Results 24,321-24,340 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (22 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: Workers at the Lagan Brick factory in Kingscourt, Co Cavan have been involved in a protest outside the company's premises in a dispute over the decision by the company to close its operation on 15 December last with the loss of 29 jobs. The union wanted to retain maximum employment at the plant and secure satisfactory redundancy terms for any workers that lose their jobs. Subsequently,...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (22 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the documentation provided by the Deputy relates to the position of the Construction Industry Federation and SIPTU respectively in relation to amendments proposed by the CIF to the terms and conditions of employment for workers in the construction sector currently set out in the Registered Employment Agreement. I understand that the parties to the Joint Industrial Council...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (22 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Labour Court are independent in the exercise of their quasi-judicial functions. However, having made enquiries, I understand that in the case of the person referred to, the Tribunal issued a determination, pursuant to the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007, in her favour on 24 January 2012. Pursuant to the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, the...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (22 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Labour Court are independent in the exercise of their quasi-judicial functions. However, having made enquiries, I understand that in the case of the person referred to, the Tribunal issued a determination, pursuant to the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007, in her favour on 24th January 2012. Pursuant to the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, the...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: As part of my responsibility for workplace health and safety I have responsibility for the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 which sets out, among other things, the roles and obligations of both employers and employees in the workplace and this includes those working in water-sports activities. The Health and Safety Authority, which comes under the remit of my Department, is the...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise Ireland supports communities to develop locally owned Community Enterprise Centres, (CECs) which have enabled entrepreneurs to establish, provide employment and to grow their businesses in their own locality, by providing a physical and human support network for emerging entrepreneurs and micro industry. The CEC scheme was designed as a community led initiative in the form of a...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The maintenance of information in relation to the Deputy's question is a day to day operational matter for the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) operating under my Department's remit. I have therefore asked that the relevant Business Unit based within Enterprise Ireland who perform an administrative coordination function in respect of the CEBs, to compile the information required,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 to 224, inclusive, together. On the evening of 16 January 2012, on the margins of a meeting about another matter, I was made aware on an informal basis by an official in my Department of a conversation in which the Director of Corporate Enforcement had discussed his plans to retire. At that stage I was satisfied that discussions were on-going between my...

Written Answers — Labour Court Recommendations: Labour Court Recommendations (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Labour Court conducts hearings on trade disputes and issues recommendations setting out its opinion on the dispute and the terms on which it should be settled. The Labour Court is a court of last resort in the industrial relations process, and it is expected that the parties come to the process in good faith and consequently are prepared to give serious consideration to the Court's...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The information sought by the Deputy is a day to day matter for the agencies. In this regard, I have referred the question to the agencies for direct response to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The information sought by the Deputy is as follows: Agency Board Members Remuneration 2011*Chairperson: Member: Enterprise Ireland 12 €20,520 €11,970 Forfás 13 €20,520 €11,970 IDA Ireland 12 €20,520 €11,970 Science Foundation Ireland 12 €20,520 €11,970 National Consumer Agency 13 €20,520 €11,970 Personal Injuries Assessment Board 11 €20,520 €11,970...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: Details of the Offices and Agencies under the aegis of my Department are set out in Tables 1 and 2 below. In providing this information, I have taken it that the Deputy's reference to internal organisations refers to the Offices of the Department. Table 1: Offices under the aegis of the Department Companies Registration Office Employment Appeals Tribunal Labour Court Labour Relations...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: In accordance with the Government Decision of 16th September 1983, as amended by the Government Decision of 7th February 1984, Ministers of State attached to my Department use their private cars for official duties. Under this arrangement mileage expenses are claimed in accordance with rates and regulations set down by the Department of Finance. The mileage rates payable include capital...

Written Answers — Science and Technology Groups: Science and Technology Groups (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: Science Foundation Ireland's capital grant budget for 2012 is €156m. The SFI awards, which are awarded on a competitive basis, are made directly to research performing institutions in the state and are typically multi-annual in nature spanning a three to five year term. Such awards are subject to regular rigorous scientific and strategic review by SFI. The Foundation's pay budget for 2012...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: My Department processes applications in respect of the different types of employment permits and all applications are processed in line with the Employment Permits Act 2006. I wish to advise the Deputy that a work permit application in respect of the above named was received in my Department on 13 March 2012. Work permit applications are processed in date of receipt order by permit type and...

Written Answers — Departmental Functions: Departmental Functions (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: My Department's strategies for promoting exports and winning inward investment have been remarkably successful. A tailored approach has been developed in each of our priority markets to ensure the most effective return in terms of export growth and inward investment, from the resources at my disposal. This involves the enterprise development agencies taking the lead on the practical...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: Later today I will travel to China for an intensive, seven day, four city programme to pursue trade and investment opportunities with that country. In addition to my own programme, early next week I will accompany the Taoiseach at meetings with senior Chinese leaders in Beijing. These meetings will build on the political and economic momentum achieved during the recent very successful visit...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: China is a key priority market for Enterprise Ireland with growth in Irish company exports to this market of 10% in 2010 and in excess of 10% in 2011. There are now over 130 Irish companies with permanent offices in China. Enterprise Ireland has three offices in China, in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Enterprise Ireland's staff complement in China totals ten, comprised of two...

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The National Minimum Wage Act, 2000 (Prescribed Courses of Study or Training) Regulations, 2000 (S. I. No. 99 of 2000) set out the criteria to which a course of study/training must comply in order for an employer to apply the sub-minimum rates as required under Section 16 of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2000. The Statutory Instrument provides that structured training must be split into...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (21 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The European Progress Microfinance Facility is a European Investment Fund (EIF) initiative to support entrepreneurship and employment through microfinance activities. It was established by the EU Commission in 2010. It does not directly provide microfinance to either Member States' Governments or small businesses. Instead, following a rigorous due diligence process, selected microfinance...