Results 25,621-25,640 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Joint Labour Committees: Joint Labour Committees (20 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: I expect that the Review will be completed and submitted to me in the coming days. The report will be published following consideration by the Government. An action plan will be developed in consultation with the European Commission Services, in line with the provision in the EU/IMF Programme, with a view to early implementation of reforms necessary to make the statutory wage setting...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (19 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for drawing this matter to my attention and I have forwarded details of the complaint to which the Deputy referred directly to the National Employment Rights Authority for investigation. Any employees, who believe that their employment rights are being breached, may present a complaint, in confidence, to the National Employment Rights Authority, which is responsible for...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: The table below outlines the numbers, grades and duties of all persons within my Department who are assigned to work on constituency matters. This also includes Ministers of State at my Department. Minister Numbers Grade Duties Richard Bruton 11 Personal Secretary(Ministerial Appointee)Clerical Officer(Civil Servant) Performing general secretarial duties including the handling of...

Written Answers — Export Trade Council: Export Trade Council (19 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: As soon as the transfer of certain trade functions to the new Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been effected, the nature, structure, future role and timelines of the proposed Export Trade Council will be considered as a matter of urgency. The Government is conscious of the need to avoid establishing new groups and bodies unless absolutely necessary, and will therefore consider...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (19 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: The following appointments were made to State Boards by my predecessor in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Board 2009 2010 2011 PIAB 10 2 1 IAASA 5 4 3 IDA Ireland 2 3 2 Enterprise Ireland 2 2 0 Shannon Development 3 2 0 NSAI 3 4 0 Forfás 2 6 2 SFI 2 2 0 H.S.A. 0 12 0 NCA 0 4 0 LRC 7 0 0 The Competition Authority 1 3 4 FÁS 3 11 0* * The responsibility for FÁS has transferred to the...

Written Answers — Enterprise Support Services: Enterprise Support Services (14 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: The introduction of a temporary, partial credit guarantee scheme as provided for in the Programme for Government was discussed by the Government on Tuesday last and is currently under active consideration. It is important, however, that any new initiative complements, rather than substitutes, the main banks' lending commitments and activities under the recapitalisation packages and that they...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (14 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Paper, Print and Packaging (PPP) sector is made up of a number of sub-sectors. The Print sub-sector (comprising print, packaging and promotional print) is facing significant challenges with a drop in prices and demand in recent years. A number of factors are contributing to the challenges including overcapacity, change arising from the move from print to web-based services, the economic...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (14 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has drawn my Department's attention to certain concerns about the lay-off provisions under the Redundancy payments Acts 1967- 2007. Congress has been advised to bring any concerns that it has in this area to the attention of the Minister for Social Protection together with any supporting evidence. The Minister for Social Protection has responsibility for...

Written Answers — Innovation Taskforce: Innovation Taskforce (14 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for Government lists a significant number of targets for advancing the innovation economy. It is clear, also, that there are worthwhile initiatives deriving from the Innovation Task Force Report which should be taken forward on their own merits, which align with Government Programme objectives and can contribute to the strategic goal of creating and sustaining jobs. I have,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: It has not been possible in the time available to compile all the information sought by the Deputy. My Department has, however, begun the process of collating the information requested and I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as the exercise has been completed.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Apr 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 15th March 2011 on the grounds that it is...

Written Answers — European Social Charter: European Social Charter (13 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together. The Revised European Social Charter of the Council of Europe of 1996 came into force on 1 July 1999. Ireland signed and ratified the Revised Charter on 4 November 2000. The human rights treaty comprises 31 Articles which updates and completes the rights protected in the original European Social Charter of 1961 in areas such as employment,...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (13 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: In the so-called "Wilson" judgment, (Wilson, National Union of Journalists and Others v. United Kingdom [2002] ECHR 552) the European Court of Human Rights Court found in favour of a UK-based journalist and a group of British dockworkers, who were denied pay increases after they refused to sign personal contracts. Their unions had appealed a UK law courts decision on the issue. The ECHR...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (13 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Lisbon Treaty recognises and underpins the positive developments in employment rights protection. Under the Treaty, fundamental rights are recognised through the incorporation of a legally binding reference to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. This includes the right to negotiate collective agreements and to take collective action, the right to information and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: The following retired Public Servants were engaged by my Department on short -term contracts between 01 January 2010 and 31 December 2010. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Audit Committee A retired Civil Servant was Chairman of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Audit Committee until March 2010 and was paid a fee in 2010 of €450. A retired Civil Servant is...

Written Answers — Official Languages Act: Official Languages Act (12 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. My Department plans to commence an audit in the near future of all signs currently on display in the Department and in the 8 Offices of the Department, in order to assess what signs will need to be replaced, so as to fully comply with the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003 and particularly with Section 6 of S.I No. 391 of 2008...

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (12 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: The recent reduction in the national minimum wage came into effect on 1 February last. The number of workers who had been paid at or below the previous minimum wage of €8.65 per hour constituted less than 4% of the total at work, or about 60,000 people. At the time of the minimum wage cut, an employee who was working under a contract of employment that sets wages at or above the national...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (12 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: The Economic Scoping Report referred to by the Deputy contains a wide range of proposals for the economic development of the Airport and its hinterland. The options identified fall within the remit of a number of other Government Departments, as well as my Department. Given the broad scope of the recommendations in the Report, and the fact that these have not been costed or evaluated, my...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (12 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: A total of fifteen special advisers were appointed in my Department between June 1997 and February 2011, three of these being female. In line with Ministerial Guidelines issued by the Department of Finance remuneration for Special Advisers is based on the Principal Officer (standard) scale currently: €80,051 – €83,337 - €86,604 – €89,898 – €92,672. Between 1997 and February...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Richard Bruton: My Department has the lead responsibility for the Competitiveness Council and has responsibility for aspects of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (ESPHCA). The following Tables lists the number of Competitiveness Council and EHSPCA meetings and previous Ministerial attendees or otherwise for the year ended 9 March Competitiveness Councils March 2010 –...