Results 321-340 of 1,070,660 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Jennifer Whitmore OR speaker:Patrick O'Donovan OR speaker:Seán Fleming OR speaker:Alan Farrell OR speaker:Pat Buckley) in 'Committee meetings'

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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy for his question. We have taken a number of steps to address the concerns of small businesses and the challenge they are facing around rising costs. The increased cost of business scheme has paid out over €244 million in this year to almost 75,000 SMEs, which includes 38,000 SMEs in retail and hospitality. Recognising that businesses operating in retail and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Cathal Crowe: I thank the Minister of State. On budget day, I think the power-up grants were certainly a positive announcement. I know from talking to people in Clare County Council and constituents who have businesses that there is some cause for hope. They also feel that the last few years have loaded an awful lot on employers and people who own businesses. One the things they will say, and we have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: There is an acknowledgment that we have introduced a lot of initiatives in recent years and that the sequencing of them was not properly thought out with respect to costs. It was not done. We have strengthened the SME test. The Cabinet signed off on that this week. It will ensure that far more vision is given to initiatives, and that they are sequenced and streamlined. As the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Cathal Crowe: The legislative framework is there. We have had the budget. The budget was now a few weeks ago. I often hear from people in HR that the sick leave, in particular, is causing quite a lot of problems. One employer in County Clare provided me with a spreadsheet showing the sick leave his company has at the moment and how much it is costing. It is very worrying that you can phone some of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Claire Kerrane: We have two supplementaries before the Minister of State comes back in. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh is first.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I raise the concerns I have around the closing down of retail businesses, particularly in Mayo. The Minister of State will be very familiar with it. When I walk down American Street in Belmullet or some of the streets in Ballina, Castlebar and other areas, I see that many businesses are shut down. That speaks to me of the disconnect. We are not connecting up. The bureaucracy and red tape...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Robert Troy: I wish to add my voice regarding support for the SMEs. The power-up grant is somewhat welcome but I think the blanket approach is not supportive enough for the businesses that are most in need. Maybe there was an overconcentration on the 9% rate because that was never going to be achieved, given the position of the three coalition parties' leaders on it. Has the Minister of State had...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: There is lots there. The Minister, Deputy Burke, is conducting a consultation exercise on how the new sick pay changes are working. He is engaging with employers directly in that space to get their feedback. That will feed into future decisions with regard to sick pay. On retail, I absolutely agree with the Deputy. Retailers are the backbone of our economy. They sustain not just...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (24 Oct 2024)

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (24 Oct 2024)

Questions Nos. 54 and 55 taken with Written Answers.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (24 Oct 2024)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Losses (24 Oct 2024)

Job Losses

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Losses (24 Oct 2024)

Cathal Crowe: 57. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has met with persons (details supplied) who are soon to be made redundant by their company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43329/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Losses (24 Oct 2024)

Cathal Crowe: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, for taking this question. What actions have he and his Department taken with regard to the loss of jobs at Aer Lingus Cargo at Shannon Airport? I refer to the devastating announcement made to employees there on 7 August.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Losses (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: We fully appreciate how difficult the announced closure of Aer Lingus Cargo is for the employees, their families and the wider community. Our thoughts are with them. This is a commercial decision being made by Aer Lingus as a private company. We have no role in Aer Lingus’s commercial decisions and it would not be appropriate for any Minister to seek to intervene. However,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Losses (24 Oct 2024)

Cathal Crowe: The devastating news was announced to the Aer Lingus employees on 7 August last. Eighteen of them work in the cargo facility in Shannon. Despite what the Aer Lingus hierarchy will say, namely that cargo volumes in Shannon have been on a downward trajectory for some time, the reality is quite the opposite. There was growth of 23% between 2018 and 2023 and the facility handled 16,752 tonnes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Losses (24 Oct 2024)

Dara Calleary: As a Government, we have responded to many of the Deputy's campaigns and calls on Shannon Airport. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Lawless, announced just last week €4.2 million for Shannon and Cork airports, and €47 million is being invested in Shannon Airport alone. We are very much committed to it and it is a very important part of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Losses (24 Oct 2024)

Cathal Crowe: I am somewhat worried that many people may underestimate the scale of this. It is not just about the 18 jobs but also about the domino effect around Shannon. There is genuine fear that the closure will have a contagion effect. I would like to hear what supports the Government can put in place to stymie it. Eighteen jobs are directly affected but there is much more at stake. It is a...