Results 9,781-9,800 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Appeals Tribunal (16 Apr 2013)

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. Its sole function is to adjudicate on disputes on individual employment rights. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on any specific determination or award made by the Tribunal. I understand that the Tribunal made an award in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Issues (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: At a macro level the Government’s strategy is to re-build the economy and accelerate the transition to a sustainable, jobs-rich economy based on enterprise, innovation and exports. It is in this way that we will create the environment in which sustainable jobs will be created, living standards will be raised and Ireland will be regarded as an attractive location in which to live and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business Regulation (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Government recognises that small and medium sized companies are a key component of the Irish economy and the backbone of employment in Ireland. My Department and its agencies has already achieved a 25% reduction in administrative burdens on business, and continues to seek avenues to reduce burdens even further. The High Level Group on Business Regulation, which is chaired by my...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Shannon Development Companies (18 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: Kerry Technology Park, Tralee, Co Kerry is currently owned and managed by Shannon Development, in collaboration with Tralee Institute of Technology. Shannon Development, in conjunction with a number of other public and private sector organisations and individuals, provides programmes that benefit the Park and the wider community, namely the Young Entrepreneur Programme (YEP) and the Junior...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Protection (18 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 to 126, inclusive, together. I understandfrom Enterprise Ireland that the Waterford brewery will close at the end of this year with the loss of 21 jobs and that they are working with Diageo in terms of finding a replacement industry for the site. In this respect, I understand that a number of potential investments are being actively considered and I am...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (18 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for bringing this business idea to my attention. My Department has already had contact with the Deputy's correspondent. My Department has provided the Deputy's correspondent in this matter with the contact details of the relevant Development Adviser in Enterprise Ireland who is available to discuss his proposal with him and who can provide him with details of the supports...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Numbers (18 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies. Details of total employment and the number of new jobs created in IDA and Enterprise Ireland client companies in each year from 2007 to 2012 are set out in the following tabular statements. I am delighted to say that 2012 was a particularly good...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Relations Issues (18 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the issues in dispute are currently before the industrial relations machinery of the State. The system of industrial relations in Ireland is designed to help and support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences, rather than imposing a solution on the parties to an industrial dispute. The Labour Relations Commission provides a free conciliation service, in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Adviser Pay (18 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together. The following table outlines the names and salary details of the two Special Advisors appointed by me as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. There are no further Ministerial advisers appointed in my Department. Position Name Salary Scale Pay Bill for 2012 Special Adviser Mr. Ciaran Conlon €127,000 €126,562.02*...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: State Bodies Establishment (18 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: In answering the Deputy’s question I am taking State Bodies to mean State Agencies and Offices under the aegis of this Department. No new State bodies have been established under the aegis of this Department since February 2011. There is a very extensive programme of reform within the agencies and offices under my remit and, as part of those ambitious plans three new State bodies...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bank Lending (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: My Department has introduced a range of targeted initiatives to support an additional flow of credit into the economy by filling gaps where specific market failures exist. The credit guarantee scheme and the microenterprise loan fund are among those initiatives. The credit guarantee scheme has been live since 24 October and is intended to address market failure affecting commercially...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bank Lending (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I understand the Deputy's frustration but there are issues that are not dealt with by my Department. The presentation of a stimulus package, whether it be PPPs, infrastructure funds or whatever, is not the responsibility of my Department. The Deputy could table a question and receive a response from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The situation is similar with regard to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Directives (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to say that a preliminary first reading agreement was achieved on 9 April last by the Irish Presidency of the Council on the draft EU accounting directive, which we had set as a priority during the Irish Presidency and which is an important item of EU legislation. The EU Committee of Permanent Representatives approved this preliminary agreement at its meeting on 17 April, thus...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Directives (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: Absolutely. I thank the Deputy for her commendation of the officials in my Department, who have done a great deal of work. As she probably knows, painstaking work is required to get these things over the line. I will convey her remarks to my officials. It is clear that abuses have developed in this area. The NGOs have been extremely exercised about it, and rightly so. The directive...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Directives (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I will have to get back to the Deputy on the wider sectors she mentioned. I understand there has been broad-based support from the Council, the Parliament and the NGOs for what has been achieved here. One always has to get all of one's supporters together in order to get an item such as this through. I know my Department was keen to deliver this and I congratulate those involved in getting...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: A Forfás report that was published recently, Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2012, indicates that business costs have decreased significantly in recent years, with overall prices in the economy falling back to levels last experienced in 2002. This is an important report in the context of our need to continue to build an export-led recovery. It examines the relative importance of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy knows, the Government has a series of initiatives in the area of water and waste which are designed to produce a more cost-effective and efficient delivery of water and waste to the industrial sectors. The report seeks the rapid implementation of those. In the case of electricity, while the Deputy might be better tabling a question to the Minister with responsibility for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The IDA is very much aware of this and its chief executive, Mr. Barry O'Leary, has pointed out that there are now potential scarcities in respect of high-quality office space for new developments in Dublin. The issue is whether the margin is there for speculative building and whether it is willing to do that at this point. I know the IDA has, in certain cases, lodged and obtained planning...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Company Closures (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, I regret any job losses. It is an unfortunate reality that businesses can find themselves in difficulty for a wide range of reasons. The company in question was an ocean energy research project in the pre-commercialisation stage of development. The Deputy will be aware that policy responsibility for energy research falls within the remit of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Company Closures (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is raising a very large question in terms of the development of ocean energy resources which is, more properly, the area of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. As I said in my initial reply, this sector has significant potential. It is also one in which the risk is very high. When allocating funds, any State body must do so in the...