Results 221-240 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Mismatch between Industry Requirements and Third Level Courses: Discussion (20 Nov 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the delegates for their presentations. The committee is interested in ICT skills and many of the institutes assisted in preparing a report for the committee on this area. The ICT action plan is welcome and is well regarded by industry. The conversion courses are doing very well and it is encouraging that Mr. Boland said these would expand. As Dr. Murphy said, those who take on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Service: Discussion with Employment Appeals Tribunal (6 Nov 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank our guests for their informative contributions. Earlier in the year we engaged in a discussion with the Minister in respect of the changes he is making. I agree that there appears to be a great deal of support for his streamlining the process, particularly as in future there will only be two bodies rather than five. On unfair dismissals, the committee will be engaging in further...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: That was an outrageous comment.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: The Minister made the reasons behind his decision clear on RTE last Thursday night; I was watching. I would like to raise the issue of the clocks going back an hour on Sunday morning according to daylight saving time. I acknowledge Senator Conway raised the issue yesterday but this change is inconvenient and confusing and I wonder what it is worth. This time last year, a Bill passed Second...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I would like to refer to the very positive independent report published yesterday by Indecon on the JobBridge scheme which gave internships to young people, graduates and non-graduates. The report showed a successful outcome in that 52% of those who finished the JobBridge scheme are currently in paid employment, which is very encouraging. Some 89% of the interns felt the JobBridge scheme...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Sugar Beet Industry (18 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: A very important conference is taking place in Dublin this week, the web summit, the largest tech conference in Europe. It underlines the credibility of Ireland as an IT sector given the many employers we have in this area. More than 200 CEOs from various companies are speaking at the conference. These include multi-million businesses, Twitter and Skype, as well as start-up entrepreneurs...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: A very important conference is taking place in Dublin this week, the web summit, the largest tech conference in Europe. It underlines the credibility of Ireland as an IT sector given the many employers we have in this area. More than 200 CEOs from various companies are speaking at the conference. These include multi-million businesses, Twitter and Skype, as well as start-up entrepreneurs...

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (17 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I would like to make two points. I have made them before. I welcome the Minister of State's speech. I was interested in a point he made about the "proliferation of outlets and stores that sell alcohol". We know that, as he said, "supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations now sell alcohol". I agree with him entirely that "it is not unreasonable to link elevated levels of...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: Last night Cork experienced heavy rain and flooding and a further 50 mm of rainfall is forecast for today. This highlights the vulnerability of individuals, homes and businesses in flood prone areas. We recently had a discussion with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, on the issue of insurance companies. I have called for an engagement with insurance...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ireland-US Economic Relations: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (16 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: It is good to have an opportunity to discuss the report from the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, which we received earlier in the week. In the context of the US presidential campaign, I am conscious of much commentary around the notion of bringing jobs back home. I have also heard it argued that the environment in the US is better for setting up businesses now, with improved...

Seanad: Primary Care Centres: Motion (10 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I have confidence that public private partnerships can and will deliver, with the necessary supervision. The Minister listed in his speech the improvements made since he took up the health portfolio, in particular the reduction in the number of patients on trolleys, the reduction in surgical waiting lists, the establishment of the office for clinical audit, the criteria for orthopaedics and...

Seanad: Primary Care Centres: Motion (10 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I offer my congratulations to the Minister of State, Deputy White, and I wish him well particularly in the implementation of the primary health care programme. I am delighted that the Minister, Deputy Reilly, was present earlier to speak on the motion. Much has been made of him having been constantly critical of the previous Government's health policy when in opposition. While I accept he...

Seanad: Primary Care Centres: Motion (10 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: There is one in my constituency in Togher, which has been neglected for many years and I am glad to see it has been included. Deprivation is one of the many indices that have been used. Anybody who has any experience of trying to get a primary health care centre developed knows how essential it is to get GP buy-in.

Seanad: Primary Care Centres: Motion (10 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: There was also the question of whether they would be done by public private partnership, leasing or developing by the State. The public private partnership model has been used here successfully, although I admit there is need for some oversight in this regard to ensure we are getting value for the taxpayer. I have no objection to the leveraging of private funding for projects we cannot...

Seanad: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Statements (9 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank the Minister of State for discussing SMEs and his work in that regard. We are facing into European SME week, which is another important milestone in the development of a strong SME culture in Ireland. I congratulate the Minister of State on the advisory group that he established. It has fed into the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 and will do likewise in respect of the upcoming 2013...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I congratulate the Irish Farmers Association for organising today's rally and meeting. A figure of 20,000 people is some achievement. I also note another very positive jobs announcement today in respect of the 800 jobs to be created by the Kerry Group, which is another good news story for the Irish food sector. All of those jobs are to be in place by 2016. Listening this morning to the...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: The Cathaoirleach cannot ask me to follow that. I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the Bill. What it sets out to do is clear. The Minister called it a transitional measure that builds on changes he has already made to the composition of the HSE board. I wish him well as he prepares to move towards a system of universal health care, which is a central plank of the programme...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: On Thursday last we had statements on flooding and flood prevention measures when the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, was present. Senator Barrett and I raised the issue of insurance cover with him. I am concerned that there are areas in Cork and elsewhere where flood cover is not available because of a flooding history in the area. The Office of Public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Irish Exports: Discussion with Irish Exporters Association (25 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank both witnesses for their presentation. On the credit guarantee scheme, the joint committee might take this issue up directly with the Department to ascertain its present status and what are the obstacles. That is probably the best thing members can do at present. I would be interested to hear Mr. Whelan's response to the comments of the banks. Members are aware of the importance...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Beverage Exports: Discussion with Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (25 Sep 2012)

Deirdre Clune: I thank Mr. Tobin for his contribution. It is good that so many Irish products dominate the top ten lists globally. Mr. Tobin outlined the importance of that success story and why new markets need to be developed. He has also suggested some ways in which we can facilitate that task. In regard to responsible consumption of alcohol, has the issue of below-cost selling influenced the sector...