Results 1,441-1,460 of 14,473 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Seanad: Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (6 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóiri Crowe agus Ahearn as páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht thábhachtach seo. I thank the Senators for their remarks about the Bill and the work of the bodies. I assure the House the legislation not only provides safeguards for Members but provides the Minister of the day with the ability to draft regulation should changes be...

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (5 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, set out to Deputy Cullinane on Committee Stage that the de-nicotinisation of tobacco products is only one of multiple endgame measures that will be considered as the next steps in the elimination of tobacco smoking in our country. It is well recognised that success in addressing public health problems such as tobacco consumption entails multiple...

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (5 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: No.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Consumer Protection (5 Nov 2024)

Dara Calleary: I am not aware of any claims of unfair competition and market abuse by SOLAS in relation to the Safe Pass Programme. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with and enforcing competition law in Ireland. The CCPC is independent in the performance of its statutory functions as per section 9(5) of the Competition...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Services Sector (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: I want to go back to the remarks of Deputy Ó Snodaigh. Dynamic pricing is used in many sectors and we have to make sure that in dealing with the consequences of one model we do not damage the other sectors that use it responsibly and in the best interests of the consumer. That is why the CCPC process will be of use to us. There is also work underway at European Commission level, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Services Sector (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an cheist thábhachtach seo a ardú. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, is the independent statutory body that enforces competition and consumer protection law under the remit of our Department. It continues to promote and monitor compliance with competition and consumer protection laws across all sectors of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Services Sector (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: I absolutely agree with the Deputy's concerns regarding unfair pricing. This Government has already introduced legislation in this space, such as the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021, which prohibits the sale and advertising of tickets or ticket packages for prices exceeding the original sale price of those tickets for events taking place...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy for his question. We have taken a number of steps to address the concerns of small businesses and the challenge they are facing around rising costs. The increased cost of business scheme has paid out over €244 million in this year to almost 75,000 SMEs, which includes 38,000 SMEs in retail and hospitality. Recognising that businesses operating in retail and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: There is an acknowledgment that we have introduced a lot of initiatives in recent years and that the sequencing of them was not properly thought out with respect to costs. It was not done. We have strengthened the SME test. The Cabinet signed off on that this week. It will ensure that far more vision is given to initiatives, and that they are sequenced and streamlined. As the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: There is lots there. The Minister, Deputy Burke, is conducting a consultation exercise on how the new sick pay changes are working. He is engaging with employers directly in that space to get their feedback. That will feed into future decisions with regard to sick pay. On retail, I absolutely agree with the Deputy. Retailers are the backbone of our economy. They sustain not just...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Losses (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: We fully appreciate how difficult the announced closure of Aer Lingus Cargo is for the employees, their families and the wider community. Our thoughts are with them. This is a commercial decision being made by Aer Lingus as a private company. We have no role in Aer Lingus’s commercial decisions and it would not be appropriate for any Minister to seek to intervene. However,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Losses (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: As a Government, we have responded to many of the Deputy's campaigns and calls on Shannon Airport. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Lawless, announced just last week €4.2 million for Shannon and Cork airports, and €47 million is being invested in Shannon Airport alone. We are very much committed to it and it is a very important part of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Losses (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: If there is a case to be made for investment in physical facilities, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Lawless, will be more than open to it. We want to see Shannon strengthened. We have identified a very exciting future in terms of Shannon Estuary being an Atlantic green digital corridor. This has enormous potential for Shannon Airport and the supply chain,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: This Government has adopted an proactive approach to supporting Irish businesses across multiple crises over the last number of years. It is important to acknowledge the challenges that firms have faced over the last number of years, and I am aware of the concerns of businesses facing increased energy costs. As part of Budget 2024, this Government provided a €257 million package for my...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: Balanced regional enterprise development is a key focus for me and this Government as set out in the White Paper on Enterprise. My Department contributes to this agenda in several ways, including through the development, implementation and oversight of nine Regional Enterprise Plans, or REPs. The South-East REP is implemented at a regional level by a Steering Committee made up of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: The Increased Cost of Business Scheme (ICOB) has successfully paid out €244m to date to 75,000 SMEs right around the country, including over 38,000 SMEs in the retail and hospitality sector. The ICOB scheme is now closed to registrations. In answer to the Deputy's question, I can report the following statistics for Cork City and County. To date, Cork City Council has paid out...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Insurance Industry (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: The Injuries Resolution Board’s Annual Report 2023 showed how the organisation has delivered savings of over €75 million in avoided costs due to personal injury claims being resolved through its non-adversarial model rather than proceeding to litigation. It is important to acknowledge that there has been a significant reduction in the cost of injury claims through the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Middle East (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: My Department is the National Competent Authority with responsibility for Export Controls, including Controls on defence-related exports and exports of dual-use goods. Controls on the export of dual-use items are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Insurance Industry (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: This Government has prioritised reform of the insurance sector via our ‘Action Plan for Insurance Reform’ published in December 2020. The Action Plan set out 66 actions to create a more competitive, stable and consumer-friendly insurance environment. The action plan is now almost complete. Among key actions completed are the introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines;...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Insurance Industry (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: I welcome the 2023 Annual Report from the Injuries Resolution Board. The report provides further evidence of what has been achieved through government’s ‘Action Plan for Insurance Reform’. In 2023 the Board’s work delivered savings of over €75 million in avoided costs due to injury claims being resolved through the Board’s non-adversarial model...