Results 7,161-7,180 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: As part of the plan for rationalisation of State agencies, the amalgamation of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority is being pursued. As both the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority were established under statute, it is necessary to give effect to the newly merged body by way of primary legislation. I will shortly be seeking Government approval to...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Figures in respect of the number of jobs created or lost in firms assisted by the industrial development agencies, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development, are compiled annually in the Forfás Annual Employment Survey. As the information is compiled on an annualised basis, the figures in respect of 2011 will not be available until 2012. Details of the number of jobs created...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Improving Ireland's competitiveness is essential in order to achieve a return to sustainable economic growth. Improved competitiveness will help businesses to retain existing jobs, create new ones, increase exports and contribute to economic recovery. The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) monitors and analyses costs and other competitiveness issues in the Irish economy through its suite...

Written Answers — Economic Policy: Economic Policy (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Since I took up office as Minister with responsibility for jobs, enterprise and innovation, I have met with various stakeholders to hear their views on the economy, job creation and the needs of enterprise. These stakeholders include employer representatives, employee representatives, business representatives, individual companies and other relevant parties. I have also led trade and...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Ireland's position as a leading international location for value intensive FDI remained strong in 2010 with IDA Ireland securing 126 investments. IDA has continued to increase the number of companies investing in Ireland for the first time while encouraging existing operations to expand and diversify their operations here. The average employment per investment in 2010 was double the 2009...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Many of the recent jobs losses which have occurred are as a result of the restructuring process which is going on in industry in Ireland whereby activities (and hence jobs) at the lower end of the value added scale are being phased out as these activities become uneconomic in an Irish context. Manufacturing is the bed-rock on which the growth in Ireland's FDI was founded. Mirroring the rest...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to using Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) as a means of adding value to Ireland's output and thereby achieving increased demand, sales and exports and headlining Ireland's attractiveness as a locale for FDI. The overall objective is the maintenance and growth of well-paid sustainable jobs. In order to develop the companies of the future in Ireland, both...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: It is not possible to identify with any certainty the number of jobs lost to competing economies. However, we do know that there are many differing and complex factors that can influence a firm's decision to relocate and these are a reality of the modern globalised economic environment. Notwithstanding this, IDA Ireland has continued to attract and retain high value manufacturing...

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 257 together. The Advisory Group on Media Mergers, which was established in 2008, was requested to review the current legislative framework relating to the public interest aspects of media mergers in Ireland. The Group's Report, which was published in 2009, and the eleven recommendations contained therein were considered in the context of a wider...

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 to 254, inclusive, together. Broadcasting media organisations, including undertakings involved in commercial radio, are subject to the licensing requirements of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, including in relation to issues such as diversity and plurality of ownership. Policy responsibility in this area lies with my colleague the Minister for...

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Broadcasting legislation regulates aspects of the ownership of broadcasting entities through the imposition of licensing requirements. Competition legislation imposes a public interest consideration in instances of mergers of media undertakings: however, these latter regulatory controls do not apply to media businesses involved in the provision of audio-visual material over the Internet. The...

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 258 together. The editorial strategies of media organisations and the manner in which they carry out such strategies are matters for the organisations themselves and I have no direct function in relation to such matters.

Written Answers — Consumer Prices: Consumer Prices (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Central Statistics Office publishes indices of consumer prices, including the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, which is accepted as the best method of comparing consumer prices across the European Union. The most recent Harmonised Index has shown that consumer prices in Ireland rose by 1.5% in the twelve months to April 2011 as compared with rises of 3.2% in the rest of the...

Written Answers — Consumer Prices: Consumer Prices (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Central Statistics Office publishes indices of consumer prices, including the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, which is accepted as the best method of comparing consumer prices across the EU. The most recent Harmonised Index has shown that consumer prices in Ireland rose by 1.5% in the twelve months to April 2011 as compared with rises of 3.2% in the rest of the EU and 4.5% in our...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Internal audit work is carried out by Civil Servants employed by my Department in compliance with the Report of the Working Group on the Accountability of Secretaries General and Accounting Officers (known as the Mullarkey Report Department of Finance 2002). External audit services are provided by the Comptroller and Auditor General's Office.

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Broadcasting media organisations are subject to the licensing requirements of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, including in relation to issues such as diversity and plurality of ownership. Policy responsibility in this area lies with my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and I have no direct function in the matter. Mergers between media...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Job creation is central to our economic recovery and the Programme for Government has job creation at its core. The role of my Department is to ensure that we have the right policies in place that will support and grow our enterprise base in order to facilitate both job creation and job retention. The Jobs Initiative includes measures designed to increase access to credit for viable SMEs...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 268 together. I am very concerned about the job losses that have been announced and of the impact that they have had on the workers concerned and their families as well as the communities affected. I understand that Vodafone Ireland, which is not an IDA or EI client, has announced this as a part of a review of its European operations and which will...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265, 273, 275 and 276 together. The overall finding of the Report of the Review of Employment Regulations Orders and Registered Employment Agreement Wage Setting Mechanisms was that the basic framework of the current JLC/REA regulatory system requires radical overhaul so as to make it fairer and more responsive to changing economic circumstances and labour...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: The commonly accepted position regarding "au pairs" is that of a young person who chooses to help look after the children of a host family and carry out light housekeeping duties. The au pair is given room and board and is typically paid weekly "pocket-money" and gains experience of a new culture while also improving his or her foreign language skills. There is no specific regulatory...