Results 561-580 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (9 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The latest Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies circulated by Department of Finance in June 2009, applies to the following agencies under the aegis of my Department: 1. Enterprise Ireland (EI) 2. Industrial Development Authority (IDA) 3. Health and Safety Authority (HSA) 4. Forfas 5. National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI ) 6. Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) 7. Shannon...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (9 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The promotion of land banks to potential investors is the responsibility of IDA Ireland. The Agency was part of a team that assisted the company concerned in producing promotional material on the facility and site in Kilmeaden. The Agency has circulated the marketing and promotional material on the facility and site to its network of overseas offices. The Agency will promote the site for...

Written Answers — Small and Medium Enterprises: Small and Medium Enterprises (9 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. I met separately with Allied Irish Banks, Anglo Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland during the week beginning 17 May 2010. These were private meetings held with each bank to discuss the availability of bank credit for businesses, especially SMEs. At the meetings, I raised concerns about the claims of many small businesses that some bankers were...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (9 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As regards non-commercial State-sponsored bodies, the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector advises the Government from time to time on the general levels of remunerations appropriate for senior posts across the public service including CEOS of non-commercial State-sponsored bodies. As it is not feasible for the Review Body to examine the chief executive posts in all of the...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (9 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: On 24th March 2010, IBM announced the establishment of IBM's first Smarter Cities Technology Centre. The Centre will be located in Dublin where IBM will build a highly skilled and cross-disciplinary team to help cities around the world better understand, interconnect and manage their core operational systems such as transport, communication, water and energy. The new Smarter Cities...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the name of my Department was officially changed on 2nd May last. The estimated costs associated with this name change are anticipated to be in the region of €10,000. This includes the costs of stationery, signage and changes to my Department's website. Every effort has been made to keep these costs, which will be provided from within my Department's existing...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (3 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: While my Department does not provide capital funding towards the building or setting up of language schools, Enterprise Ireland is responsible for the promotion of Ireland's higher education sector in overseas markets under the Education Ireland brand. The sector comprises universities, institutes of technology and private colleges offering HETAC (Higher Education Training Awards Council)...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (2 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As a result of the Government changes announced by An Taoiseach in March and my assuming the position of Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, the Delegation of Functions Orders in respect of three of the Ministers of State assigned to my Department lapsed. Upon taking up my new responsibilities, my first organisational priority was to oversee the transfer of various functions in...

Written Answers — Trade Opportunities: Trade Opportunities (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Department of An Taoiseach is responsible for coordinating the arrangements in relation to all aspects of our participation in Expo 2010 in Shanghai, including all decisions in relation to staffing and marketing. None of the Agencies which come under the aegis of my Department have a permanent operational presence in the pavilion. My Department and the development agencies have engaged...

Written Answers — Employment Levels: Employment Levels (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The figures available to me are in respect of numbers of persons employed in exporting firms assisted by the State Development agencies, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development, which come under the aegis of my Department. These figures are set out in the table. As the information is compiled on an annualised basis, the figures in respect of 2010 will not be available until...

Written Answers — SME Sector: SME Sector (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The particular issue referred to by the deputy is a matter for the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The issue of improving access for SMES to public contracts is at the centre of the Governments current drive to eliminate barriers to SMEs access to public contracts. An increased involvement of SMEs into public purchasing will allow SMEs to make the most of their...

Written Answers — SME Sector: SME Sector (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. Overall policy responsibility for public procurement is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance. However, specific complaints about individual contracts should be brought to the attention of the relevant Government Department. The Competition Authority is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition law in...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I understand from Enterprise Ireland that, at present, no active enquiries are known to the agency regarding the factory. The agency will continue to be of assistance to the company concerned in finding a replacement business for the facility. The company concerned and their commercial property agents have advertised the factory for sale.

Written Answers — National Competitiveness: National Competitiveness (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 102 together. Measuring competitiveness is complex and requires an assessment of the full range of factors which enable firms to improve their productivity levels and compete in international markets. There are a number of international indices of competitiveness produced by international bodies, each with their own methodological constraints. The...

Written Answers — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I visited the Mid West of the United States from 5th to 9th of April 2010, on a marketing programme organised by IDA Ireland. The programme involved meeting Chairpersons, CEOs and other senior executives of leading companies, across all sectors and in particular in the Life Sciences and Financial Services sectors. It also involved interviews in the US media, promoting Ireland as a location...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department processes payroll payments for approximately 1,200 individuals on behalf of the Department, its Offices and a number of agencies. Under Section 4 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1991, there is an obligation on my Department to provide a statement of wages and deductions to each individual (i.e. a payslip) as soon as may be after payment has been effected. These payments are made...

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Responsibility for Public Procurement rests with my colleague, the Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Task Force completed its Interim Report, which was presented to the Minister by Mr. Brosnan last July. Since then the Government has been responding to the recommendations under the various headings. Last September, the Tánaiste sent the Task Force a report on responses up to that time. Following completion of a cross-departmental consultation, taking account of Ministers' budgets for...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 to 119, inclusive, together. The Information Age Park in Ennis is operated by Shannon Development and the task of securing and supporting industrial clients there is assigned to IDA and Enterprise Ireland. I am informed by Shannon Development that, to date in 2010, there have been 13 site visits to the Information Age Park in Ennis and from these visits...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (1 Jun 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have been informed by IDA Ireland and Shannon Development that since 2007, a total of 60 site visits were made by potential investors to County Clare and the Shannon Free Zone. A breakdown of these visits, by year and location is set out in the tabular statement.