Results 1,801-1,820 of 4,491 for speaker:John Perry

Enterprise Support Services (9 Jun 2011)

John Perry: The incentives for employers introduced by the Ministers, Deputies Bruton and Noonan, represents the first down payment in the Government's jobs initiative. We are not yet 100 days in government but we have made clear our intention to fulfil the undertaking we gave in the election to deliver to local enterprise, to create hubs where people can avail of support and benefits. We will devise a...

Job Losses (8 Jun 2011)

John Perry: I thank Deputy Griffin for raising this matter, which refers to efforts to develop a global pharmaceutical centre of excellence to be located in Tralee. The concept involved is to develop and build a multidisciplinary life sciences and pharmaceutical contract research centre in Ireland. The original concept as outlined my predecessors, to my Department and to the State agencies, was...

Spent Convictions Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jun 2011)

John Perry: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on the Spent Convictions Bill 2011. I am glad that my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, has decided not to oppose the Bill and supports the principle underpinning it, that the rehabilitation and integration of persons with past convictions is worthy of encouragement. I understand his Department is currently...

Seanad: Jobs Initiative and Competitiveness: Statements (8 Jun 2011)

John Perry: On the occasion of my first attendance in the Seanad since my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for small business, I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Denis O'Donovan, on his appointment and wish him well. I congratulate Senator Paddy Burke on his election as Cathaoirleach and wish him well in his very important role. I congratulate Senator Maurice Cummins on...

Job Creation (31 May 2011)

John Perry: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue on the Adjournment. Losing a blue-chip company such as Vodafone is a huge blow for the Dundalk region. I am very concerned about the job losses that have occurred in the area and about the impact they have had on the workers concerned, their families and the affected communities. Job creation is central to our economic recovery, and the...

Government and Oireachtas Reform: Motion (31 May 2011)

John Perry: I thank the former Minister for decentralisation. It was much appreciated.

School Staffing (12 May 2011)

John Perry: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and extend to her the apologies of the Minister, Deputy Howlin, who is on Government business. In the context of the extreme economic and fiscal conditions of the State, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 provides for the reduction in the pay rates of all persons employed by bodies deemed to be public...

Job Protection (12 May 2011)

John Perry: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter on the Adjournment and assure him of my concern about the matter. I know he has been working on this case for some time and his concern is evident. I understand the company yesterday informed various employers and subcontractors that it intended to suspend all works on its projects for a period of two weeks owing to unforeseen factors...

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (Resumed) (11 May 2011)

John Perry: Job creation is central to our economic recovery, and the programme for Government has job creation at its core. That is why the Government set the jobs initiative as a key high-priority deliverable within our first hundred days in office. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. We currently have some 250,000 such small businesses, employing approximately 700,000 workers. By...

Electoral (Amendment) (Political Donations) Bill 2011: Second Stage (10 May 2011)

John Perry: It is a good point.

Business Regulation (5 May 2011)

John Perry: Payment terms in commercial transactions are determined by the parties concerned and the responsibility for the collection of those payments and general credit control rests with the selling enterprise, in the first instance. The issue of late payment is covered by the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2002, SI 388 of 2002. Under these regulations, it...

Business Regulation (5 May 2011)

John Perry: A total of 60,666 payments totalling €1.7 billion have been paid. Some 50,000 payments were paid within 15 days which indicates a high level of compliance on behalf of semi-State bodies in a system which is currently operated on an administrative basis. I fully agree that cash flow is the backbone of any business. Given the lack of credit to small companies it is critically important...

Business Regulation (5 May 2011)

John Perry: Fourteen Departments have paid between 96% and 100% of their invoices within 30 days and this Department has paid 91% of invoices within 30 days. I would be delighted if compliance with the 30-day rule was implemented in the private sector because that would be a great benefit for the viability of small companies. That is not the case currently. The Departments are setting a good example...

County Enterprise Boards (5 May 2011)

John Perry: The restructuring of the boards is long overdue, but they have operated successfully as a one-stop-shop facility. As Deputy Bruton stated, we are looking at options that will ensure there will be a facility available for people who are setting up small companies in the innovation, research and development area or in the micro-enterprise area and the boards will certainly fund seed capital...

County Enterprise Boards (5 May 2011)

John Perry: Our job is to ensure the economy can grow. Some 900,000 people work in small companies which form a critical part of the domestic economy. It is the area that needs the kick-start at the moment. Clearly where there is an export potential it certainly will be supported.

Commercial Rates (5 May 2011)

John Perry: The setting of commercial rates is a matter for local authorities which come under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered into the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation....

Commercial Rates (5 May 2011)

John Perry: While no reports have been undertaken to date examining specifically the effects of local authority rates on business, Forfás compiled a report in 2008 on the cost of running retail operations in Ireland. The report found that local authority rates constitute up to 4% of business costs on the retail sector. I take on board the Deputy's valid point on the costs associated with doing business...

Company Takeovers (19 Apr 2011)

John Perry: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. On 14 April last, Anglo Irish Bank announced the appointment of a share receiver to take control of the Quinn family equity interest in Quinn Group (ROI), the ultimate parent company of the Quinn Group. The receiver holds these shares on behalf of Anglo Irish Bank. It should be noted that a share receiver is fundamentally different from a...

Job Losses (14 Apr 2011)

John Perry: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter on the Adjournment. Aetna Ireland Incorporated is a subsidiary of US-based Aetna Incorporated, a leading company in the health care benefit sector. Aetna Ireland Inc. provides customer service, claim processing and plan sponsor support services for Aetna Global Benefits, the international insurance products and services division of Aetna Inc. The...

Schools Refurbishment (14 Apr 2011)

John Perry: I congratulate Deputy Deering on his election. I am replying on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the level of investment by the Department over the past number of years in the scheme and to outline the position on the application from the...