I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Bill 2021 to Seanad Éireann. The aim of this Bill is to ban the practice of ticket touting or the resale of tickets for large, popular events for more than their original value. This positive development will facilitate fairer access for genuine fans to tickets for cultural, entertainment, recreational and sporting events. Its introduction is timely as we look forward to a point, hopeful…

I thank all the Senators who contributed. The debate was largely positive. The Bill marks a positive step forward in the promotion and protection of consumers. It is about ensuring that legitimate fans can get access to tickets at the original value for sporting, music and other cultural events and not be fleeced. It is good, therefore, that we have cross-party support and unanimity in the Seanad. It is perhaps regrettable that despite the fact that Private Members' Bills were introduced three or four years ago by …

As I said on Second Stage, these amendments delete references to UEFA Euro 2020 tickets or ticket packages, including technical amendments that must be made as a consequence of the removal of the provisions relating to the UEFA Euro 2020 football championships. The Bill currently includes a provision in section 20 banning the unauthorised sale or advertisements for sale of UEFA Euro 2020 tickets or ticket packages for matches or official events during the rescheduled Euro 2020 football championship. Its inclusion s…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce this Bill. Fundamentally, it represents an effective lifeline to viable small businesses and affords them an opportunity to restructure their debts and continue trading. In light of the Covid-19 crisis, the Government made a commitment to review the Companies Act to simplify and improve examinership laws for our small business sector. A key commitment in the programme for Government, this Bill is a culmination of a …

I thank the various Members of the Dáil for contributing to the debate, which has been largely positive. I again thank those Members who sit on the Oireachtas committee that facilitated the waiving of pre-legislative scrutiny, enabling us to bring this Bill to the Dáil before the summer recess. I acknowledge that Deputy O'Reilly had to leave but I will reply to some of the questions she raised. She mentioned the issue of costs. The costs will depend on whether any element of an application has to be referred to cou…

That is what we are doing. After a year, we are bringing through legislation and honouring a commitment to give viable small and micro companies the opportunity to restructure. At least the Deputy sat in for the debate. Deputy Ó Ríordáin was critical of what we are doing and of the time allocated for the debate. He took five of his 20 minutes to contribute and then skipped off and did not participate in it. This is about ensuring small viable companies have the opportunity to enter into restructuring process to pro…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 15, line 34, to delete " subsection (7) " and substitute " subsection (7) of that section". On Committee Stage, I signalled that I would introduce these amendments on Report Stage. Amendment No. 1 is a technical amendment. Section 13(6)(e) provides that on hearing an appeal on an application for the designation of an event that has not been the subject of the application for designation under section 9(7), a District Court judge may make an order allowing the appeal and revoking the …

I move amendment No. 2: In page 18, line 15, to delete "the tickets or ticket package" and substitute "tickets or ticket packages".

I take this opportunity to thank the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment for its helpful pre-legislative scrutiny and the Members of the Oireachtas for their constructive engagement on the Bill. I particularly thank Deputy O'Reilly, who proposed a number of amendments on Committee Stage. Some questions arose from Members during the previous Stage, and I would like to provide reassurance by clarifying matters, as I said I would, on this Stage. It has become apparent that the Bill will not be enacted …

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which he has brought to my attention on a number of occasions. On 15 January last, the Tánaiste published Ireland's first national remote working strategy to make remote working a viable and sustainable option for all after the pandemic. A key action within the strategy is to extend the mapping and classifications of hubs. Earlier this week, my colleague, the Minister for Community and Rural Development, Deputy Humphreys, launched the national connected hubs network, which…

My thanks to Deputy O'Connor. I look forward to engaging with the representatives from Youghal on the Zoom call later on today. There is a feasibility grant of €15,000, or 15% of the eligible costs, available to community groups if they wish to bring forward a proposal for a remote working hub, as alluded to by the Deputy. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy English, is working on the south-west regional enterprise plan. That work has already commenced. It is a unique plan for the specific area to address t…

I wish to advise the Deputy that public consultation has commenced on the south-west regional plan. There is an opportunity for all stakeholders and public representatives, including Members, to make submissions on what they would like to see achieved in that plan. The plan will be unique for the south-west area. As I have said, it will address the challenges faced in that area and exploit the opportunities. IDA Ireland published a new strategy in January this year to bring the strategy up to 2024. A key part of th…

In the first five months post Brexit, businesses have been coming to terms with the new trading environment involving customs procedures and other regulatory checks at the ports. In addition, rules of origin issues have arisen in some instances, leading businesses to seek out suppliers in different markets. Businesses are adjusting to the new trading realities, finding alternative supply chains and are being encouraged to find new markets for their products. Preparations by Government in the lead-up to Brexit have …

I will give a flavour of some of the figures that are available. The most recent CSO statistical data released for the first quarter of 2021 show the exports of goods to Great Britain were €3.03 billion, which is a decrease of €82 million, or 3%, on the first quarter in 2020. Exports to the EU were also down 12% on the first quarter 2020 figures. Imports of goods from Great Britain in quarter 1 this year were down 48% to €2.2 billion, compared with quarter 1 in 2020. Imports from the EU were down 6% on quarter 1 20…

I too pay tribute to all of the officials for the hard work they have done in the preparation for Brexit and since Brexit in trying to help and assist the businesses that have been so challenged by disruption. The Deputy is correct that the UK remains a strategically important market for Irish companies. We can never ignore that but we also need to look to diversify into new markets. EI has been hampered by Covid-19 in its capacity to carry out physical trade missions, but work has been done virtually. Now, thankfu…

I thank the Deputy for raising the question. IDA Ireland actively promotes available buildings and land in IDA Ireland business parks and high-quality buildings in private ownership through its network of overseas offices. IDA Ireland owns approximately 10.6 ha of industrial zoned land on the Sligo road in Ballina. The site has been masterplanned by the agency to demonstrate its potential to investors. Planning permission was previously obtained for infrastructural development, although this has since expired. IDA …

I agree with the Deputy that IDA Ireland is doing remarkable work in promoting Ireland internationally. It has been hugely successful over many decades in attracting foreign direct investment to Ireland. I concur that it is regrettable that the planning permission for the site was allowed to expire. I commit to the Deputy that I will engage with IDA Ireland to make sure that the commitment for the third quarter is honoured and that planning permission will be resubmitted at that stage. The Deputy is aware that IDA …

I reiterate my commitment to engage directly with IDA Ireland on behalf of the Deputy and seek assurances in relation to the plans for the site in Ballina. IDA Ireland, as part of its strategy for 2021-2024, has targeted 76 investments for the west region. No doubt part of that will include targeted investment for Ballina. I will work with both IDA Ireland and Deputy Calleary to advance this proposal.

I thank the Senator for tabling her Commencement matter and giving me an opportunity to update the House on where we are with this important topic. I am aware that she has a strong interest in this area and I share her interest. I am very conscious of the need to introduce increased enhancements to employee rights. That is why there is a clear commitment in the programme for Government to review the current legal provisions surrounding collective redundancies and liquidations of companies to ensure that they effect…

To reiterate, work is well advanced. We met with the key stakeholders, that is, the employers and union representative bodies, last November. The CLRG has already commenced the work and published the first phase of its report. Two of it proposals will be adopted in the next number of weeks when the small business package is brought before the Oireachtas. This legislation will enable us to implement two of these recommendations. The second phase will report in September, which is only a number of months away, and re…