Results 20,761-20,780 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: This application was refused on 27 March 2014 as Intra-Company Transfer employment permits are considered for senior management earning a minimum annual remuneration of €40,000, key personnel earning a minimum annual remuneration of €40,000, or personnel undergoing a training programme earning a minimum annual remuneration of €30,000 provided it is adequately demonstrated...

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

Richard Bruton: Germany is Europe's largest economy and one of Ireland’s top four trading partners. In 2013 Irish goods exports to Germany were valued at over €6.5 billion and Services exports in 2012 (the most recent data available) were valued at over €8 billion. Germany is also the third-largest source of tourists to Ireland, with almost half a million German tourists visiting...

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

Richard Bruton: Westmeath is part of IDA Ireland's Midlands Region along with Counties Longford, Laois, Offaly, and Roscommon. In this region IDA prioritises the marketing of the linked Gateway of Athlone/Tullamore/Mullingar. I have been informed by IDA Ireland that the agency successfully secured 16 agency sponsored site visits by potential investors to the Midlands Region with 1 visiting Mullingar in...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 to 291, inclusive, together. Following the closure of the Talk Talk Call Centre, I initiated the South East Action Plan and established the South East Forum to drive implementation of that Plan, in late 2011. My Department engages with the key State players on the Forum to monitor developments on the detailed actions set out in the Plan, and I myself...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: The amount spent by my Department and offices on our corporate taxi account, for the years 2011 to date, is set out in the following tabular statement: Year Amount Spent 2011 €12,160 2012 €10,585 2013 €17,690 (to include additional expenditure arising from Ireland’s hosting of the EU Presidency) 2014 (Jan to May) €6,345In line with Department...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Responsibilities (10 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 294 together. The two Ministers of State assigned to my Department are Deputy John Perry, Minister with special responsibility for Small Business and Deputy Seán Sherlock, Minister with special responsibility for Research and Innovation. A range of functions relevant to his responsibilities in the area of Small Business was delegated to Minister...

Other Questions: Job Creation (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am dealing with the list of questions-----

Other Questions: Job Creation (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: The maximum grant depends on the merit of each proposal.

Other Questions: Job Creation (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: There is no maximum for any proposal that emerges. State aid sets the maximum for those proposals suitable for development. Each proposal is considered on its merits. Grants are only available to export-oriented businesses and we have not changed policy in this respect. There is no ceiling on what can be done for any individual proposal made.

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: The free trade agreement between the European Union and its member states on the one part and the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Peru on the other is an agreement within the meaning of Article 29.5.2° of the Constitution. Ratification by Ireland is therefore subject to prior approval of the Dáil. It is my intention to seek the necessary approval of Dáil Éireann...

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: My belief, which is shared by other European Union governments and the European Parliament, is that leverage will be achieved by operating this agreement to deliver the changes rather than refusing to ratify the agreement and sitting on our hands. The agreement provides respect for democratic principles and human rights as I outlined. It also includes public participation in these matters....

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: The trade agreement between the EU and Colombia contains robust human rights provisions which permit unilateral and immediate suspension in the case of grave human rights violations. Ireland and the European Parliament played a significant role in encouraging strong measures in this regard. The agreement includes a number of binding commitments to implement core labour and environmental...

Other Questions: Industrial Relations (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Constitution of course respects freedom of association, but it also respects the voluntary nature of these processes. The Deputy will be aware that our system has been examined by the ILO and found to be in conformity with the requirements. I agree with the Deputy that this is a balanced approach and that it does not fulfil all of the ambitions of either the employers' groups or the...

Other Questions: Job Creation (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Action Plan for Jobs is the Government's key policy instrument to assist job creation. Its aim is to support enterprises to create employment throughout the whole of the country and in all regions. The creation of jobs in rural areas in particular can be supported by strong co-ordinated policies at regional level across all of the relevant State bodies, working together with local...

Other Questions: Job Creation (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: The devastation of rural areas in this country was brought on by Fianna Fáil when in government through its creation of a construction boom which could not be sustained. Some 60% of construction employment in rural Ireland was lost in the space of three years. That is what created the huge vacuum in rural Ireland. The Government is now seeking to build sustainable and long-term...

Other Questions: Job Creation (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: These supports are available to enterprises in all parts of the country. We need to build on the strengths of rural Ireland. That is what the local enterprise offices will do. They will have the heft of the local authorities behind them. The Deputy knows as well as I do that-----

Other Questions: Job Creation (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: -----there are 115 community enterprise centres across the country working with the local authorities. These are powerful tools that can drive opportunity. We are seeking to exploit those.

Other Questions: Job Creation (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: In regard to the difference between the former county and city enterprise boards and the local enterprise offices, first, we have created a centre of excellence in Enterprise Ireland which, for the first time, will drive small business and start-ups. We will have a national policy for start-ups and micro-business, which will have service level agreements with the local enterprise offices....

Other Questions: Job Creation (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: Those initiatives which are successful will be mainstreamed into other local authorities. We are, I believe, creating a powerful alliance of the former county and city enterprise boards with their local experience, local authorities with their resources and Enterprise Ireland as a centre of excellence driving innovation. We already have innovative tools. Microfinance is available to county...

Other Questions: Industrial Relations (5 Jun 2014)

Richard Bruton: I do not know whether the Deputy wants me to address the question he has just asked or the one he submitted. The Government has responded to the needs of workers in many ways. We increased the minimum wage, introduced protections for agency workers and have restored the system of wage setting for vulnerable workers that had been ruled unconstitutional by the courts. We continue to develop...