Results 11,741-11,760 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot provide legal advice in relation to the employment rights applying to any employee’s specific circumstances. Independent legal advice should be sought in relation to any concerns an employee may have about their situation. The employee concerned will then be in a position to assess the range of remedies that may be available either under the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Labour Court Recommendations (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: I regret that it is not possible to answer the Deputy’s question in the absence of details of the specific Labour Court recommendation referred to or the workshop involved in the dispute. As the Deputy has indicated to my Department that he will provide further details I will further consider the issues raised on receipt.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Microenterprise Loan Fund Applications (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: Anyone interested in starting their own business should in the first instance contact their Local Enterprise Office (LEO). The LEOs support the indigenous micro-enterprise sector in the start-up and expansion phases and stimulate enterprise potential at local level. They are the first port of call in terms of advice, direction, training and grant support for anyone who wishes to start or...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Applications (27 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Closures (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together. The contents of the former Lufthansa Technik plant at Rathcoole, County Dublin are the property of the owners and neither my Department nor the IDA had any stake or involvement in this recent sale of that equipment. Accordingly, as this disposal and consequent dispersal of material was solely a matter for the company, it was a private...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Applications (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: Between October 2011 and August 2012 an employer submitted six work permit applications in respect of the person named by the Deputy. In each instance the applications were returned as the application form itself was not properly completed or there was supporting documentation outstanding. There is no record in my Department of a current work permit application in respect of this person.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Data (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: Through its range of overseas offices IDA Ireland markets Castlebar for inward investment as part of the West Region, which consists of Counties Mayo and Galway. There are 78 IDA Ireland supported companies in the West Region, employing 17,000 people, of which 18 companies are located in County Mayo and employ over 3,700 people, mainly in the medical technologies and pharmaceutical...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Chairman and members for the invitation to say a few words on TTIP and hopefully to take questions from members to the best of my ability. During Ireland's Presidency last June, an agreement was achieved at the European Council to start negotiations on a trade and investment agreement with the United States. It was an historic agreement and clearly for Ireland, with its deep...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: On a point of clarification, it is not excluded, rather it has not been included in the first exchange of offers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: Quite a number of questions have been asked. In respect of the car industry, it is probably an area in which Europe is looking to opportunities in the United States market rather than losing out. It is an area in which it is stated that we have an offensive interest and in which there are opportunities. However, guarantees have been built into the Japanese or Korean agreements, for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: To allow a product to be approved to a standard, one needs a body to vet that this standard is being achieved. However, I will revert to the Deputy on whether there are cases in which Ireland has different standards from the European Union. In general, however, if an organisation comes to Ireland to produce a medical device, it will seek to get approval in Ireland but will want that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: It is expected in September but we will give some outlines in June.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: No, this study is more about giving a framework so that we know the areas of greatest potential gain for Ireland and, accordingly, we can ensure our negotiators concentrate on these. This will not be a static study but one to give us ammunition so as to be active in the negotiation process. For example, Ireland has large pharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturing sectors. One would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: The area of greatest potential benefit in the long term is if we move towards having more mutual recognition. Tariffs are in and around 3% of costs, give or take. Some non-trade barriers are in around 20% of costs. While one cannot put a percentage on regulatory and red tape costs, if one gets mutual recognition for the setting of standards, over time the costs will come down. When jam...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (27 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: The EU negotiator will seek to represent all 27 member states and will not go to these agreements seeking hand trips. People on both sides are going in good faith and see this as an opportunity for growth. While there are sensitive sectors on both sides that they will defend to the best of their abilities - it comes down to negotiation - I do not see it as setting up a series of potential...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (28 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: The EU Commission is responsible for negotiating a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on behalf of the EU, and it is doing so on the basis of a wide mandate from the EU Council of Ministers. That mandate includes Irish interests. Since negotiations began formally in July last year, there have been five formal negotiating rounds, the latest of which took place last week in the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Semi-State Bodies (28 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: My Department does not have any commercial semi-State agencies under its aegis.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (29 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am advised that the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States on the one part and the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Peru on the other, is an agreement within the meaning of Article 29.5.2 of the Constitution. Ratification by Ireland is therefore subject to prior approval of Dáil Éireann. It is my intention to seek the necessary approval of...

Seanad: Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Second Stage (29 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: I apologise for the delay. We have just had an unfortunate announcement in respect of jobs, on which we are working. I welcome the opportunity to present the Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill, 2013 to the Seanad. The Bill was published on 23 December last and passed by the Dáil on 9 April 2014. The purpose of the Bill is to give effect to the decision to integrate...

Seanad: Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Second Stage (29 May 2014)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senators who contributed to the debate. I acknowledge Senator White’s encouragement in the progress we are making. She rightly highlights emigration as a continuing challenge. The figures show that for the past couple of years net migration, which is a fairer measure, has been approximately 34,000. The trend is predominantly Irish net migration now whereas in the...