Results 10,901-10,920 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: That consultancy budget will be down somewhat in the year but it will be largely maintained. I can provide the Deputy with details but Forfás spent €900,000, just under €1 million, on consultancy and that will be down by about €80 million.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Forfás expenditure on research refers to its research policy staff who will continue to operate. In line with employment control framework, ECF, generally there is some reduction in staff right across the Department but the capability is being maintained and that is what that element refers to.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: We have maintained that the research policy staff will have the right to publish their findings independently of the view of the Minister. We have also strengthened the National Competitiveness Council with the addition of six industrial partners. The Forfás resource services the National Competitiveness Council which is entirely independent in the publication of its work. Forfás...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Indeed. I will take them in order. I can inform Deputy Calleary that the targets are based on an original five-year strategy. We do not tend to change them suddenly on the basis of something like a record year. We will not take last year's figures as the new baseline. IDA Ireland is a long-term operation. Its remit is to build strength in certain sectors. It operates in a long-term...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I can get them for the Deputy. I am informed that the figure in question is €3.1 million.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Yes. With regard to the county enterprise boards, the outturn was €18.18 million. That is the capital budget going to firms. The estimate for 2014 is an increase on that.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: It is almost €18.2 million. Consultancy spending by IDA Ireland came to €740,000, out of a total of €17 million in its non-pay budget. I can assure the committee that IDA Ireland oversees offices in the BRIC countries. It has 17 staff between the Asia-Pacific region and its growth markets overall. It has a target of getting 20% of its greenfield investments from those...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I will have to revert to Deputy Calleary with precise figures on asset values. The approximate value is €70 million and the company's rent roll is approximately €9 million. Most assets will transfer to the Shannon Airport Authority although the IDA, whose property management role also extends to Enterprise Ireland, will acquire some assets that are core to the industrial...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: When the Deputy says the region, does she mean more engagement in the non-county region?

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Starting with the south east, Enterprise Ireland identified two companies which had received approval for grant aid without fulfilling the conditions laid out in the scope of the scheme. Company A's stated intention was to sell off the company after phase 2 clinical trials, company B's application did not make any forecast of jobs to be achieved and the said forecast did not meet the scheme...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I presume Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong are to an extent. We do not have a number but I will get it. Deputy Anthony Lawlor makes a good point. We have tried to have a compendium of what is available across our agencies but the point is well made that Enterprise Ireland could have a simpler source document for the uninitiated as to what is available. Many of these schemes have developed...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: It is a fund. We put up so much money and we get matching finance. It paid €100 million, effectively, to a number of venture funds. What happens is that they have to raise the matching finance. They put up the right funding from that fund over a period of years. Therefore, a fund is available, for which I will be able to give the amount, which, generally speaking, is about four...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: There will always be continuing issues in the integration. The approach we will take is to set them up in phases so that those in the strongest position can hit the ground. There are problems to be ironed out. Our Department is working intensively with Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities to iron those out so that we get a good start-up. Deputy Lawlor raised a question about...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise Ireland has restructured and changed its local-level operations and it will provide training and a customer charter. The focus will be on delivery on-site. New instruments are being developed such as microfinance which is available for both the export and non-export sectors. Mentoring will be provided. We will maintain control of the policy to ensure that the policy intentions...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I acknowledge this is a new area. It takes more work when one is starting from scratch. We are trying new methods. We have had a series of meetings with the banks to seek to ensure that microfinance and our loan guarantee are considered immediately by an applicant who has been refused a bank loan. We have removed the requirement for a paper refusal. We have worked with the banks to see...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: One of the innovations I would like to see is an arrangement whereby businesses could include in their application for finance an agreement that their case could be reviewed independently by the Credit Review Office. This would allow us to examine at least a subset of the applications that are being refused without the appeals process being triggered, to see whether a significant number of...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: It is possible if certain changes are made, otherwise one gets into data protection issues. If applicants were to indicate their willingness to participate at the outset, it could be done. We are considering that as a potential action for 2014.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: This is a priority for drafting and we are working very closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. We have a legal resource on board to help us accelerate it. It is substantial legislation so I do not want tie myself to a particular date. We are focused on it as one of our top priorities and it is on the A list. We have brought in resources to speed it along. In my experience,...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The increase in the 2014 Estimate reflects the payment lump sum towards a retired staff member so it is a pension cost.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Apparently, it is funded by a levy the industry pays. When a lump sum of this nature occurs, it comes from the Department. That is where the lump sum arises from. It is a small provision of €55,000 but when an amount of this nature comes to be paid, it appears this way. I can get a note on it for the Deputy.