Results 18,061-18,080 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Industrial Development (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is welcome to examine IDA Ireland's strategy and talk to IDA Ireland officials as well. They have been successful in targeting, for example, emerging companies that are making their first move, particularly from the US, to a European base and attracting these high-growth companies. Where we have a win such as Uber in Limerick, a high-growth company expanding rapidly, those wins...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: Increased exports have played a major part in Ireland’s economic recovery. Of the approximately 135,000 people back at work, it is estimated that close to 50% have come directly from export earnings. Agreements that improve the access to markets for Irish enterprises are strongly supported, therefore, by Ireland. With regard to the Canadian agreement, political agreement on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy asked why these are in place. He should consider a small Irish enterprise trading in the US. There are 50 different states in which a legal action might be taken to establish its rights under a trade agreement. In many cases, those states do not incorporate into their laws the specific elements of these agreements. The investor dispute mechanism is, therefore, a way of trying...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: No, the Deputy is misinformed on this. The agreement does not allow companies to contest interference in respect of legitimate expectations. The range of cases that can be taken is narrow. These include denial of justice in criminal, civil or administrative proceedings; a fundamental breach of due process, manifest arbitrariness; and abusive treatment of investors. The agreement...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Industrial Development (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: I am encouraged by the overall strong recovery in employment, with a net 135,000 extra people back at work in enterprises right across the country. While every region has seen employment expansion in its IDA Ireland-supported base, we have not experienced equal recovery in all sectors which is why I have launched the regional Action Plan for Jobs. I would point out to the Deputy that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Industrial Development (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for his comments. It is important to bear in mind that 70% of the wins by IDA Ireland in terms of job expansion come from the existing base of companies. Deputy Calleary will know that the west of Ireland has had a very strong performance in the last four years, with a net increase in the numbers working in IDA Ireland companies of 27%. Indeed, all counties have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Policy (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the publication of this interesting report which gives considerable food for thought by undertaking some economic analysis of issues arising in the event of the unification of Ireland. It is very difficult to say whether the conclusions of the report in relation to the potential growth boost to the Irish economy would be borne out in practice. I note that the report’s...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Policy (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: I have read the document in considerable part and, as I said in the reply, it is based on a number of assumptions. It is up to people to read it and evaluate them. They are assuming an immediate devaluation in Northern Ireland which would mean a reduction in the average value of wages within the Northern Ireland economy. There are issues around that. It assumes the immediate harmonisation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Policy (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: Certainly I am in favour of lower trade barriers. The work of InterTrade Ireland is to do just that, to reduce trade barriers; both North and South, as export economies, favour the reduction of trade barriers in every way possible. Obviously, the more immediate concern of the Government would be with the possibility of the reverse happening, that there would be an increase in trade barriers...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: Some of the taxation matters could probably be directed to the Minister for Finance but I will endeavour to answer the question as best as I can. Ireland suffered a sustained decline in competitiveness from about 2002 which contributed in major part to the depth of the economic crash and job loss. Reversing these trends has been a central challenge in our Action Plan for Jobs. That plan...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: If the Deputy wants a different answer, he should ask a different question. He asked if I would discuss the actions the Government is taking to increase Ireland's competitiveness levels so he-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy asked a two-sided question, which I answered. If the Deputy wants to change his questions, he has a right to do so. I welcome the move by Northern Ireland to have a low corporate tax rate. I think it will benefit both parts of the island. We stand to gain from a more competitive offering in Northern Ireland. Of course, we will face competition for mobile projects but that has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: We have a group. The strategic policy group deals with all issues involved in preparing for the Action Plan for Jobs. The National Competitiveness Council assesses all aspects of competitive challenge for Ireland. I do not see a move by Northern Ireland to have a lower corporation tax rate as something that we should be worried or concerned about. I see it as a natural development. A...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: In the five years up to 2011, Donegal lost 3,400 jobs with big falls in manufacturing and in Construction. This was also a period when employment in foreign owned companies stagnated and by 2011 represented less than 3.5% of total employment in Donegal. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that employment in foreign-owned companies have grown by 41% in the years since 2011, adding 758 jobs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: Under our Action Plan for Jobs we have targeted the winning of new Foreign Direct Investment and have taken measures to ensure that such companies have access to the talent they need, the supports for innovation and a good business environment. This strategy has been successful for the country. We have 135,000 more people in work today than were employed when the Action Plan for Jobs (APJ)...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: At the Council of Trade Ministers meeting tomorrow in Brussels, I will have the opportunity to discuss progress on these negotiations with Commissioner Malmström and with EU Council colleagues. The 11th round in these negotiations took place from 19th – 23rd October, 2015. During this round substantial progress on market access for EU and US companies in all three areas...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The 11th round in these negotiations took place in Miami from 19th - 23rd October, 2015. During this round negotiators discussed all three pillars of the proposed agreement namely market access for EU and US companies, regulatory cooperation and trade rules.There was substantial progress on market access for EU and US companies in all three areas including tariffs, services and public...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Targets (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: Enterprise 2025, the Government’s long-term enterprise policy was launched earlier this month. It is an ambitious strategy, with the objective of delivering growth over the next decade that is sustainable, led by strong export performance, builds on our sectoral strengths, and that is underpinned by innovation, productivity, cost effectiveness and competitiveness. We aim to build...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Measures (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The draft Scheme of the Consumer Rights Bill was published for public consultation on 25 May with a view to getting the views of businesses, consumers and other stakeholders on its provisions. Wide-ranging consultation is essential in the case of legislative proposals such as this which will affect virtually every business and citizen in the State. While the closing date for responses to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business Regulation (26 Nov 2015)

Richard Bruton: The recent World Bank's Doing Business Report 2016 provides an assessment of a range of regulations affecting SMEs throughout their life cycle. In this Report Ireland is ranked 17th for Ease of Doing Business, out of 189 countries. This places Ireland 4thin the Euro area and 7thin the EU. The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2015 ranks Ireland 16th, up from 24thin 2011. The World...