Results 24,681-24,700 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: This Government is fully committed to its role of facilitating employment creation. Since coming into office, we have been working hard to create the improved economic conditions which will support the maintenance of existing jobs and the creation of new ones. Our objective is to put the country back on the road to economic recovery and full employment. Both the Jobs Initiative, announced...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: As part of the Forfás Annual Employment Survey, the overall cost per job is calculated each year by reference to the cost of jobs created during, and sustained at the end of, a seven-year period. The accepted accounting measure for cost per job is 'Cost per job Sustained'. The cost per job sustained by the development agencies Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development for the...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, the role of Government is not to create jobs directly, but to create the appropriate business environment by making the right policy decisions to help enterprise to grow, to create new jobs and maintain existing jobs. Since I came into office, I have been working with my Government colleagues to achieve these objectives. We launched a Jobs Initiative last May,...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 102 to 104, inclusive, together. I am currently finalising an Action Plan for Jobs for Government approval which will set out a series of clear actionable measures across Government to support the creation and retention of jobs in a range of sectors. In preparing the Action Plan, I have consulted with my Ministerial colleagues and with a wide range of...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: My Department, and the relevant State Agencies under its remit, have a clear focus on the development and support of manufacturing and services firms in Ireland. In order that enterprises can be successful and thrive and grow, they must be efficient, competitive and innovative. In this regard, realizing the potential to increase efficiency and improve competitiveness across Irish...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: The issue of restructuring the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is under consideration within my Department and various options have been considered. It is my intention, however, to ensure that any opportunity presented by CEB restructuring will not simply be about reducing or changing the numbers of CEBs in existence but will be used as an opportunity to fundamentally reform,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. Last year, I secured the agreement of Government to draft legislation to ease the regulatory burden on co-operative societies and to make it easier to start up and run a co-operative as an alternative form of enterprise organisation. I hope to publish a Draft Bill during 2012 and I expect that the amendments I am proposing will make the...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: Data on the levels of employment in the economy is compiled by the Central Statistics Office on a quarterly basis through their Quarterly National Household Survey. This survey measures the total numbers in employment and the total number of people unemployed each quarter and records the net annual change in these categories. Figures in respect of the number of jobs created or lost in firms...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: In general terms, business decline, resulting in job losses, often arises due to a combination of issues affecting the long-term viability of a company, rather than a singular difficulty. In this context, some of the most commonly stated primary reasons for business decline and consequent job losses include: · significant decreases in customer/market demand due to the recession in Ireland...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 106 and 108 together. The Government is determined to address the jobs crisis in a real way. If we are to create the numbers of jobs we need we must build aggressively on the major strengths we have. We recognise that indigenous Irish companies have the potential to significantly increase their trade, in particular their exports, and become real...

Trade Relations (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: There has been an increase in our trade to the four BRIC countries. The Deputy's point is right, overall. Even though over a four-year period there has been a 50% increase in trade to the BRIC countries, as a proportion of our overall trade, it continues to be modest. One of the ambitions that was set in the programme for Government was to build on our efforts in this area. To be fair, it...

Employment Rights (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 8, 15, 31 and 45 together. The number of cases that have arisen in recent times of companies becoming insolvent and not engaging in timely and adequate dialogue with their employees is regrettable. I fully understand the pressures companies are under, but this should not be an excuse for treating employees shabbily. There are various legislative...

Employment Rights (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: The various agencies and supports that have been outlined have been active in some of these disputes, and in some cases there have been successful resolutions, as the Deputy probably knows. There is active discussion ongoing in some cases, with SIPTU involved with the Labour Relations Commission and a proposal being put. In another of the cases, following discussions between Mandate and...

Employment Rights (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: I do not know of the case. From the Deputy's statement, it sounds like the case has gone through the agencies for which I am responsible. At this point it is an issue in respect of honouring a recommendation. I will seek information on behalf of the Deputy but it is not available to me at the moment.

Employment Rights (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: I would be advised by the Labour Relations Commission, which is the body with experience in this sphere. It is a very hands-on agency and it is not a question of allocating a particular section to work on this. It is every man to the pumps in these cases and from the chief executive down its best effort is put into finding a solution. Sometimes it is not possible to bring about a solution...

Employment Rights (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: The point must be made that the State is standing by workers in these situations. For example, where cases have been pursued under the Redundancy Acts, it is the State that pays workers and ensures they get their rights. The State would then have to pursue the employer, as is required under the law, to recover the money from the employer in those cases. It is not the case that the State is...

Employment Rights (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: We seek to ensure it is not the taxpayer that is always left having to deal with these situations. The State uses the machinery to protect both itself and workers in these cases. I understand that in the case of Jane Norman, the administration that occurred there has recognised insolvency status under Irish legislation. The money due to the workers will-----

Employment Rights (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: -----fall to be paid from the insolvency payments scheme. The State will honour the position of those workers. A number of cases are still to be heard by the rights commissioner service in respect of employees from the company. The truth is that the State seeks to support both sides in resolving disputes. Where they fail and there is genuine insolvency, the State obviously honours the...

Employment Rights (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: Some of those issues are way beyond my responsibilities. My understanding in the case Deputy Boyd Barrett raised is that a UK administration was appointed. The workers were not given their proper right of notice in that case. It does appear to be an insolvency and under law the power of the Minister in such a case is-----

Employment Rights (25 Jan 2012)

Richard Bruton: I will investigate whether that is the case and if that is undermining the position. My understanding is that the insolvency fund will be called into action to honour commitments to employees. I will take note of what the Deputy said. He said that the company that went into administration is still trading. I will investigate that. Deputy Buttimer asked what the next move is in respect of...