Results 1-20 of 3,362 for speaker:James O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: You are all very welcome to our public meeting. Before we proceed I have a few housekeeping matters to go through. I wish to explain some limitations of parliamentary privilege and the practice of the House as regards reference witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. Witnesses within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: I thank Mr. Hanley and appreciate his contribution to the committee. I call Ms McCabe, chief executive officer of Retail Excellence Ireland, to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: I thank Ms McCabe for her contribution. We are going to move on to the next section, which allows members to speak. Senator Linda Nelson Murray is our first speaker.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: We will have time for a second round, so do not worry. The next slot is Fianna Fáil's. We are joined by Deputy Albert Dolan, who is our next speaker.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: Deputy Dolan may ask a final question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: That discussion could take a good two hours.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: That was very well put. The next speaker is Deputy Conway-Walsh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: Unfortunately, we are three minutes over.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: We will go now to Deputy Gogarty. We will have a second round so members will have a further chance. I know Mr. Jennings wanted to come in so I ask him to bear with us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: I am the next speaker. I thank all the witnesses for being here. We have done a number of engagements with a very broad range of companies, stakeholders and representative bodies and the witnesses' input here is very welcome as part of our work. The reason we are doing this is to platform how important the concerns are among the public regarding the huge cost increases in terms of doing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: That is very interesting. I appreciate Mr. Hanley's input. Also, Retail Excellence Ireland is a very interesting organisation and I would be familiar with its work. I want to get an idea of what pressure has been put on business owners by the increased costs in hiring employees into small businesses. We are joined today by Ms Aoife McBride, who has a small business in Killarney. As a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: That is an interesting point. The last time I spoke to Mr. Jennings we discussed newsagents. These businesses provide a great social value in rural towns. Quite frankly, people are in business to make a living and money but I worry about the Department's attitude to small retailers and small companies, and what they do for the fabric of society in constituencies like my own and a number of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: I agree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: Yes. I thank Senator Nelson Murray. Next is Deputy Tony McCormack and he will be followed by Deputy Gogarty.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: No worries at all. Deputy Gogarty is next, followed by Senator Fitzpatrick.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: Absolutely. I have said that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: Was it Garret FitzGerald who said that a sense of humour can be fatal in politics? Is that not right? Anyway, thanks very much. Am I right in saying that Deputy Gogarty wants to come in for a second round?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Competitiveness and the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Oct 2025)

James O'Connor: My apologies, sorry. No worries. I will just say finally, "Thank you so much." It was very informative. I apologies that members had to dip in and out, but I think everyone who came here got a good opportunity to ask good questions and get great answers. The information, although a little depressing, is interesting. As Cathaoirleach of the committee, I suggest that something we might...