Results 12,361-12,380 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Services Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: The initial consultation that I undertook in relation to my proposals to reform the State’s employment rights and industrial relations structures was completed in September 2011. The many positive suggestions that emerged from that process influenced the proposals set out in the Blueprint to Deliver a World-Class Workplace Relations Service(Blueprint) which I published in April 2012. ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Services Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) will have statutory jurisdiction for facilitating the resolution of disputes under approx. 40 separate pieces of employment, equality and industrial relations legislation, in accordance with best international practice and in compliance with international human rights standards. To ensure that the WRC delivers its services to the highest standards, the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Equality Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: Under the existing workplace relations structures the Equality Tribunal has jurisdiction to investigate and decide upon complaints of discrimination under equality legislation (i.e. the Employment Equality Acts, the Equal Status Acts and the Pensions Acts). The Equality Tribunal is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in its day to day...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Measures (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together. I believe that for a workplace relations system to have credibility it must be supported by proportionate, effective and efficient compliance and enforcement measures. The current system of enforcement of employment rights awards is cumbersome, expensive and not fit for purpose. For this reason, provision has been made in the Workplace...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Measures (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: The aim of the Workplace Relations Bill is to create a modern, user-friendly, world-class employment workplace relations system that will provide significant benefits for its users and society as a whole. The focus will be on resolving the workplace disputes as quickly and inexpensively as possible. The legislation makes provision for the establishment of a range of services (including...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together. The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Peru, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 418 together. The 6thround of the TTIP negotiations took place in Brussels from 14– 18 July, and a summary of the state of play of the negotiations after that round is available at: . The 7thround of the TTIP negotiations is scheduled to take place in the US from the 29 September to 3 October. This will be the last round before the current...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: According to my Department’s records, since the start of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations in July last year, I have met on two occasions with representatives of the agri-food sector, and hosted a seminar in Dublin Castle on the 20thJune 2014. All members of the Oireachtas Committees on EU Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Trade and Jobs, Enterprise and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: The EU Commission is responsible for negotiating free trade agreements, including investment provisions, which comprehends investor state dispute settlement. While there are no such agreements yet concluded and signed, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the end of the negotiations on which is expected to be announced at next week’s EU-Canada Summit, will be the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Data (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: EU studies point to long term evidence from the EU which shows that a 1% increase in the openness of the economy leads to an increase of 0.6% in labour productivity. They also show that more trade is essential to job creation: About 30 million jobs in the EU depend on sales to the rest of the world, and on average, each additional €1 billion of exports supports 15,000 additional jobs...

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

Richard Bruton: Matters around decisions on whether to provide grant aid to the organisation concerned are a day to day operational matter for Enterprise Ireland. As such, I have no role in that regard. In particular, information about grants to companies cannot be disclosed, for commercial reasons, until a grant has been paid. Nevertheless, I understand from Enterprise Ireland that they are liaising...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Peru, 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 Dáil Éireann before the end of 2014....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Strategy Statements (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 to 425, inclusive, together. I recognise that consultation is an important component of best practice in policy-making. Policy development is an ongoing process and my Department has a range of mechanisms and processes to ensure continuous feedback on the efficiency and effectiveness of our Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) system, all of which...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Exports Controls (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: My Department is responsible for controls on the export of military items from Ireland. Under Irish law, military export licences have to be sought in respect of the goods and technology, and any components thereof, listed in the Annex to the Control of Exports (Goods and Technology) Order, SI.216 of 2012 which reflects the EU Common Military List. The EU Common Military List includes...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Arms Trade (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 428 together. The European Commission is seeking to reverse the declining role of industry in Europe as a mechanism for growth and economic recovery. Increased industrial competitiveness can be a strong driver of growth and employment and is one of the stated objectives of European integration under the Lisbon Treaty. The 2010 European Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: Political agreement on the key elements of a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada was announced in October last year, and it is expected that the conclusion of negotiations will be announced at the EU-Canada Summit on 26 September, 2014. The Agreement will cover virtually every aspect of economic activity, and is an extremely important one for Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Appointments (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: Information relating to the appointments made by me and the Ministers of State at my Department since March 2011 is set out in the following tables. In all cases these appointments were replacements for departing postholders and were not additional posts. Current Ministers’ Offices: Appointments made by Minister Richard Bruton (Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation) Grade...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: The number of staff of my Department on career break at the time the Haddington Road Agreement came into force was 29. While on Career Break, staff continue to be made aware of redeployment opportunities at the relevant grade. Of the aforementioned 29, 16 are still on career break. In the context of the staffing limits set under the Employment Control Framework (ECF), only three staff...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition Law (17 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Competition (Amendment) Act 2006 prohibits certain practices by grocery goods undertakings (defined as an undertaking that is engaged for gain in the production, supply or distribution of grocery goods). Under the Programme for Government, the Government committed to enact legislation to regulate certain practices in the grocery goods sector. The recently enacted Competition and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Funding (18 Sep 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Development Agencies of my Department do not provide financial support to individuals for the buying out of a company. With regard to access to finance, the Government introduced 2 new schemes in 2012 to assist businesses who have been declined bank credit. Both the Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Microenterprise Loan Fund represent a significant change in our enterprise supports with...