Results 20,401-20,420 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: The 2014 Action Plan for Jobs contains 385 actions to support job creation which will be delivered across all Government Departments and over 40 public bodies. The actions include measures to support entrepreneurship, improve the capability of indigenous companies, deepen the impact of foreign direct investment, improve our competitiveness, and support the development of key sectors of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: Under the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, Forfás was requested by my Department to carry out a review of mentoring services in Ireland. This report, entitled ‘Review of Business Mentoring Services in Ireland – July 2014’, has now been finalised and will be published shortly. The report contains a number of recommendations including on the need to expand the mentor...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU Directives (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: Directive 2014/67/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the enforcement of Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services was formally adopted by the EU Council of Ministers on 13 May 2014 after lengthy and difficult negotiations. The Directive aims to provide for better and more uniform application and enforcement in practice...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices Establishment (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: On 15thApril 2014, the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were legally dissolved under the County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Act 2014 and the 31 new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) were open for business on the same day. The formal launching of individual LEOs commenced with the National launch in the LEO Westmeath on 29thApril 2014. To date, 27 LEOs have been formally...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Tax Code (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: In May 2011, as part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative, the Minister for Finance halved the 8.5% rate of Employers PRSI in respect of employees earning up to €356 per week. The Minister signalled that this measure, which came into effect on 1 July 2011, would run until the end of 2013. The measure was forecasted to cost up to €190 million in PRSI forgone in a full...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: Labour market flexibility needs to be complemented by support to workers enabling them to make smooth transitions between different types of labour market status (e.g. activation measures for the unemployed, training for employment, work experience options, transitions towards self-employment). The quality of transitions will determine the quality of a worker’s career and the smooth...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Disputes (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the dispute relates to the restoration of bonuses, the loss of which formed part of a cost cutting plan agreed between management and unions in 2012. The matter was the subject of a Labour Court hearing last week and it is my understanding that the strike action which had been underway since June 16this currently suspended following the Labour Court Recommendation of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am satisfied that the EU’s objective for financial services in the negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is the strengthening of financial stability. The EU Commission set this out very clearly in a document on cooperation on financial services regulation which it published on its website last January, ] That document very clearly...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Disputes (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the dispute relates to the issue of cost cutting measures within the company. The dispute has already been the subject of conciliation efforts in the Labour Relations Commission, where agreement was not reached, and a subsequent Labour Court recommendation. The Court found that the Company’s current cost base is not sustainable and requires immediate remedial action...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Missions (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: The primary focus of the recent trade mission which I led to China and South Korea, as with all trade missions, was to encourage business to business links and to encourage investment and employment opportunities for Ireland. Issues such as those referred to by the Deputy would be more appropriate to other fora rather than in the context of a trade mission which was aimed at raising the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Retail Sector (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: This year’s Action Plan for Jobs includes a number of measures to support the Retail sector. These measures include the establishment of a Retail Consultation Forum to provide a platform for a structured engagement between the Retail sector and relevant Government Departments and agencies. Its purpose is to allow key issues of relevance to the retail sector to be discussed, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: 2013 was one of the best years in recent times for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the creation of jobs in IDA Ireland client companies. During the year a total of 13,367 new jobs were created in IDA Ireland client companies and 164 investments won thereby exceeding the targets set out in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013. Of the 164 investments won, 78 came from companies...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Appointments to State Boards (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: Since coming to Office in March 2011 the process for appointments to State Boards, has been administered, where appropriate, through the Public Appointments Service (PAS). PAS publicly invites Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified persons to fill vacancies, as they arise, on the boards of the various agencies within my Department’s remit. The most recent invitation took...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Appeals (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: This application was refused on 17June 2014. I understand that in accordance with Section 13 of the Employment Permits Act 2006, the applicant sought a review of this refusal decision and this matter is now under consideration. If further information is required an official of my Department will be in touch with the applicant in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Appointments to State Boards (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: Since 1stJanuary 2014, I have made eleven appointments to Boards of Agencies within my discretion. Appointments and reappointments were also allocated under legislation to Department Representatives, social partners, nominees of other Ministers, nominees of prescribed bodies and appointments on an Ex Officio basis. There were three reappointments of members whose terms of appointments were...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Data (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies. The survey shows that during 2013 a total of 276 new jobs were created in IDA Ireland client companies in Co. Kildare bringing total IDA Ireland supported employment in the county up to 10,172. On the indigenous side, there were 1,471 new jobs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: Ireland’s success in attracting foreign direct investment requires a clear focus on improving and enhancing national competitiveness, easing impediments to business investment and encouraging job creation. Improved competitiveness, targeting of specific growth sectors and an improved international reputation are key factors that have contributed to strong results in Ireland attracting...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 95 together. When this Government came into office, it had inherited a situation where more than 250,000 private sector jobs had been lost in the previous three years. This was primarily the result of relying on economic growth fuelled by a construction sector bubble and unsustainable consumption. The Government set about transforming the economy...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Data (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Forfás Strategy on Manufacturing, which was launched in April 2013, identified that a total of 205,700 people were directly employed in Manufacturing and that a similar number of jobs were indirectly supported. The following table, compiled from the Forfás Annual Employment Survey data, gives details of job gains and losses for the manufacturing sector, over the last five...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Supports (10 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: While statistics on the creation of jobs by science and innovation are not separately available, science, technology and innovation are recognised as critical drivers of Irish companies’ competitive advantage. It is this ability to compete and differentiate themselves in global markets which enables Irish firms, including those in the manufacturing and service sectors, to achieve...