Results 23,721-23,740 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: My Department did not make any grant payments to any of the structures of local Government in 2011 or to date in 2012.

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (18 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Driving export growth is central to our economic recovery and is a key focus of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs. In March 2012, Enterprise Ireland (EI) established the Potential Exporters Division, as one of the key measure in the Action Plan for Jobs. Its role is to stimulate greater activity within companies across all regions and to reorient those demonstrating real growth...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (18 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I understand from Enterprise Ireland that, in 2010, the agency provided financial support of €440,000 in the form of repayable preference shares to the company concerned. In addition, in 2008, the agency provided an eBusiness management initiative grant of €19,775 for the development of the company's website and a trade fair grant of €5,250. The company have filed audited accounts for...

Written Answers — Ministerial Advisers: Ministerial Advisers (18 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: There are currently two Special Advisers serving in my Department and both report to me as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Written Answers — Ministerial Advisers: Ministerial Advisers (18 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The following table shows the number of political advisers employed by my predecessors in each of the past five years: Date Minister Number of Political Advisers Jan 2007 – May 2008 Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D.Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 2 May 2008 – March 2010 Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D.Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 3 March 2010 – Jan 2011...

Written Answers — Alcohol Pricing: Alcohol Pricing (18 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Since the repeal of the Restrictive Practices legislation, no statutory basis exists for me, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, to make a minimum pricing order. I am aware of concerns raised about the high level of consumption of alcohol and the consequential detrimental effects caused to individuals and to society in general, particularly from a health aspect. Government's...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I am currently in the process of introducing a Microenterprise Loan Fund that will facilitate the growth and expansion of viable microenterprises from all industry sectors across the country, that have been refused access to credit from the banks. The Fund has a significant entrepreneurship focus to encourage all would-be entrepreneurs across the country who may be unemployed, but have the...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 makes provision for the safety, health and welfare of persons at work, for the enforcement of the statutory provisions and the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work. The Act imposes duties on employers, employees, and persons in control of places of work as well as general duties on...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise Ireland approved funding support in the form of repayable preference shares to the company in 2009, which was drawn down in 2010. The funding was provided as a contribution to the capital requirements of the company, to help it grow its business through increased exports as well as to sustain and create employment in Ireland. It was approved at a time when many viable Irish...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216, 218 and 219 together. The achievement of balanced regional growth continues to be a core objective of Government. Promoting entrepreneurship and facilitating the key infrastructural needs of Irish enterprise across all regions is vital to ensuring a vigorous pipeline of new business leaders, new business ideas and entrepreneurial activity. Enterprise...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 220 and 221 together. 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 annualised basis. The survey shows that in the four year period 2008 to 2011 a total of 332 jobs were created in IDA Ireland's client companies in County Kerry. The...

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together. Ireland remains a very successful centre for ICT operations with almost 97,000 people employed in ICT firms in Ireland. Of these, almost 74,000 are employed in ICT companies that are clients of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Shannon Development and Údarás na Gaeltachta. These client companies exported goods and services to the value...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The total of funds allocated by Enterprise Ireland (EI) in 2011 was €336m. Direct funding for enterprise development totalled €197m, with an additional €55m either administered on behalf of third parties, or disbursements to other state agencies. The net cost of operating the agency (i.e. the costs associated with providing services to client companies, and the administration of the...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Action Plan for Jobs included a list of actions to be pursued for the Manufacturing sector. One of the key actions was that a Manufacturing Development Forum be established to assist the Government in identifying the needs of manufacturing enterprises and to progress a transformation agenda. To this end I recently established a Manufacturing Development Forum whose membership...

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: On 22 June Forfas published a study, Key Skills for Enterprise to Trade Internationally, which sets out the skills and talent needed to drive Ireland's trade and export performance in both existing and emerging overseas markets. The study provides a detailed blueprint for adjustments to our education, training and professional development to align skills with the needs of exporting...

Written Answers — Ministerial Allowances: Ministerial Allowances (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Ministers and Ministers of State are entitled to the same allowances as Members of the Oireachtas with the some exceptions. No additional untaxed allowances are paid to either of the Ministers of State or myself by my Department in respect of our official duties.As the Deputy will be aware, Oireachtas expense allowances are exempt from taxation under section 836 of the Taxes Consolidation Act...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Ireland remains a very open and welcoming country for non-Irish nationals in our Labour Force. Quarter 1 2012 labour market statistics show there are 274,000 non-Irish nationals in our labour force of just over 2 million. Ireland remains a very attractive location for Foreign Direct Investment. Favourable demographics and consistent investment in education ensure a plentiful supply of highly...

Written Answers — Trade Relations: Trade Relations (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Turkey is a significant market for Irish goods and services. Merchandise exports to Turkey have been developing strongly in recent years and in 2011 were worth over €457 million. In 2010 our services exports increased by 23% over the previous year and were worth €374 million. Trade Missions are a key instrument to promote growing trade opportunities in Turkey. In March of this year,...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Job creation is at the top of the Government's agenda. The Action Plan for Jobs outlines the Government's plan to rebuild the economy and create jobs. The Enterprise Development agencies will be at the forefront of implementing the Action Plan for Jobs and will ensure that local enterprises can maximise their contribution to economic and jobs growth. In 2011, Enterprise Ireland paid over...

Written Answers — Sick Pay Scheme: Sick Pay Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the concerns raised in the correspondence to the Deputy that transferring responsibility for the payment of employees' sick pay to employers will add to the cost of doing business. I have received similar views from a number of Chambers of Commerce and individual business people on the matter. The Government is concerned about the extent of dependence on State-funded sickness...