Results 22,821-22,840 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Site Visits (16 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am informed by IDA Ireland that the Agency sponsored 6 site visits by potential investors to the South East, of which 5 were to Waterford, during the first three months of 2013. On foot of the job losses announced by the Talk Talk company in Waterford in September 2011, I tasked the agencies and stakeholders in the South East region with coming up with a set of actions to address the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (16 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: This company currently employs 420 people in its facility in Athlone. After a review of its operations, following a reduction in demand for the company's products, they have indicated that they expect to reduce the number of staff there by approximately 100 - 130. This is expected to take place over a two-year period, as older, non-commercial product lines are phased out. The company will...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Appeals Tribunal (16 Apr 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Employment Appeals Tribunal is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in its day to day operations. Its sole function is to adjudicate on disputes on individual employment rights. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on any specific determination or award made by the Tribunal. I understand that the Tribunal made an award in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Criteria (28 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: I have reviewed the work permit history in respect of the person named by the Deputy. A work permit application was received from this person on 14 December 2002 and a permit covering the period 15 March 2003 to 14 March 2004 issued on 15 March 2003. An application in respect of a spousal dependent permit was received in my Department on 12 September 2008 and this permit, covering the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Job Creation Issues (27 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. He has a keen interest in the south east, particularly Waterford. As he stated, unemployment levels in the region have been high. In the aftermath of the closure of TalkTalk, I conducted an analysis of the region and confirmed the Senator's remarks. It has embedded structural problems. The Celtic tiger, which brought a great deal of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Job Creation Issues (27 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: Property solutions are an issue. The IDA has applied for planning permission to build out the available property options in the region. This forms part of the strategy being pursued. The Senator also raised the issue of micro-finance. It is a demand-led scheme and depends on people coming forward. We are administering it through the county enterprise boards, CEBs, which are soon to become...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (27 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: The payment of fees, salaries and other remuneration to directors of the semi state agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day to day matter for the agencies. I have asked each of the Agencies to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Grants (27 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: Two of these companies, the first and fourth named as listed by the Deputy, have unfortunately ceased operations some years ago. The amount of grants paid by IDA Ireland to these companies before their closure is as follows: Company Ceased operations Total Grants Paid First named company 2004 €1,871,365 Fourth named company 2008 €266,208 In relation to the other two...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Transport (27 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: Details of the Ministerial transport costs as requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below. My Department does not incur any other costs relating to Ministerial transport. Ministerial Transport Costs 2012 Ministers Mileage Costs Drivers Gross Salary Costs Drivers Employer PRSI Drivers Subsistence Costs Total Costs Minister Bruton €6,387.07 €69,582.75...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Joint Labour Committees Review (26 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 to 299, inclusive, together. The new Section 41A of Industrial Relations Act 1946 (inserted by Section 11 of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012) provides that reviews of each Joint Labour Committee (JLC) will be carried by the Labour Court, as soon as practicable after the commencement of the Act, and at least once every 5 years thereafter. ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Joint Labour Committees Review (26 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 to 299, inclusive, together. The new Section 41A of Industrial Relations Act 1946 (inserted by Section 11 of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012) provides that reviews of each Joint Labour Committee (JLC) will be carried by the Labour Court, as soon as practicable after the commencement of the Act, and at least once every 5 years thereafter. ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Microenterprise Loan Fund Application Numbers (26 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: Microfinance Ireland (MFI) began operating in October 2012. As of 25 March 2013, 97 loan applications have been received via the CEBs and 41 have been received directly from applicants. To date, 72 of the applications furnished via the CEBs have been processed (i.e. approved/declined/in appeal or withdrawn by applicant). So far 28 of the applications received via the CEBs have been approved...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Microenterprise Loan Fund Expenditure (26 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: At a meeting on 24 November 2011 the Government approved the allocation of €10 million in the form of a non-repayable grant as seed capital for the Microenterprise Loan Fund. The allocation of €10 million to Microfinance Ireland was met from savings in the Vote of my Department. Using an initial 5 year horizon, this €10 million seed capital, supplemented by a further...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Relations Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together. Acting on the commitment in the Programme for Government requires consultation with stakeholders, including employer and worker representatives, and a review of the experience of the operation of the existing legislative framework as put in place under the Industrial Relations Acts of 2001 and 2004 and the consequences of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Application Numbers (26 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 together. Since 2004, Irish labour market policy has been to ensure that general labour and skills needs are met from within the workforce of the European Economic Area (EEA). Current Government policy is to issue employment permits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response to employer demand for strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Information and Communications Technology Issues (21 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am conscious of the cost of telephone calls to customers of my Department. For this reason a LoCall 1890 number is provided for each of the main contact points in the Department and a local number is also supplied in order to provide the customer with a choice of contact methods. My Department did investigate the potential for use of the 076 number in some cases. However, the benefit of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Information and Communications Technology Issues (21 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: My Department has implemented an integrated voice response system for customers contacting the Department on its advertised numbers. The majority of the Offices under the aegis of my Department have also implemented IVR systems. The use of IVR systems by the agencies under the remit of my Department is a day to day operational matter for those agencies. While the staff and salary savings...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Information and Communications Technology Issues (21 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: I have no plans at present to introduce the use of telephony switchboard services that are shared with another Government Department. The appropriateness of introducing the use of shared telephony switchboard services by my Department will be kept under review.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Expenditure (21 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise Ireland (EI) publishes annually, in hard copy format only, a listing on an overall 26 county basis of funding issued to companies by the Agency, which is available to the public on request and I have asked EI to respond directly to the Deputy with the information sought. I understand however, that it will take some time to extract and collate the information for each of the past...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Presidential Reports (21 Mar 2013)

Richard Bruton: I received a copy of the Executive Summary of the report, Being Young and Irish, and the accompanying Declaration from the Office of the President in November 2012. The report and Declaration address a wide range of issues of relevance to young people in Ireland today, many of which fall under the policy responsibility of other Ministers. My Department’s key objective is to support...