Results 101-120 of 498 for speaker:John Clendennen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

John Clendennen: I thank the witnesses for coming in and joining us today. My first question is for ISME and relates to where we are at and the sentiment of businesses today. Regarding local enterprise grants, I appreciate Mr. Filan said people drew them down ten years ago, but the vast majority have never drawn it down and have never engaged with their local enterprise office. There are an estimated...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

John Clendennen: Mr. Filan mentioned the possibility of closure. The irony of having to close during quieter periods to remain open is quite a contradiction. Does Mr. Filan see any merit in community CEAI schemes, a business community scheme where businesses come together to achieve economies of scale? I am conscious that smaller businesses do not benefit from economies of scale. If a business has a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

John Clendennen: I appreciate that. I come from a small business background. These figures were shared with us. From a CEAI perspective, did we essentially get the strategy wrong? Has it failed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

John Clendennen: Okay. In a nutshell. How do the witnesses think we got it so wrong?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

John Clendennen: I am watching the clock and I have one more question. Do we need to look at this from a broader perspective and try to accommodate the likes of manufacturing, food development and the manufacture of produce? Should we be looking beyond the desks and chairs to how we can provide, as we have in Offaly, Ferbane Business and Technology Park and commercial kitchens? Should we be using some of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

John Clendennen: The climate targets and productivity were referred to. Should we be considering a revision of the three-crop rule to ensure viability for farmers at a time when we are looking at climate targets?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

John Clendennen: Does Mr. Filan think that by a stoke of a Minister's pen the LEOs could speak to retail businesses and that would make a difference?

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (1 Oct 2025)

John Clendennen: 183. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to the provision of the shingles vaccine (details supplied) free of charge for those that are immunocompromised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52275/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (30 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: 188. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passenger journeys per year, per route, on the Intercity city route to Galway from 2016 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51462/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (30 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: 193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the increase in the number of routes on the rural transport/local link network each year from 2016 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51463/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (25 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: I thank the Minister. I welcome the cost of business advisory forum. Over the summer, I conducted a survey with over 600 respondents. A key finding was that over two thirds of SMEs that engaged in the survey were uncertain about the future and lacked the confidence we need to ensure they have. Other key findings were around easing the cost of labour pressure, cutting energy costs,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (25 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: When it comes to protecting jobs, I ask the Minister to strongly consider, along with his Cabinet colleagues, introducing the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector in the upcoming budget. The Minister spoke about the kitchen tables to boardroom tables where decisions were made. Small businesses need help. A VAT rate of 9% is an important stimulus in that regard. To look at the figures,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (25 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: 15. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the steps being taken to help reduce the cost of doing business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50598/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (25 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: Apologies for my punctuality. I acknowledge the work the Minister has done in relation to small businesses, especially the establishment of the small enterprise unit within his Department and the National Enterprise Hub. I ask the Minister to provide an update on the steps he is taking to reduce the cost of business.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Functions (25 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: 70. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the progress of the establishment of the new small business unit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50597/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (25 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: 110. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of people who have received the free travel pass since it was extended to persons who are medically unable to drive, by county; the cost of this expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50596/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2026 (25 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: 174. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Department is currently evaluating increasing the carer's allowance in Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50595/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: I thank the witnesses for joining us. To pick up on the earlier VAT discussion, I question the estimates given in relation to the cost based on the Revenue statistics unit and what it has outlined as the cost of food and catering at €674 million annually. This is not about trying to give more profit to businesses. It is fundamentally about protecting jobs. What I am seeing,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: Where would you cap it and how would you differentiate between someone who has a job in a fast food outlet and someone working in a coffee shop? Why would you discriminate against one over the other when both their payslips arrive at the end of the month?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Sep 2025)

John Clendennen: What would it be capped at?