Results 23,841-23,860 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 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 — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 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 — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The matter referred to by the Deputy is essentially concerned with the operation of the payments system and the current difficulties being experienced by consumers and businesses alike. Regulatory responsibility in relation to the national payments system lies with the Central Bank. The Deputy will be aware that the Central Bank is actively engaged with the financial institution concerned...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal: Employment Appeals Tribunal (10 Jul 2012)

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. However, having made enquiries, I understand that the Tribunal has already issued notices of hearing to the parties and that the hearing is scheduled to take place on 1st August 2012 in Naas. The Employment Appeals Tribunal has seen a...

Written Answers — Youth Enterprise Initiatives: Youth Enterprise Initiatives (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The role of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to develop indigenous potential and stimulate economic activity at a local level primarily through the provision of financial and technical support for the development of small and micro-enterprises that employ less than ten people. Encouraging and promoting a youth enterprise culture is an important area of activity for the...

Written Answers — Youth Unemployment: Youth Unemployment (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Youth unemployment initiatives are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science. I am in the process of introducing a Microfinance Loan Fund, which has a significant entrepreneurship focus, for all would-be entrepreneurs including young entrepreneurs who are unemployed. Loans will be made available to start-up, newly established, or growing microenterprises,...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Minister for Small Business, John Perry, chairs the Advisory Group on Small Business. This group published the Voice of Small Business Report in 2011, which was submitted to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Employment as the recommended small business actions for consideration in the Action Plan for Jobs. The Voice of Small Business contains fifty-seven actions across twelve broad...

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: There is close strategic alignment across Government in both identifying and responding to the skills needs of highly globalised and competitive industries operating in Ireland. The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) advises the Irish Government on current and future skills needs of the economy and on other labour market issues that impact on Ireland's enterprise and employment...

Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012: Order for Report Stage (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: We debated these issues on Committee Stage. Before discussing amendment No. 3, I wish to clarify a point. In case Deputy Tóibín believes there is just €10 million available for lending from this fund, the sum of €10 million is the equity going into the micro finance fund from the Department's budget. That is the equity on which borrowings of up to €25 million can be leveraged. In...

Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The vehicle we chose to establish is one that seeks to lean on the established experience of Social Finance Foundation. It was designed to be in operation in conjunction with the scheme as quickly as possible using the established experienced network. Social Finance Foundation has constituted an established network and had been channelling money to First Step Microfinance. It has...

Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (10 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputies, particularly Deputy Tóibín, who has been present for all Stages. I believe the initiative has cross-party support. It is filling a gap that other countries have filled long before us. The Deputy, to be fair to him, has been advocating this measure for a considerable period. It was considered many times but we have succeeded in getting it across the line. I thank...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal: Employment Appeals Tribunal (5 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Under the Redundancy Payment Scheme eligible employees (with at least two years continuous service in fully insurable employment) are entitled to a minimum statutory lump sum payment on being made redundant. A redundancy situation arises in general where an employee's job no longer exists and he/she is not replaced. An employee is entitled to two weeks pay for every year of service, with a...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: My Department introduced an Attendance Management Policy in March 2011 which applies to all staff of the Department and its associated Offices. The policy is based on Department of Finance Circular 09/2010 on the Management of Sick Leave. It sets out clear procedures for reporting, recording and management of sick leave and is intended to help managers adopt best practice approaches to...

Written Answers — Prompt Payments: Prompt Payments (4 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: Under the Government Decision of 2009 on Prompt Payments by Central Government, Departments and Agencies are required to report to my Department on the statistics relating to the number of payments made within 15 days, within 16 to 30 days and number made after 30 from receipt of invoices in the Departments. This information is published quarterly on my Department's website and also on the...

Written Answers — Credit Availability: Credit Availability (4 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: While my colleague the Minister for Finance, Mr. Michael Noonan TD has responsibility for the banks and bank lending, I am working closely with him to address the issue of access to credit for enterprise in Ireland at this critical time. Access to credit is a key element to building a vibrant and sustainable enterprise base. As the Deputy is aware, I am currently bringing two pieces of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The attached tables indicate the number of increments paid in each of the salary ranges for 2011 and the estimated number that will be paid in 2012. The payment of increments is conditional on satisfactory performance and compliance with sick leave regulations. 2011 - Increments paid #100,001 Total Total Cost €303,116.16 €129,367.34 €77,724.21 €16,029.55 €46,726.05 €23,317.26...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (4 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: During the last six months I re-appointed the former Director of Corporate Enforcement to the post of Acting Director of Corporate Enforcement for a period of up to six months. His pension is abated for the period that he has agreed to remain on in his post in an acting capacity. Also, at the request of the Chairman of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State...

Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No.3): Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy's amendment would remove the exclusions from the proposed definition of remuneration, restoring the position that obtained as regards the scope of employment regulation orders, EROs, that applied in their operation prior to the High Court decision in July 2011. This would have the effect of restoring arrangements with regard to Sunday working which were acknowledged by the...

Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No.3): Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2012)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 27: In page 34, to delete lines 35 to 37 and substitute the following: " "(fa) a reference to any registered employment agreement or employment regulation order which applies to the employee and confirmation of where the employee may obtain a copy of such agreement or order,",". This is essentially a tidying-up amendment designed to ensure the provision is consistent with...