Results 8,761-8,780 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (9 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am presuming that the Deputy is referring to the State Bodies that come under the remit of my Department, which, as it happens, are all non-commercial bodies. In this respect, the position with regard to the Annual Reports for the Agencies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table: Agency Annual Report 2007 Annual Report 2008 Annual Report 2009 Rec'd (Y/N) Laid(Y/N)...

National Minimum Wage: Motion (14 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. The national recovery plan presents a detailed strategy to drive economic recovery, restore stability to the public finances, improve our international cost competitiveness and provide the necessary support to our enterprise sector. The Government's priority is to ensure that the business environment continues to be supportive of...

National Minimum Wage: Motion (14 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Fine Gael wants a 3:1 ratio of spending cuts to tax increases, while the Labour Party favours a 50:50 split. While the Labour Party set out a €6 billion target in its pre-budget submission-----

National Minimum Wage: Motion (14 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: -----the Labour Party favours a net adjustment of €4.5 billion. Fine Gael has produced a four year plan but the Labour Party has plans only for next year. Fine Gael wants to cut public sector numbers by 30,000, which is twice the Labour Party target. If the parties opposite cannot agree on these fundamentals, their ability to form consensus and take tough decisions in government is at...

National Minimum Wage: Motion (14 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: For that reason, I commend the Government's motion to the House.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The amount of money spent by me and my predecessors during the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010 on refreshments for meetings and functions, including sandwiches, teas and coffees and bottled water is outlined in the tabular statement below. 2008 2009 2010 to date Minister Batt O'Keeffe NIL NIL €259(From 25/3/2010 to end Nov 2010) Tánaiste Mary Coughlan €447(From 8/5/2008 to...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (14 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Two appointments were made since 22 November, 2010, as follows: 1. An Order re-appointing Mr Kevin Duffy as Chairman of the Labour Court for a further period of 3.5 years, with effect from 21 December 2010, was signed on 23 November, 2010. The remuneration for the post is €164,464 p.a., and Mr Duffy may claim for any relevant travel and subsistence at standard Civil Service rates. He also...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (14 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 to 342, inclusive, together. The Investment Aid for SMEs Scheme is available in the non assisted regions of Ireland. It is not applicable to undertakings in Waterford which is in an assisted region and therefore qualifies for investment aid under the Regional Aid Map for Ireland 2007-2013 approved by the European Commission. Enterprise Ireland and IDA...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (14 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The collection of taxes, including Corporation Tax, is not monitored by the enterprise development agencies under the aegis of my Department. All issues in relation to Corporation Tax are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. The employment figures available to my Department are those in respect of firms assisted by the State Development agencies - IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (14 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The role of my Department is to ensure that we have the right policies in place to support and grow our enterprise base in order to facilitate job creation. The State Development agencies under the aegis of my Department – Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, are continuing to drive and promote enterprise development, and consequently employment creation in our economy. Budget 2011 saw €508...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (14 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Following an application by Enterprise Ireland (EI), planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanala on September 27th 2010, for a new vehicular entrance to their site on Old Finglas Road, Dublin 11. The purpose of this new vehicular entrance and associated works is to facilitate the continued operation of the National Metrology Laboratory of Ireland, (NML) as a stand alone entity, on the...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (15 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand from Enterprise Ireland that, at this point in time, no active enquiries are known to the agency regarding the facility concerned. The agency will continue to assist the company concerned in finding a replacement business for the facility. Boyle Chamber of Commerce was approved funding for the construction of an Enterprise Centre. In 2009 the Chamber advised that work on their...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (15 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Retail Price (Diesel and Petrol) Display Order, 1997 obliges retail outlets selling diesel and petrol products to display the price per litre being charged to the consumer. The Order requires that prices be displayed in a manner which is legible and visible from the side of the road nearest to the premises from which the commodities concerned are being sold. The National Consumer Agency...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (16 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The following table sets out the appointments made to State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation between 1 June 2010 and 16 December 2010. Board No of Appointments Science Foundation Ireland 2 IDA Ireland 1 Shannon Free Airport Development Co Ltd. 2 Personal Injuries Assessment Board 1 Forfás 1 Enterprise Ireland 2 National Standards Authority...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (16 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The role of the County and City Enterprise Boards is to provide support for micro-enterprise (business not employing more than 10 people) in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate entrepreneurship at local level. As enterprise support agencies the interaction of the County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) with their local...

Written Answers — Credit Supply Clearing Group: Credit Supply Clearing Group (16 Dec 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 — National Entrepreneurial Strategy: National Entrepreneurial Strategy (16 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The critical role of entrepreneurship is fully recognised by Government. The Government's priority is to create the best business environment for innovative entrepreneurs to do what they do best – turning ideas into products and services that will compete internationally with the world's best. The needs of entrepreneurs are addressed in the analysis and recommendations contained in my...

Written Answers — Green Enterprise: Green Enterprise (16 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The High Level Group on Green Enterprise published its report, Developing the Green Economy in Ireland, in November 2009. The report included 55 recommendations which the Group considered important to enable Ireland to maximise the opportunities afforded by the Green Economy. One year on from the publication of the report, a significant number of the recommendations have been implemented to...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (16 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The total funding allocated to the Employment Subsidy Scheme (Temporary) in 2010 was €114.5 million and to date in 2010, €93.959 million has been drawn down. The Employment Subsidy Scheme (Temporary) was launched in August 2009. Companies who applied under the first call of the Scheme (ESS1) were approved in 2009 and companies who applied under the second call of the Scheme (ESS2) were...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 contains a commitment "to introduce significantly improved performance management across all Public Service areas, and following the current review, the Performance Management and Development System will be strengthened with promotion and incremental progression linked in all cases to performance and the implementation of appropriate systems to address...