Results 8,201-8,220 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Job Losses (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy attended a meeting yesterday evening. He was in the presence of the Taoiseach during which the issues of aid and the independence of the regulator were raised. It is not expedient for the Government to appoint an independent regulator to ensure companies and groups are subject to financial regulation and then interfere in the process. Is that what the Deputy is suggesting?

Job Losses (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy has had his say. He should let me finish.

Job Losses (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy was present when it was made quite clear by the Taoiseach last night that the Government cannot become involved in State aid to a private company. The Deputy is also aware that the Government could not become involved in State aid to Waterford Glass when that issue surfaced. Where required, the Government has given a guarantee to the regulator in the UK-----

Job Losses (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: -----when it came to policies within our remit.

Job Losses (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy is well aware that we have done everything possible to extend car insurance and now we are making every effort-----

Job Losses (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I welcome Deputy Crawford's positive approach. It is important to acknowledge that this is an outstanding company and that the people losing their jobs are of the highest calibre. We must do everything possible to assist them. We should also keep in mind that 1,900 people are still employed by the company and that the administrators are confident these jobs can be sustained and hopefully...

Proposed Legislation (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 80 together. 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. At the time the merger of the two bodies was announced, as part of the rationalisation plan for State agencies during the 2009 Budget Statement, work on a...

Proposed Legislation (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. I am sure he will help me along my way. On the question of ministerial appointments, the Deputy will have to put down a question to the Taoiseach. All such decisions are his prerogative. By merging the two bodies in question we can produce a stronger entity, but there is no point in doing so unless the new body has teeth and the ability to implement...

Proposed Legislation (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: On the question of savings, I advise Deputy Penrose that both bodies are operating at staffing levels below what would have originally been sanctioned. The NCA has 39.4 whole-time equivalents - WTEs - and 80 were sanctioned. The Competition Authority has 43.2 WTEs and 59 were sanctioned. I anticipate that the staff complement of the new merged body will be less than the posts allocated to...

Proposed Legislation (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Deputy Morgan for his good wishes. In response to Deputy Crawford's question, I hope that with the appointment of John Travers, we can put in a voluntary code of practice. That can be converted into an absolute code of practice enshrined in law. I hope that if we can get the co-operation of both sides under the chairmanship of Mr. Travers, there will be a fruitful outcome on what...

Proposed Legislation (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: We will make the code mandatory if necessary.

Written Answers — Grocery Sector: Grocery Sector (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the Renewed Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to "implement a Code of Practice for doing business in the Grocery Goods sector to develop a fair trading relationship between retailers and their suppliers" and "to review progress of the Code and if necessary to put in place a mandatory code". The Government will give effect to this commitment...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Jobs and economic growth are about direct and indirect measures. My Department and the state agencies have a role to play in both directly supporting business and ensuring that the policies pursued across Government are consistent and support our overall national objectives of reducing unemployment, regional development and building the smart economy. My Department and it's agencies,...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government is working hard to sustain and create jobs all over the country by creating a business environment that is supportive of enterprise. The enterprise development agencies play a key role in stimulating the development of new businesses, facilitating the expansion of existing companies, and targeting new foreign direct investment through a broad range of initiatives. Since 2008,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the name of my Department was officially changed on 2 May last. The estimated costs associated with this name change are anticipated to be in the region of €10,000. This includes the costs of stationery, signage and changes to my Department's website. Every effort has been made to keep these costs, which will be provided from within my Department's existing...

Written Answers — Job Initiative: Job Initiative (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the second call for the Employment Subsidy Scheme (Temporary), 2,590 applications were received. Following an assessment process, 1,241 companies have been approved. A breakdown of all applicants and of successful applicants by employee size is given in the following tabular statement. Breakdown of all applicants and successful applicants under Employment Subsidy Scheme (Temporary)...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Since January 2008, Ireland has regained competitiveness as domestic inflation remains below that of our main trading partners and the euro weakened – in February 2010, Ireland's real harmonised competitiveness indicator (HCI) was back to its January 2005 position. Improving our relative cost competitiveness requires the cost of doing business in Ireland to fall relative to that of our...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: In accordance with Section 70(1) of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001, the Company Law Review Group's (CLRG) Work Programme is assigned by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation every two years. I have received the Report of the Review Group on its 2008-2009 Work Programme. Following consideration by the Government, the Report will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas....

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 85 together. The development of Ireland as an Innovation Hub is a key priority of the Government's economic recovery framework. The Innovation Taskforce has put forward a road map to make Ireland: the best place in Europe to turn research and knowledge into products and services; the best place in Europe to start and grow an innovative company; the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I assume that the Deputy is referring to amending the Competition Act 2002 to facilitate negotiations between the Minister for Health and Children and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO). The issue of amending the Competition Act 2002 to facilitate such negotiations is being examined in the context of the Consumer and Competition Bill, which I hope to publish later this year. This Bill...