Results 23,481-23,500 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: In 2011, the cost to my Department and its Offices of implementing the Official Languages Act 2003 amounted to €48,424. Costs incurred by the Agencies under my Department’s remit in terms of compliance with the Official Languages Act 2003 is a day-to-day administrative matter for the Agencies for which I have no direct function. However, I have referred the Question to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: Legislation is critical in terms of protecting workers and providing a base level of protection. However, in general, conditions of employment in excess of statutory entitlements are determined by negotiation and agreement between employers and employees or a trade union acting on their behalf. There are already in place a range of statutory entitlements aimed at supporting the goals of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Development (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The decision to locate the flagship Global Technology and Innovation Centre in Naas, Co. Kildare, to serve its global and regional customers in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Region, was taken by the Kerry Group. I understand from Enterprise Ireland that the agency during its meetings with the Kerry Group on the potential location of the Global Technology and Innovation Centre,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Proposed Legislation (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy’s question relates to a number of specific issues concerning the sale of second-hand or worn tyres. The issues raised by the Deputy do not relate to my own area of responsibility and I do not have any direct function in relation to these matters. Insofar as the obligation to pay VAT is concerned, this obligation is enforced by the Revenue Commissioners who operate under...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Pilot Training Colleges (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The correspondence from Deputy Mac Lochlainn referred to in the question was addressed to my colleague Mr Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, who, I understand, replied to the Deputy in late September. The e-mail correspondence was also copied to my Office. In this regard, the Deputy has since been in contact with officials in my Office who issued a response to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Site Visits (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I am informed by IDA Ireland that the data on site visits by potential investors is tracked on a regional basis. Balbriggan is located in the Dublin Region and, in the period from the beginning of 2008 to the end of August 2012, there had been a total of 666 site visits to that region. Details of the number of visits to the Dublin Region in each of the years 2008 to 2012 are set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Banking (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: Details in relation to the bank accounts used by my Department are set out below: Name of Bank Purpose of Bank Account Fees and Charges Interest Charged Interest Earned 1. Bank of Ireland Current Account for EFT Payments 2011: €491.27 2012*: €559.51 Nil Nil €5,154.51 €3,285.42 This is an interest bearing account therefore bank fees and charges are...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: On 10 October, the company concerned was placed into receivership. Enterprise Ireland is heavily involved in all segments of the pork sector and has an in-depth working relationship with the primary and secondary processors within the sector. Enterprise Ireland is available to work with all interested parties when a company faces trading difficulties and/or closure, in line with its...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Tribunals of Inquiry Reports (16 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I am unaware of any proceedings initiated in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (11 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: Funding of Town Councils is not an area of responsibility that falls within my Department’s remit but would fall within the aegis of my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The allocation of funding by the Agencies under the remit of my Department is a day-to-day administrative matter for the Agencies for which I have no direct function....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Grocery Industry Competition (11 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to enact legislation to regulate certain practices in the grocery goods sector. I intend to give effect to this commitment by including an enabling provision in the legislation currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, which will allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Proposed Legislation (11 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently preparing new legislation, the purpose of which will be to consolidate and streamline the Employment Permits Act 2003 and the Employment Permits Act 2006. It is anticipated this legislation will: - update provisions for the employment permits schemes in line with policy and economic developments since 2007; - provide the flexibility to deal with changing labour...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Proposed Legislation (11 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently preparing new legislation, the purpose of which will be to streamline the Employment Permits Act 2003 and the Employment Permits Act 2006. It is anticipated this legislation will: - update provisions for the employment permits schemes in line with policy and economic developments since 2007; - provide the flexibility to deal with changing labour market, work...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Prices (10 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I take Deputy Keaveney's point. We have a number of instruments in our armoury such as the rules concerning abusive dominance to prevent a dominant market player who uses certain practices. Cartels are not permitted to collude against the interests of suppliers. We propose to introduce a code of fair practice to govern dealings between suppliers and retailers. We are not seeking to remove...

Topical Issue Debate: Food Prices (10 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Keaveney for raising the issue of the relationship between the various stakeholders in the food supply chain, which has been the subject of much debate not just in Ireland but across Europe for some time. As the Deputy indicated, there is a sense that there is an imbalance of power between suppliers and the substantial retail chains. At national level, suppliers and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (10 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Department and its Agencies are extremely diligent and careful in their management and allocation of taxpayer monies in the support of different enterprise objective. The drawdown of exchequer monies through the Enterprise Development Agencies of my Department is based on commitments made in a given year and projected draw-downs against those commitments in the year in question. It must...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Legal Costs (10 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I can advise the Deputy that, in so far as it is possible to give an estimate at this point of the amount that will be incurred by my Department and its offices by way of legal costs in 2012, this is likely to be in the region of €1m. This is based on current knowledge and does not include, for instance, any legal proceedings that might be instigated between now and year end 2012, any...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Convention (9 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: Where was Salome?

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Appeals Tribunal (9 Oct 2012)

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. However, having made enquiries, I understand that the EAT received a redundancy claim from the person concerned on 31 July, 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Programme for Government Implementation (9 Oct 2012)

Richard Bruton: I would like to draw the Deputy’s attention to the publication in March 2012 of the first Annual Report setting out progress on the implementation of the Programme for Government and the intention by Government to publish the second annual report next March which will set out specific progress on implementation during the second year. Details of the progress to date for each of the...