Results 1,421-1,440 of 2,283 for speaker:Matt Shanahan

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Shanahan: I think the reform of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, was also included in that legislative programme. Could the Minister comment on that? My colleagues in the Regional Group and I met him in last autumn on the issue of buying local. Does the Department have a programme for that initiative and the idea of trying to give public procurement support to indigenous companies?

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Minister. I will come in on the next round, if the Chair pleases.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: I used to do some work with the enterprise board and INTERREG was a significant programme in terms of trying to develop cross-Border trade. It is interesting, if we look at the Northern economy, that there is a significant number of people up there who are employed by the state and productivity would not reflect the numbers we have down here, although it is improving. The case is that there...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: 4. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the economy in Northern Ireland has been the best performing since the inception of Brexit given its ability to benefit from unhindered access to three markets (details supplied); his further views on whether the economic benefits of the present trade deal to the economy of Northern Ireland have been communicated...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: The Northern Ireland economy was the best performing in the UK last year because of the benefit of the market there having access to both EU and UK customers. What specific steps are the Minister and his Department taking to promote and communicate this message to the Northern community?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: I am agreement with the Minister and many others in that I think the Northern Ireland protocol agreement is delivering a significant economic benefit to the North, although I am not sure whether that message is getting through in a political sense. Unfortunately, as we know, political and cultural differences exist there, and that is the reason for that. The engagement of Liz Truss and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: 14. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the successes and benefits of the Reconciliation Fund; if the projects that have been identified to promote reconciliation and help to create better understanding and relations between persons and traditions on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain have been successful; the way he can reconcile the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: 38. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position regarding the issuing of new passports given the improving travel outlook and the existing delays in passport applications and renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3853/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Enterprise Support Services (27 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: 39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the Back for Business programme is restricted to a final 50 applicants given that participants on the 2021 programme more than tripled their combined workforce and more than doubled their turnover during the six-month cycle of the programme (details supplied); his views on whether participation in such a successful programme...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: 63. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the continuing travel restrictions pertaining to Europe and United States of America; his further views on the continuing requirements to provide Covid certificates in the near future; his views on whether Irish citizens may soon be able to dispense with vaccine certificates for foreign travel in the event of a further...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: 211. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the continued massing of Russian troops on the border of Ukraine is a cause for real concern (details supplied); if his Department and the Government has a role to play as interlocuter or mediator between Russia and European interests; if Ireland’s ambassadorial team has considered adopting such an initiative;...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: I will return to the question of the Ukrainian crisis. We are in a unique position geographically on the western flank of Europe and we are also neutral. I wonder if we are all getting caught up in a sound bite. We have seen the problems in the UK currently for its prime minister and perhaps having something else to point to is a good deflection for him. It is possibly the same in France,...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: The Covid defence and supports that the Taoiseach mentioned earlier, which were approved by the EU, have clearly shown to Ireland the benefits of EU membership. Membership has granted us access to vaccines as soon as the technology was developed. Indeed, our membership also allowed us access to EU purchasing power which we could not have achieved on our own. It has also provided us with...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: The Government subgroup on insurance reform promised a general scheme of a Bill on duty of care by September 2021. We have an ongoing unaddressed issue with occupier liability which continues to place a liability and a risk on business owners. In addition, the Government is still working on the promised reform of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, which is now on its "all other...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (26 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: 42. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason that Transport Infrastructure Ireland is reporting no capital funding allocated to road improvements to the N24 and N25 that have been approved in the capital development plan; the reason that no funding has been allocated to the upgrading of these roads; when funding will be made available; and if he will make a statement on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Strategy, Targets, Achievements and Future Progress: IDA Ireland (26 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: I thank the Chairman. I welcome Ms Buckley, Ms O’Sullivan, Mr. Curran and Mr. Shanahan to our committee here this morning. I also thank the IDA for the recent engagement I had with it and the confirmation that an advanced business solution is planned for Waterford which is very welcome news. We also had some very good IDA announcements at the end of last year which were also most...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Strategy, Targets, Achievements and Future Progress: IDA Ireland (26 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: I have a further question which I brought up with Mr. Shanahan the last day but will flag again. It concerns the issue of Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, funding into the third level sector. The majority of it goes into the national universities. I have been in touch with SFI and it has highlighted the international dimension of its review panels. All of that is well but we need some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Strategy, Targets, Achievements and Future Progress: IDA Ireland (26 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: I again endorse what Deputy Stanton and Senator Ahearn have highlighted with the N25 and N24. I think Mr. Shanahan, Mr. Curran and I touched on this when we last spoke but it is important we get regional connectivity between the south east and the south west-midlands. That can be achieved with upgrades to both of those roads, which are badly needed. The IDA may be able to apply some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Strategy, Targets, Achievements and Future Progress: IDA Ireland (26 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: I thank Mr. Shanahan.

Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jan 2022)

Matt Shanahan: This legislation is long-awaited and seeks to right significant wrongs. People were let down by people in authority, by religious institutions, by caregivers and, it must be said, by their own family members in some cases. It is to be hoped that this Bill will deliver full access to birth and early life details to people who have been the responsibility of the State in any capacity in order...