Results 22,921-22,940 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Issues (26 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 315 together. I have been informed by IDA Ireland that, in the five year period 2008 to 2012, there were three IDA job announcements for County Kerry with the potential to create 155 jobs. During the same period, there were two Enterprise Ireland investment announcements with the potential to create 41 jobs and nine High Potential Start Up (HPSU)...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (26 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: My Department’s consultation paper of September 2012 on Article 19 (Fees for the use of means of payment) and Article 22 (Additional payments) of Directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Right gives details of payment charges applied by a number of traders, including the charges applied by airlines referred to by the Deputy. Article 52(3) of Directive 2007/64/EC on Payment Services in the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Appeals Tribunal (26 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) is independent in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function and I have no direct involvement in its day to day operations. It is long established practice that Ministers do not get involved with its adjudication function. The matter referred to here is in fact an ongoing partially heard case before the EAT. I understand that the claim was received by...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Credit Guarantee Scheme Implementation (26 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Credit Guarantee Scheme is operational since 24th October 2012. There are currently 14 approved guaranteed loans resulting in €1.5m of additional lending being provided to viable companies as of close of business on 15th February 2013. As a result of the sanctioned lending it is expected that there will be 113 new jobs created and 19 jobs will be maintained. The scheme has...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Credit Guarantee Scheme Implementation (26 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: Following a competitive tendering process, Capita Asset Services (Ireland) Limited was selected to operate the Credit Guarantee Scheme under the Credit Guarantee Act 2012. The agreed charges under the terms of the contract are €199,000 plus VAT based on 1,875 loans per year for each of years 1 to 3. There is provision in the contract for revision of costs in years 2 and 3 depending...

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

Richard Bruton: Microfinance Ireland (MFI) began operating in October 2012. It is my intention that progress reports on the Microenterprise Loan Fund will be published via the MFI website microfinanceireland.ie and on my Department’s website enterprise.gov.ie on a quarterly basis. 106 loan applications were received by MFI up to today, with 31 loans approved to companies across a range of sectors....

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

Richard Bruton: Microfinance Ireland opened for business on 1st October 2012. The full accounts for 2012 will amount to €461,000, which will include the cost of setting up the Microenterprise Loan Fund Scheme which was approximately €278,000. The set-up costs included company incorporation, legal support, advertising and communications, launch and financial advice. In the quarter to end...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (26 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) support the indigenous micro-enterprise sector in the start-up and expansion phases and stimulate enterprise potential at local level. The CEBs are the first port of call in terms of advice, direction, training and grant support for anyone who wishes to start a business. The CEBs will deal with queries from all potential clients (including those...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Consultations (26 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: I launched a public consultation process last November to seek as broad a range of views as possible on how the reform of the national micro and small business support infrastructure could best be implemented. The closing date for receipt of submissions was originally 19th December 2012 but this was extended to 18th January 2013, because of the level of interest. A total of 88 submissions...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies (26 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together. Payment of remuneration, including bonuses, pension entitlements, allowances etc. for both the CEOs and staff of the agencies under the remit of my Department is a day to day matter for the individual agencies and I have no function in the matter. The CEOs of a number of agencies under the aegis of my Department are eligible to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Unemployment Levels (26 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am advised by CSO that unemployment rate data at this particular level of detail are not available. However, based on census results in 2011, an unemployment rate of 28.6% is recorded for Limerick City at administrative county level. The Live Register series gives a monthly breakdown of the number of people claiming Jobseekers Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance and other registrants as...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Staff (26 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: The allocation of duties to individual staff members in IDA Ireland is a day to day operational matter for the agency and not one in which I have a function. I have made enquiries of IDA Ireland and I have been informed that, during 2010, a Business Process Transformation Initiative was conducted by the Agency. This initiative examined every role in the organisation for the purpose of...

Other Questions: Exports Growth (21 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: The USA is Ireland’s biggest trading partner and our largest merchandise export market. In 2011, the total exports of goods and services from Ireland to the USA amounted to €27.4 billion. Goods and services imported to Ireland from the USA in the same year amounted to €30.8 billion. The USA is the second largest export market for Irish-owned companies. There are...

Other Questions: Exports Growth (21 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: The drop in value is largely due to a certain number of patented products coming off protection, which has led to a significant reduction in the value of certain pharmaceutical products. Having said that, we have sustained employment in the pharmaceutical sector, so IDA Ireland has been successful in repositioning our overall portfolio within the pharmaceutical sector to maintain and...

Other Questions: Local Enterprise Offices (21 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 27 together. The prepared reply is very similar to the one earlier delivered by the Minister of State, Deputy Perry. Let me paraphrase it rather than reading it again.

Other Questions: Local Enterprise Offices (21 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: We are absolutely committed to the provision of a much better environment for small business and we believe that by integrating the capacity of the local authority with the enterprise boards, we can develop a quality service. As the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, pointed out, one element of that is a first-stop shop. There will be a place for people to go where they can get easy access to...

Other Questions: Local Enterprise Offices (21 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: I accept we have to sell this. We must ensure there is an enterprise culture in these local enterprise offices - that is absolutely clear. Part of the fear is that there will not be an enterprise culture. In the Deputy's earlier supplementary questions to the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, he asked if this would be politicised. These decisions will not be politicised. The decision...

Other Questions: Grocery Industry (21 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: I agree this sector has serious knock-on impacts. Over the past number of years the Irish food sector has become more competitive relative to the EU and there are improvements occurring against international trends. There have been significant new entrants and it is evident that some of them are building significant market share at keen prices. I am conscious that this sector needs to be...

Other Questions: Grocery Industry (21 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am afraid I do not have briefing on the time of that.

Other Questions: Skills Shortages (21 Feb 2013)

Richard Bruton: A large number of companies in Ireland seek graduates with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and maths. This is not confined to the technology sector. Such skills are increasingly needed in every sector. Ireland's education and training institutions are currently providing a wide range of courses which qualify graduates to meet these skill needs and to match employment...