Results 61-80 of 8,342 for speaker:Peter Burke

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: Absolutely. It is, indeed, yes. It is an area where we are trying to balance with the Constitution and the legislative process and ensure that the courts will have their role after in determining the input of the legislation. Our view is that sectors are very different. It is very difficult to be very proscriptive in terms of that right. What we are doing here is codifying the right for...

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: Yes.

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: They are constitutional rights in contract law. For instance, a person already has a contract that is in place with someone and that the retirement date is proscribed as 65 years. However, the law has changed and 66 years is the recommendation, as decided by the Pensions Commission. If an employee decides to work for longer, then that requires deviating from the agreed contract and this...

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: The onus would be on the employer to defend the right to refuse the employee's request. We are very clear on that. The threshold is very high in terms of fines and the reasonable justification. I understand that is defined in the Equality Acts as well. We have to ensure that it is proportionate and reasonable and fits the bar whereby we are not impinging on contractual rights under the...

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: I am no expert in employment law but it is very clear to me that the example given by the Deputy is discrimination, and that should be clear to every member of this committee.

Select Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for her comments. However, I cannot accept this amendment. The amendment proposes that I report on the feasibility of lowering the State pension age, as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. This falls outside the remit of my Department. Matters relating to the State pension age and the administration of the social welfare Acts are under the jurisdiction...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Foreign Direct Investment (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a key element of our economic strategy with investments by IDA Ireland client companies consistently generating highly-skilled jobs nationwide and very considerable exchequer returns. Despite increasing competition for FDI globally, and an increasingly uncertain global economic context, the recent performance of our FDI sector has exceeded all expectations....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (2 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: The primary objective of IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme is to provide flexible and sustainable property solutions that offer certainty to clients ahead of demand. IDA collaborates with local authorities on advance planning permits and invests in infrastructure projects across the portfolio to address evolving business requirements of the FDI and indigenous client base....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Tourist Accommodation (1 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: This Government recognises the central importance of the tourism sector to Ireland's economy and communities and is acutely aware of the importance of local tourism accommodation as a resource for businesses and communities throughout Ireland. The overall position regarding the available data on accommodation for tourism purposes is complex and multi-layered. Fáilte Ireland maintains...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Tourist Accommodation (1 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: Tourism accommodation in Ireland is known for its excellent quality and diversity. Fáilte Ireland as Ireland's National Tourism Development Authority has responsibility for ensuring that tourist accommodation maintains the highest standards of quality and meets consumer needs. It carries out this function by setting the requirements for the various categories of accommodation and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Programme (1 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 310 together. On 15 April, Government approved the General Scheme for the Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill. The General Scheme was submitted to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel on 16 April for drafting and this work is currently underway. It is expected that the STLT Bill will go through the full legislative process in the Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Tourism Promotion (1 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: Government has continued to provide capital funding for tourism product development to ensure that Fáilte Ireland can support the delivery of enhanced amenities through Fáilte Ireland’s four Regional Tourism Development Strategies which includes Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. Fáilte Ireland’s Regional Tourism Development Strategies 2023 – 2027 are a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Artificial Intelligence (1 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: Ireland's first National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, 'AI – Here for Good' was launched in July 2021. The strategy serves as a roadmap for how Ireland can leverage the potential of AI for unlocking productivity, for addressing societal challenges, and for delivering public services. It envisions a future for Ireland as an international leader in using AI to the benefit of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Contracts (1 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: My Department and the offices under its aegis have not entered into any public services contracts with a value of €10 million or more in the past five years. In respect of the agencies under my Department’s remit, please see the relevant returns below: Agencies Year Name and purpose of Contract Value of the Contract The duration/term...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (1 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 to 318, inclusive, together. IDA Ireland sold a site at IDA Greystones Business Technology Park, Greystones, County Wicklow under a 999-year lease dated 21st April 2022 to Greystones Media Campus Owner Ltd. The site was sold pursuant to the IDA’s power of sale under the Industrial Development Acts. The use of the lands is restricted to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Tourism Promotion (1 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: The Programme for Government (PfG) commits to supporting and expanding our food and beverage tourism offerings and showcasing the best of local produce. I have asked my officials to prioritise the finalisation of a new Tourism Policy Statement which reflects the PfG and other Government priorities. This new Policy Statement will set out how the Irish culinary experience can play an enhanced...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Tourism Promotion (1 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: My role and that of my Department in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy. Fáilte Ireland and Tourism NI have primary responsibility for product development on the ground and would be best placed to lead on the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Projects (1 Jul 2025)

Peter Burke: In response to international economic developments, and in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, the Government has brought forward the preparation of an Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity. The Action Plan is currently being prepared for consideration of Government in July (to be finalised and published as soon as possible thereafter). The Action Plan will...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Peter Burke: I note that the Capital Acquisitions Tax legislation dealing with the heritage based exemptions contains a reference to the supply of information to Bord Fáilte Eireann. I have asked Fáilte Ireland to engage with the Revenue Commissioners around their role in this respect.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Artificial Intelligence (25 Jun 2025)

Peter Burke: I recognise the increasing importance of ensuring that the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies uphold the rights of creators, including musicians, performers, and composers. In December 2022, my Department launched a public consultation on the proposed European Artificial Intelligence Liability Directive, seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders, including...