Results 25,021-25,040 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy with regard to the external reports commissioned by previous Ministers in the Department from 2004 to 2008 is provided in tabular format. In the five year period, forty one reports were carried out at a total cost to the Department of €4,503,136. In general, external reports are required, in the main, where the necessary expertise is not available...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The role of my Department is to drive Ireland's competitiveness and productivity by creating the conditions where enterprise, entrepreneurship and innovation can flourish and quality employment opportunities are grown and maintained. Operating under the aegis of my Department direct assistance to start-up and growth companies is provided by a number of Agencies including the County and City...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The various EU State Aid regulations and frameworks set out the types of activities that can be supported by the Member States and stipulate the maximum percentage of eligible costs that can be aided. These ceilings vary according to the type of aid measure involved but typically allow higher rates of aid for small and medium sized enterprises. Most measures are horizontal and do not have...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 32 together. Ireland's Competitiveness Scorecard 2011 was published by the National Competitiveness Council on 6th September. This annual benchmarking report analyses Ireland's competitiveness performance using 127 statistical indicators. These range from measures such as economic growth and quality of life, to policy inputs that will drive future...

Written Answers — Company Law: Company Law (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Company Law Review Group (CLRG) gave in-depth consideration, over a period of 4 years, to the reform of partnership law, in particular to the possibility of introducing Limited Liability Partnerships for accountants and solicitors. In general, the CLRG did not find any strong tide of opinion running in favour of introducing Limited Liability Partnerships. However, the Group did say that...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: Details are provided in the table of the amount that was spent on consultants by my Department in 2009, 2010 and the amount that will be spent on consultants in 2011. It should be noted that my Department processes payments for expenditure on consultancy relating to the Offices under the remit of my Department and these payments are included in the figures provided. Year Expenditure on...

Written Answers — Skill Shortages: Skill Shortages (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: FÁS Jobs Ireland is an online marketplace where jobseekers and employers can find information about employment opportunities in Ireland and across Europe. As responsibility for the FÁS Employment Services has transferred to the Minister for Social Protection I have referred your question to her for consideration and direct reply to you. With regard to the identification of new skills for...

Written Answers — Emigration Levels: Emigration Levels (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: Both inward and outward migration have been a feature of Ireland's labour force over the last three decades and they will continue to be a feature of a modern globalised economy where mobile workers follow job opportunities. Recent CSO data shows that 76,400 people were estimated to have emigrated in the year ended April 2011 while 42,300 entered Ireland in the same period giving a net...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I announced last week that I have begun the preparation of a comprehensive Jobs Strategy at the request of the Taoiseach and Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Jobs. Building on the Jobs Initiative of last May, this Strategy will provide an action plan to support the creation of employment in the economy. It is only by creating the right environment for businesses to expand that we...

Written Answers — Export Markets: Export Markets (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The agreed Programme for Government sets out clearly that Ireland's economic recovery must be export-led. That Programme commits us to achieve the maximum growth in exports, including the long-term development of new markets. The Government has given a commitment to progressively implement the recommendations in the strategy and action plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015,...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: My priority is that any decision taken by Bank of America (BOA) will have minimal impact on employees at the Carrick on Shannon operation and ensure that jobs are maintained at the facility. I emphasised this when I travelled to the USA recently and held discussions with BOA CEO and senior management. While the company has not made any final sale decisions, I am satisfied as to its current...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The estimated cost associated with the administration function (back-office, corporate services, corporate facilities etc) of Enterprise Ireland for 2011 is €13.2m out of an estimated operating budget (pay and non-pay) of €90m. This represents 14.7% of the overall operating expenditure. The balance of the operating costs, in addition to operating a network of 9 regional offices and 31...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The issue of restructuring the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) has been in the public domain since the publication of the McCarthy Group Report in 2009. I am of the view that it is timely and appropriate to re-structure, and re-focus, how the State delivers its support to the indigenous micro-enterprise sector which is a key component of the small business sector and will be vital...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I have not formally approached the European Investment Bank to co-fund capital building projects. However, my Department has explored EIB funding options. Under Cycle 5 the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI), one project utilised European Investment Bank funding in order to co-fund a capital building project. The project involved was the TCD Biomedical Building which...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: Responsibility for the regulation of utilities is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which is an independent statutory body under the remit of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Ireland's wholesale and retail electricity and gas markets are characterised by vigorous competition regulated by the CER. From 1 October, residential gas consumers...

Written Answers — Public Contracts: Public Contracts (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of public contracts awarded by my Department in the years 2009 and 2010 is set out in tabular form below. The information provided outlines: nationality of firm; value of contract; nature of contract; and size of firm. In awarding contracts, the Department had full regard for the public procurement procedures and awarded the contracts in...

Written Answers — Export Markets: Export Markets (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government sets out clearly that Ireland's economic recovery must be export-led and commits us to achieving the maximum growth in exports. The Government has given a commitment to progressively implement the recommendations in the strategy and action plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015, entitled Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, developed by my...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: On 26 July 2011 the Government agreed a package of radical reforms to the Joint Labour Committee and Registered Employment Agreement wage settling mechanisms. The reform proposals deal with recommendations made and issues raised in the Independent Report on the JLC/REA systems (Duffy/Walsh report) as well as the outcome of the recent High Court ruling in the Grace Fried Chicken...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: Both I and the Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock, TD, continue to have meetings, as the opportunity arises, with the EU Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, with a view to building strong relationships to ensure that Ireland maximises the benefits of our position in the EU in terms of jobs and opportunities to further develop our economy. The...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 to 85, inclusive, 89 and 90 together. Figures in respect of the number of jobs created or lost in firms assisted by the industrial development agencies, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development, are compiled annually in the Forfás Annual Employment Survey. As the information is compiled on an annualised basis, the figures in respect of 2011...