Results 8,741-8,760 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Ireland remains a very open and welcoming country for non-Irish nationals in our Labour Force. Quarter 1 2012 labour market statistics show there are 274,000 non-Irish nationals in our labour force of just over 2 million. Ireland remains a very attractive location for Foreign Direct Investment. Favourable demographics and consistent investment in education ensure a plentiful supply of highly...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The matter referred to by the Deputy is essentially concerned with the operation of the payments system and the current difficulties being experienced by consumers and businesses alike. Regulatory responsibility in relation to the national payments system lies with the Central Bank. The Deputy will be aware that the Central Bank is actively engaged with the financial institution concerned...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal: Employment Appeals Tribunal (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Employment Appeals Tribunal is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in its day to day operations. However, having made enquiries, I understand that the Tribunal has already issued notices of hearing to the parties and that the hearing is scheduled to take place on 1st August 2012 in Naas. The Employment Appeals Tribunal has seen a...

Written Answers — Youth Enterprise Initiatives: Youth Enterprise Initiatives (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The role of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to develop indigenous potential and stimulate economic activity at a local level primarily through the provision of financial and technical support for the development of small and micro-enterprises that employ less than ten people. Encouraging and promoting a youth enterprise culture is an important area of activity for the...

Written Answers — Youth Unemployment: Youth Unemployment (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Youth unemployment initiatives are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science. I am in the process of introducing a Microfinance Loan Fund, which has a significant entrepreneurship focus, for all would-be entrepreneurs including young entrepreneurs who are unemployed. Loans will be made available to start-up, newly established, or growing microenterprises,...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Minister for Small Business, John Perry, chairs the Advisory Group on Small Business. This group published the Voice of Small Business Report in 2011, which was submitted to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Employment as the recommended small business actions for consideration in the Action Plan for Jobs. The Voice of Small Business contains fifty-seven actions across twelve broad...

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: There is close strategic alignment across Government in both identifying and responding to the skills needs of highly globalised and competitive industries operating in Ireland. The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) advises the Irish Government on current and future skills needs of the economy and on other labour market issues that impact on Ireland's enterprise and employment...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: There are no plans to introduce a Government-guaranteed export credit insurance scheme for cattle exports to these or other countries. The Government's position on the wider issue of export credit insurance generally has been informed by the findings of the 2009 report commissioned by my Department from KPMG consultants. That report established that the introduction of a general scheme...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Proposals for inclusion in any growth and stimulus package at EU level will be a matter for consideration by the Government in the context of the Budgetary process. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on any specific proposals that may be formulated for the Government's consideration in that context.

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: In the context of the Action Plan for Job, the Competition Authority has been asked to identify any sheltered areas of the economy where competition is restricted. On foot of this work by the Authority, I have commissioned it to carry out a market study on competition in port services. I expect to receive the Authority's report in 2013. Over the past number of years the Competition...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006 allow for the issuing of employment Permits. It is current Government policy to issue new employment permits in respect of jobs requiring key skills and where there is a recognised scarcity of suitably skilled workers. I am happy that the Employment Permits procedure as it is currently constituted both protects the Irish labour market and ensures...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Workers at the Lagan Brick factory in Kingscourt, Co Cavan have been involved in a protest outside the company's premises in a dispute over the decision by the company to close its operation on 15 December last with the loss of 29 jobs. The union wanted to retain maximum employment at the plant and secure satisfactory redundancy terms for any workers that would lose their jobs. Subsequently,...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Protection of Employment Act 1977 (as amended) sets down certain requirements that must be followed where an employer proposes to create collective redundancies and it contains penalties for five distinct breaches of the Act. These allow for fines of up to €5,000 for four of the five penalties, including where there has been a failure to initiate consultations or supply employees'...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The High Court appointed a provisional liquidator to the company concerned on 6 June last. The assets, goodwill and undertaking of the business were advertised for sale on 8 June. However, one of the powers given by the Court to the liquidator was to grant a license to continue to trade in the short term. A license agreement was concluded between the liquidator and a new company on 7 June....

Written Answers — Consumers Association of Ireland: Consumers Association of Ireland (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I recently met with the Consumers Association of Ireland which apprised me of its current financial position. The Association also raised the possibility of future exchequer support. I advised the Association that, notwithstanding difficulties it may be experiencing in managing its finances, exchequer support could only be considered where the expending of public funds would represent value...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Since assuming office in March 2011, seven Bills have been published by my Department: · Patents (Amendment) Bill 2011 · Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011 · Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011 · Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2011 · Credit Guarantee Bill 2012 · Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 · Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012 Of...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I can advise the Deputy that my Department adheres to central guidelines that have been developed by the Department of the Taoiseach in respect of the conduct of Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) of primary legislation. Most recently, in June 2009, the Department of the Taoiseach published revised guidelines on how to conduct a Regulatory Impact Analysis. The guidelines include guidance on...

Written Answers — Copyright Infringement: Copyright Infringement (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I understand that it has been clarified with the Deputy by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who have responsibility in internet matters, that the regulations to which the Deputy refers are the European Union (Copyright and Related Rights) Regulations 2012. It is a requirement in EU law that an injunction may be sought against an intermediary to whom Article...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Since my appointment as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, I have had ongoing regular contact with IDA Ireland at both Board and executive level. As recently as last week, I met with both the CEO of IDA, and jointly with senior managers within the IDA and EI. As you know the Action Plan for Jobs has set a target of supporting the creation of 100,000 net new jobs over the period...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (11 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: As I have said on previous occasions, the Government does not create jobs, successful businesses and entrepreneurs do. The role of Government is to create a supportive operating environment where business can grow and create and maintain jobs. In this context, my Department's Mission is to support the creation of good jobs by promoting the development of a competitive business environment...