Results 1-20 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 186 and 190 together. Over the past ten years Ireland has built up a strong science base and has significantly improved its international standing for scientific output. In parallel, the Government has identified a programme of actions, such as those outlined in "Building Ireland's Smart Economy", that place particular emphasis on the role of knowledge...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 110 together. I have to date chaired four meetings of the High Level Implementation Committee which was established to oversee implementation of the recommendations in the Report of the Innovation Task Force (ITF). The Report provides a road map for positioning Ireland as an international innovation development hub and I am very pleased with the...

Seanad: Export-led Growth: Motion (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: Some 50% of the recommendations have already been implemented and any Government that follows us will merely need to complete the remaining 50%. Some of the actions will not be easy. The report has two fantastic core elements and I recommend that Members note them. The first is the idea of creating an innovation fund of €500 million to encourage companies. It is not all about start-ups,...

Seanad: Export-led Growth: Motion (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: -----and it will be because of investment both in research and development in export-led companies and the creation of new export companies from our own intellectual capacity. I apologise if I have exceeded my speaking time.

Seanad: Export-led Growth: Motion (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: I thank Members for their contributions which have been, in the main, positive. I appreciate the contributions from the Opposition.

Seanad: Export-led Growth: Motion (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: If we are to get the blame, we should also get the credit.

Seanad: Export-led Growth: Motion (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: That is not necessary at this stage.

Seanad: Export-led Growth: Motion (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: I do not disagree with the Senator's notion of lowering taxes further but clearly at present we have severe Exchequer difficulties so it would not be realistic in the short to medium term to progress on a path of further reduction of corporation or other taxes. Most regular economists would be sceptical about the idea, although I understand the red in tooth and claw capitalism that lies...

Seanad: Export-led Growth: Motion (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: There is a certain euroscepticism that is not only healthy but positively believed in the British capital that also makes good paying sense for hedge fund operators in that part of the world. When I lived there in the 1980s, I saw at first hand bond market and currency market operators making the most of their anti-European principles while making it a paying proposition from their own...

Seanad: Export-led Growth: Motion (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: Of course, we have our own weaknesses. An Opposition Senator stated Fianna Fáil is always saying it was international rather than domestic factors that caused our very sharp adjustment and descent into recession. I do not agree with this view. I am one of a number of colleagues, including the Taoiseach, who have openly acknowledged the mistakes we made and who contend that, now that we...

Seanad: Export-led Growth: Motion (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: The Government did make mistakes in this matter and it is glad to acknowledge that. We are glad to be in a position to rectify them if we can and set the platform for further expansion and growth. This new Government strategy and action plan, which was prepared by the Minister of State responsible for trade, Deputy Kelleher, is the result of co-ordination with all of the relevant Departments...

Seanad: Export-led Growth: Motion (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: -----has been a great ally to Ireland in the tax debate at European level. Not only are we locked into our commitment to a 12.5% tax rate, we are in an alliance with other European countries. We have allies and friends on this issue, most notably our neighbour, the British Government. Driving and monitoring the implementation of the strategy is a new foreign trade council chaired by the...

Small Business Sector (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: Support for micro-enterprise, small businesses and new start-ups is provided by my Department through the county and city enterprise boards and Enterprise Ireland. I have made a capital allocation of €15 million available to the CEBs in 2011. The CEBs will prioritise and manage these funds in a targeted manner in order to maximise entrepreneurial development at local level. Enterprise...

Small Business Sector (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: It is disappointing that we have not had a bigger draw-down in this area but the banks and Enterprise Ireland are working collaboratively to encourage their own systems of understanding of each other's work to ensure that can be achieved. A new scheme was announced by my senior colleague, the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, with regard to an exchange programme between Enterprise Ireland and...

Small Business Sector (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: If I might correct the Deputy, it seems that the order of the day for everybody is to simply say the banks are not lending.

Small Business Sector (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: The evidence, such as we have it, from all of the sources available to the Department, particularly the work of John Threthowan, is that there is and has been-----

Small Business Sector (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: -----an increase in the amount of lending to small enterprises here in the past year.

Small Business Sector (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: It is not a side track. If the Deputy believes that lending to small business is a side track, I do not know if he is-----

Small Business Sector (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: With respect, I did in my last reply to the Deputy.

Small Business Sector (19 Jan 2011)

Conor Lenihan: I did. I said Enterprise Ireland and the banks-----