Results 21,061-21,080 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Companies Law (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: That is what I am saying. If it is being used as a loophole, let us look at the circumstances. However, under existing law, such an employer has an obligation to meet the redundancy payments and meet its obligations to the workers under all headings. If it transfers the business to a new unit which is doing the same business, that would be a transfer of undertakings and it has to maintain...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: In May 2011, Social Justice Ireland outlined a proposal for a part-time job opportunities programme in its pre-budget policy briefing. It envisaged that placements for the long-term unemployed, which do not fall within my area of responsibility, would be made in the public sector and the community and voluntary sector. However, my colleagues, the Ministers for Education and Skills and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Companies Law (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation. In addition, the State’s industrial relations machinery, which is voluntary in nature, can support parties in their efforts to resolve their differences.In this specific case, both sides availed themselves of this machinery in 2012 when the Labour Court issued a recommendation. The court recommended that the parties bring...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Companies Law (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I would have to see the circumstances of any individual case. I cannot judge this matter without seeing them. This has not been brought to the attention of any labour relations bodies, such as the National Employment Rights Authority. I have not got a briefing on this. If there is a deficiency in our employment or company law exposed by this case, I will certainly examine it. Under...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I do not think that is a fair assessment. It is clear to those who have read the report that it mentions a number of areas in which we have improved our cost competitiveness. Indeed, we have improved our cost competitiveness in labour and property costs. We have reduced the rates burden. Most counties are reducing rates. As the Deputy said, the report alerts us to the need to make sure...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The report shows that consumer prices here have improved relative to Europe. That refers not solely to health insurance, but to the whole range of the package that workers have to pay. We are making improvements. The report recognises that we can make further changes in certain areas. As the Deputy knows, the Minister for Health has published a health reform document. There will be a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The National Competitiveness Council published the Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2014report on 1 April 2014. The report compares Ireland’s cost competitiveness to a number of other regions across a range of key business inputs. It also contains some key messages on Ireland’s cost competitiveness. The report finds that Ireland’s costs base has improved across a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Property Portfolio (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: IDA Ireland and Shannon Development are the only two agencies under the remit of my Department who hold industrial property portfolios. Under legislation both agencies are independent in the exercise of their property function. Property solutions to companies who are clients of Enterprise Ireland are provided by IDA Ireland. As part of the restructuring of Shannon Development, the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Business Innovation Centres (BIC’s) are independent companies limited by guarantee and led by Boards whose members are mainly from the private sector. There are four BIC’s located throughout the country as follows – Dublin BIC, Cork BIC, South East BIC, based in Waterford and West BIC, based in Galway, who currently receive combined funding of €2.2m per annum...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I have not seen any of the comments to which the Deputy could be referring to. IDA Ireland competes globally for high quality mobile foreign direct investment (FDI). There are now a growing number of global locations that are competing for mobile investments including Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe on the basis of low costs but also future market potential. The effect on Ireland now is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Expenditure (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I believe the Agencies under the aegis of my Department, Enterprise Ireland (EI), IDA Ireland and the CEB network, are performing very well in a challenging environment. They are driving a vital transition from an economy founded on property to one built on enterprise, exports and innovation. Their impact is measured by the gross job creation in enterprises supported by them, the net job...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The 2014 Government Action Plan for Jobs recognises that Regions that support strong and dynamic enterprises are crucial to Ireland’s return to overall economic growth. The Action Plan includes a number of measures to be taken in 2014 to support competitive regions. One of the mechanisms by which we will support enterprise development at regional level in 2014 is by building new...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Under the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are working together to leverage the linkages between Irish owned and Foreign owned enterprises in Ireland through, for example, the Global Sourcing Initiative which targets increased purchases by FDI companies in Ireland. IDA Ireland client companies purchased a total of €12.745bn worth of goods and services in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: North South Ministerial Council (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: North South economic co-operation and the development of the border region continues to be a priority of mine and of the Government. To this effect, there is on-going dialogue between relevant Ministers and officials, North and South, to promote economic development, job creation and innovation on a cross-border basis. The role of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) is to develop...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (15 Apr 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 2014 Action Plan for Jobs, which was published at the end of February, recognises that regions that support strong and dynamic enterprises are crucial to Ireland's return to overall...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise Ireland offers a range of financial and non-financial supports to assist companies through all stages of the business development cycle. Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Start Fund (CSF) is aimed at accelerating the development of High Potential Start-Up companies (HPSUs) and creating a strong pipeline of HPSUs. Enterprise Ireland piloted the CSF in 2011 to provide early...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Housing Issues (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: My Department engages with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on a regular basis regarding policy issues under the remit of that Department that impact on enterprise development. To date, the issue of housing supply is not one that has been raised by the agencies under the remit of my Department as a potential barrier to enterprise development and the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Credit Guarantee Scheme Implementation (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: The SME Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) was launched in October 2012 in response to numerous calls from business interests. It is a novel Scheme in an Irish context which is continuing to develop a position in the Irish financial arena. As of 4th April 2014 the CGS has eighty-six live facilities resulting in €11.6m being sanctioned through the scheme by the participating lenders...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Unemployment Levels (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am very conscious that there are quite specific, deep rooted, and long standing challenges facing the South East region – it consistently has a high level of unemployment and also has fared badly on other economic indicators. However it is incorrect to assume that a lack of investment in the region is now a significant factor. Over recent years there has been a wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Targets (15 Apr 2014)

Richard Bruton: When the Government published its first Action Plan for Jobs in 2012, it set a target of supporting the creation of 100,000 net new jobs by 2016 by transforming the operating environment for businesses in Ireland. This multi-annual target continues to be the focus of the Action Plan for Jobs. The most recent Quarterly National Household Survey figures published by the Central Statistics...