Results 241-260 of 1,321 for speaker:Áine Collins

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Farm Assist Scheme Payments (29 May 2013)

Áine Collins: 58. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider holding off changes in the assessment of farm assistance until at least July 2013; and if she will consider basing the assessment on the tax year 2012 instead of 2011 in view of the farming crisis. [25634/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility (11 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: 795. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a substantial number of applicants were refused grants under the 2012 disadvantaged areas scheme due to the fact that stocking requirements changed during that period and many of those refused were not aware of the new regulations; his views on whether they should receive a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: 942. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the progress being made in the current negotiations between SIPTU acting for home help carers and the Health Service Executive; the measures being taken to provide a positive outcome, ensuring that home help workers employed by the HSE continue to provide the invaluable service to vulnerable persons in our society. [26871/13]

Finance (Local Property Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [Private Members]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. No one here wants to increase the tax burden for anyone. All of us would like to be in a position to improve the lives of our constituents. All politicians want to be in a position of announcing and implementing good news again for our constituents. However, some of us live in the real world and we have seen many examples of irresponsible...

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: I am delighted to speak on this Bill because it addresses one of the promises we made in our programme for Government. We have been criticised by the people for not dealing with this earlier, but we have had a very busy referendum schedule so far, including referenda on the stability treaty and children's rights. This will also be a very important referendum because it will form a key part...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: I welcome Mr. Murphy and Mr. Talbot. We welcome all suggestions about how to create jobs and make the SME environment far more friendly. We are familiar with the proposal regarding housing. We hope something will happen in the budget. I would like to mention an interesting statistic in that regard. The building sector is worth approximately €8 billion at present. If that figure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: Will Mr. Murphy comment on Skillnets and the ManagementWorks initiative?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: Skillnets has a very good scheme known as ManagementWorks, which provides training for owner-managers and their management teams. A pilot scheme was recently completed and is under evaluation. I hope it will result in the roll-out of ManagementWorks nationwide. While more money is needed for the scheme, it is an example of the initiatives taken in this area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: What is the position on corporation tax?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: I just do not understand what is involved. Perhaps our guests could provide further information on this matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: I have a major issue with the attitude to failure in this country. I have never met an entrepreneur or businessperson who set up an enterprise with the intention of failing. Businesses can fail for many reasons. Sometimes things may just not go right, the person involved might not have obtained the correct advice or the market might not have been there. It can be difficult to break into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: It is very difficult for them. We must do a great deal more, particularly in the context of providing soft supports. Everyone present is aware of my interest in this regard, especially in the area of mentoring and how we can assist people. There is major work to be done in respect of this matter by the LEOs. I have stated on many previous occasions that we must stop placing people behind...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: There is far too much duplication. We now have Leader groups and LEOs. I accept that these are all going to be realigned and amalgamated but there is a need to decide who will be responsible for doing what. There is a great deal of activity and LEOs and SOLAS are both running courses. However, I am not sure there has been a great deal of evaluation with regard to what is happening.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: Those in the retail trade are very hampered by rates. This is because they operate on the high street and the rates in this regard are much more expensive. Would it be worth considering introducing a separate rates-based tax for the retail area?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: I am not familiar with it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: Some of the difficulties which arose relate to the fact that multinationals such as Tesco were making huge profits. If one lowers the base - by, for example, 2% - it has a huge effect on such companies. The owners of small shops would be obliged to pay €2,500 in rates. This matter has always come down to how one achieves a balance. For example, it could be linked to turnover....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: I was shocked when I discovered that town councils could set their own rates, reduce them, etc., but that other councils could not do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Alternative Ten Point Plan for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Discussion (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: I understand all the rates are going to be revalued in the near future so I presume all of that to which the Deputy refers will be done at the same time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Budget 2014 Proposals: Discussion with IBEC (25 Jun 2013)

Áine Collins: The witnesses are very welcome. It is always nice to have IBEC in. We are here in good time. We have discussed the budget a great deal already. The Small Firms Association attended in that regard. The witnesses will be glad to know regarding their first suggestion that the Minister for Finance will report back to us in September to let us know the figures and what he will do with regard...