Results 24,401-24,420 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: Are we having a question and answer session?

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: Yes, I will do so. Senator Mullins has again raised the issue of the IDA's regional strategy. It is a big challenge in that a lot of the companies coming here look for deep labour market pools. They are seeking city and university-type environments. The potential for the IDA to deliver on the 50% target is through examining expansions of companies that are already located here. PayPal is...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: Exactly and in an emergency it is important that policy tools are introduced which will work, not ones which may have a political appeal but which will expose the State to very great implications.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: When I responded to Senator White's questions I described the actions we were taking but she was not in the Chamber to hear me.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Government of which Senator White was a member refused to have a partial loan guarantee. We have introduced for the first time the notion of a microfinance scheme-----

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: I have said it will happen in the second quarter of this year.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: I did not promise. We only made explicit quarterly commitments in this document. We have committed to introducing it in the second quarter for the reason that it must come before this House as a legislative proposal because the Oireachtas is underwriting the State providing a guarantee to banks and this is an action which requires legislative underpinning. Ministers cannot willy-nilly...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: That may well be; they have codded a lot of people over a long period. We now see that for the first time there is a real firm hold in the Department of Finance. John Moran is the assistant Secretary General-----

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: -----and he has brought a new dynamism and a new understanding of the needs of business and results are being seen in that area. In reply to Senator Mooney, I have not yet seen that report so I cannot comment on it but I will read it. Senator Higgins made the point that we need to take a forensic attitude to the banks. We are already developing some of the elements of the strategic...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: In reply to Senator O'Brien, I will look at that proposal. It probably is a matter to be dealt with by the Department of Finance but there would be company registration obligations involved. On the wider issue, if the Senator can supply examples of administrative compliance problems that stand up to scrutiny, I would like to see them because the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, has a...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: It was encouraged by the previous Government and by the present Government. It was not possible to get across the line and I do not foresee a sudden change of heart. The directive, which is an obligation on us, has been transposed in the most flexible way possible while still honouring the derogation. Amendments were put forward in the other House that sought to make it more flexible but...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: To reply to Senator Heffernan's question, there will be a local autonomy. There will be a local loan assessment board which will not have councillors on it but will be independent, much like the existing one. It will have grant giving powers but it will be under a service level agreement with Enterprise Ireland. It is delegated autonomy within an agreement, and that is the right way to...

Seanad: Redundancy Payments (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter on the Adjournment. As he stated, the workers at the Lagan Brick factory in Kingscourt, County 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...

Seanad: Redundancy Payments (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: I am happy to provide both sides with a copy of the comments I have made. Retraining options comprise a longer term issue that does not fall directly within my brief. There are considerable challenges to be faced in seeking to develop retraining options for people who have been in the construction sector. Part of the jobs plan we have been discussing involves determining where there are...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: At the outset I would like to thank Senators who made submissions when we were putting together the Action Plan for Jobs 2012. They will see that some of the suggestions put forward by Senators are reflected in the action plan and others are still under consideration. I reiterate that this is an annual process. It is not a case of producing our best thoughts and then retiring from the...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Senator has not lost his sparkle over the years. I will not seek to debate that issue for fear that the Acting Chairman-----

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: We all need to think of what we, as a community, can do to promote employment. The local heroes initiative was very interesting because it involved fairly simple things, such as using technology to advertise local services more effectively. It brought more people into the town who picked local things to do and generated activity. A lot of our current challenge also involves giving people...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal: Employment Appeals Tribunal (1 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Employment Appeals Tribunal (the 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 received a claim from the person concerned on 21 April 2011. The Tribunal has seen a significant increase in its caseload in recent years, as it is one of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The cost of invoiced receipts received to date in relation to the media launch of the 'Action Plan for Jobs', which was launched on 13 February 2012, is €1,551.57. This covers the design elements of the 'Action Plan for Jobs' and includes the design of report cover, pop-ups, backdrop banner, podium banner, leaflet and web banner.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Mar 2012)

Richard Bruton: The number of reports printed in respect of the "Action Plan for Jobs", which was launched 13 February 2012, was 1,000 of the main report and 200 of the "Action Plan for Jobs – Table of Actions". The cost of invoiced receipts received to date in relation to the supply of 1,000 reports is €6,745 and €1,551.57 for design of the report covers, pop-ups, backdrop banner, podium banner,...