Results 10,941-10,960 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I reject Deputy Halligan's allegation that the IDA is not putting the effort in. This is borne out by the increase in site visits and additional activity. The IDA is correct: the agency does not direct companies on where to invest. The companies come with a well-known list of what they need. Typically, they use advisors to identify where they can get the right fit. The IDA does not move...

Other Questions: Trade Missions (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The primary focus of the recent trade mission to the Gulf, as with all trade missions, is to encourage business-to-business links and encourage investment and employment opportunities. I believe that if we want to be effective in addressing human rights issues with countries, we must do it in an appropriate way and at the right opportunity, so that our concerns are taken seriously and acted...

Other Questions: Trade Missions (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Earlier in parliamentary session we were talking about the importance of putting resources into emerging markets so that Ireland can be positioned to take advantage of growth opportunities. When we go on trade missions we bring companies that are seeking to create jobs here at home for Irish people. That is a challenge. We have 12.5% unemployment and the growth is shifting to new markets....

Other Questions: Trade Missions (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: We need to consider the experience even in our own country. When we became more open to trade and integration in Europe we dramatically changed human rights in Ireland. The record is there. We saw change come here as a result of much of the integration and trade that occurred between Ireland and the EU. That is the objective. We do not ignore Saudi Arabia, which will be a member of the...

Other Questions: Job Creation Data (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Forfás annual employment survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the industrial development agencies. Data are compiled on an annualised basis and aggregated at county level. The information is provided by companies on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only. It is, therefore, not possible to provide the information the Deputy seeks....

Other Questions: Job Creation Data (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: We have a good system in place for assessing skills. The high level group on skills forecasting works very closely with Irish and foreign owned companies in identifying skills required. For example, we have, through the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, committed to doubling the output of ICT graduates because IT is a key sector. A US company relocating to...

Other Questions: Job Creation Data (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: A person who comes to work in Ireland becomes part of a community and pays tax here. We should not pretend that it is unacceptable for a company relocating to Ireland to bring with it employees from its head office as part of that relocation. While such companies may start with a core, they quickly become Irish-led. One of the reasons they come is the talent available here. That is key. ...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 30 together. The action plan for jobs is a whole-of-Government programme which includes commitments from all Departments and a significant number of State agencies to take actions to support job creation. The aim of the action plan is to create a supportive operating environment for businesses in order to allow employment to grow across all sectors,...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: As I indicated earlier, actions were implemented last year and we will take further action this year. Programmes are in place to help people with disabilities take advantage of employment opportunities. Many of these programmes are administered through the Department of Social Protection and, specifically, INTREO. Available supports include the employability service, training programmes...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the Deputy. In no area of our employment strategy are we happy that we have reached our desired destination. It must be acknowledged, however, that enterprise has created more than 58,000 job opportunities over the past 12 months, or 62,000 if one nets out the decline in the public sector. Clearly that changes the environment by creating a better arena in which people with...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Closures (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: While it might be assumed that there should be strong direct linkages between leasing companies and locally located aircraft maintenance operations, the position is that Global Aircraft Leasing and domestic Irish Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul firms are not mutually interdependent. While Irish based after-market services providers undoubtedly can benefit from their proximity and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Wage-setting Mechanisms (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am aware that a number of public statements have been made in recent weeks, accompanied by media speculation, concerning the prospect of a return to some form of national-level wage bargaining for the private sector. The commentary has been framed in a very constructive manner; it has been driven by concerns about the potential economic and industrial relations issues that might arise...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Jobs Data (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I have been informed by IDA Ireland that in respect of job announcements, they are tracked on a calendar basis and not by region. In the period from 2008- 2010 there were 176 announcements, while in the period from 2011- 2013 there were 221 announcements, an increase of 25%, an increase with which I am pleased as foreign direct investment (FDI) is key to Ireland’s economic recovery. I...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Closures (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Government is totally committed to the retention and expansion of our Manufacturing sector. The new Manufacturing Strategy, which I launched last year sets out an ambitious target to create an additional 20,000 jobs by 2016 and a range of actions are underway to drive that target. It is very heartening that after several years of significant job losses in that sector, job levels are now...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The IDA Ireland Strategy for the period 2010 to 2014, “Horizon 2020”, set an ambitious regional economic development target of 50% of investments in regions outside Dublin and Cork and this has proven to be a challenge. There are many complex factors influencing investor location decision-making such as the increasing preference of investors globally for cities of scale with 1...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 implemented EU Council Directive 97/81/EC into Irish law. The purpose of the Directive was to implement the Framework Agreement on part-time work concluded by the European cross-industry organisations UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC. The purpose of the Framework Agreement, which was annexed to the Directive, was to eliminate discrimination...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Investment Bank Loans (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Policy responsibility for leveraging funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) rests with my colleague the Minister for Finance. However, since Mr Werner Hoyer’s appointment as President of the EIB in 2012, there has been increased engagement between Departments, Agencies and Financial Intermediaries and the Bank. A joint Irish EIB High Level Working Group (HLWG) was...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The rapidly evolving technology sector represents both a challenge and an opportunity for Ireland, and it is my intention and the intention of my colleagues in Government to harness to the greatest extent possible developments in this sphere to the benefit of the country. Since the Oireachtas Committee Report was issued in October 2012, a study undertaken for the European Commission in April...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Closures (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Prior to the closure announcement I met senior international management of this company several times and discussed issues relating to this plant in detail. Over recent years IDA Ireland held constant engagement with the company in an effort to help them deal with various issues and challenges. Unfortunately the company were faced with declining revenues and shrinking international...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices Establishment (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill, 2013 has completed its passage through the Seanad and is scheduled for debate in the Dail on 6th February, 2014. In tandem with the passage of the legislation, work is ongoing at local level between the CEBs and the Local Authorities on practical administrative arrangements in advance of the formal commencement of the new structure,...