Results 25,541-25,560 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Trade Council: Trade Council (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: Preparations for the Trade Council on 13 May will be finalised by the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) on 11 May. I expect that the agenda will include debate on issues of strategic importance to the evolving EU's trade policy agenda. These include the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations, and preparation of the trade aspects of the EU-Japan Summit scheduled to take...

Written Answers — Regional Aid: Regional Aid (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Regional Aid Guidelines govern the areas in which Member States may grant regional aid, more commonly known as investment aid. Investment aid is intended to promote the economic development of certain disadvantaged areas within the European Union in order to redress regional disparities. The Guidelines specify rules for the selection of regions which are eligible for regional aid and...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: IDA's strategy for the period 2010 to 2014, entitled "Horizon 2020", which was published in March 2010, sets out the following targets for job creation and investment for the period 2010 to 2014: · 105,000 new jobs (of which 62,000 will be direct employment) · 640 new Greenfield or Expansion Investments · 50% of new FDI projects to be located outside of Dublin and Cork · 20% of...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation one of my main priorities is to ensure that the manner in which State support for enterprise activity, entrepreneurship stimulation and job creation is delivered, is properly targeted and is effective and coherent. I want to ensure that it is cost effective and that the resources available to the State are used to maximise business activity...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: In a reply to a Dáil question on 29 March 2011 (Question No. 49 of 29 March, Ref. No. 5875/11), I explained that I was working with the enterprise agencies under my Department's remit to develop a jobs programme that would develop initiatives to target particular sectors where there is greatest opportunity to capitalise on the strengths of our enterprise base and our people. The forthcoming...

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: As I outlined in a recent reply to a question put down by the Deputy (Question No. 51 of 29 March 2011, Ref. No. 5870/11), responsibility for public procurement policy is a matter for the Minister for Finance. However, my Department has a particular interest in this area because of the potential for SMEs to win a share of the public procurement market which is valued in the region of €14...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI) was launched in 1998 and comprehends funding for third level research infrastructure, national shared facilities, and structured PhD programmes. The Programme is designed to facilitate Irish institutions to produce world-class research in humanities, science, technology and the social sciences, including business and law. There...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: In July 2009, the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes was published. Among several recommendations contained within the Report was the proposed discontinuation of Shannon Development. As with all Group recommendations relevant to my Department I am examining the recommendation in the context of a new Government approach and evaluating its...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Capital Allocation for the 35 CEBs under the 2010 Estimates Process was €14.994 million for the provision of grants and soft supports to micro-enterprises in 2010. In 2011 this provision has been maintained, with an allocation of €15 million and in view of the difficulties surrounding the public finances, this continued level of support to the micro-enterprise sector is very...

Written Answers — Jobs Initiative: Jobs Initiative (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: In a globalised economy, workers are increasingly mobile and migration, both inward and outward, has always been a feature of Ireland's labour force. However, there is clearly a difference between voluntary migration where people choose to work abroad for various reasons, and the current situation where many people feel that they have to look elsewhere for work until such time as there are...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: International benchmarking statistics reveal that Ireland imposes a relatively low burden of regulation on business. The Forfás Annual Competitiveness Report 2010 states that Ireland's regulatory environment is one of the least restrictive in the OECD in relation to product market regulation, the time taken to comply with tax payments is one of the lowest in the OECD across all categories...

Written Answers — Trade Relations: Trade Relations (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: Competence for the negotiation of a free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur lies with the EU Commission. The policy that determines the scope of the Commission's mandate to negotiate is set by the EU Trade Council, advised by the Trade Policy Committee. The position that Ireland takes during the negotiations at Council will be set by the Government. That position will be based on...

Written Answers — Commercial Rates: Commercial Rates (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: The setting of commercial rates is a matter for local authorities which come under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered into the valuation lists prepared by the independent commissioner of valuation....

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: My Department is proactive in ensuring that good performance on transposition of Directives is consistently maintained. Transposition is monitored through a customised Intranet database which is used as a central management and information tool to track the implementation of Directives on an ongoing basis. The Interdepartmental Co-ordinating Committee on EU Affairs, which is chaired by the...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: I understand this dispute resulted from a decision by the employer to cut the pay and working hours of the workers. The issues in dispute were referred to the Labour Relations Commission by the workers. Separate exploratory talks involving the conciliation service of the Labour Relations Commission and the employer and workers' representatives took place in June 2010, where all...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to ensuring the appropriate infrastructure is in place to facilitate an environment in which enterprise can flourish and sustainable jobs can be created. Our programme for Government outlines the measures that will be explored to maximise enterprise development. The establishment of business incubation centres on higher education campuses across Ireland is...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: IDA Ireland is in ongoing contact with a range of target companies including Twitter. As the Deputy will be aware, IDA Ireland places a premium on client confidentiality and does not, as a matter of policy, provide details of its discussions with existing or potential clients, which remain confidential. As part of that process, I have already met a number of companies and will continue to...

Written Answers — Export Trade Development: Export Trade Development (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: My Government believes that Ireland's economic recovery must be export led, and as such, is committed to taking the actions necessary to support that export growth to the maximum possible. We are also committed to promoting the long-term development of new markets. The Programme for Government has outlined the Government's commitment towards the progressive implementation of the...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (5 May 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 particular application was refused on the 23rd March 2011 on the grounds that it is...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: The role of my Department is to ensure that the appropriate policies are in place to support Ireland's enterprise base, thereby facilitating job creation and retention. It is only by creating the right environment for businesses to grow that we will see new jobs coming on stream. In this context, the forthcoming Jobs Initiative will outline a range of measures which will be taken across all...