Results 981-1,000 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Measures (9 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: My colleague, Minister Mitchell O’Connor, and I intend to bring forward proposals in this area for consideration by Government. In this respect, work has progressed well on developing a policy response to the Programme for Government commitment to tackle the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious employment.  I intend to include...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (9 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: This Government's goal is to achieve sustainable full employment so that all of our people have the opportunity to enjoy rewarding work and to participate and contribute to their full potential to our economy and society. As unemployment continues to fall we must also focus on the quality of employment, which is a key determinant of the well-being of individuals and households. ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Tourism Industry (9 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: Let me state from the outset that the setting of VAT rates is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance. Notwithstanding this, the VAT rate for tourism related goods and services was reduced from 13.5% to 9% in July 2011. The Government introduced this measure to promote job creation. This measure has been retained since due to its positive impact on the sector....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (9 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: Ireland’s body of employment rights legislation protects all employees who are legally employed on an employer-employee basis. Therefore, once it is clear that a person is working under a contract of employment (written or oral) that person has the same protection under employment law as other employees, including entitlement to the national minimum wage. All employers carry the same...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Programme (9 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: My colleague, Minister Mitchell O’Connor, and I intend to bring forward proposals in response to the Programme for Government commitment for consideration by Government.  We intend to include protections aimed particularly at low-paid, more vulnerable workers.  Our proposals will address the issue of employees on low hour contracts who consistently work more...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (8 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: 174. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6154/17]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments (8 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: 242. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6287/17]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Commission (7 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: Prior to the creation of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), first instance and employment/equality matters aired before the Rights Commissioner or the Equality Tribunal were heard in private; only the Employment Appeals Tribunal hearings were heard in public. The issue of whether the first instance hearing should  be held in public or private was considered extensively during...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (7 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: The Payment of Wages Act 1991 protects employees in relation to the payment of wages and salaries. It regulates modes of payment (e.g. by cheque or electronic fund transfer) as well as what deductions from wages can be made. Under this Act, employers must also provide a payslip showing gross pay and the relevant deductions. However, payment intervals are not regulated. This...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Zero-hour Contracts (7 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: My colleague, Minister Mitchell O’Connor, and I intend to bring forward proposals in this area for consideration by Government. In this respect, work has progressed well on developing a policy response to the University of Limerick (UL) study on zero hour contracts and low hour contracts. I intend to include protections aimed particularly at low-paid, more vulnerable workers. Our...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (2 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: I thank the Senators for their valuable contribution to the debate on this Bill. The Bill is a valuable dimension in offering innovation and is a positive development for SMEs, an area for whom I have responsibility as Minister of State. As the House will be aware, the Bill will be in the Dáil next week. I certainly will take on board what has been said regarding the reporting...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Appeals (2 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: 277. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 551 of 24 January 2017 to set out the status of an appeal for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4953/17]

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Report Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: I have reflected on the concern expressed on Committee Stage by Senators about the keeping of records by the Controller of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. I am seeking to address this concern in amendment No. 2, which clarifies beyond doubt the intention that the controller must keep records of all knowledge development box, KDB, applications received, issued, refused and reviewed. The...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Report Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: Does the Senator have any concerns about these amendments?

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Report Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: Amendments Nos. 4 and 18 are designed to combine and align the annual reporting requirements under the Bill with earlier reporting requirements on the Controller of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks under the Patents Act 1992. The effect of amendment No. 4 will be to replace the existing section 18 of the Bill in its entirety. This amendment and amendment No. 18, which amends section 103 of...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Report Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: Before I speak on amendments Nos. 11 to 18, inclusive, I wish to reassure Senator Higgins in light of the comments she has made. One does not want to be too descriptive regarding the issues about which she spoke. That is important. If one is too descriptive, one confines oneself. Two years down the road, things could be very different and different information could be needed. In this...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Report Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: I might as well read the rest of the response out now.

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Report Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: I have also taken some notes. All tax expenditures are reviewed regularly in line with the Department of Finance guidelines for tax expenditure evaluation published in October 2014. These rules apply to the knowledge development box. The evaluation will take place within five years of the introduction of the scheme, and that is important for Senators. I think it was a concern for Senator...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Report Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: However, it is important that the information before the controller is the information that he or she should work on. That is important. As these amendments are not appropriate to the Bill, I do not propose to accept them.

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Report Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Pat Breen: Yes. It will take place within five years of the introduction of the scheme - "within".