Results 10,621-10,640 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Everybody was quite happy to see employment opportunities for young people leaving school. Many others came from abroad to work here. Everybody on all sides of the House welcomed that. In fact, many of the budgetary proposals being put forward by the Government at the time to try to deflate the property bubble were opposed.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I can cite stamp duty as a very simple one. The Opposition said it should be abolished, which would have inflated the housing market even further.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I will make my contribution and then I will listen intently to other speakers. On competitiveness, we must readjust how we pay ourselves. If we do not, we will lose more jobs and it will further erode our competitiveness. In recent times, labour unit costs in Ireland went down by about 4% and rose in other European countries by between 2.5% and 3%. That in itself has made us more...

(15 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Financial Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009. I do not have much time and would like to refer to some of the issues raised by Deputy Burton in the context of her contribution. Having listened to the debate in the context of preparations for budget 2010 and the discussions that went on outside this Chamber in the context of divisions...

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Wrong again.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Those opposite exiled a few people in the past.

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: What about Sinn Féin's friends at the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Order of Business (11 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Changes are allowed under Standing Order 48.

Order of Business (11 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: This is not relevant to the House.

Order of Business (11 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: While the Labour Party promises the sun and the stars.

Order of Business (11 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Deputy Kenny was obviously listening to Deputy Gilmore on the radio this morning.

Order of Business (11 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Deputy Ring is much better at expressing indignation.

Seanad: Export Credit Insurance (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I am the Minister of State with responsibility for international trade and commerce.

Seanad: Export Credit Insurance (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: A State export credit scheme was established under the Insurance Act 1953, which provided export credit insurance to exporters to cover against the risk of non-payment for their goods by buyers abroad and to encourage the export of Irish goods and services. The scheme covered a wide range of risks up to 1991, when the Government decided to phase out State involvement in the provision of...

Seanad: Export Credit Insurance (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I wish to refer to an issue Senator Ross raised in the context of the report's publication. The insurance companies opened up their books to KPMG on the assumption that it would be completely confidential. This information is highly commercially sensitive and the insurance companies were not obliged to provide the information. They volunteered the information provided that it was given...

Seanad: Export Credit Insurance (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: However, it is important to put on record the reason the KPMG report is not being published. No conspiracy theories are involved in this regard. It simply is a basic fact pertaining to commercial sensitivity. The Department and KPMG sought out the insurance companies, which assisted and co-operated in giving the information on the context of the market and the conditions surrounding export...

Seanad: Export Credit Insurance (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I do.

Seanad: Export Credit Insurance (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: The Department and KPMG entered into legally binding agreements. This information could not be released.

Seanad: Export Credit Insurance (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: The broad thrust of the report quite clearly indicates that export credit insurance or the top-up system which was proposed by some people in the export business simply were not viable. There is now an upturn in that market. It is quite possible that commercial houses and insurance houses will be able to provide that cover in future and that there will be no need for the State to get...

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Dec 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Unfortunately, I think normal politics have been resumed. Tradition has it that Oppositions propose while Governments reject, but the opposite could equally apply. It is unfortunate that this debate clashes with the budget debate in the Dáil, so it might be overshadowed in terms of the coverage it merits. That is regrettable. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Private Members'...