Results 22,681-22,700 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Microenterprise Loan Fund Applications (8 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am aware that there are concerns about the cost of finance across the economy, including from Microfinance Ireland (MFI). MFI was established as a private limited company with a Board of Directors. The Directors set the interest rate to be charged on loans under the Scheme 8.8% taking into account a number of factors including: prevailing market interest rates, the economic environment,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: County and City Enterprise Boards Reform (8 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEB) restructuring project is the first radical reform of the system for the delivery of State support to micro and small businesses since the establishment of the CEBs twenty years ago. In the meantime, there have been many changes to the social, economic and technological landscape of Ireland. It is incumbent on Government to ensure that State supports...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Properties (7 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: My Department does not own or rent any property as these arrangements are a matter for the Office of Public Works. The ownership or rental of property in commercial developments by the Agencies under my remit is an operational matter for the Agencies concerned, for which I have no function. I am referring the specific question to each of the Agencies under my remit with a request to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (7 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) have been to the forefront in delivering training programmes to small businesses in all sectors on topics related to the internet covering email to online engagement with customers and much more. CEBs run locally-arranged training on topics such as: ‘ICT Essentials for SMEs’, ‘Social Media for Your Business’,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (2 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: As I outlined in my reply to Question No 87 of 25 April 2013, the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs includes a commitment to increase the number of businesses – and particularly small businesses – trading on line. The progression of this initiative is being led by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The objective of the initiative is to support one or more...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Information and Communications Technology Issues (2 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 to 108, inclusive, together. High Performance Computing (HPC) services include the provision and support of high-end compute resources, data analytics, education and training services to industry and higher education institutions. Globally, supercomputers are playing an ever increasing and critically important role in a wide range of computationally...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Credit Guarantee Scheme Application Numbers (2 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) began operations on 24th October 2012. As at 31st March 2013 there were twenty- four live CGS facilities resulting in €3,131,600 being sanctioned through the scheme by the participating lenders and it is expected that 181 new jobs will be created and 25 jobs maintained. The Department does not monitor actual applications to the banks. Decision...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumers Association of Ireland Funding (2 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. As previously advised to the House, the Consumers’ Association of Ireland made an application seeking funding on 27th September 2012 to support a marketing project. A number of meetings were held with the Association to discuss the details of its application and in particular the value for money that the project would offer....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Sector Pensions Expenditure (2 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: The lump sum amounts paid to retired staff members in my Department in the period March 2011 to March 2013 are listed in tabular form. In addition to those contained in the figures below, five retirees received lump sums of less that €10,000. In relation to retirement lump sums paid to staff of Agencies under the remit of my Department, I have asked the Agencies to respond directly to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Companies Law Issues (1 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: Audit exemption was first introduced under the Companies (Amendment) (No.2) Act 1999, allowing private companies which satisfy certain conditions to be exempt from the audit requirements. Currently, to avail of the exemption, the amount of the turnover of the company must not exceed €8.8million and the balance sheet total of the company must not exceed €4.4million. Both these...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (1 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: IDA Ireland is charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. The role of the Longford County Enterprise Board is to provide a source of support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. As Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (1 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: In line with the Action Plan for Jobs 2012, Enterprise Ireland launched its first financial supports specifically targeted at female entrepreneurs in July 2012. Initially, a fund of €250,000 was made available for a Competitive Feasibility Fund for early stage female entrepreneurs for grants of up to €25,000. When the Fund closed in September 2012, more than 120 applications...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: National Skills Register Establishment (1 May 2013)

Richard Bruton: I note that a recommendation to this effect was made in the second entrepreneurship report of the Certified Public Accountants, which was published last year. The recommendation was made in the context of ensuring enterprises, particularly start-up and early stage firms, can find people with the right skills, having regard to: - The positive work of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Programme (30 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: In 2007 the Company Law Review Group examined proposals put forward by the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority to afford legal protection under the Companies Acts to the use of the term “Accountant”. A majority of the members of the Company Law Review Group supported the proposals. However, concerns were raised by the Competition Authority and the ODCE that...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (30 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: In that regard, the Government has sought to ensure that the burden of taxation is not excessive and does not discourage job creation. The last Budget specifically contained a ten point tax reform plan to support small businesses. The measures contained in the Budget are intended to assist small businesses in a number of ways, including: Helping their cash flow position; Helping them...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies Funding (30 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am informed by Enterprise Ireland that Exclusive Cigar Manufacturing Ireland Ltd was paid funding of €836,522.57, of which €85,281.87 was repaid. This funding was approved and paid under a number of the support programmes of the agency during the period 1992 to 2012. In June 2012, Enterprise Ireland met the company and the issue of the provision of capital and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Secretary General of my Department has no difficulty with the principle of making his diary accessible through the Department’s website. He proposes to publish the diary on a trial basis for a number of months and will review the practice in the light of whether there is any significant level of hits on the relevant page.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Site Visits (30 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I have been informed by IDA Ireland that, to date in 2013, there have been 13 agency sponsored site visits by potential investors to the d-West Region, of which 4 were to County Clare. These site visits were from new companies visiting the location for the first time and from senior executives of existing companies. As Ireland competes for high quality investments, the concept of scale is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Patent Legislation (30 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Agreement on the Unified Patent Court (UPC) was signed in February this year by twenty-five Member States, including Ireland. Work is now advancing on the next stage to allow for ratification of the Agreement. In Ireland’s case, a Referendum is required to be carried to allow for the transfer of limited jurisdictional powers to the Unified Patent Court relating solely to patent...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Companies Law Issues (30 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The contents of the financial statements of companies are governed by relevant EU Company Law Directives and Regulations and by the applicable accounting standards. The requirements regarding the preparation and publication of the accounts of limited companies and groups are determined by the First, Fourth and Seventh EU Company Law Directives and by the EU IFRS Regulations. These...