6 DFómh 2014, 11:42
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD and Minister of State for Business and Employment at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Ged Nash TD will appear before the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation tomorrow, Tuesday, 7th October 2014.
The schedule and agenda for the meeting is:
i) Credit Guarantee Scheme and South East Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and
(ii) The forthcoming Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council Meeting Minister of State for Business and Employment at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Committee Chair Marcella Corcoran Kennedy said: “Our meeting with Minister Bruton provides the Committee with an opportunity to consider a number of issues on which the Committee has been working as part of our work programme. Last year, the Committee published a report entitle South East Economic Development Strategy which recommended a 10-year economic development strategy to assist economic growth and create employment in the Southeast region, as well as identifying a number of key priorities for the region. We look forward to discussing this report with the Minister and getting his perspective on the report’s findings.
“Our Committee has also held a series of hearings and published a report on access to finance for SMEs, so it is timely and appropriate that we consider the Credit Guarantee Scheme with Minister. The purpose of the scheme is to provide credit to job-creating SMEs which struggle to get finance from the banks due to, for example, insufficient collateral. While the loans to these SMEs are channelled through participating banks, the Government will provide a guarantee to the lender of 75% of the value of the loan. In return, businesses in receipt of the loan will have to pay the Government a 2% premium on the value of the loan.
“Following our meeting with Minister Bruton, the Committee will meet with the Minister of State for Business and Employment at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Ged Nash ahead of the forthcoming Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council Meeting. The EPSCO Council brings together ministers responsible for employment, social affairs, health and consumer policy from all EU member states and works to increase employment levels and improve living and working conditions, ensuring a high level of human health and consumer protection in the EU. This is an opportunity to discuss Ireland’s priorities with the Minister ahead of the meeting.”
This meeting will take place at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 7th October 2014 in Committee Room 2.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
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Committee Membership
Deputies: Dara Calleary (FF), Áine Collins (FG), Michael Conaghan (LAB), Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy (FG) (Chair) , Seán Kyne (FG), Anthony Lawlor (FG), John Lyons (LAB) (Vice-Chairman), Peadar Tóibín (SF) Mick Wallace (IND).
Senators: David Cullinane (SF), John Kelly (LAB), Michael Mullins (FG), Feargal Quinn (Ind), Mary White (FF).