Results 1-20 of 3,591 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Damien English

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Damien English: Has Michael solutions to all this?

Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Feb 2024)

Damien English: I do.

Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Feb 2024)

Damien English: I offer sympathies to Finola, Emily, Matthew, Juliana, Mary-Elizabeth, our colleague Deputy Richard Bruton, and John's sister, Mary. Their loss is massive, but this is also a major loss for all of us. John was a big man in many ways and the impact he has had on all of us in the House is immense. For anybody who comes into politics, it is about making an impact and leaving a mark. John...

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (12 Jul 2023)

Damien English: There is no guillotine.

Our Rural Future Policy: Statements (14 Jun 2023)

Damien English: I echo the Minister of State's comments about the great work that is happening in the Department of Rural and Community Development. Today, the focus is on rural development and future-proofing rural Ireland. That has really been achieved through the policy document and Our Rural Future. It is having the desired impact. We have been here, over the years, with different policy launches and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Damien English: I think we will save Carlow's retailers after this. This is an important and ongoing debate in the European Parliament and other parts of Europe as well. I certainly do not want to confuse the situation over Christmas. It is not an issue to which we are signed up as yet in any shape or form. I will get the Deputy a briefing note on it but it is not an issue of concern at this moment.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Job Creation (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: I was involved in setting up the growth centres. Athlone was a regional one, Sligo was another. We know our cities, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Dublin and Cork are already thriving. In the growth centres of Athlone, Dundalk, Drogheda and Sligo, we try to target the infrastructure in order that those areas are ready to create jobs and can win jobs. We have seen the success of that in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Job Creation (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: I recently met many residents and business owners in Ballinasloe with some of the Deputy's colleagues and with Senator Dolan to do just that, namely, to focus on what we can do for that particular town. IDA Ireland owns other land in Ballinasloe and surrounding areas that is being marketed with some success over the years. In regard to that 50-acre site, I am quite interested in it. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I have discussed on a few occasions with his colleague, Deputy Bríd Smith. As Deputy Paul Murphy is aware, we have difficulties with the Bill. We put that on the record on the first night in the convention centre when we discussed it. During the Second Stage debate on the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: Perhaps the Deputy did not listen to my answer-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: -----or maybe it was the case that he came in with preprepared ideas in the context of what he was going to say. I very clearly said that following on from the commitment given to his colleague on the floor of the convention centre, we would explore the issue to see if we could help. We fundamentally disagree with the Bill because it would change the relationship of industrial relations...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: Just in case there is any doubt, it is Deputy Paul Murphy's legislation: I am not stopping him bringing it back through the committee and following the usual channels.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Pensions Reform (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: Nobody is blocking the Deputy from doing so. He is totally free to argue his case and bring the Bill through the system. What the Government is stating is that it does not agree with the Bill. We think it is a flawed Bill that will not solve the problem the Deputy wants to solve. It will also complicate the industrial relations machinery we have that operates extremely well because it...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Job Creation (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: There are a couple of questions in this space, so the answers are pretty similar. I know the Deputy has already had a discussion with the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, but I will try to add to that. Delivering balanced regional growth and job creation is a core objective of this Government and the Deputy is aware that it is something we are committed to. We want to try to help as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Visa Applications (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: To answer the question in reverse, my understanding is that the answer is "Yes". While every case is slightly different, generally once somebody is legally permitted to be in this State, they can apply for a work permit. I can deal with the Deputy on specific cases. Regarding home care assistants, thankfully, we have made some progress on this. The Minister of State at the Department...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Visa Applications (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: The aim is that within the next six months the working group involving both Departments will bring forward some suggestions about how we can align our systems. We will set out a plan for establishing a single application procedure to cover employment permits and entry visas. It is about how we can align our systems. We managed to fast track and fix the delays in our Department by...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Enterprise Policy (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: We have discussed some of the issues the Deputy has raised previously. We certainly discussed them at the SME task force that the Tánaiste set up over two years ago to focus and see if we need another agency or if we can reach the companies we want to reach through our existing structures. Our best estimate is that it is best to use the structures we have that have worked extremely...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Enterprise Policy (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: It is important that we use the centre-of-excellence approach, which shares the data across the various LEOs and is able to compare them. There is that advice and guidance through the LEOs as well. Having visited all the LEOs, I saw the great work they are doing at first hand. While each LEO administers the national schemes and the schemes we have all agreed, they have their own version of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Visa Applications (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. This is an important area and one the Department has concentrated on a great deal in recent years. We have made efforts to put in place the right team to manage the permits that have been applied for through the Department. Much has already been done to improve the employment permit system. My Department is already focused on improving the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Enterprise Policy (13 Dec 2022)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue again. I will go back over the information we have. Following the dissolution of the county enterprise boards in 2014, an enhanced national assistance enterprise model was established to be delivered by local authorities on behalf of Enterprise Ireland through the local enterprise offices, LEOs. This structure has allowed the LEOs to effectively...