Results 14,501-14,520 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Constitution has offered investors far more protection than has ever been envisaged by the ISDS mechanism. We have very strong protections for companies and no one has complained that those protections have been abused. As I outlined in an earlier reply, the ISDS mechanism that has been put in place by Europe has been dramatically narrowed compared to the versions in some of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: In the five years up to 2011, Donegal lost 3,400 jobs with big falls in manufacturing and in Construction. This was also a period when employment in foreign owned companies stagnated and by 2011 represented less than 3.5% of total employment in Donegal. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that employment in foreign-owned companies have grown by 41% in the years since 2011, adding 758 jobs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: Under our Action Plan for Jobs we have targeted the winning of new Foreign Direct Investment and have taken measures to ensure that such companies have access to the talent they need, the supports for innovation and a good business environment. This strategy has been successful for the country. We have 135,000 more people in work today than were employed when the Action Plan for Jobs (APJ)...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: At the Council of Trade Ministers meeting tomorrow in Brussels, I will have the opportunity to discuss progress on these negotiations with Commissioner Malmström and with EU Council colleagues. The 11th round in these negotiations took place from 19th – 23rd October, 2015. During this round substantial progress on market access for EU and US companies in all three areas...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The 11th round in these negotiations took place in Miami from 19th - 23rd October, 2015. During this round negotiators discussed all three pillars of the proposed agreement namely market access for EU and US companies, regulatory cooperation and trade rules.There was substantial progress on market access for EU and US companies in all three areas including tariffs, services and public...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Targets (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise 2025, the Government’s long-term enterprise policy was launched earlier this month. It is an ambitious strategy, with the objective of delivering growth over the next decade that is sustainable, led by strong export performance, builds on our sectoral strengths, and that is underpinned by innovation, productivity, cost effectiveness and competitiveness. We aim to build...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Measures (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The draft Scheme of the Consumer Rights Bill was published for public consultation on 25 May with a view to getting the views of businesses, consumers and other stakeholders on its provisions. Wide-ranging consultation is essential in the case of legislative proposals such as this which will affect virtually every business and citizen in the State. While the closing date for responses to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business Regulation (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The recent World Bank's Doing Business Report 2016 provides an assessment of a range of regulations affecting SMEs throughout their life cycle. In this Report Ireland is ranked 17th for Ease of Doing Business, out of 189 countries. This places Ireland 4thin the Euro area and 7thin the EU. The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2015 ranks Ireland 16th, up from 24thin 2011. The World...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Action Plan for Jobs initiated by Government in 2012 has sought to harness the potential of all sectors of the economy for employment growth and to ensure we capture new and emerging areas of opportunity throughout the country. The most recent data from the CSO indicates that employment has grown in all regions and in all sectors of the economy over the last four years, with 135,800...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: I share the Deputy’s concerns regarding job losses in the Carrick on Shannon area. However I am heartened by the latest CSO data which shows that broadly speaking the unemployment rate has halved, with 22,700 less people unemployed in the Border and Midland regions since 2012. The details are that unemployment in the Border Region (which includes Leitrim) has fallen from 17.7% to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Data (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The number of IDA Ireland supported jobs in Donegal in 2014 was 2,612. This represents a net increase of 758, or 41%, over the 2010 figures of 1,854. When evaluating inward investment it is important to note that approximately 70% of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base. Therefore, working with stakeholders is exceptionally important in positioning any...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: A key objective of the Action Plan for Jobs process, which this Government commenced in 2012, was to rebuild our economy based on enterprise and entrepreneurship, talent, innovation and exports, in order to provide a solid foundation for future growth and to provide employment opportunities for all age cohorts. The goal of this Government has been to replace all of the jobs lost during the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Export Controls (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: My Department is responsible for controls on the export of military items from Ireland. Under Irish law, military export licences must 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. My Department is also responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Microenterprise Loan Fund Application Numbers (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: Microfinance Ireland (MFI) has informed me that as at 30th September, 2015, 12 Young Entrepreneurs under the age of 25 have obtained loans from MFI. MFI has had meaningful engagement with young entrepreneurs following on from the publication of the Review of MFI which was published earlier this year. This has included extending the availability of a specific customised loan product which is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The liquidation of OCS Operations Limited is currently in the hands of liquidators under the supervision of the High Court. The High Court was informed at the hearing on 6 July that the liquidators have identified a number of matters which they intend to investigate as part of the liquidation process. It is only when all the facts and events leading up to the winding up of the company are...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Development (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) plays a key role in advising the Government on the current and future skills needs of the economy. The EGFSN provides information on employment trends, job opportunities and demand for skills through the annual “National Skills Bulletin” and the “Vacancy Overview” reports. It also provides information on the supply...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The EU Commission’s mandate to negotiate with the U.S. also includes in its scope, investment protection. This is designed to ensure that Irish and EU enterprises trading into 50 different US States will not face unfair discrimination in any particular State where the legal code may not fully transpose elements in the agreement. Equally US investors in the EU expect common investment...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Targets (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 to 99, inclusive, together. Enterprise 2025 sets out the potential to reach 2.180 million in employment and an overall unemployment rate of 6 percent by 2020. This is based on the premise of export led growth and the additional indirect jobs stimulated by the activities of exporting enterprises in the wider economy. The ambition is predicated on taking...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: With effect from 1 October 2015, the activities of the Labour Relations Commission, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Equality Tribunal and the first instance functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Labour Court were merged into a new Body of First Instance, known as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The WRC has advised that arrangements have been made...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. The Government is concerned at the developments in Colombia in recent weeks. Ireland regularly discusses human rights issues with Colombia as part of our bi-lateral dialogue. Furthermore, human rights is also a priority for the EU and its member states and these issues are addressed in the context of the EU Colombia Human Rights...