Results 20,641-20,660 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 2:In page 9, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following:“(a) subsections (11B) and (11C) (inserted by section 2(h) of the Competition (Amendment) Act 2012) of section 8;”.This amendment repeals subsections (11B) and (11C) of section 8 that were inserted into the Competition Act 2002 by section 2(h) of the Competition (Amendment) Act 2012. This...

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 3:In page 9, to delete line 26.On Second Stage, Deputy Sean Fleming raised the issue of the simultaneous passage of this Bill and the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013. On Committee Stage, I promised to revert on Report Stage with amendments to bring both Bills into alignment. I therefore propose to achieve this by deletion of section 33 of the Bill, as amended in the...

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 4:In page 9, line 27, to delete “(d) Schedules 1 and 3.” and substitute the following:“(d) Schedule 1.”.

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 5:In page 9, to delete lines 28 to 31 and substitute the following:“(2) Part 2 (other than sections 24A to 24E) of the Act of 2007 is repealed.”.

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: Under the Bill, the new competition and consumer protection commission will be independent in the carrying out of its functions and duties. In this context, it will be obliged to operate within the legislative framework set out in the Competition and Consumer Protection Acts and the obligations placed on it by European Union legislation. Resources will be made available to the new...

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: Under the Bill, provision is made for the appointments being made to the new competition and consumer protection commission following an open recruitment competition to be run by the Public Appointments Service, PAS. This replicates the system that currently exists for the Competition Authority. The actual mechanics of advertising, interviewing and then taking into account the needs for...

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: It was some time ago. The programme outlined a proposal to exempt certain categories. However, the troika then came and one of the challenges it undertook was that Ireland needed to be more vigilant about competition law and not add further exemptions to our competition law framework. Part of the agreement with the troika is to ensure no further exemptions to the competition law framework...

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: To take Deputy Calleary's point, it is not that Ireland is taking a uniquely perverse view in deciding Ministers representing the public interest should discuss and consult with professional bodies but it is the Minister who should set fees. This is not Ireland taking an unusual view, it is European law. The approach being adopted and which I seek to uphold is what is provided in every...

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: This feature exists across the board. The Deputy raised the question of whether these powerful lobbyists exercise influence over people. I am sure they exercise influence and seek to take on powers or rights which are not permitted under competition law, but we must hold out in the public interest. Groups are entitled to express their views but we must make a decision on what is in the...

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: These matters were discussed on Committee Stage. The law on this is clear as European Union, EU, competition law says self-employment is regarded as an undertaking. It is not legal to have decisions by bodies representing undertakings and concerted practices that have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition in trade in any goods or services in the...

Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014: Order for Report Stage (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now." Question put and agreed to.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: Since the EU Council’s Decision in June 2013, to start negotiations with the US on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), five negotiating rounds have taken place, the most recent taking place from 19-23 May in the US. This round covered extensive technical discussion on a broad range of issues including regulatory issues, sanitary and phytosanitary measures,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am aware that the Office of the Director, in common with the other Divisions and Offices of my Department, participated in a Departmental Workforce Planning exercise in 2012 and again in 2013. Notwithstanding the merits of the various submissions received, the moratorium on recruitment and the need to observe Employment Control Framework targets severely limit the capacity of my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: County and City Enterprise Boards Funding (2 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: Details of the population in the functional area of each City and County Enterprise Board (CEB), the funding allocated to each Board and the number of enterprises funded by each one for the period from 2011 to 2013 are set out in Tables 1 to 3 below.The capital allocations made available to the CEBs each year during this period, and in 2014, were maintained at €18m despite serious...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (1 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together. The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) carries out inspections of employer records with a view to determining compliance with employment rights legislation. NERA aims to achieve voluntary compliance with employment law through the provision of education and awareness, inspection of employers’ employment records and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Registered Employment Agreements (1 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: In the judgment delivered on 9 May 2013 in theMcGowancase, the Supreme Court held that Part III of the Industrial Relations Act 1946 was invalid having regard to Article 15.2.1 of the Constitution. That Article provides, in effect, that the exclusive power to make laws is vested in the Oireachtas. The Supreme Court took the view that REAs were instruments having the status of laws made by...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Appointments to State Boards (1 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: In line with Government policy to introduce greater transparency in the appointment process, and in an effort to broaden the pool of suitable candidates for consideration for appointment to boards, I have sought expressions of interest, through the Public Appointments Service, from suitably qualified people for appointment to the boards of the agencies under my Department’s remit. My...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Disputes (1 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: Employment Appeals Tribunal (1 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: In the absence of any specific details as to the names of the parties in this case I am not in a position to provide any information in relation to the date of any hearing or for the issue of any determination. A search of the EAT’s decision database may be carried out online at . In the circumstances, I can only again give you the normal expected times taken for the issue of a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (1 Jul 2014)

Richard Bruton: I have been informed by Enterprise Ireland that the company in question has been paid a total of €3,060,344 since 1963. This figure includes funding of €1,203,285 in the last seven years, including substantial R&D funding. Enterprise Ireland continues to liaise with the company in regard to its development, particularly in relation to their innovation agenda, and to...