Results 22,741-22,760 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bank Lending (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I understand the Deputy's frustration but there are issues that are not dealt with by my Department. The presentation of a stimulus package, whether it be PPPs, infrastructure funds or whatever, is not the responsibility of my Department. The Deputy could table a question and receive a response from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The situation is similar with regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Growth Initiatives (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The importance of innovation to Ireland’s on-going and future economic recovery has been well recognised by the Government as being crucial to growth in both our indigenous and FDI sectors. IDA has transformed its investment profile with RDI projects increasing from €80m in 2004 to €700m in 2011 - representing some 50% of IDA investment wins. It was most encouraging to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: There is no statutory retirement age for employees in the private sector in Ireland. A contract of employment will generally contain a retirement age but this is a matter of contract between the relevant parties. As matters currently stand for those employees who are obliged by their contract of employment to retire at 65 years but will not receive the State pension until 66 years, the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Council Meetings (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of Ministers met in Brussels on the 28th February. This was the first formal meeting of the EPSCO Council under the Irish Presidency. I co-chaired the Employment and Social Policy element of the meeting along with my colleague, Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton. Prior to the commencement of the formal Council...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Growth Initiatives (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: North South economic co-operation is and will remain 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, in the border region. From my own perspective, I attend meetings in the Trade and Business development sectoral format of the North...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Credit Guarantee Scheme Implementation (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) became operational on 24 October 2012 and as of the 28 March 2013, 24 CGS facilities were approved resulting in an additional €3,131,600 in business lending being approved by the banks. It is expected that 181 new jobs will be created and 25 jobs will be maintained as a result of the current guaranteed lending. Quarterly progress reports will be...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The recently published Forfás report “Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2012” highlights a number of issues relating to utility costs in Ireland. Energy Costs remain relatively high in Ireland, particularly for SMEs. While Ireland is the sixth most expensive location from 15 countries benchmarked, the cost of water for industrial users remains relatively unchanged since...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: On 12 March 2013, the Taoiseach and I announced the appointment of six Industry Partners to assist with the implementation and monitoring of the “Disruptive Reforms” identified by Government for implementation in 2013 as part of the Action Plan for Jobs.As set out in the press release on the announcement, the intention is that the six Industry Partners will bring their skills...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Promotion Issues (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise Ireland works very closely with its sister agencies, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia and other relevant bodies, to achieve the objectives set for the agencies by Government that involves trade promotion activities. Core to this work is the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, as Enterprise Ireland’s parent Department, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on trade...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Statistics (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 312 together. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) compiles statistical data on an economy-wide basis including data on employment and unemployment levels. I am advised by the CSO that they do not differentiate between jobs in exporting and non-exporting enterprises when compiling their data. My Department has responsibility for reporting on jobs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices Establishment (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The 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 County and City Enterprise Boards in 1993. This reform will bring about a new level of engagement and interaction at both national and local level in relation to enterprise support and stimulation and economic recovery and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Issues (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 132 and 139 together. My Department is very conscious of the importance of comprehensive business and economic statistics relating to both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The availability of such data is crucial to understanding the background and context of the various business and trade issues which both our administrations are...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012 came into effect on 1 August 2012. The main purpose of the Act is to implement the commitment in the Programme for Government to reform the Joint Labour Committee system. The Act provides for a radical overhaul of the system so as to make it fairer and more responsive to changing economic circumstances and labour market conditions. It reinstates...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: Competition has many benefits; it gives consumers more choice and better value for money, it encourages businesses to innovate by creating new and better products and services and, critically, it drives competitiveness and economic growth which results in job creation and retention, higher living standards and lower costs. The Competition Authority is the statutory independent body...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Targets (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: Job creation is a key priority for the Government. As I have pointed out on many occasions, the Government does not create jobs – entrepreneurs and successful businesses do. However, the Government has a lead role to play in providing the environment where businesses can start-up, expand and create jobs. The Action Plan for Jobs has set the objective of supporting the creation of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Numbers (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: During 2012, I led 20 Trade and Investment missions with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to countries such as the United States, China, Canada, South Africa, Russia, Brazil and Germany. Each year Enterprise Ireland organises a series of targeted international trade missions, market visits, participation in international trade fairs and a large number of international buyer visits to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Disputes (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: Where disputes arise in the workplace the State provides a range of dispute resolution services. Parties may engage either on a voluntary basis through the Labour Relations Commission using the mediation and conciliation services, or under the Industrial Relations Acts to the Labour Court. In some cases, parties to a dispute agree in advance to be bound by the decision of the Labour Court....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Issues (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The role of Government is to create the environment in which enterprises can start-up grow and create jobs. The Government’s key policy instrument to achieve this is the Action Plan for Jobs. The 2013 Action Plan for Jobs was launched on 22nd February. The Plan contains 333 individual actions, broken down further into Quarterly deliverables. My Department and its agencies are...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Exports Growth (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: Last Friday, I announced the outcome of Annual Business Review (ABR) 2012. This showed that Enterprise Ireland clients had exports of €16.2bn in 2012 with export growth of €1.793bn representing a 6.3% export gain on 2011. Continuing to support indigenous companies to build capacity to grow employment, increase international sales and build on their success in 2012 is central...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (23 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Innovation Voucher initiative was developed to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers (i.e. higher education institutes, public research bodies) and small businesses. Innovation Vouchers worth €5,000 are available to assist a company or companies to explore a business opportunity or problem with a registered knowledge provider. The Innovation Vouchers...