Results 25,061-25,080 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Job Creation (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I held a series of meetings with company management, workers, public representatives and business following the TalkTalk closure announcement. The message from local stakeholders was clear, in that County Waterford had not benefited from advances in the good times and had been badly affected in the more difficult times of late. On foot of that I instructed my...

Job Creation (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for his comments. I have found the support of public representatives - Deputies Coffey, Conway, Deasy and Halligan - council members and the general business community helpful in this process. Deputy Halligan asked a number of questions. I am concerned about the statistics on the performance of IDA site visits. It would be appropriate to consider designating Waterford in...

Job Creation (12 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: There must be balance in this debate. Yesterday, I visited Genzyme, which is investing €150 million in an incredible state-of-the-art plant. It is being regarded by the parent company taking it over as a jewel in its crown, to use the CEO's words. The mayor, Councillor Pat Hayes, was very clear that Waterford is very much open for business and wants to see opportunities developed. The...

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (11 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The sale of alcohol is essentially regulated by the liquor licensing laws, which are the policy responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality and I have no direct function in this matter. It is the responsibility of each licensee to comply with the liquor licensing laws, including the law regarding the age of persons purchasing alcohol. The use of sales promotions and pricing...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: Following a Public Appointments Service recruitment and selection process for Chairperson of the Competition Authority, I appointed Ms Isolde Goggin as Chairperson with effect from 1 October 2011. The Public Appointments Service has completed the selection process for members of the Authority. I intend to appoint the members as soon as the necessary contractual details are finalised. In...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I received the final report of the Review Group on 2 August 2011. The arrangements necessary for the printing and launch of the report have been completed and it will be published on 14 October.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (11 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I have been informed by IDA Ireland that so far in 2011, the agency has hosted three site visits by potential investors to Mullingar. In selecting locations to show companies, IDA Ireland seeks to include locations which have been affected by closures or job losses. However, while IDA Ireland seeks to influence the selection of location, the final decision on location is taken in all cases...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (11 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: As part of the Employment Control Framework, which is the mechanism for the management of reduction of overall staff numbers, my Department has agreed staff numbers and annual operational ceilings with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These relate to the staffing levels of my Department, its offices and agencies for the period to 2014. In general, there is no indication that...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (11 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The information sought is as follows: Organisations for which Employment Control Framework has been agreed Current numbers in place (full-time equivalents) The Competition Authority 37.1 35 x County Enterprise Boards 130.9 Enterprise Ireland 811 Forfás 105.5 The Health and Safety Authority 182.1 Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority 14 IDA Ireland 246 National...

Written Answers — Registrar of Friendly Societies: Registrar of Friendly Societies (11 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: As advised the Deputy on 27 September, the annual report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies for 2009 (published on the websites of my Department and the Companies Registration Office) indicates that a total of 1,045 Industrial and Provident Societies on the register, and annual returns in respect of these societies are outstanding in 248 cases. The numbers of societies that have failed...

Written Answers — Trade Relations: Trade Relations (11 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: Details of Ireland's trade with Brazil over recent years are set out in the following table: Merchandise Trade (€m) Services Trade (€m) Total Trade (€m) Trade Surplus (€m) Exports Imports Exports Imports Exports Imports 2008 183 214 199 70 382 284 98 2009 211 158 218 10 429 168 261 2010 260 166 180 49 440 215 225 Jan to June 2011 138 91 * * * * * *data not yet available

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (11 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I have had no direct correspondence or representations from city and county managers, chief fire officers and assistant chief fire officer or representatives on their behalf about indemnifying staff. The issue of indemnifying members of Local Authority staff does not fall within my remit. Any such matter is for the Local Authority concerned and, from a Ministerial perspective, would fall...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: These allegations were brought to the attention of my Department some time ago. Enterprise Ireland examined the issues at the time and was satisfied that there was no impropriety involved. Nonetheless, in light of the continuing concerns of the Deputy's correspondent, my Department asked Enterprise Ireland to investigate the matter further in October 2010. The matter was also referred to...

Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: It is the same Bill produced by Fianna Fáil three years ago. Added value has not been created in the meantime.

Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: First, I thank Deputy Tóibín for having this debate. I want to make clear the Government will put in place a robust system that will protect workers but also have the flexibility to allow the maximum creation and protection of employment. That is clearly what was sought by the Duffy-Walsh report. It flagged the need to reform radically this system. That is a pillar of the programme for...

Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Tóibín for introducing the legislation which the Government will not oppose. I accept the good intentions that lie behind it. However, in the months since Deputy O'Dea introduced a very similar Bill none of the imperfections in that Fianna Fáil Bill have been addressed. This Bill has not moved on the debate or set about dealing with the problems the Government needs to...

Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (7 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: -----and brought down wages across every sector. It is not appropriate for him to come in and lecture us on the previous Government's approach. It cut the minimum wage and also knew in 2008 about the frailty of the legislation. In 2009 it introduced legislation which languished right up to the time of the general election with nothing being done to reinforce or strengthen the position of...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (6 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: My Department does not provide direct funding or grants to businesses but provides funding to a number of State Agencies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) and Enterprise Ireland, through whom assistance is delivered directly to businesses. Enterprise Ireland (EI) is the Government agency responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous business sector....

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (6 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: The EU Directive on Temporary Agency Workers (2008/14/EC) is due to be transposed into Irish law by 5 December 2011 and my Department is working to meet this deadline. A central aim of the Directive is to ensure protection of temporary agency workers by applying the principle of equal treatment in their basic working and employment conditions. Of course a key feature of the Directive, is...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (6 Oct 2011)

Richard Bruton: Proposed expenditure by my Department, its Offices and Agencies on Value for Money consultancy exercises in 2011 is €119,000.