Results 21,621-21,640 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Losses (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I will have to consider that request. Unfortunately, I do not have a role at this point. The company has made a decision. That has been passed.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Losses (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The challenge for me now is to find new opportunities. If proposals are forthcoming from workers that would help me and IDA Ireland to find an alternative, we will be delighted to receive them.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Losses (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Prior to this very unfortunate closure decision, I had kept in close contact with this case. In fact, I met senior company executives several times, including just before the announcement. The position is that the company has had to undertake a global review of its operations in the light of shrinking revenues and declining market opportunities. This decision was taken by the parent...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: One of IDA Ireland's high level targets is that by the end of this year 20% of all greenfield investments will come from growth markets. To achieve this target, the Government provided IDA Ireland with the resources to establish offices and hire staff in emerging markets, including Brazil, India, Russia and China, the BRIC countries. In total, 17 people support the overseas marketing of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: IDA Ireland has approached this challenge in a strategic way. As the Deputy is aware, a target was set for 2014 and resources have been allocated in such a way as to ensure it will be met. The strategy is under review and we will be looking afresh at growth markets. Clearly, there is a need to balance resources against outcomes and look to the long term. On a man for man basis, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: As I stated when IDA Ireland launched its annual report, Mr. O'Leary's leadership of the organisation has been exceptional. He leaves behind a fantastic legacy of achievement and an organisation that is both professional and extremely strong. I recently appointed a new chairman of IDA Ireland and the process to recruit a replacement for Mr. O'Leary is getting under way. I agree with the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Closures (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: While it might be assumed that there should be strong direct linkages between leasing companies and locally located aircraft maintenance operations, the position is that Global Aircraft Leasing and domestic Irish Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul firms are not mutually interdependent. While Irish based after-market services providers undoubtedly can benefit from their proximity and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Wage-setting Mechanisms (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am aware that a number of public statements have been made in recent weeks, accompanied by media speculation, concerning the prospect of a return to some form of national-level wage bargaining for the private sector. The commentary has been framed in a very constructive manner; it has been driven by concerns about the potential economic and industrial relations issues that might arise...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Jobs Data (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: I have been informed by IDA Ireland that in respect of job announcements, they are tracked on a calendar basis and not by region. In the period from 2008- 2010 there were 176 announcements, while in the period from 2011- 2013 there were 221 announcements, an increase of 25%, an increase with which I am pleased as foreign direct investment (FDI) is key to Ireland’s economic recovery. I...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Closures (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Government is totally committed to the retention and expansion of our Manufacturing sector. The new Manufacturing Strategy, which I launched last year sets out an ambitious target to create an additional 20,000 jobs by 2016 and a range of actions are underway to drive that target. It is very heartening that after several years of significant job losses in that sector, job levels are now...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The IDA Ireland Strategy for the period 2010 to 2014, “Horizon 2020”, set an ambitious regional economic development target of 50% of investments in regions outside Dublin and Cork and this has proven to be a challenge. There are many complex factors influencing investor location decision-making such as the increasing preference of investors globally for cities of scale with 1...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 implemented EU Council Directive 97/81/EC into Irish law. The purpose of the Directive was to implement the Framework Agreement on part-time work concluded by the European cross-industry organisations UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC. The purpose of the Framework Agreement, which was annexed to the Directive, was to eliminate discrimination...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Investment Bank Loans (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Policy responsibility for leveraging funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) rests with my colleague the Minister for Finance. However, since Mr Werner Hoyer’s appointment as President of the EIB in 2012, there has been increased engagement between Departments, Agencies and Financial Intermediaries and the Bank. A joint Irish EIB High Level Working Group (HLWG) was...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The rapidly evolving technology sector represents both a challenge and an opportunity for Ireland, and it is my intention and the intention of my colleagues in Government to harness to the greatest extent possible developments in this sphere to the benefit of the country. Since the Oireachtas Committee Report was issued in October 2012, a study undertaken for the European Commission in April...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Closures (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Prior to the closure announcement I met senior international management of this company several times and discussed issues relating to this plant in detail. Over recent years IDA Ireland held constant engagement with the company in an effort to help them deal with various issues and challenges. Unfortunately the company were faced with declining revenues and shrinking international...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices Establishment (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill, 2013 has completed its passage through the Seanad and is scheduled for debate in the Dail on 6th February, 2014. In tandem with the passage of the legislation, work is ongoing at local level between the CEBs and the Local Authorities on practical administrative arrangements in advance of the formal commencement of the new structure,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Media Mergers (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Media mergers are covered by the Competition Act, 2002. The Advisory Group on Media Mergers’ Report of June 2008 on media mergers recommended that the Competition Authority should remain responsible for the examination of the lessening of competition test and that the appropriate Minister should have responsibility for a new public interest test. Recent statistics show there are a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Targets (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Government’s Action Plan for Jobs has set the objective of supporting the creation of 100,000 extra jobs in the economy over the period 2012 to 2016 through a series of annual measures aimed at improving Ireland’s competitiveness and making it easier for enterprises to do business. Broadly speaking, the Action Plan for Jobs envisages that an extra 20,000 jobs can be created...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Statistics (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Statistics in relation to the number of jobs created in 2013 through support provided by the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) are currently being compiled as part of the CEB Annual Employment Survey of client companies. It is expected that the information will be available later this Quarter. Provisional figures suggest that over 2,500 jobs have been created or sustained last year...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Health and Safety Issues (23 Jan 2014)

Richard Bruton: Under European product safety legislation, economic operators (manufacturers, importers and retailers) are required to ensure that only safe products are placed on the market. Household products on sale in the Irish market, including sofas and mattresses, come within this requirement. I am aware of the recent allegations of the sale of non-compliant products on the UK market and I am...