Results 121-140 of 717 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Can we have a debate with the Minister for Education or the Minister for Transport, whoever is in charge of it at the moment, concerning the request that over-70s be able to drive school buses? We have a critical situation in Tipperary. We have a shortage of people able to drive buses but we have businesses contracted with Bus Éireann which have people aged over 70 who would be able to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and answering the questions so far. I will follow up on what Deputy Bruton was talking about in relation to just 1% of businesses really engaging in it. Mr. Meally spoke about how the business sector accounts for slightly less than 40% of the energy demands and 250 companies account for 80% of that 40%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: It is a massive area and we have targets to hit for 2030 and 2050. I acknowledge the good work that Skillnet is doing. I see it my own county of Tipperary and in Clonmel in particular, and in the agricultural sector. We have targets to hit and informing and educating companies is really important in the long run. I am sure that Skillnet does not have enough staff to meet every single...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I am delighted Dr. Sharkey mentioned MSD, because I am going there on Friday to meet them for an update on these issues. The company has been a huge employer for Clonmel for 40 years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Yes, I agree. I have family working there so I know I know it quite well, as do most families in Clonmel. We know that about 200 of those 250 engage. Of those 50 that have not, is there a plan in place to improve engagement? Regarding the targets we have to hit for 2030, do we have separate targets for those 250 companies? Even though they are doing extremely well, do we have targets...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Is it possible to provide the committee with the information on those 250 businesses and what they have done and achieved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: For the 250 businesses?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: What percentage of the total is that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills and Supports Required for Businesses to Meet Decarbonisation Targets: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Of those 50 companies, is it a particular sector or is it just random businesses that have not engaged?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I request a debate with the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Byrne, on the sports capital grant, the timelines and when clubs will know more about whether they have been successful. This is obviously an important year and the Government has been very good to support sports clubs during the past three years but for obvious...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I follow others in their congratulations to the junior certificate students on their results this year. I congratulate their parents and teachers as well. It is a very proud day for them. I will speak on education, so I have not moved topic at all, the Cathaoirleach will be happy to know.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I am learning. I acknowledge the announcement by the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, on Project Nore yesterday. Would the Leader agree that this Government has significantly invested in education, particularly in school buildings? Project Nore is a large-scale new building project of €250 million for seven new schools across the country – two in Mullingar, one in...

Seanad: Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022: Second Stage (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I will be brief because I pretty much agree with what Senators have said. I welcome the Bill. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him and his officials for the work they are doing. As Senators have said, this is an important Bill which has to be passed. There is always a fear about more cumbersome work that has to be done by multinational companies. Obviously, a large number of...

Seanad: Control of Exports Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I agree with Deputy Shanahan's request that we examine things regionally. I am from an area of the south east that the Deputy does not represent but it is still the same region. I thank the delegation for their contributions. I find it frustrating sometimes when we have meetings like this and are told that some of our questions cannot be answered because a consultation is taking place....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Mr. Courtney talked about the recommendations the commission has given and how the Government has always supported them. There have been about ten increases in the minimum wage since 2011. Mr. Courtney talked about the percentage and how close we are getting to 60%. From where we were in 2011, we are at 51% now. Has that percentage consistently increased as we have gone along? Did it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Is that in the living wage or the minimum wage in comparison to the living wage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: It is the percentage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: The fear from a business perspective is about trying to get to 60% but we have been almost there before, at 58%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Garret Ahearn: Is it recognised that the market is strangely and very unusually, an employees' market at the moment, that they can dictate what job they want, where they want it and the terms and conditions? An awful lot of business owners would say that the employee is interviewing the employer rather than the employer interviewing the employee. There is a balance here. You do not want it entirely the...