Results 14,061-14,080 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Supports (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: No, that it not the case. There is a well developed joint strategy between Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, under which competition for domestic contracts is not supported by either agency. However, companies in BPO which are internationalising are entitled to support from IDA Ireland or Enterprise Ireland in the growth of their overseas business. As the Deputy knows, a company such as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Supports (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I can. There is an agreement and we would not tolerate a situation where Enterprise Ireland might subsidise one company and IDA Ireland another, both of which would be competing for taxpayers' money. That would be unthinkable, but that is not to say Enterprise Ireland does not talk to companies that are internationalising and which may also have Irish business. It is fine to talk to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: We did have a comprehensive discussion in the Oireachtas. Three committees met together for an extensive discussion, with questions and answers, when there was a much more meaningful exchange than we could have had here. Members were able to raise concerns and the meeting ran for several hours. It was very fruitful and all shades of opinion were represented. The issues have also been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: The truth is that economies need growth strategies. In the case of Ireland, our strategy has been very much based on export-led recovery. In our dealings with the United States 70%, or 125,000 people, are employed by US companies in Ireland. In the case of Irish companies, some €2 billion worth of trade is done with US companies. Both categories have grown rapidly. Ireland has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: The truth is that any free trade agreement offers opportunities for sectors to grow. In the case of Ireland and the United States, there is ample and clear evidence of that. For example, in terms of our growth in software and business services, 60% of that growth has been in the US market. That is a very strong market for us and if there can be better access to that market, we can gain...

Other Questions: Departmental Communications (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: To be fair to all concerned there are unprecedented efforts taking place to make the EU-US trade agreement as transparent as possible. All EU text proposals on the EU-US trade negotiations are now published on the European Commission website, generally within a week or two after each negotiating round. The website also includes a wide range of position papers, fact sheets and documents...

Other Questions: Departmental Communications (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: The position on access for the European Parliament is set out in the framework agreement. Part of the increased transparency is that it will provide broad access to all MEPs, subject to appropriate modalities to be agreed with the Parliament to ensure the confidentiality of the information provided, including taking the appropriate steps in the event of unwarranted disclosure of documents...

Other Questions: Departmental Communications (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I have to deny categorically that there is any effort by either the Commission or anyone else to conceal information. There is a huge effort to make the information publicly available.

Other Questions: Departmental Communications (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: In any such discussions there is confidentiality around individual items. There is commercial confidentiality. There is confidentiality that is recognised in our freedom of information process. Where there is a negotiation or a deliberative process one does not have a right of access to all the papers that might be engaged in. It is recognised in every freedom of information legislation...

Other Questions: Departmental Communications (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy rightly said, they are under restriction. If they get access to confidential documents it is to inform them and it is not for them to pass it on.

Other Questions: Departmental Communications (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: There are certain restrictions but in general we make everything available that we can and the Commission makes everything available that it can.

Other Questions: Departmental Communications (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: It has made huge efforts to do so and has a whole document on transparency.

Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I do not wish to be evasive but the written question tabled by the Deputy related to start-ups and the statistics provided to me relate specifically to start-ups. In general terms, the vast majority of start-ups are Irish. Enterprise Ireland supports approximately 185 start-ups. Only ten of those would be sponsored by non-Irish individuals. The vast majority of the run of money, running...

Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy knows, under the EU's regional guidelines, there are huge restrictions on state aid that can be given to large companies. By and large, there is no substantial state aid. The companies can be supported in areas such as research and development or training, but the era of large grants is over. Neither is the Deputy right when she says the predominant magnet of Ireland is our...

Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I think the Deputy really is letting ideology run away with her. The total sum that my Department disperses is €500 million. This compares to a welfare budget of €20 billion, an education budget of €8 billion and the health budget of €13 billion. We are not engaged in substantial corporate welfare in any sense of the term. Any of the money we disperse is...

Other Questions: Employment Rights (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: There is no legal definition of the term "au pair" in Irish legislation, and individuals described as au pairs, nannies or childminders are not exempted or treated as separate categories of workers under Irish employment law. Ireland's body of employment rights legislation protects all employees who are legally employed on an employer-employee basis, regardless of what title is given to...

Other Questions: Employment Rights (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: My officials have met representatives from Migrant Rights Centre Ireland. Furthermore, NERA is keen to engage with people in any way. It has a lo-call number, 1890 808 090, and a website. It has provided a usable guide to entitlements. It seeks to engage with people in those conditions, advise them of their rights and investigate any case of breaches. If the Deputy has any particular...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: Immediately after the announcement by the company concerned, I established an inter-agency group to coordinate the response to the proposed job losses. The group, chaired by Enterprise Ireland, is seeking to secure alternative employment for the area affected and to ensure that departing workers have access to supports they need from State agencies for retraining, access to social welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: Since the start of the national Action Plan for Jobs process in 2012, employment across the economy as a whole has increased, and has exceeded the Government's initial target of having 100,000 people at work by 2016. However, we are conscious that not all regions are yet fully experiencing the benefits of the recovery. While the national Unemployment Rate now stands at 9.7%, some areas -...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: The aim of the EU-US trade negotiations is to reduce barriers to trade in order to promote jobs and investment. Because of our close trading links with the United States, Ireland would be a major beneficiary of such an agreement. The independent study commissioned by my Department carried out by Copenhagen Economics estimates that the benefits in Ireland would be proportionally greater...