Results 25,381-25,400 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: North South cooperation issues are currently dealt with by a dedicated Section within the Innovation and Investment Division of my Department. This Section coordinates policy development and implementation on North South cooperation in relation to trade, R&D and innovation, including the programmes of InterTrade Ireland and the InterReg Enterprise Programme. The Section also supports...

Written Answers — Credit Availability: Credit Availability (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: As part of the Jobs Initiative announced in this House on, 10th May, both the Minister for Finance and I confirmed the Government commitment to initiating a tendering process for the development of a temporary partial credit guarantee scheme. A call for competition for the design of a scheme was published on e-tenders on 15 June. The design of the scheme will draw from international...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: My Department processes applications in respect of the different types of employment permits - Green Cards Permits, Work Permits, Spousal/Dependant Permits and Intra-company Transfer Permits. All applications are processed in line with the Employment Permits Act 2006. I wish to advise the Deputy that this specific Work Permit application was received in the Employment Permits Section on the...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Sales Law Review Group was established in November 2008 to review the legislation governing the sale of goods and supply of services. It was asked also to assess the implications for Irish consumer rights and Irish consumer law of the EU Commission proposal for a Directive on Consumer Rights published in October 2008. An interim report on the proposed Directive prepared by the Review...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Discussions on the proposed Directive have been taking place in recent months between the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council under the co-determination procedure. The commencement of the trilogue talks followed the adoption of the Directive by Member States in Council on 24 January 2011, and a plenary session of the European Parliament on 24 March at which MEPs decided to...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Schemes: Enterprise Support Schemes (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise Ireland works with client companies that fall into three main categories as follows: Manufacturing and internationally traded services companies employing ten or more people (and with a focus on exporting) including those in the construction sector; Innovation led start-ups with the potential to grow on international markets (and entrepreneurs with the ability to initiate...

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "noting: - that this Government reversed the recent cut in the national minimum wage within its first three months in office; - that the restoration of the national minimum wage is the result of negotiations by the new Government with the EU-IMF, because it is committed to a fairer approach to...

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Opposition for raising this matter and it is important to have a debate on it in the House. We must consider the context in which this debate is occurring. We have had the most catastrophic collapse in employment in this economy. We have lost 340,000 jobs and 450,000 people are on the live register. We must strike a balance between regulating detailed arrangements governing the...

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: As we look to recovery, it is crucial that we examine, for example, the tourism sector. The Government believes that this sector offers real opportunity for job creation. We have cut the VAT rate, eliminated the travel tax, reduced employers' PRSI and opened up opportunities for the sector. It is the Government's ambition to see 1 million extra tourists visit Ireland. To take advantage,...

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Let us not ignore the fact that many businesses in the retail, catering, restaurant and other sectors are hanging on by their fingernails.

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: We look to those businesses to create employment opportunities for the future. They are vital and we cannot pretend that the competitiveness of those sectors, be it in terms of rents or wages, is not important. We need to confront these issues and try to create more opportunities in those sectors. The review was clear that these sectors have been particularly affected by the recession....

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: In the catering sector, some 23% of jobs have gone. As the review pointed out, these sectors need reform. The rules apply to some hotels but not to others. They are applied to hotels in rural areas, where there is lower footfall and fewer opportunities to do business, yet they do not apply to hotels in the cities of Dublin and Cork. How is this a fair or level playing pitch for people who...

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: It is important that we recognise the value in protecting these rules. We are not going down the road of abandoning them, as has been called for by employer organisations and others. These rules provide orderly regulation of conditions for people who would otherwise be poorly organised and would not receive their rights. Where legislation governs sectors, though, it is a different matter....

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: We have increased the wages of the lowest paid.

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Even Deputy Higgins knows that, as a provision passed through the Dáil only last week to increase the national minimum wage. I am undertaking a process of consultation and have had discussions with IBEC, ICTU and others directly affected. I have also had discussions with the EU and the IMF. I hope to be able to revert to the Government with proposals. It is important to remember that,...

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (21 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: People fear that this is a race to the bottom. People currently in employment will be protected by their existing terms, conditions and contracts.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (16 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Manufacturing and internationally traded service companies in all parts of the country are eligible on an equal basis for grant aid under the headings of R&D aid, Training aid, SME aid and Environment aid. These grants are available from IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Shannon Development or Údarás na Gaeltachta, depending on the region concerned and the size of the client company. Nowadays, most...

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 257 together. The Advisory Group on Media Mergers, which was established in 2008, was requested to review the current legislative framework relating to the public interest aspects of media mergers in Ireland. The Group's Report, which was published in 2009, and the eleven recommendations contained therein were considered in the context of a wider...

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 to 254, inclusive, together. Broadcasting media organisations, including undertakings involved in commercial radio, are subject to the licensing requirements of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, including in relation to issues such as diversity and plurality of ownership. Policy responsibility in this area lies with my colleague the Minister for...

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Broadcasting legislation regulates aspects of the ownership of broadcasting entities through the imposition of licensing requirements. Competition legislation imposes a public interest consideration in instances of mergers of media undertakings: however, these latter regulatory controls do not apply to media businesses involved in the provision of audio-visual material over the Internet. The...