Results 1,761-1,780 of 4,491 for speaker:John Perry
- Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I thank all the Deputies who have contributed to this debate. The Government has stated it will not be opposing Second Stage of this Bill. Speakers on the Government side of the House have expressed their appreciation for the intention behind Deputy O'Dea's Bill, since its aim is to protect vulnerable workers. However, as the Taoiseach and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation,...
- Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)
John Perry: That is not true.
- Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (19 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 47 together. Public procurement is governed by a complex set of EU rules to ensure fairness and transparency. However, given the size of the market, and the predominance of small and medium sized enterprises in Ireland, public procurement can be an important source of business for SMEs within the context of EU and national tendering rules. According...
- Written Answers — Credit Guarantee Scheme: Credit Guarantee Scheme (19 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 22 of today. The availability of credit to viable businesses is a recurring challenge that has hampered new or expanding firms from developing new products and markets and thereby protecting or creating jobs. This is a challenge the Government is determined to address. I, together with my Departmental officials, continue to work closely with our...
- Written Answers — City and County Enterprise Boards: City and County Enterprise Boards (19 Jul 2011)
John Perry: The issue of restructuring the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) has been in the public domain since the publication of the McCarthy Group Report in 2009, under the last Administration. I am of the view that it is timely and appropriate to re-structure, and re-focus, how the State delivers its support to the indigenous micro-enterprise sector which is a key component of the small...
- SME Sector (19 Jul 2011)
John Perry: The availability of credit to viable businesses is a recurring challenge that has hampered new or expanding firms from developing new products and markets, and thereby protecting or creating jobs. This is a challenge the Government is determined to address. With my departmental officials, I continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Department of Finance to ensure that the interests...
- SME Sector (19 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I agree with the Deputy in regard to the viability of small companies. In Mr. Trethowan's defence, his office's monthly reports are clearly bench-marked on lending by the banks, which have received â¬3 billion each. If the Deputy studied the reports, he would see it is quite apparent that the money is being loaned out.
- SME Sector (19 Jul 2011)
John Perry: As regards the 250,000 small companies, however, spending in the domestic economy has dropped considerably. Many businesses that were viable are unfortunately not so now, which is the difficulty at the moment. The temporary loan guarantee scheme has been designed to be rolled out and we are working decisively on it. We feel it is very important and will take some of the risk. It will not...
- SME Sector (19 Jul 2011)
John Perry: It is important that the State has invested heavily in the two pillar banks and is obliged to do so.
- SME Sector (19 Jul 2011)
John Perry: By budget time, yes.
- SME Sector (19 Jul 2011)
John Perry: The cost will be offset by the benefits to the State. The final cost has not been fully determined, but it will certainly be value for money because the most important benefit is getting people back to work. From the level of inquiries to my Department about the lack of funding to small companies, I entirely agree with the Deputy on the role of the banks, which is a huge issue at the...
- Alcohol Abuse (14 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I am replying on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. Alcohol plays a significant role in society. However, it is no ordinary commodity. Alcohol is responsible for a considerable burden of health and social harm at individual and societal levels. The recent statistics published by the Health Research Board showed a rise in alcohol-related deaths between 2004...
- Special Educational Needs (14 Jul 2011)
John Perry: The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has responsibility for implementing the free preschool year in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme, which was introduced in January 2010. The programme provides for a free preschool year for all eligible children in the year prior to commencing primary school. Currently, 63,000 children availing of the preschool year. This...
- National Carers Strategy (14 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I thank Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy for raising this important issue. I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton. The programme for Government contains a commitment to "develop a national carers' strategy to support carers and address the issues of concern". It is important to clarify that there is not a completed draft...
- Data Protection (14 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The protection of personal information is a matter for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, which falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality. However, the point raised by the Deputy is one which is of concern across the Government, particularly following revelations in recent weeks about the...
- Data Protection (14 Jul 2011)
John Perry: It should be, absolutely.
- Data Protection (14 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I will raise the Deputy's concerns with the Minister and safeguards should be provided by the mobile telephone companies.
- Social Welfare Benefits (12 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I thank Deputy Ryan for raising this important issue. I listened actively to his points and I will address some of them if I can. I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, who conveys her apologies to Deputy Ryan for being unable to attend and reply in person. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent...
- Local Authority Housing (12 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I thank Deputy Healy for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, who conveys his apologies to Deputy Healy as he is unable to attend due to official Government business abroad. I start by emphasising that the prescribed income limits referred to by the Deputy are solely for the purpose...
- Hospital Services (12 Jul 2011)
John Perry: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. There has been considerable debate around the issue of the role of smaller hospitals, much of which has been ill-informed. There have been many claims around lack of resources both financial and human. The real issue at stake is the need to ensure acute hospital services at national, regional and...