Results 10,141-10,160 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Microfinance Loan Fund (27 Jun 2013)

Richard Bruton: A full progress report on the operation of the scheme from 1 October 2012 to 31 March 2013 can be found on my Department's website () and the Microfinance Ireland (MFI) website ( ). I hope to publish the next MFI progress report by mid-July. The report contains all the information requested by the Deputy apart from the reasons for decline, which are, as the Deputy will appreciate...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Staff Numbers (27 Jun 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together. 81 members of staff in my Department availed of the shorter working year scheme (previously known as term time) in 2012. The average duration in 2012 was 5.42 weeks. 82 members of staff in my Department are availing of shorter working year scheme in 2013. The average duration in 2013 will be 5.35 weeks. The granting of term time...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Staff Training (27 Jun 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together. The number of staff of my Department who availed of study leave and training days in 2012 and 2013 is set out in the tables below. All staff receive full pay and benefits while availing of training courses or on study leave. The Deputy should note that figures for training in 2013 are up to and including 31st March, as these are the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Groceries Order (27 Jun 2013)

Richard Bruton: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 (S.I. No.142 of 1987) which prohibited below invoice price selling of those goods rather than banning below cost selling of certain goods. In effect, the Order allowed wholesalers and suppliers to determine minimum retail prices being charged to consumers, thereby seriously constraining competition in the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Initiatives (27 Jun 2013)

Richard Bruton: My Department and its agencies are working together to address the unemployment problem that is currently experienced throughout the Country as a whole by implementing the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs which aims to create 100,000 net new jobs over the period 2012 to 2016. IDA Ireland has statutory responsibility to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Ireland. At the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Export Statistics (2 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise Ireland client companies achieved a record €16.2 billion in exports in 2012, up from €15.2bn in 2011. Sectors such as Engineering, Software, Internationally Traded Services and Medical Devices showed the strongest export performance, with the Software and Public procurement sectors show a 19% in export sales to €1.028 billion. Geographically, markets such as...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science Foundation Ireland Appointments (2 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am not aware of any academic malpractice in relation to the individual concerned. I understand that a matter relating to published academic articles was raised publicly recently and was addressed by the individual concerned. I am aware, however, that over thirty years, the individual has published over 270 papers in various leading scientific journals including Science magazine. He...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Proposed Legislation (2 Jul 2013)

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 Consumer and Competition Bill. This Bill will also, inter alia, merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, update and reform competition law on...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Staff Rehiring (2 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: My Department has not employed any temporary clerical officers in the past three years.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Registration (2 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426, 428 and 429 together. The number and type of new companies registered since 2008 are set out in the following table: Company Type 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 (as at 27 June) Private limited 13468 12396 13054 13621 13104 7195 Public limited 117 133 164 170 115 68 Unlimited 133 136 220 293 235 69 Guarantee 1005 656 575 531 555 246 EEIG - European...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Procurement Regulations (2 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: All construction related projects involving public expenditure must conform to Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Procurement Procedures. These procedures have included an obligation that the contractor ensures that the rates of pay and the conditions of employment, including pension contributions, comply with all applicable employment law, including Registered Employment Agreements...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am informed by IDA Ireland that the former Pretty Polly building in Ballyspillane was purchased by Killarney County Council from the Pretty Polly Trustees. The building, which is c. 25,000 sq² in size, was let for a short while to an indigenous company Beocare who left the premises in 2009. The building has been vacant since. IDA has indicated that the premises was formally a...

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: It is difficult to take lectures from the Deputy opposite about capitulation to banks given the history of what we have been through.

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: All of us in this House will express sympathy with those who have lost their jobs in Ulster Bank, which is the initial question raised by the Deputy. I am very much aware that this is an economy in transition.

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: While we feel for the people who are losing their jobs but we also recognise that we are making real progress. We are seeing parts of the economy that grew too big, which unfortunately included banking and property, adjust to a new reality. We are creating employment in other sectors that are long term and sustainable. That is part of an ongoing transition that is taking place. The...

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: There is a mortgage arrears relief programme which sets out the code that must be followed. In addition, we have made it very clear that the money we the taxpayer have put into the banks to recapitalise and make provision for the losses in their loan books must be used systematically to deal with people who are genuinely unable to meet their mortgages. Targets have been set for the banks to...

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: We are putting in place a number of protection mechanisms to allow people to work through problems in a systematic way. Our objective is to move the economy on to allow people who genuinely cannot pay to reach a resolution so that they can restart their lives and to insist that banks use the money that has been put in at enormous cost to taxpayers to resolve the issues for individuals and...

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am unsure as to whether there was a question. One comment I must make is that-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: -----the Deputy opposite does not seem to realise that hundreds of thousands of people-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2013)

Richard Bruton: -----were led into buying property in the midst of a property bubble that was supported by flawed policies pursued by the Government. That is the reality.