Results 11,461-11,480 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 12:In page 22, after line 38, to insert the following:“(2) Subsection (1)shall not apply in relation to a provision of a scheme or arrangement in relation to superannuation in respect of which the consent or approval of the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform or any other Minister of the Government was required by or under any...

Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 13:In page 22, after line 38, to insert the following:“Administration of superannuation scheme or arrangement by relevant body on behalf of Minister 26. (1) The Minister may, for the purposes of this section, designate in writing a superannuation scheme or arrangement (in this section referred to as a “designated scheme or arrangement”) referred to...

Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 14:In page 25, line 22, after “conditions” to insert “of service”.

Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Now.

Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I wish to take this opportunity to thank Deputy Calleary and the select committee for its co-operation in the passage of the Bill. It is an important reform of which, while on the benches opposite, I was always a keen advocate. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation requires an internal policy capability and this measure will facilitate the development of that. I believe it will...

Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (9 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputy that is not the Government's intention. Indeed, it is maintaining the National Competitiveness Council as an independent group, comprised largely of representatives from the private sector and other social partners, to ensure, if one will, the honesty of the Department in respect of its policy work.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regulatory Bodies (9 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I have no plans to set up a body for the purpose suggested by the Deputy. The quality of goods, including furniture, is regulated in the first instance by the Sale of Goods Acts 1893 and 1980. Among other things, the Acts require goods to be of "merchantable quality", namely that "they are as fit for the purpose or purposes for which goods of that kind are commonly bought and as durable as...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Horizon 2020 Strategy Implementation (9 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Horizon 2020 is the EU's programme for research and innovation with a budget of just under €80 billion and covering the period 2014 to 2020. Horizon 2020 is a core part of Europe 2020, the Innovation Union and the European Research Area and is responding to the economic crisis by investing in future jobs and growth, addressing people's concerns about their livelihoods, safety and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (10 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Any person who believes that s/he has experienced discrimination which is contrary to the Employment Equality Acts may seek redress by referringa complaint to the Director of the Equality Tribunal. A complaint can be made using the Workplace Relations Complaint Form and this form is available from the Tribunal or can be downloaded from the Workplace Relations website . Section 77(7) of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Supports (10 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Under the Industrial Development Acts the management of IDA Ireland’s property portfolio, including the leasing and rental of business units, is a day to day operational matter for the agency and is not one in which I have a function. I am informed by IDA Ireland that in 1983 the Agency entered into a 35 year lease arrangement on 6 units, each approximately 300 square metres, in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: County and City Enterprise Boards Abolition (10 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Under the provisions of the CEB Dissolution Act 2014, the designation of staff in the City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) to either Forfás/Enterprise Ireland (EI) or their Local Authority (LA) will take effect when the CEBs are dissolved on 15 April next. On the basis of the preferences expressed by those concerned, the following designations have been made: Grade No. Designated...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Relations Issues (10 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: My Department recently concluded an independently-chaired Industrial Relations Facilitation process with IMPACT on a number of issues relating to the dissolution of the City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) and the delivery of those functions through the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). Following that process, my Department received a letter from the Labour Relations Commission (LRC)...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The National Competitiveness Council published the Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2014report on 1 April 2014. The report compares Ireland’s cost competitiveness to a number of other regions across a range of key business inputs. It also contains some key messages on Ireland’s cost competitiveness. The report finds that Ireland’s costs base has improved across a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I do not think that is a fair assessment. It is clear to those who have read the report that it mentions a number of areas in which we have improved our cost competitiveness. Indeed, we have improved our cost competitiveness in labour and property costs. We have reduced the rates burden. Most counties are reducing rates. As the Deputy said, the report alerts us to the need to make sure...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The report shows that consumer prices here have improved relative to Europe. That refers not solely to health insurance, but to the whole range of the package that workers have to pay. We are making improvements. The report recognises that we can make further changes in certain areas. As the Deputy knows, the Minister for Health has published a health reform document. There will be a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Companies Law (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation. In addition, the State’s industrial relations machinery, which is voluntary in nature, can support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences.In this specific case, both sides availed themselves of this machinery in 2012 when the Labour Court issued a recommendation. The court recommended that the parties bring...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Companies Law (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I would have to see the circumstances of any individual case. I cannot judge this matter without seeing them. This has not been brought to the attention of any labour relations bodies, such as the National Employment Rights Authority. I have not got a briefing on this. If there is a deficiency in our employment or company law exposed by this case, I will certainly examine it. Under...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Companies Law (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The situation is that if a company ceases trading, it has certain obligations to meet as result, in that it has to meet its Revenue obligations, its obligations to pay redundancy payments to workers and so on. If the company is unable to pay, it can apply to the Department of Social Protection to have its responsibilities to workers met from the redundancy insolvency fund. However, there is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Companies Law (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: That is what I am saying. If it is being used as a loophole, let us look at the circumstances. However, under existing law, such an employer has an obligation to meet the redundancy payments and meet its obligations to the workers under all headings. If it transfers the business to a new unit which is doing the same business, that would be a transfer of undertakings and it has to maintain...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: In May 2011, Social Justice Ireland outlined a proposal for a part-time job opportunities programme in its pre-budget policy briefing. It envisaged that placements for the long-term unemployed, which do not fall within my area of responsibility, would be made in the public sector and the community and voluntary sector. However, my colleagues, the Ministers for Education and Skills and...