since our entry to the European Economic Community, as was the European Union. It is a decision into which we had no real input except for influencing people in Europe. I suppose we do not have a good record of that in this country,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: People were calling for two steps to alleviate this. One is that the North might have special designation. Indeed, the Dáil passed a motion that the Government should work for that. Is Mr. O'Hara aware of any efforts on the Government's part to seek what was mandated democratically?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: Does Mr. Sheridan believe it would be have been useful for the Government to sit down with the British to draw up something like a memorandum of understanding to at least set out the two Governments' goals prior to any EU negotiations so that we have publicly set out our objectives in partnership beforehand?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: Mr. McDonnell said that 17% of businesses sought to change headcounts and 11% said they would possibly change location. That is startling information, especially given that he probably represents the sector of Irish enterprise which is most exposed to this particular issue. We hear that exports to Britain have reduced considerably in percentage terms over the last number of years. If the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: There has been much talk about Government agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, the local enterprise offices and so on, using their energies to ameliorate the potential threats posed to the types of businesses ISME represents. Is that Mr. McDonnell's belief or could the Government do more?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: Do the local enterprise offices not function in that space?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: This is my final question to both organisations. There is a view that the customs union may be up for renegotiation. While the current customs union will not exist as it stands, there may be deviations from it. If Britain left the customs union but remained in the customs union for agriculture, that would significantly alleviate our exposure to Brexit. That would be the most exposed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: My understanding is that there are countries that are not in the Single Market but are in the customs union, and vice versa. There are countries that are in a customs union for sectors, but not for all their different products. There are no tariffs and the country remains in the same regulatory space etc. for the particular sectors in which it is in a customs union. For example, I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: The Senator might ask Mr. Sheridan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: Through the Chair.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: I wish to make a few points. The all-Ireland energy market Mr. Sheridan mentioned is one of those really positively integrated markets. If Brexit proceeds as the worst case scenario, the home market, to a certain extent, will reduce by approximately 30% to small businesses, and it is on the island of Ireland that small businesses first find their feet before even thinking of exporting or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: I ask Deputy Smyth to turn off her phone.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: I thank the witnesses for taking the time to come to Dublin to discuss this issue at today's meeting. This committee and the other committees are hoping to get an opportunity to develop a joint cross-committee report on foot of our meetings and discussions with interested parties. We will seek to ensure the information the witnesses have delivered to us today will be part of that. We hope...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Border Counties: Discussion (29 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: I thank the witnesses again. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (28 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: 285. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the person or body that is responsible for the destruction of the Donaghmore souterrain. [15167/17]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (28 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: 286. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to repair damage done to the Donaghmore souterrain in County Louth, which is the only souterrain here that is designated a national monument (details supplied). [15168/17]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (28 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: 287. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason, following the collapse of the Donaghmore souterrain in two places in 2010 caused by the reckless movement of building equipment, no action was taken except to close the souterrain to the public for safety reasons. [15170/17]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (28 Mar 2017)

Peadar Tóibín: 288. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason an archaeological survey was not carried out to assess damage done to the Donaghmore souterrain. [15171/17]