Results 1,821-1,840 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: I can see the case for seasonal contracts. There are seasonal contracts in all sorts of sectors. Clearly, if people from outside the EU are coming in on permits, we need to be particularly careful. I would be interested to hear how this proposed registration system will work. What will be the expectation of employers who register and establish a need? What sorts of protections might be...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: I also see the merit in this amendment. We are well past the point where we would have indentured workers who are in some way tied to an employer. I know employers have to demonstrate they have looked for recruits elsewhere and they have to place some ads. The 12-month period is reasonable in that the employer at least gets some continuity for the period and the effort that was put in, but...

COP27: Statements (29 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: Like other speakers, I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on his achievement. Multilateral discussion and negotiation is vital for progress in this area because otherwise we have beggar-your-neighbour policies, and that would bring us all down together. Mobilising countries to make these commitments is a difficult task because we even hear the free-rider argument being advanced here in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Poverty (29 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: 87. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures that are being taken to reduce child poverty; the impact of these measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58935/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (29 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: 127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will indicate the trends in the number seeking jobseeker payments; the number who are being facilitated into pathways of training and work experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58934/22]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (29 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: 147. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the implementation of an employment regulation order for security workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58831/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Services Card (29 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: 415. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has feedback on the number of applications online to complete application for the public services card that result in failure; the number of follow-up calls which are not reached within a reasonable period; and if steps can be taken to make this process simpler for people. [59028/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Role of Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (29 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: I thank the witnesses for their very interesting presentations. I question whether we can reasonably expect journalists to drive change. Government seeks change, I do not think journalists see it as their job to support the Government in that. What we need from journalism is assurance that false facts will be challenged and not that it will get into the job of the Government in trying to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Role of Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (29 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: The UK is ahead of us. I understand that they have made bigger efforts. It is not singling Dr. Lunn out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Role of Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (29 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: No, they have one. They have to opt in to having a tariff choice, that is the point. They get a smart meter automatically and it is fitted in their door but then we are told at one stage that only 4% of households had taken up the opportunity to manage their energy. If the default was that people did not get the tariff change, you might get a better outcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Role of Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (29 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: My second question was on how you design good system change.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Role of Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (29 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: I am interested in hearing the witnesses' insight into a couple of things. A lot has been done in France. There was a massive reaction with the mouvement des gilets jaunes. Are there lessons to be learned from that, which was quite a jolt to the system? The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, did some work on how to frame this discussion and it came up with the concept of appealing...

Forestry: Statements (24 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: I speak on forestry with some trepidation because I once spoke in the Chamber many years ago about fisheries. A then prominent Fine Gael Member said that I would not know a mackerel from a herring. I am likely to transgress and, with Deputy Fitzmaurice here, I am sure he will tell me how wrong I am.

Forestry: Statements (24 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: He will show great restraint. For good reason, we have set ourselves transformative targets. We aim to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and we hope to have 18% of our land in forestry by the same time. We are seriously struggling to develop policy tools to deliver on these targets, though. I commend the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, on achieving a much higher planting premium,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: The Government now has a legal obligation to cut peak-hour electricity demand by 5% over the winter and a voluntary obligation to cut both gas and electricity demand by 10%. What policy tools has it identified to deliver this? As well as protecting people from higher prices, it is very important that we help them to reduce their usage so we become more resilient. I suggest that the revenue...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the appointment of Ms Julie Sinnamon and the addressing of pay anomalies. I wish to also ask about a few other specifics. Key positions are needed to drive the transformation: head of transformation; head of HR; head of digital; and head of gender. Have those been advertised? They are crucial to starting a real transformational change. Other changes are needed to the working...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the decisions on those two posts. The report made clear that it is about changing culture, changing the command structures and restructuring the Defence Forces. They are major shifts. I ask that the Minister not to forget about the appointments relating to digital transformation and gender transformation. They are equally important posts for the long-term transformation.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: 11. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the actions that have been taken to upgrade Ireland's defence system in response to the recent commission on the subject. [58431/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the 25% increase in the capital budget for defence and the greater ambition the Government has committed to for the Army, Naval Service and other dimensions. What progress has been made on this transformation agenda which, as set out in the commission's report, extends to the digital environment, gender, human resources, culture, command and restructuring? I would particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (24 Nov 2022)

Richard Bruton: 83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total spending by her Department on in-service training of teachers and on leadership development programmes; and if she will set out her ambitions in this arena. [58419/22]