Results 301-320 of 1,143,287 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Colm Brophy OR speaker:Pádraig O'Sullivan OR speaker:Michael Ring OR speaker:Claire Kerrane OR speaker:Seán Canney OR speaker:Mary Butler OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan OR speaker:Robert Troy OR speaker:Heather Humphreys OR speaker:Seán Ó Fearghaíl OR speaker:Sorca Clarke OR speaker:Catherine Murphy OR speaker:Neasa Hourigan OR speaker:Johnny Mythen OR speaker:Noel Grealish OR speaker:Martin Kenny OR speaker:Cathal Crowe OR speaker:Verona Murphy OR speaker:Niamh Smyth OR speaker:Carol Nolan OR speaker:Mattie McGrath OR speaker:Catherine Connolly OR speaker:Brendan Griffin OR speaker:Patrick Costello OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Imelda Munster OR speaker:Jack Chambers OR speaker:Denise Mitchell OR speaker:Cian O'Callaghan OR speaker:Anne Rabbitte OR speaker:Joe O'Brien OR speaker:Dara Calleary OR speaker:Malcolm Noonan OR speaker:Michael Healy-Rae OR speaker:Pat Buckley OR speaker:Seán Fleming)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: The Minister correctly pointed out that businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector, will be looking at all party manifestos in the coming days. As we know, an election is imminent. The Minister also pointed out that small businesses are the backbone of our communities, in particular rural communities. They are very dependent on small businesses. Some 62% of private sector...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Peter Burke: I contest what KPMG said as I have heard many people in the business sector advocate the supports in place, which have been enhanced in budget 2025, especially in respect of innovation and the start-up space. Funding for companies trying to scale has been significant. We have worked to close the bridge with the UK because there is a big divide with regard to capital gains tax and incentives...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Questions Nos. 62 and 63 taken with Written Answers.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (24 Oct 2024)

Regional Development

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (24 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 64. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he continues to encourage investment in jobs in both manufacturing and services throughout the regions, given the necessity to ensure a balanced growth in the jobs sector throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43514/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (24 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: This question seeks to ascertain and encourage investment in jobs in the services and manufacturing sectors throughout the regions in order to continue to achieve balanced growth throughout the country.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (24 Oct 2024)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for his question. Regional development is a key element of the Government's enterprise policy and is a key focus of the work of my Department and our enterprise development agencies. On job creation, the agencies of my Department are deeply committed to fostering investment in jobs across the manufacturing and services sectors throughout the country. This commitment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (24 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for his exceptionally comprehensive reply and confirming the Government policy and his continued support for the thrust of what he said. To what degree is cognisance taken of the threats to jobs in the various regions, including the region in which we stand at the moment? To what degree is his Department cognisant of changes in the marketplace and how they might...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Small and Medium Enterprises

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Robert Troy: 56. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to address the challenges facing SMEs. [43436/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Robert Troy: I thank the Acting Chair for the flexibility. I did not realise we would come back to this question but I welcome the opportunity to hear the Minister’s plans with regard to the additional measures that can be introduced to support our SME sector, which everyone across the Chamber will agree is of critical importance to our economy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for his very important question. We know small family businesses are the backbone of the economy. They employ two thirds of all employees in our country and drive so much vital economic activity across many of our communities. In the first few weeks of my appointment as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I introduced an SME package which brought a second round...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Robert Troy: The power up grant and the money that has been made available this year is similar to the amount the IDA is getting to support multinationals in job creation despite the fact that, as the Minister said, two thirds of employment is in the SME sector. If two thirds of employment is in one sector, why is it getting a similar amount of money to multinationals, which are a very important part of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Peter Burke: I have really changed the direction of the Department to focus on small businesses. The Deputy can see that from the SME package I brought in and the SME test now having received Cabinet approval such that every statutory instrument, regulation or primary legislation change must have an SME impact assessment. We have put money behind it, with the enormous amount of grant support that is now...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Robert Troy: Perhaps the Minister will answer about the sick pay in the next round. As a person who led trade missions, I concur fully with what he said about the importance of FDI. However, we are spending a similar amount on FDI as on supporting SMEs despite there being a greater number of people employed in our SMEs. We need to increase the expenditure there. Will the Minister speak about what...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Peter Burke: It is very difficult to get through everything in a minute. I will make a decision on sick pay before the end of the year. As the Deputy will be aware, having been in the Department when many of the regulations came in, we are trying to take a pace, reduce the burden and put our SMEs first. On energy, we had a competitiveness summit in recent months. We are directing massive investment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Small and Medium Enterprises

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: 59. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how his Department plans to address the difficulties facing small businesses as costs rise but profits do not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43571/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: How does the Department plan to address the difficulties facing small businesses as costs rise but profits do not? I ask him to make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Small and Medium Enterprises (24 Oct 2024)

Peter Burke: This is a similar question to the previous one. It is important. We are trying to work with family businesses across the country. We brought in the SME package in the first weeks after I was appointed by the new Taoiseach. We are focusing on trying to lower the cost base for so many family businesses. We have brought in initiatives, such as ensuring they have support through...