Results 25,581-25,600 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Job Creation (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: We certainly will. The programme for Government, as the Deputy knows, contains a commitment to develop a State infrastructural bank and the concept of NewERA, by investing in key State-owned infrastructure. We recognise there is an onus on the State to take the initiative in areas in which it can make a significant contribution. We must be honest about the fact that at a time when we are...

Employment Rights (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: At the forthcoming International Labour Conference to be held in Geneva in June 2011, the proposal for a draft convention on decent work for domestic workers is a significant and important agenda item. In accordance with standard procedure in respect of the negotiation of any international labour instrument at the International Labour Organisation, it will be the subject of discussion on a...

Employment Rights (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: Under existing law, NERA inspectors can pursue the examination of employment records, either entering with the consent of the occupier or by warrant of the District Court. As in all cases where NERA proposes to conduct an inspection of employment records, notice is provided by it either in writing or by telephone to advise the employer of the proposed inspection. I am advised that, in cases...

Employment Rights (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 3 together. The programme for Government contains commitments to reverse the cut in the national minimum wage and to reform the joint labour committees and registered employment agreements. We need to ensure statutory wage fixing mechanisms work effectively and efficiently and that they do not have a negative impact on economic performance and...

Employment Rights (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for his generous words of congratulation and I look forward to a fruitful exchange with Deputy O'Dea. He has immense experience and I am sure he will bring that to bear on our work at this important time. Legislative proposals will be needed and the timescale hinges on getting the drafting done and getting the necessary legislative time. That rules my ambition to get...

Employment Rights (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: The first act of Government will be to restore the national minimum wage. The most vulnerable workers on the lowest rate of pay will be protected by the action we propose. That is a significant reversal of the position. Wage setting mechanisms must be fit for purpose and must be sensitive to the conditions in these sectors. The main sectors affected are retail, catering, hotels and...

Employment Rights (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: I would hope to publish this soon and I would hope to follow it up rapidly with legislative proposals to ensure there will not be a long hiatus. I accept we must be conscious of the needs of people who are on low pay, and that is the reason we have increased the national minimum wage, but we cannot have systems regarding, for example, varied approaches to overtime and Sunday working that are...

Departmental Funding (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: For the current year 2011, a total allocation of just over €631 million has been provided in funding for the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the county enterprise boards. This allocation comprises both current and capital funds and is provided for ongoing agency activities, including the attraction of foreign direct investment, enterprise development and support...

Departmental Funding (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: We have inherited a situation where spending is running 40% higher than the revenue we are taking in.

Departmental Funding (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: Therefore the need for a comprehensive spending review, including an examination of every programme, has not been created by this Government. With the greatest respect, I must tell the Deputy that the policies pursued in recent years destroyed competitiveness in the economy. The previous Government saw exporting market share fall consistently for six years in a row. It built up...

Departmental Funding (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is raising a different point there.

Departmental Funding (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: Export performance is improving, but it is effectively doing so on the back of superhuman efforts by companies that are competing in a market where the price of their exports is falling. There has been substantial cost cutting and less is being paid for labour across the board. People have become more competitive and more resourceful, but the contribution of Government policy to that would...

Departmental Funding (5 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: No, but the programme for Government suggests that there will be a local business unit wherein there will be an integrated one-stop-shop approach. We would hope to find a way to deliver that effectively.

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (4 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Competition Authority has published a number of reports resulting from studies it carried out on various sectors or professions since 2004. The reports usually contain a suite of recommendations aimed at improving competition in the relevant area and are addressed to the responsible Department or body. Such reports have included the medical and legal professions. Given the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: The moratorium on recruitment directed that from 27th March 2009, no public service post, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, nor payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. Where vacancies arise Departments must reallocate or reorganise work or staff accordingly. Any exceptions to this principle, occurring in very limited circumstances...

Written Answers — Music Industry: Music Industry (4 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the Deputy is referring to difficulties being experienced by rights holders in the Irish music industry as a result of the downloading of copyright material on the Internet. Under existing legislation, any person who illegally uploads or downloads unlicensed music is liable for copyright infringement under the terms of the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000. Under...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (4 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innvovation 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 — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (4 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: An Exchequer allocation is provided each year under the Estimates process for the funding of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs). Allocation of funding to individual CEBs is carried out each year by the Central Coordination Unit (CCU) within Enterprise Ireland. The CCU remit is to provide operational, technical and administrative support to the CEB Network. In determining these...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (4 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: There are six staff employed in the Micro-Enterprise Policy Unit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation of whom four are full-time. The basic salary costs involved (including Employers PRSI) in 2010 was just over €340,000. It should be noted, however, that the staff member at Principal Officer level, whose full salary costs are included in the figure cited, is not exclusively...

Written Answers — Copyright Law: Copyright Law (4 May 2011)

Richard Bruton: In 2008 the European Commission put forward a proposal to amend the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the term of protection of copyright and related rights (2006/116/EC). Following first reading and examination in the European Parliament, a revised proposal was agreed in the Parliament in 2009. This proposal was then discussed by the Committee of Permanent...