Results 9,081-9,100 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Appeals Tribunal (9 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in its day to day operations. It is long established practice that Ministers do not get involved with its adjudication function. However, having made enquiries, I understand that the EAT received a redundancy claim from the person concerned on 31 July, 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Programme for Government Implementation (9 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I would like to draw the Deputy’s attention to the publication in March 2012 of the first Annual Report setting out progress on the implementation of the Programme for Government and the intention by Government to publish the second annual report next March which will set out specific progress on implementation during the second year. Details of the progress to date for each of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Statistics (9 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Forfás Annual Employment survey reports on jobs gained and lost in companies supported by the enterprise development agencies. Details of the number of jobs gained and lost in IDA client companies in the 10 year period 2002 to 2011 are shown in the attached tabular statement. Figures for 2012 will not be available until year end. At the end of 2011 there were 12 IDA Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Schemes (9 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: Officials in my Department are working on the final arrangements in conjunction with the participating banks and the Operator of the Scheme, Capita Assets Services, and the scheme launch is imminent. I have made, with the consent of my colleagues the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, a necessary scheme under section 5 of the Act. The Scheme, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Services Provision (9 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to the reform of the State’s Workplace Relations Services. The Reform Programme, which I announced in July, 2011, will among other matters, address a number of criticisms levelled over the years at the existing system. These include: - Five organisations with overlapping, but completely separate, objectives and operations. - Claims are often referred to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Applications (9 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: Irish labour market policy is to ensure that general labour and skills needs are met from within the workforce of the EEA (comprising of the Member States of the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). Current Government policy is to issue employment permits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response to employer demand for strategic skills/labour...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Prices (10 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Keaveney for raising the issue of the relationship between the various stakeholders in the food supply chain, which has been the subject of much debate not just in Ireland but across Europe for some time. As the Deputy indicated, there is a sense that there is an imbalance of power between suppliers and the substantial retail chains. At national level, suppliers and...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Prices (10 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I take Deputy Keaveney's point. We have a number of instruments in our armoury such as the rules concerning abusive dominance to prevent a dominant market player who uses certain practices. Cartels are not permitted to collude against the interests of suppliers. We propose to introduce a code of fair practice to govern dealings between suppliers and retailers. We are not seeking to remove...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (10 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Department and its Agencies are extremely diligent and careful in their management and allocation of taxpayer monies in the support of different enterprise objective. The drawdown of exchequer monies through the Enterprise Development Agencies of my Department is based on commitments made in a given year and projected draw-downs against those commitments in the year in question. It must...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Legal Costs (10 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I can advise the Deputy that, in so far as it is possible to give an estimate at this point of the amount that will be incurred by my Department and its offices by way of legal costs in 2012, this is likely to be in the region of €1m. This is based on current knowledge and does not include, for instance, any legal proceedings that might be instigated between now and year end 2012, any...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (11 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: Funding of Town Councils is not an area of responsibility that falls within my Department’s remit but would fall within the aegis of my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The allocation of funding by the Agencies under the remit of my Department is a day-to-day administrative matter for the Agencies for which I have no direct function....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Grocery Industry Competition (11 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to enact legislation to regulate certain practices in the grocery goods sector. I intend to give effect to this commitment by including an enabling provision in the legislation currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, which will allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Proposed Legislation (11 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently preparing new legislation, the purpose of which will be to consolidate and streamline the Employment Permits Act 2003 and the Employment Permits Act 2006. It is anticipated this legislation will: - update provisions for the employment permits schemes in line with policy and economic developments since 2007; - provide the flexibility to deal with changing labour...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Proposed Legislation (11 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently preparing new legislation, the purpose of which will be to streamline the Employment Permits Act 2003 and the Employment Permits Act 2006. It is anticipated this legislation will: - update provisions for the employment permits schemes in line with policy and economic developments since 2007; - provide the flexibility to deal with changing labour market, work...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The person in question may wish to contact her local County Enterprise Board (CEB) to discuss what options may be available to her and her proposed business venture. Contact details for the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards can be found on . The CEBs can provide both financial and/or non-financial assistance to a project promoter where eligible. However, whilst not all businesses will...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Sector Staff Career Breaks (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285, 296 and 297 together. There are currently 39 staff of my Department availing of a Career Break Scheme, five of whom are currently on the Special Incentive Career Break Scheme, these are categorised by grade as follows: Grade Number Assistant Principal 1 Administrative Officer 2 Higher Executive Officer 1 Executive Officer 12 Clerical Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices Establishment (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: Micro and small businesses are a crucial part of our economy. Ensuring that more micro and small businesses can start up, expand and export is a key pillar of our plans for jobs and growth. That is why the Government has decided to implement an ambitious reform in the delivery of service to small and micro business. This will include: The development of a new Small and Micro Business Division...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: In 2011, the cost to my Department and its Offices of implementing the Official Languages Act 2003 amounted to €48,424. Costs incurred by the Agencies under my Department’s remit in terms of compliance with the Official Languages Act 2003 is a day-to-day administrative matter for the Agencies for which I have no direct function. However, I have referred the Question to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: Legislation is critical in terms of protecting workers and providing a base level of protection. However, in general, conditions of employment in excess of statutory entitlements are determined by negotiation and agreement between employers and employees or a trade union acting on their behalf. There are already in place a range of statutory entitlements aimed at supporting the goals of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The decision to locate the flagship Global Technology and Innovation Centre in Naas, Co. Kildare, to serve its global and regional customers in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Region, was taken by the Kerry Group. I understand from Enterprise Ireland that the agency during its meetings with the Kerry Group on the potential location of the Global Technology and Innovation Centre,...