Results 8,241-8,260 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand that the Deputy is amenable to limiting his question to IT services suppliers in respect of whom expenditure in excess of €25,000 was made in any of the years in question. My Department's records indicate that, where the amount of expenditure exceeded €25,000 in respect of any one supplier and year, the amounts detailed in the table below were expended in respect of those...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I have been informed by IDA Ireland and Shannon Development that since 2007, a total of 57 site visits were made by potential investors to County Clare and the Shannon Free Zone. A breakdown of these visits, by year and location is set out in the following tabular statement. Table showing the number of site visits for potential investors arranged by Shannon Development to the Shannon Free...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 106 and 114 together. The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) monitors our competitiveness and publishes an annual report "Benchmarking Ireland's Progress". Many of the issues which have been identified by the NCC have been addressed, such as improving productivity, action on energy prices and increasing competition in the economy. Since January 2008,...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, I am directly accountable to the Oireachtas for the activities of my Department and my Department's own expenditure decisions. In that regard, together with the Ministers of State assigned to the Department, I answer Parliamentary Questions, Adjournment Debates, etc, on our Departmental policies and strategies. I also present my Department's...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Future sustainable economic growth will be based on a thriving Irish export sector characterised by innovative companies. Exports are critical both to maintaining current jobs and driving future job creation. The Government, with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland, has worked hard, not just to ensure companies survive the recession, but also to position them so they can seize the export...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: Details of jobs, including jobs lost, in agency-assisted companies in Co. Kildare between 2000 and 2009, are set out in the table. As this data is compiled on an annualised basis, figures in respect of 2010 will not be available until early in 2011. It is not possible to audit the extent to which job losses in the economy arise due to firms relocating abroad. Information received by the...

Written Answers — Carbon Tax: Carbon Tax (12 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy may be aware a number of reports, including those of the Commission on Taxation and from the ESRI, supported the introduction of a carbon tax. In introducing the carbon tax, account was taken of the existing EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), consequently those firms that participate in the ETS are relieved from the carbon tax. I understand that the carbon tax may cause some...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: The core policies and measures which underpin the Government's drive to grow exports and create sustainable jobs are outlined in the Government's "Jobs and Growth 2010" Statement, which was published in March. It is clear from this Policy Statement that the delivery of jobs and economic growth requires both direct and indirect measures. We have made sure, first of all, that the business and...

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

Batt O'Keeffe: It is not possible to audit the extent to which job losses in the economy arise due to firms relocating abroad. Information received by the enterprise development agencies from client companies which have closed plants or downsized their workforces suggests that job losses have been attributable to a range of factors including loss of contracts or a drop in demand for products, restructuring...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (13 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 its agencies, interact...

Written Answers — Property Management Companies: Property Management Companies (13 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Information regarding the status of the company referred to by the Deputy is publicly available from the Companies Registration Office (CRO). However, I understand that the relevant company remains registered with the CRO and recently filed Annual Return documents. The Multi-Unit Developments Bill, which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My salary amounts to €217,677 gross per annum. There are no staff in my Department on a comparable or higher salary. Within the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, there is only one office holder, the Director General (DG) of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), who has a remuneration package which is higher than the salary that I receive. The DG's remuneration package comprises...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is awaiting receipt of confirmation from the applicant's farm planner of compliance by the applicant with the provisions of the farm plan. Payment can be made when this confirmation is received.

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (18 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Building Ireland's Smart Economy document, published in December 2008, contained a commitment to publish a whole-of-Government response to recommendations contained in Competition Authority reports within nine months of their publication. The October 2009 review of the Programme for Government, Renewed Programme for Government, further strengthened this pledge. The recommendations made...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The table below outlines the number of whole time equivalent staff employed in the offices and agencies of this Department prior to the Moratorium (at 25th March 2009) and currently (at 17th May 2010). Office 25th March 2009 10th May 2010 Office of Director Corporate Enforcement 35.5 40.55* Companies Registration Office 124.91 108.21 Labour Relations Commission 48.4 46.5 Labour Court...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (18 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Directive 2005/29/EC on unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices has been given effect in Ireland by the Consumer Protection Act 2007. The scope of the Directive, and of the provisions of the Act that give effect to it, is confined to commercial practices by a trader that are directly connected with the promotion, sale or supply of a product to consumers. Section 8(6) of the...

Written Answers — Enterprise Stabilisation Fund: Enterprise Stabilisation Fund (18 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Enterprise Stabilisation Fund (ESF) was established by Government in 2009 as a 2-year scheme to support viable but vulnerable exporting companies experiencing difficulties because of the current economic climate. Over the lifetime of the scheme to date, 4 Cavan companies have been approved for support amounting to €1,450,000 with the result that 356 jobs have been sustained in that...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (18 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department maintains a close ongoing dialogue with the Director of Corporate Enforcement in regard to the operation of the Companies Acts to ensure that they are fit for purpose and any necessary modifications are made through the relevant legislative process as appropriate.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (18 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Companies Consolidation and Reform Bill which is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel along the lines of the General Scheme of the Companies Consolidation and Reform Bill. The proposed Bill will consolidate into a single Act, comprising more than 1,300 sections, Irish Companies Acts dating from 1963 to 2009 as well as...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (18 May 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The competent authority designated under the Market Abuse (Directive 2003/6/EC) Regulations 2005 is the Financial Regulator. I have no direct function in relation to investigations undertaken under the provisions of these Regulations.