Results 13,021-13,040 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: I am informed by IDA Ireland that Mullingar and Longford are marketed by the Agency as part of IDA Ireland’s Midlands Region, which consists of counties Longford, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Roscommon. The Midlands has a strong cluster of Medical Technologies and Life Sciences companies (Abbott, Covidien, Integra, GeneMedix, Freund, Utah, KCI, AMS) and International Business...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: As requested by the Deputy, please find information on Microfinance Ireland (MFI): Fund to end of September 2014 County Applications Applications approved Jobs Longford 10 2 7 Westmeath 18 10 30 My Department publishes quarterly progress reports on the Department’s website www.enterprise.gov.ie. The progress report detailing the analysis and performance up to the quarterly...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: National Minimum Wage (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 277 together. The Statement of Government Priorities 2014–2016 includes a commitment to establish a Low Pay Commission on a statutory basis as an independent body to make annual recommendations to the Government about the appropriate level of the minimum wage and related matters. To this end, on 14 January last the Government approved...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: The EU Commission published its report on the results of the public consultation on investment protection in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on 13 January, 2015. The report, along with explanatory material, can be found at . The Commission has indicated that, based on the comments received, there are a number of areas that appear to be particularly important to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Data (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 279 together. The objective of the Regional Enterprise Strategies, which will be developed for all regions of the country on a phased basis, is to build on the strengths and opportunities of each region in order to support entrepreneurship, enterprise growth and job creation. Achieving this objective can best be achieved through better co-ordination...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Portfolio (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: I am informed by IDA Ireland that there is one IDA client company, Patterson Pumps, located in the Mullingar Business and Technology Park. This park is fully zoned and serviced and having a company located on the park makes it a more attractive proposition to present to other potential investors. IDA Ireland markets Mullingar as part of IDA Ireland’s Midlands Region, which...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland (20 Jan 2015)

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. The ultimate objective is increased employment and prosperity in Ireland. The companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a vital source of employment in every county...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Commencement of Legislation (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Companies Act, 2014 was signed into law by the President on 23 December, 2014. While my officials are presently examining the commencement aspects in detail, it is intended that the Act will be commenced with effect from 1 June, 2015.

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: I propose that the House suspend for five minutes.

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: Amendment No. 14 is not appropriate as section 7(2) provides for the criminal liability of certain persons connected with a body corporate in certain circumstances in the case of offences under the Bill. Extending liability for the debts of a solvent company through the officers of a company would, I am advised by the Attorney General, be constitutionally suspect and represent a major...

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: Section 32 as drafted is strictly limited in its application to information relating to the alleged commission of an offence under a relevant enactment, or the contravention of a relevant enactment. For this reason, the Deputy's proposed amendment to subsection 3 is inappropriate, as it is inconsistent with the section taken as a whole. The Deputy is seeking to amend section 32, the...

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: Deputy Tóibín's amendment seeks to ensure that where the National Employment Rights Authority, NERA, identifies non-compliance with employment legislation, that information would be brought to the attention of the contracting body, which would be a public body, like a council, in respect of the main contractor. He proposes that this would be extended also to subcontractors, in...

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: The debate may be going off on the wrong tack somewhat. The fixed payment notice is not for non-payment of the minimum wage. The case of an employer who is found not to have paid the minimum wage will be prosecuted as a criminal offence and the worker will have rights in respect of the wages he was due. The fixed payment notices are for more minor offences and they are to be issued by...

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: Do I have two minutes to respond to Deputies Tóibín and Wallace?

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: If one is providing for a penalty for not providing a payslip, one cannot infer that there is another much greater offence occurring, which is essentially what the Deputy is saying. He is saying that if we catch someone for failing to issue a payslip, he or she is guilty of something much more grave. I do not think we can make such an assumption. We would have to produce the evidence to...

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: I know that I am not entitled to speak again, but one prosecutes such persons under the national minimum wage legislation. The legislation is in place to allow prosecution for non-payment. This simply is a fixed-notice penalty for a particular minor infringement. Clearly, if NERA detects that it does not just involve a minor infringement, that it is the tip of a much greater iceberg, it...

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: I believe the Deputy is trying to be too prescriptive about the mediation. The truth is that the consent of both parties is always required so, for this to happen, both parties must always consent to the procedure. Our approach is not to be too prescriptive in setting out the procedure because they are protected by the fact that both parties must consent. Because they both must consent,...

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: The purpose of mediation is to try to find a resolution without having to go to adjudication. It is set up in a way that the confidentiality of both parties is protected and whatever is said at mediation cannot be used at an adjudication. It is a protected arena in which people come together and try to find a solution without, if one likes, the fear that any documentation they produce can...

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: Mediation is an informal and voluntary process. It is better that the Bill remain silent on the question of representation at mediation and leave it to the skill and experience of the mediator to manage the process. Either party may withdraw from the mediation process at any time. We do not want to create a legalistic process or necessarily require joint sessions to be held, or to create...

Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Bruton: There is some merit in what the Deputy is suggesting. The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel has requested my Department to consult with the Courts Service and the President of the District Court in regard to this amendment. The wording of the amendment, as proposed, requires some further modification and I will consider putting forward an amended version of the wording by way of amendment...