Results 8,361-8,380 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Corporate Governance: Corporate Governance (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I note the findings of this report. As regards listed companies (those on the main market of the Irish Stock Exchange), these are subject to the provisions of the Combined Code which applies on a "comply or explain" basis. The code has recently been reviewed and revised in light of the financial crisis. The revised code recommends that all directors of such companies should be subject to...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The October 2009 Renewed Programme for Government committed the Government to act on recommendations contained in Competition Authority reports within nine months of their publication. The recommendations made by the Competition Authority result from studies it carries out on various sectors or professions at regular intervals and usually contain a suite of recommendations, aimed at improving...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government has taken decisive action in order to get credit flowing again. The Bank Guarantee Scheme, the 2009 Recapitalisation Scheme, the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank and the establishment of the National Assets Management Agency have all contributed to the stabilisation of the banking sector with a view to facilitating the flow of credit. The 2010 Recapitalisation package...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Under the Companies Acts every company is required to file an Annual Return with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). The filing of this return ensures transparency for all interested parties conducting business with a company. Almost 85% of companies now have a current return filed with the CRO compared with 13% of companies in 1997 filing an annual return on time. The CRO has...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to report that the outcome of the meeting was extremely positive. The takeover company has committed to investments already planned by the acquired company and this investment programme will be implemented over the next two years. Agreements have been reached with all key employee groups at locations in Dublin and Kerry regarding a redundancy programme which will reduce the...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The commitment referred to covers a wide range of support services and grants provided through a number of different Departments, including my Department, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and through their respective agencies. Insofar as my Department and its enterprise...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Competitiveness Council's report, "Benchmarking Ireland's Performance", provides a comprehensive assessment of Ireland's competitiveness on an annual basis. Our competitiveness is derived from a complex set of factors, not all of which are within our control. The factors with the greatest influence on our competitiveness are costs, productivity and exchange rates with our trade...

Written Answers — Prompt Payments System: Prompt Payments System (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: In accordance with the Government's decision of 19 May 2009, all Departments are required to pay their business suppliers within 15 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Departments are also required to report quarterly to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation on their performance in meeting the target. Composite details of the information received are published by my Department....

Written Answers — Credit Supply Clearing Group: Credit Supply Clearing Group (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Credit Supply Clearing Group was established in May 2009, with bank, business and State representation. The Group is responsible for identifying patterns of events where the flow of credit to viable businesses appears to be blocked and for seeking to identify credit supply solutions relating to these patterns. The Group works to provide a clear picture of any emerging lending patterns...

Written Answers — Corporate Governance: Corporate Governance (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The remarks attributed to the Minister for Finance in the interview in question would, no doubt, have been made with the banking sector in particular in mind. Policy responsibility for the banking sector is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance. In this regard, the Deputy may be aware that the Central Bank and the Financial Regulator have launched a consultation paper recently...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: 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 by including a specific...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Enterprise Ireland activity in County Monaghan is focussed on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs in manufacturing and internationally traded services companies, the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies and in enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level. With this in mind, Enterprise Ireland is working closely with...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (16 Jun 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 Review Group's Report at the conclusion of its 2008-2009 Work Programme and I am considering its recommendations in the context of the drafting by the Office of the...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The "Jobs and Growth 2010" policy statement, which was published in March, brings together the Government's key strategies for growth, economic renewal and the development of a sustainable, internationally trading enterprise base for the creation of jobs. The Strategy focuses on the policies and actions which are being taken in a number of critical areas. It has at its heart policies...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards provide support to indigenous micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases by both financial and non-financial assistance. In 2009, the CEBs assisted the micro-enterprise sector through the provision of €10.365 million in grant assistance to 1,120 client projects. In addition, the Boards also provided 25,819 client participants with a...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The administrative procedures relating to the establishment of Companies is under the remit of my Department and is the responsibility of the Companies Registration Office (CRO). The CRO processed over 380,000 statutorily required documents in 2009 of which 13,320 were new company registrations. The customer service target deadlines of five, ten and fifteen working days for the three...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: While the takeover of Wyeth by Pfizer was only recently completed, IDA Ireland had maintained close contact with senior Pfizer and Wyeth personnel both in Ireland and in the company's corporate HQ in order to minimise the negative impact any rationalisation decisions could have on the Irish operations. IDA Ireland kept me informed of their discussions. Details of the impact on Pfizer's...

Written Answers — INTERREG Funding: INTERREG Funding (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As a result of discussions that I had with Minister Arlene Foster, my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland have agreed on the need to develop a joint proposal for submission to the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) for funding under the Enterprise Theme of the Interreg IVA Programme, and have asked Invest Northern Ireland (NI) and Enterprise...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Covidien informed IDA on 25th May that they would be seeking redundancies for 160 permanent staff on a voluntary basis and the loss of 40 temporary workers, which will be on a phased timescale, commencing in late June-July. These job losses will bring total headcount down to 400. The company cited increased competition from new, low-cost competitors and a decline in the overall Europe,...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (16 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: In response to the announcement of redundancies in Quinn Insurance, I established an inter-agency team comprising Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the relevant County Enterprise Boards, FÁS and the Department of Social Protection. The Inter Agency response team held its first meeting in Cavan on Friday 30 April and has met on four other occasions since. Prior to the establishment of the...