Results 23,081-23,100 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (30 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2010 with Ballymote Community Enterprise Ltd. to establish a facility in the Ballymote Business Park. The proposal was to supply the Irish market with lighting products. There was no State agency involvement with the Memorandum of Understanding. However, IDA Ireland met with the company on a number of occasions in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Appeals Tribunal (29 Jan 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 and as such its function in this matter is completed. I understand that the Tribunal received a claim from your constituent on 23rd June 2010 under the Unfair...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Statistics (29 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies. Data is compiled on an annualized basis and is aggregated at county level. The information is provided by companies on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only. It is therefore not possible to provide information at company level or for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Third Level Facilities (29 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: In September 2008, the former Enterprise Ireland (EI) Headquarters site at Glasnevin became vacant due to the relocation of the EI Dublin offices to East Point Business Park. The total site is an approximate area of 11 acres and consists of several office and laboratory type buildings and a green space. Dublin City University (DCU), which has its main campus very close to the Glasnevin...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: 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. Arising from these discussions, the Association provided further detailed information in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (29 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: I have been informed by IDA Ireland that in the 10 year period 2002 to 2011 a total of €830,072 was paid in grants to 4 client companies in County Laois. Details of the amount of grants paid to each individual company in each of the years in question are set out in the attached tabular statement. As papers supporting grant payments made in 2012 are as yet unaudited, it is not possible...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Service Reform Plan Update (29 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: Public Service Reform Bodies to be rationalised, amalgamated or abolished in 2012: Body Action Host Body Progress on Action including legislative progress /timeframe for completion Expected timeframe for conclusion Competition Authority and National Consumer Agency Merge Competition Authority & National Consumer Agency DJEI - Consumer and Competition Authority to be created As...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU Directives (29 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: In order to protect European businesses, and in particular SMEs, against late payment, the Commission adopted Directive 2011/7/EU, known as the Late Payment Directive on 16 February, 2011. The purpose of the Directive is to combat late payment in commercial transactions, in order to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market, thereby fostering the competitiveness of undertakings...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Initiatives (29 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: I established a South East Forum following the publication of the South East Action Plan in December 2011. The Forum consists of key stakeholders from the region who are responsible for implementing the actions set out in that Plan. These stakeholders are representatives from the following agencies/bodies: IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Forfas, FAS/Solas, South East Regional Authority,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (29 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: I am informed by IDA that in the 3 year period 2010 to 2012 there were a total of 44 IDA sponsored site visits by potential investors to Co Westmeath but there were no such visits to Co Longford. Arising from these site visits there were a total of 4 company announcements in 2011 with the potential to create 250 jobs together with a €25m investment in R&D. Details of the number...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Services Provision (29 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to the reform of the State’s Workplace Relations Services. The Reform Programme, which I am progressing, will replace the current outdated system, which has developed in an ad hoc manner over the last sixty years, with a new two tier structure that will deliver a world-class Workplace Relations Service. I am happy to report that substantial progress has...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (29 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: Work on drafting the Consumer and Competition Bill is on-going and the Bill is included in the “A list” in the Government’s current Legislative Programme. In addition to merging the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, the Bill will, inter alia, update and reform competition law on foot a review of the operation and implementation of the Competition...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: We have to reduce spending by approximately €3 billion next year. We must at the same time try to maintain services in the health sector. A reduction in the cost of the public pay bill is clearly an element in our being able to maintain public services, including health and social welfare services and social welfare payments. There is a balance to be struck between the different...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: Work on the Action Plan for Jobs 2013 has already been under way for several months. The Government recently held a special Cabinet meeting on jobs, as we did last year, to ensure that every opportunity has been taken across Government to support this central priority of Government. I am currently finalising the 2013 plan on behalf of the Government. The action plan will be published in...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: I believe the point the Deputy is making is that if we did not have to engage in fiscal consolidation, money would not be taken out of the economy. Equally we inherited an economy in which government spending was running ahead of revenue by 40% to 45%, which nobody would argue is sustainable. It is not possible to sustain expansionary fiscal policy on the basis of such high levels of...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: The difficulty is the State cannot use taxpayers' money to prop up consumption that is falling or to prop up spending in areas that are declining. There has been a huge shock in this economy with many jobs lost in the construction sector, which has had a huge impact. When it is on its knees financially, the State is not in a position to substitute for that spending in the economy....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: I would hotly dispute the contention that policies being pursued by the Government are undermining retail business. The truth is that the Government has made a number of interventions to improve the environment for business in the retail sector, whether it be in terms of access to credit or their cost structure. The Minister of State, Deputy Perry, is conducting an audit of the licences...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: In the same way, we have made the services of NERA available to the workers so that it will support workers in that situation. Obviously, the same applies in terms of recourse to the insolvency legislation to protect the workers in respect of payments if the company is insolvent. Of course, the company, in the first instance, has its responsibilities and the State will not step in unless...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: Clearly the best outcome in all of these situations is to find a buyer and maintain and support jobs in the business, or as many of those jobs as is possible. That must be a factor in dealing with such situations. The legislation exists to allow receivers or examiners to seek new buyers and to find a way of making a settlement with creditors in cases of examinership and to find a way for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the Deputy that there have been many cases where workers have been treated poorly by employers and I am not exonerating them in any way but the question was should we change the law in this area. In many cases, NERA ensures that employers respect the existing law. Employers often fail to do so and that is why we immediately called in NERA. The Deputy raised the situation with...