Results 9,901-9,920 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (7 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) have been to the forefront in delivering training programmes to small businesses in all sectors on topics related to the internet covering email to online engagement with customers and much more. CEBs run locally-arranged training on topics such as: ‘ICT Essentials for SMEs’, ‘Social Media for Your Business’,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Proposed Legislation (8 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: In its various forms, Crowdfunding allows entrepreneurs and SMEs to solicit capital from funders, using social networks and crowdfunding platforms to finance their businesses and projects. It appears to be affording real opportunities in the area of alternative finance for SMEs. Use of the mechanism appears to have seen substantial growth globally in the recent past and it is seen by many...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Microenterprise Loan Fund Application Numbers (8 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of applications received and loans approved under the Microenterprise Loan Fund from 1 October 2012 to 31 March 2013 from counties Laois, Offaly, Kildare and Westmeath is set out in the table. Microfinance Ireland 1 October 2012 - 31 March 2013 - Applications Received Loans Approved Work in progress at 31 March 2013 Declined...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review and Audit of Licences (8 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Forfás report on “The Review and Audit of Licences” recommended the introduction of an integrated licensing system. The Government considers this project to be of significant importance and has positioned it as one of the Disruptive Reforms in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013. Such an integrated licensing system, which will streamline the licensing application process,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Microenterprise Loan Fund Applications (8 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am aware that there are concerns about the cost of finance across the economy, including from Microfinance Ireland (MFI). MFI was established as a private limited company with a Board of Directors. The Directors set the interest rate to be charged on loans under the Scheme 8.8% taking into account a number of factors including: prevailing market interest rates, the economic environment,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: County and City Enterprise Boards Reform (8 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEB) restructuring project is the first radical reform of the system for the delivery of State support to micro and small businesses since the establishment of the CEBs twenty years ago. In the meantime, there have been many changes to the social, economic and technological landscape of Ireland. It is incumbent on Government to ensure that State supports...

Topical Issue Debate: Enterprise Support Schemes (9 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The issue of funding for early start-ups is one in which my Department takes a very keen interest. Enterprise Ireland is the largest funder in Europe of seed capital to start-ups and has 800 companies in its portfolio. It invests through a mixture of different types of seed capital arrangement, including preference shares or, more often, through joint holdings with venture funds....

Topical Issue Debate: Enterprise Support Schemes (9 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: One of the initiatives in the action plan for jobs is to examine whether the Irish Stock Exchange can be a vehicle for exit. There can be an initial public offering, IPO, in which the company places a certain number of its shares on the open market for subscription. This provides an exit to the venture fund, but it is rare in Ireland and in Europe. Ireland and the EU are looking at making...

Topical Issue Debate: Workplace Safety (9 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The recent collapse of a building in Dhaka that housed a number of garment factories was a tragedy resulting in the loss of more than 900 lives. Today we learned of a fire in another clothing factory in Dhaka in which at least eight people have lost their lives. We all share a sense of shock at these events and wish to extend our sympathies to all who lost family members and loved ones....

Topical Issue Debate: Workplace Safety (9 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: Ireland is working through the international organisations of which we are a member. Two distinct approaches are being adopted. One is the instrument developed with the help of the ILO, the Bangladesh national tripartite plan of action on fire safety in the ready-made garment industry, which followed an accident in 2012. It was supported by the ILO, on foot of which the mission was...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (9 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together. The term "au-pair" is not defined in Irish employment rights legislation. A genuine au pair placement falls outside the scope of the employer-employee relationship and, therefore, I do not have any statistics on au pairs. Accordingly, agencies offering genuine au pair placements fall outside the scope of the Protection of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Banking Operations (9 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: I have not met recently with AIB and therefore I have not raised the adverse impact of changes to cash handling and the additional costs associated on small and medium enterprises. However, I expect to meet the CEO of AIB shortly to discuss a range of issues of relevance to enterprises.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Applications (9 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: A work permit application in respect of the person named was refused on 4 February 2013. It was open to the applicant to seek a review of this decision within 21 days of the date of refusal but no such request for a review was received in my Department. New Employment Permit applications are normally only considered where it is established that a minimum salary of €30,000 per annum...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Expenditure (9 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: In the time available, it has not been possible for my officials to compile all of the information requested by the Deputy in respect of the period 2007 to date in 2013. However, I will forward the details to the Deputy in writing as soon as possible.

Topical Issue Debate: Registered Employment Agreements (14 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputies Joan Collins and Barry Cowen for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to respond. An employment agreement is an agreement governing conditions of employment, made between a trade union and an employer or employer organisation. Such agreements may be presented to the Labour Court for registration. Where the Labour Court is satisfied that the agreement...

Topical Issue Debate: Registered Employment Agreements (14 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: I can give an assurance to Deputies Cowen and Collins that existing contracts remain and can only be altered by agreement. The fact that the REAs have been struck down, therefore, does not alter the contract an individual has with his or her employer. The same applied when the EROs were struck down - the contracts remained and the record will show there was no wholesale cutting of wages as...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Health and Safety Inspections (14 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), which comes under the remit of my Department, conducts routine inspections of petrol stations storing "petroleum spirits" under the Dangerous Substances Act 1972 and the Dangerous Substances (Retail and Private Petroleum Stores) Regulations 1979 as amended, and also under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated Regulations. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (14 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007 apply to all employees, subject to the exceptions set out in section 2 of the 1977 Act (as amended). Therefore, parliamentary staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas who meet the criteria of the Unfair Dismissals Acts are covered by the protections of the Acts. The Acts protect employees from being unfairly dismissed by laying down criteria by which the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (14 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The recent MRCI Report on au pairs, which is referenced by the Deputy, expresses concern that au pairs are being used as a cheap form of child care, and highlights the lack of regulation of the industry. Issues regarding childcare fall within the remit of my colleague Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Issues regarding employment rights fall within my remit....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Pensions Reform (14 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Department of Social Protection, by way of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011, provided for the discontinuation of the State Pension (Transition) from January 2014 which eligible individuals currently receive for a maximum of one year between ages 65 and 66. This means that there will be a standard State Pension age of 66 years for everyone from 1 January 2014. The 2011 Act also...