Results 7,561-7,580 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I have not formally approached the European Investment Bank to co-fund capital building projects. However, my Department has explored EIB funding options. Under Cycle 5 the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI), one project utilised European Investment Bank funding in order to co-fund a capital building project. The project involved was the TCD Biomedical Building which...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: Responsibility for the regulation of utilities is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which is an independent statutory body under the remit of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Ireland's wholesale and retail electricity and gas markets are characterised by vigorous competition regulated by the CER. From 1 October, residential gas consumers...

Written Answers — Public Contracts: Public Contracts (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of public contracts awarded by my Department in the years 2009 and 2010 is set out in tabular form below. The information provided outlines: nationality of firm; value of contract; nature of contract; and size of firm. In awarding contracts, the Department had full regard for the public procurement procedures and awarded the contracts in...

Written Answers — Export Markets: Export Markets (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government sets out clearly that Ireland's economic recovery must be export-led and commits us to achieving the maximum growth in exports. The Government has given a commitment to progressively implement the recommendations in the strategy and action plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015, entitled Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, developed by my...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: On 26 July 2011 the Government agreed a package of radical reforms to the Joint Labour Committee and Registered Employment Agreement wage settling mechanisms. The reform proposals deal with recommendations made and issues raised in the Independent Report on the JLC/REA systems (Duffy/Walsh report) as well as the outcome of the recent High Court ruling in the Grace Fried Chicken...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: Both I and the Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock, TD, continue to have meetings, as the opportunity arises, with the EU Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, with a view to building strong relationships to ensure that Ireland maximises the benefits of our position in the EU in terms of jobs and opportunities to further develop our economy. The...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 to 85, inclusive, 89 and 90 together. 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...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) reports to me on costs and other competitiveness issues in all sectors of the Irish economy through its suite of reports, including the "Costs of Doing Business in Ireland" report. The latest report on Costs of Doing Business in Ireland, published in June 2011, found that the Irish economy continued to show an improvement in its competitiveness in...

Written Answers — Trade Relations: Trade Relations (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The agreed Programme for Government sets out clearly that Ireland's economic recovery must be export-led. That Programme commits us to achieve the maximum growth in exports, including the long-term development of new markets. The Government has given a commitment to progressively implement the recommendations in the strategy and action plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (13 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: IDA is an autonomous Agency set up by statute with a mandate to attract foreign direct investment in manufacturing and internationally-traded service industries into Ireland, and to support new and existing FDI operations so as to maximise the related industrial employment, output, exports, economy expenditures including wages, and corporation tax contributions. As with all Departments and...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (13 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The National Consumer Agency received €6.105 million and €5.578 million by way of public funds in the years 2009 and 2010 respectively. Up to the end of September 2011 the Agency has received a total of €3.774 million in public funds. The Agency's total allocation for 2011 is €6.366 million. From 1st January 2011 the Agency assumed responsibility for the consumer education and...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (13 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: On 26 July 2011 the Government agreed a package of radical reforms to the Joint Labour Committee and Registered Employment Agreement wage settling mechanisms. The reform proposals deal with recommendations made and issues raised in the Independent Report on the JLC/REA systems (Duffy-Walsh report) as well as the outcome of the recent High Court ruling in the Grace Fried Chicken...

Written Answers — Wage-Setting Mechanisms: Wage-Setting Mechanisms (18 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: On 26 July 2011 the Government agreed a package of radical reforms to the Joint Labour Committee and Registered Employment Agreement wage settling mechanisms. The reform proposals deal with recommendations made and issues raised in the Independent Report on the JLC/REA systems (Duffy/Walsh report) as well as the outcome of the recent High Court ruling in the Grace Fried Chicken constitutional...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (18 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its twelfth session from 3 to 14 October 2011. The review of Ireland was held at the 7th meeting on 6 October 2011. Ireland's delegation was headed by the Minister for Justice and Equality. In the course of the Working Group's discussion any UN...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (18 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: In relation to health and safety, the position is that every worker, in every sector of the economy, is protected by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and extant statutory instruments relevant to health and safety in the workplace. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1995 contains specific definitions of employee and employer to whom the Act applies and describes the various...

Written Answers — National Standards Authority: National Standards Authority (18 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The latest European standard EN13120, which has been adopted by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), specifies strict obligations on manufacturers of looped mechanism window blinds. These obligations include the provision of a warning notice in a conspicuous position of the risks inherent from cords, chains, tape and similar items. In addition, the standard requires...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (18 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: While it is the normal practice of retail outlets to provide a receipt, there is no requirement on them to do so under current consumer legislation. There is no direct regulation accordingly of the content of retail receipts, or any requirement to display service or other charges on such receipts. The report of the Sales Law Review Group that has been published today includes a recommendation...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal: Employment Appeals Tribunal (18 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The EAT hearing in question was held on the 29 October 2010. The determination was notified on 21 December 2010. The claim in this redundancy case was allowed in the claimants favour. The payment of the redundancy is now a matter for the employer and/or the Redundancy Section in the Department of Social Protection.

Written Answers — Wage-Setting Mechanisms: Wage-Setting Mechanisms (18 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: On 26 July 2011 the Government agreed a package of radical reforms to the Joint Labour Committee and Registered Employment Agreement wage settling mechanisms. The reform proposals deal with recommendations made and issues raised in the Independent Report on the JLC/REA systems (Duffy/Walsh report) as well as the outcome of the recent High Court ruling in the Grace Fried Chicken constitutional...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (18 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I have not met with the organisation or person referred to although I have agreed to meet representatives of Inner City Enterprise ('ICE') in November, 2011. On 12 July, 2011 the Minister for Small Business John Perry TD met representatives, including Ms. Evanne Kilmurray, of Inner City Enterprise ('ICE'), in relation to re-establishment of funding for enterprise creation and self-employment...