Results 25,441-25,460 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Jobs Initiative: Jobs Initiative (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Job creation is central to our economic recovery and the Programme for Government has job creation at its core. The role of my Department is to ensure that we have the right policies in place that will support and grow our enterprise base in order to facilitate both job creation and job retention. The Jobs Initiative announced on 10 May focuses our limited resources on measures that offer the...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: In order for the Irish economy to make the necessary transition from a reliance on domestic demand to sustainable export-led growth in the medium term, a convergence of Irish costs, charges, professional fees, etc towards the levels of Ireland's trading partners is required. Therefore, to improve Ireland's relative cost competitiveness, there is a need to achieve reductions in costs faster...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I am advised that the best option for the person concerned is to take the matter up with the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman. That Office provides a free, independent and impartial service investigating complaints and disputes concerning maladministration and financial loss of pension entitlements. The office is located at 36 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2 and can be contacted by e-mail at...

Written Answers — Job Initiative: Job Initiative (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: The live register figures published last week remind us once again of the scale of the challenge facing the economy and the government. The seasonally adjusted live register for May 2011 shows 440,947 persons seeking employment compared with 154,000 in May 2007, an increase of approximately 286,000. These figures underline the extent of the challenge we face in reducing unemployment. On...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: EU Regulation 245/2009 of 18 March 2009 provided, inter alia, for the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs over a period between 1 September 2009 and 1 September 2012. The purpose of the Regulation is to phase out inefficient incandescent light bulbs throughout Europe on a staged basis and replace them with more energy-efficient alternatives such as new improved halogen light bulbs,...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I am very concerned about the job losses that have been announced and of the impact that they have had on the workers concerned and their families as well as the communities affected. I understand that Vodafone Ireland, which is not an IDA or EI client, has announced this as a part of a review of its European operations and which will also impact on its operations in other EU Member States....

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I am very concerned about the job losses that have been announced and of the impact that they have had on the workers concerned and their families as well as the communities affected. I understand that Vodafone Ireland, which is not an IDA or EI client, has announced this as a part of a review of its European operations and which will also impact on its operations in other EU Member States....

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: As part of the plan for rationalisation of State agencies, the amalgamation of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority is being pursued. As both the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority were established under statute, it is necessary to give effect to the newly merged body by way of primary legislation. I will shortly be seeking Government approval to...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: 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 will not be available until 2012. Details of the number of jobs created...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Improving Ireland's competitiveness is essential in order to achieve a return to sustainable economic growth. Improved competitiveness will help businesses to retain existing jobs, create new ones, increase exports and contribute to economic recovery. The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) monitors and analyses costs and other competitiveness issues in the Irish economy through its suite...

Written Answers — Economic Policy: Economic Policy (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Since I took up office as Minister with responsibility for jobs, enterprise and innovation, I have met with various stakeholders to hear their views on the economy, job creation and the needs of enterprise. These stakeholders include employer representatives, employee representatives, business representatives, individual companies and other relevant parties. I have also led trade and...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Ireland's position as a leading international location for value intensive FDI remained strong in 2010 with IDA Ireland securing 126 investments. IDA has continued to increase the number of companies investing in Ireland for the first time while encouraging existing operations to expand and diversify their operations here. The average employment per investment in 2010 was double the 2009...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: Many of the recent jobs losses which have occurred are as a result of the restructuring process which is going on in industry in Ireland whereby activities (and hence jobs) at the lower end of the value added scale are being phased out as these activities become uneconomic in an Irish context. Manufacturing is the bed-rock on which the growth in Ireland's FDI was founded. Mirroring the rest...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to using Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) as a means of adding value to Ireland's output and thereby achieving increased demand, sales and exports and headlining Ireland's attractiveness as a locale for FDI. The overall objective is the maintenance and growth of well-paid sustainable jobs. In order to develop the companies of the future in Ireland, both...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: It is not possible to identify with any certainty the number of jobs lost to competing economies. However, we do know that there are many differing and complex factors that can influence a firm's decision to relocate and these are a reality of the modern globalised economic environment. Notwithstanding this, IDA Ireland has continued to attract and retain high value manufacturing...

Proposed Legislation (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 5 together. On 24 May last, the Government decided to publish the Report of the Independent Review of Employment Regulation Orders and Registered Employment Agreement Wage Setting Mechanisms. The report's overall finding is that the basic framework of the current JLC-REA regulatory system requires radical overhaul so as to make it fairer and more...

Proposed Legislation (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: The legislation will be introduced at the earliest stage. First, we must get a decision of Government and we hope to go to Government on 21 June. As the Deputy is aware, we have the shell of legislation prepared by the Deputy's Government previously. Part of the legislation is drafted. We hope this will help us to minimise the delay and the Parliamentary Counsel's time and that we can...

Proposed Legislation (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: There is no proposal to cut any specific rate of pay. As the Deputy is aware, the Duffy report did not recommend reducing JLC rates to the national minimum wage although it was one of the issues considered, nor has this been included in the proposals. All the assessments of the impact of poverty indicate that the greatest source of poverty is the loss of a job. Persons who are unemployed...

Proposed Legislation (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: For example, if we change the rule whereby a bar that offers food need not apply a premium, it could represent an opportunity for a business to protect part of its trade. If an employer can generate more business through the flexibility this generates, he or she can respond and protect employment. Many businesses are under severe pressure in these sectors. Let us not forget that we apply...

Proposed Legislation (9 Jun 2011)

Richard Bruton: The view is linked to the impact on reducing the average wages of people already in work. I admit that although they are protected by existing contracts there may be reductions over time. That is significantly outweighed by the employment opportunity created by getting people back to work. I quoted the figure that a person is ten times more likely to be in poverty if he or she is out of...