Results 11,541-11,560 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Order for Second Stage (16 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." This Bill, which is major reforming legislation, has three main objectives. First, as part of the programme of reform we are implementing across my Department, it will merge the National Consumer Agency, NCA, and the Competition Authority to create a powerful body with real teeth acting to protect and vindicate consumers' rights. New...

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: On a point of information, this was a recommendation from a committee that reported to the Deputy's own Government at the time.

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Yes. It is not that this will not be overseen; it will be overseen by another body that is better equipped to look at public interest issues.

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I thank the many Deputies who contributed to the debate on this Bill. Some of them feel there is not enough in it. Deputy Mathews has suggested that there might be too much in it and that some parts of it could have been separated out.

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: In an ideal world, we would have had a consolidated Bill, which would have been even bigger. As it would have been consolidated, it might have been easier to follow. There are three elements to this. We had a competition Bill last year as well. It is a rolling programme of reform. In opening the debate, Deputy Sean Fleming expressed concern about the decision to give responsibility for...

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Referral to Select Committee (16 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a).

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Pension Provisions (16 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Competition Authority is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition law in the State. Section 29(3) of the Competition Act 2002 provides that the Authority is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of anti-competitive practices. As investigations and enforcement matters generally are part...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Unfinished Housing Developments (16 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Companies Acts set out the provisions applicable to the winding up and liquidation of companies established under those Acts. The Acts do not prescribe any special rules for the liquidation of property development companies. It is the duty of a liquidator to take possession of corporate assets and to protect those assets, and also to realise or liquidate the assets so as to enable the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Health and Safety Regulations (17 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: As the Minister responsible for workplace health and safety, I am concerned about safe working conditions for all workers. The main responsibility for protection of worker health and safety lies with employers. Each employer has a legal duty to ensure the safety, health and welfare at work of their staff. This applies to the betting industry no less than any other sector. The principles of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Site Visits (17 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together. Details of the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors on a county basis from 2010 to the end of March 2014 are set out in the tabular statement below. There have been 776 visits to Dublin and 150 visits to Cork during the period 2010 to the end of March 2014. Some companies, depending on their requirements and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Expenditure (17 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise Ireland’s mission is to partner with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, leadership and competitiveness with the ultimate objective of job creation. Enterprise Ireland clients are a vital source of employment in every county in Ireland. In the context of Enterprise...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Expenditure (17 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Details of the total amount of grants paid by IDA Ireland broken down by county in each of the years from 2007 to 2012 inclusive is set out on the tabular statement below. Figures for 2013 will not be available until the IDA Ireland Annual Accounts for 2013 have been signed off by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Total employment in IDA Ireland client companies now stands at in excess of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies (30 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Shannon Development was set up as Shannon Free Airport Development Company by the in to promote the airport and region. Over the last 55 years the staff and management of Shannon Development have made a very considerable contribution to the growth and success of the Mid West Region. The enactment of the State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill will establish Shannon Group Plc. Shannon...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Development (30 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am informed by Enterprise Ireland that they have an active engagement with the companies concerned that the Deputy has referred to. Enterprise Ireland’s objective in working with all of its client companies is to bring the best expertise, advice and support to bear on the company’s development plan. Given its role of assisting companies to grow and internationalise,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (30 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am very conscious of the prospects for job creation and exports presented by the automotive sector and I agree with the Deputy that the UK automotive industry represents a considerable opportunity for companies based in Ireland, as it is the fourth largest vehicle manufacturer in the EU. Currently, more than 60% of the sub supply into that automotive industry is sourced from international...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Supports (30 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I consider that it is not practicable or effective to establish jobs task forces or specific jobs plans around the country as a general mechanism to address high unemployment. I believe that to embark on such a course would involve diverting the various State Agencies from their on-going efforts to create jobs. A considerable administrative commitment is involved in servicing any additional...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (30 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The ICT sector forms a key part of the Government’s plans for jobs and growth, and since we have come to office we have seen an increase of more than 11,000 in the number of people at work in this sector. International research has shown that every high-tech job created leads to an additional 4-5 jobs elsewhere in the economy. The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs predicts that...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: International Agreements (30 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am not aware of the detail referred to in the question. The Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Columbia contains important tariff free access to EU markets for key interests of Colombia. These include access to the EU market for key agricultural exports from Colombia including sugar, flowers, coffee, bananas and other fruit and beef, whilst also protecting Columbia’s sensitive...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Applications (30 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: An application in respect of the person named by the Deputy was refused by my Department on 11th April 2014 for the following reasons. It appeared from the information received supporting the application that the position on offer was one of the occupations currently ineligible for a new employment permit. In addition it appeared that insufficient efforts were made to recruit an Irish or...