Results 321-340 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Commission (12 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body established on 1 October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC assumed the roles and functions previously carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), Equality Tribunal, Labour Relations Commission (LRC), Rights Commissioners Service (RCS), and the first-instance (Complaints and...

Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report Stage (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: I thank Deputies Daly and Quinlivan for their contributions throughout the entire debate on this Bill. I thank Deputy Daly for tabling this amendment but I am unable to accept it because it is not necessary to include this provision in the legislation. The Deputy will be aware that this Bill addresses the implications of the 2015 Supreme Court judgment and seeks to ensure that the IDA will...

Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill 2018: Order for Report Stage (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Other Questions: Consumer Protection (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: The European Union carried out a fitness check of the Consumer Protection Act to ensure it complied with EU consumer protection law and concluded that the approach we had taken was very effective, particularly in providing protection from unfair and misleading commercial practices. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission which enforces the Act has only received three calls since...

Other Questions: Consumer Protection (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: If the Deputy has concerns about malpractices online, he should report them to me straightaway and I would be delighted to deal with them. The Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland, ASAI, was not mentioned, but it has a very important role to play. It is an independent body which is financed by the advertising industry. Consumers can also refer complaints to it. In 2017, 2,100...

Other Questions: Consumer Protection (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen:  The Consumer Protection Act 2007 - specifically sections 43, 46, 47, 55 and 56 - implements the directive on unfair commercial practices gives consumers protection from false advertising by online bloggers and influencers. A study undertaken on behalf of the European Commission as part of the recent fitness check of EU consumer protection law concluded that the directive’s...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: The mid-west is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. Limerick has attracted a lot of FDI in recent times. More investment there is imminent. The Deputy has talked about the IDA. The IDA is well aware of the document the Deputy mentioned. I refer to the Patrick's Street development proposed for Limerick city centre. It is a fantastic initiative funded by the European...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: The Deputy is correct. There is an old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink". That is part of the problem we have. The IDA has put all the incentives it has at the disposal of companies that want to invest in the regions but at the end of the day it is the property people of these companies that might invest in Ireland who decide where their company should...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. All three Ministers in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation are from the regions. I assure the Deputy that the Department is very focused on spreading investment across the country. This includes jobs and investment that could potentially arise as a result of Brexit. Creating more jobs in the regions is a particular priority...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Enterprise Development Fund (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: The  Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) is a €60 million competitive fund aimed at  supporting significant regional initiatives to build on sectoral strengths and/or to better leverage identified resources to improve enterprise capability. The REDF is funded by my Department and administered by Enterprise Ireland and is being made available over the period...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Disputes (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: I understand that the dispute at the company referred to by the deputy relates to certain terms and conditions of employment, including that of pay and contractual security which the trade union Mandate is seeking to negotiate on behalf of its members. At the outset, I must emphasise that Ireland’s system of industrial relations is, essentially, voluntary in nature and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Relations (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: At the outset, I must emphasise that Ireland’s system of industrial relations is, essentially, voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers, rests with the employer, the workers and their representatives.  For its part, the State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms i.e. the Workplace...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Copyright Legislation Review (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: I appreciate and understand the concerns of Irish artists in the modern digital age. My Department actively supports placing Irish artists in a more beneficial position to ensure that they can gain the most remuneration possible for their music. New business models are currently emerging to help musicians to license their works to online platforms and ultimately it is a commercial matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Union Recognition (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: I understand that the dispute at issue relates to certain terms and conditions of employment, including that of pay and contractual security which the trade union Mandate is seeking to negotiate on behalf of its members. At the outset, I must emphasise that Ireland’s system of industrial relations is, essentially, voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Tax Treaties (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: The EU Commission published proposals in March 2018 in relation to digital taxation which are currently being debated.  The OECD has also published an interim report on the Digital economy which acknowledges the lack of consensus in the area of taxations. The OECD states that further analysis is required in order to achieve an agreed evidence backed solution focused on the alignment of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Labour Court Recommendations (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: At the outset, I must emphasise that Ireland’s system of industrial relations is, essentially, voluntary in nature and responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers, rests with the employer, the workers and their representatives. For its part, the State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement mechanisms i.e. the Workplace...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (10 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: 860. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30091/18]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Commission (5 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 to 185, inclusive, together. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC assumed the roles and functions previously carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Relations (4 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: The dispute at the company referred to by the deputy relates to certain terms and conditions of employment, including that of pay and contractual security which a trade union is seeking to negotiate on behalf of its members. As the deputy will be aware, Ireland operates a system of industrial relations that is voluntary in nature under which responsibility for the resolution of...

Topical Issue Debate: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (3 Jul 2018)

Pat Breen: If Deputy Kelly wants me to go off script, I have no problem doing so. A lot of complaints have already been made to the CCPC about these alleged practices referred to by the Deputy. When it investigated them, it found-----