Results 561-580 of 1,321 for speaker:Áine Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs: Discussion (28 Jan 2014)

Áine Collins: The immigrant investor programme in the UK has been very successful. The problem with our programme relates to the way it is structured. We need to re-examine the structures. I agree that it should be brought within the remit of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs: Discussion (28 Jan 2014)

Áine Collins: I wish to make two comments. The Secretary General spoke about entrepreneurship and the Chairman responded to his comment on a person who had an idea for a product. This is a key area in which mentoring comes into play. When a person goes into a local enterprise office, the first thing he or she needs is to have a mentor appointed for him or her. It is very important that mentors be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (28 Jan 2014)

Áine Collins: I want to ask a question of Mr. Kelly, which I asked the Minister about last week and on which I have done some research. My understanding of research and innovation is that the money can only be drawn down through educational institutions. The research technology organisations, RTOs, which I understand were set up through the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, want to be able to draw down the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (28 Jan 2014)

Áine Collins: This was a trial that was set up. Apparently, these are set up throughout Europe but for some reason most of the research funding has to go in through the colleges, so to speak, before it can be drawn down. A collaboration of companies has come together on this particular model and they are trying to get their own status but apparently there has to be a Cabinet decision or a policy decision...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (28 Jan 2014)

Áine Collins: I will, yes, to be fair.

Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2014)

Áine Collins: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. I thank and congratulate the staff at Forfás for the great work they have done since it was established in 1994. The Bill makes provision for the dissolution of Forfás which has been Ireland's policy advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation since its establishment in 1994. Job creation is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Aid (30 Jan 2014)

Áine Collins: 176. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the recently announced 60% building grant aid for young farmers will be available and the qualifying criteria for same. [4687/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Aid (30 Jan 2014)

Áine Collins: 177. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the newly announced 40% grant for milking equipment scheme will commence. [4688/14]

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: I welcome the opportunity to debate ways of helping viable small business to survive through difficult times. This means helping all small businesses. If businesses can enter examinership too easily and without proper supervision and fair procedures being applied, their creditors may end up suffering. These creditors, for the large part, could also be small businesses and end up being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Landscape: Minister of State (4 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. I concur with Deputy Calleary's comments on our recent visit to Europe and the compliments paid to the Minister of State's staff on the great work that is being done. I refer to the technology centres, which are currently linked to universities. This is the only country in the OECD which does that. In other countries, the technology...

Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: I compliment the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, for bringing the Bill to the House. It is long overdue, as a culture of secrecy and, at times, false loyalty has cost the State dearly. Much of what went on in this culture has only come to light in recent years. We have had one wave after another of scandal or wrongdoing, from revelations of child abuse to...

County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: I also welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill, the Title of which is misleading to a certain extent. The real intention and purpose of the Bill is to allow for reform of the system of supports to microenterprise and to focus on the small to medium-sized enterprise, SME, sector, thereby driving growth and encouraging a culture of entrepreneurship as a career. As the Minister...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: Yes, I confirm that.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: 550. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not received the higher capitation grant for the early childhood care and education free preschool year. [6416/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Provision (11 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: 574. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding an orthodontic appointment in respect of a person (details supplied). [6217/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Access to Finance for SMEs: Discussion (11 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: I welcome Mr. O'Mahony and Mr. Rafferty. I particularly welcome those who have received funds who are taking time out from their businesses to be with us today and share their stories. I have a few questions for Mr. O'Mahony. I met him previously and I am familiar with LinkedFinance. He stated it is difficult to get people to borrow money. Is there a particular issue with borrowing as a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Access to Finance for SMEs: Discussion (11 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: That has been done, more or less. There is a standardised form. My question was, how does Mr. O'Mahony manage the equity? If I decide to invest in a company that LinkedFinance has introduced me to and I am an equity holder, is my relationship directly with the company? Who manages the equity?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Access to Finance for SMEs: Discussion (11 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: Does LinkedFinance also cover equity?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Access to Finance for SMEs: Discussion (11 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: I am sorry; I misunderstood the details on that.

Early Childhood Care and Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Feb 2014)

Áine Collins: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. I cannot disagree with the tone of the Fianna Fáil motion. Every Member of this House is concerned with child welfare. We all wish that in an ideal world, a first-class and very affordable child care system would be generally available. Ideally, this should be based on the Nordic model but a huge investment is required to get to that...