Results 8,121-8,140 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Social Welfare Code (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: As I indicated to the House in reply to Questions Nos. 129 to 131, inclusive, from Deputy Willie O'Dea on 6 December last, I asked Forfás to examine the potential impact on competitiveness and employment of statutory sick pay, if such a scheme were to be introduced in this country. I indicated at the time that it would be premature of me to comment on the report provided to me by Forfás...

Social Welfare Code (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is well aware that Government discussions are privileged and are not made known. Where decisions of this nature occur for consideration they are rightly protected by Cabinet confidentiality and collective responsibility, which are very important. Any presentation of such a proposal will be accompanied in the usual way by a regulatory impact assessment. Whatever information is...

Social Welfare Code (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: As the Taoiseach stated last week when the Deputy's leader asked this question, absenteeism is a greater problem in the public service, which generally accounts for a relatively small proportion of PRSI. We need to examine this issue. Most small businesses do not have a sick scheme and this would be a fresh burden were it applied to them. On the other side of the discussion, the OECD shows...

Job Creation (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 42 together. The development capital scheme as outlined in the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 has been developed to complement the existing range of financial supports offered by Enterprise Ireland. Other initiatives are already in place for the provision of capital at the early stage and scaling phases and a clear market failure was identified in the...

Job Creation (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The proposal on a strategic investment bank is being studied within Government. A series of banking products are emerging from the Government, for example, the micro-finance product, the partial loan guarantee product, the development capital product and the innovation funds. We are providing products across the range of SME needs to respond to what is recognised as a market failure in the...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 32 together. The European Progress Microfinance Facility is a European Investment Fund (EIF) initiative to support entrepreneurship and employment through microfinance activities. It was established by the EU Commission in 2010. It does not directly provide microfinance to either Member States' Governments or entrepreneurs. Instead, following a...

Written Answers — Prompt Payment System: Prompt Payment System (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Since 2009, Central Government Departments have been improving their respective payment times, so as to assist the cash flow of businesses, and are obliged to pay their suppliers within 15 days of receipt of a valid invoice. This 15 day prompt payment rule was introduced by Government on an administrative basis. Departments are required to report quarterly to my Department on their...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: It is recognised in the Action Plan for Jobs that creating an indigenous engine of economic growth is central to revitalisation of the Irish economy. One of the many measures outlined in the Plan to realise this ambition is the establishment of a new Potential Exporters Division in Enterprise Ireland. The aim of the Unit is to stimulate greater activity within companies across all regions...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I am informed that the process regarding the sale of Bank of America's Irish and UK credit card businesses is ongoing. I took the opportunity of my recent visit to New York to raise the issue with the CEO of Bank of America, Brian Moynihan who confirmed this position. As I have previously indicated, there is considerable interest in both the MBNA Ireland portfolio and the MBNA UK portfolio,...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Better Regulation is an important aspect in ensuring that costs are reduced for firms. Forfás has been assigned responsibility for conducting the review of licences under Action Point 1.49 of the Action Plan for Jobs. The Table of Actions in the Annex to the Action Plan for Jobs sets out a timeframe for the review. Initial scoping of the review has commenced and draft Terms of Reference...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Job creation is at the top of the Government's agenda. Since we came into office, we have been working hard to create the improved economic conditions which will support the maintenance of existing jobs and the creation of new ones. The Action Plan for Jobs, which I launched on 13 February, outlines the Government's plan to rebuild the economy and create jobs. The plan will improve access...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: With regard to the Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme, an Operator has been selected through a public tendering process and will shortly be contracted by my Department to act as the agent for the practical oversight, management and operation of the Scheme. Primary legislation to underpin the Scheme is being urgently progressed with the Attorney General's Office, and a Credit Guarantee...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The role of Government is to create the conditions where enterprise, entrepreneurship and innovation can flourish and quality employment opportunities can be grown and maintained. Our objective is to put the country back on the road to economic recovery and full employment. The Action Plan for Jobs, which I launched a fortnight ago, outlines the Government's plan to rebuild the economy and...

Written Answers — Pharmaceutical Patents: Pharmaceutical Patents (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. I am aware that a series of major patents will expire in the coming year and that patent expiry can result in reduced selling prices for pharmaceutical companies. Manufacturing location decisions are rarely made on a single product basis, however, and companies also consider factors such as quality, safety, competence, costs and tax. In...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to delivering a Health Innovation Hub to drive collaboration between the health system and enterprise leading to the development and commercialisation of new health care technologies. This is identified as an action in the Action Plan for Jobs and discussions have begun between my Department and the Department of Health with the relevant agencies on this matter. At...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: My Department processes applications in respect of the different types of employment permits and all applications are processed in line with the Employment Permits Act 2006. It is current Government policy to issue new employment permits only in respect of: · highly skilled, highly paid positions or; · non-EEA nationals who are already legally resident in the State on valid employment...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: International benchmarking statistics reveal that Ireland imposes a relatively low burden of regulation on business. The Forfás Competitiveness Scoreboard 2011 states that Ireland's regulatory environment is one of the least restrictive in the OECD in relation to product market regulation, the time taken to comply with tax payments is one of the lowest in the OECD across all categories and...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Job creation is at the top of the Government's agenda. Since we came into office, we have been working hard to create the improved economic conditions which will support the maintenance of existing jobs and the creation of new ones. Our objective is to put the country back on the road to economic recovery and full employment. The Action Plan for Jobs, which I launched on 13 February,...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 29 together. The Action Plan for Jobs has set a target of supporting the creation of 100,000 net new jobs over the period 2012 to 2016. Even in good times, businesses close and jobs are lost, so a significantly larger number of new jobs will need to be generated on a gross basis over the period in question to achieve our target. These jobs will be...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (29 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, who has policy responsibility for the Illness Benefit scheme, held a consultative meeting recently to discuss the feasibility and potential impacts of introducing a Statutory Sick Pay scheme in Ireland. This was very much a first step in considering a range of issues that need to be examined in detail before any proposals can be...