Results 8,381-8,400 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Manufacturing Sector (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: Ireland has built a strong reputation for quality and efficiency in a range of areas of the manufacturing sector, which employs more than 158,000 people in direct full-time jobs and the same number again in indirect employment. This sector is a key part of our economic recovery, growth and job creation strategies. Manufacturing in Ireland spans a wide range of sectors. We have particular...

Manufacturing Sector (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: A number of immediate actions are being taken. We have commissioned a report from Forfás on the manufacturing sector which will focus specifically on the issues that have been raised by the Deputy, including future skills deficits, research and development needs and the adequacy of our technological support. When we prioritised research expenditure, we identified the segments of high value...

Manufacturing Sector (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is not correct. There are always elements of sectors that rise and fall. If the Deputy is pronouncing the end of ICT as a driver of change in our economy, I could not agree with him. The IT sector is here to stay and there are huge opportunities therein. There are massive skills shortages and job opportunities that could be availed of. The IT sector is one in which Ireland has...

Manufacturing Sector (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: Absolutely. Manufacturing comprises a sector. All the sectors have a mix of indigenous and foreign-owned companies, which is very often their strength. The medical devices sector comprises a perfect example. We have some wonderful international manufacturing companies but, equally, we have built a seedbed with NUIG around Galway that is developing many young indigenous companies at the...

Job Creation (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 19 together. The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and I were able to report last Friday, in the first quarterly progress report on the implementation of the action plan for jobs, that 96%, or 80 out of 83 measures which were scheduled to be completed in quarter 1, were delivered. I regard this as a significant achievement for the Government and an indication of its...

Job Creation (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: We are not seeking to be judges in our own cause but to be open and accountable. We are saying what we plan to deliver and we are publishing this information on a quarterly basis. The Deputy has access to the same amount of data as I do.

Job Creation (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: We are seeking to mobilise the public service across government. Fifteen Departments and 36 agencies have contributed. Not only have they said they would take action but they are willing to put their names up in lights and state they will be held to account for what they are doing. This is new for the public service. In the numerous strategies published in the past, including the health...

Job Creation (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is free to look at it. The implementation of a particular initiative has stages. With regard to the partial loan guarantee, one publishes a Bill on a certain date and has it passed on a certain date. We are willing to commit to the publication date of the Bill and we commit to delivering by quarters. The Deputy, who has been around this House for nearly as long as I have, will...

Job Creation (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: When we came into office there was no microfinance fund. It was drawn down for the First Step programme.

Job Creation (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: The State cannot draw that down. It must set up an independent arm to draw it down which is the microfinance proposal we are developing. In the action plan for jobs we have committed for a date for it going live. We have also made a commitment on when the heads of the Bill and the subsequent legislation will be published. The Government is fronting up and stating these are target dates...

Job Creation (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Taoiseach is at the centre of this. He chairs the Cabinet sub-committee and has a unit in his Department that monitors progress. If the Taoiseach asks a Minister or a senior official why they have not delivered on a programme or target to which they are committed, they tend to respond. They say biting with the president's teeth. The most effective accountability, as we have seen in...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are the only economic development agencies for which I have responsibility who have offices outside of the island of Ireland. Shannon Development and County Enterprise Boards have domestic offices only. Each of these Agencies publishes an Annual Report and Accounts which outline the income and expenditure of the Agencies and give breakdowns of their various...

Written Answers — Competition Law: Competition Law (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: In July 2011 the Government approved the draft heads of the Consumer and Competition Bill giving, inter alia, effect to the recommendations of the Advisory Group in full with two amendments: o one sees the change in relevant Minister for such public interest considerations from the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the Minster for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources,...

Written Answers — Competition Law: Competition Law (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Competition Authority is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition law in the State. Section 29 (3) of the Competition Act 2002 provides that the Authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Under section 30(1)(b) of that Act, the Competition Authority is responsible for investigating alleged breaches of the Act. As investigations and...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: Supporting new and existing indigenous and foreign-owned businesses, across all regions, is central to our plans for recovery, growth and jobs. The Action Plan for Jobs contains a number of measures which are aimed specifically at the facilitation and incentivisation of national enterprise development from start-ups to growth companies. It also sets out measures that will enhance linkages...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 31 and 52 together. Vodafone Ireland announced on 22 March that it had completed a review of the company's contracted mobile call-centre operations. As a result of this review, the company adopted a new model for its mobile customer care, resulting in a move to a new provider, Teleperformance. Vodafone Ireland and Rigney Dolphin have entered a six-week...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: Industrial action by 110 workers at the Irish Cement production plants at Platin, Co Meath and Castlemungret, Co. Limerick began on 3rd April last. I understand that the Labour Court's most recent Recommendation of January 2012 in relation to this dispute was the culmination of a protracted dialogue between the company and the group of unions representing the workers on restructuring issues...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise Ireland has an established Performance Development system for all staff working in the agency and as part of this process objectives are set out for staff to be achieved in their specific role and in an agreed timeframe. The agency itself has key organisation targets and outputs, including delivery of the specific tasks in the Action Plan for Jobs in the timelines agreed. The key...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: There are two major elements to the Government's response to unemployment – the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. The goal of the Action Plan for Jobs is to support the creation of new jobs in the economy, while the aim of Pathways to Work is to help to ensure that as many of those jobs as possible are filled by people from the Live Register. Both documents are fundamentally...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (26 Apr 2012)

Richard Bruton: Water metering and water charges for business have been in place for a number of years. The process enables businesses to contribute towards the cost of water provision, as well as providing them with a mechanism to monitor and control their water usage and reduce waste of the resource. Current proposals in relation to the introduction of domestic water metering should not impact negatively...