Results 18,461-18,480 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Data (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 288 together. The impact of the FDI companies is very significant to the Irish economy with some €2.6bn of materials and €11.3bn of services purchased by these companies annually. The most recent data relating to the total estimated tax contribution to the exchequer in terms of corporation tax of IDA Ireland client companies is set out...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: The total expenditure on advertising by my Department and its Offices in 2013 and 2014 was €57,684 and €101,937 respectively. The payment of advertising fees by the Agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day-to-day matter for the individual Agencies concerned for which I have no direct function. I have, however, asked each Agency to advise me of any such expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: The total cost of printing reports and annual reports for my Department and the Offices of my Department for 2013 and 2014 are outlined in the table below. The cost of printing is a day-to-day matter for the individual Agencies concerned for which I have no direct function. I have asked all Agencies under the aegis of my Department to advise me of any such printing costs for the dates...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Department’s Payroll system provides electronic access to weekly and fortnightly payslips for over 90% of its staffing cohort. This electronic system has been operational across the Department’s IT network since October 2011. For a small number of payees on the payroll there is still a weekly requirement to provide hardcopy payslips. Typically this ranges between 120-150...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: In relation to legal fees and consultancy expenditure no such expenditure has been incurred by my private office. The expenditure for official travel undertaken by myself and my private office for 2014 and to the end of June 2015 is outlined in the table below. The expenditure covers national and foreign travel. Category Full year 2014 2015 (to end June 2015) Flights € 6,809.35...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Appointments to State Boards (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: In respect of State Board appointments that are wholly within my discretion, my overriding priority has been to appoint the best people available for particular board positions. The credentials of the appointees vary depending on the requirements of the individual posts. I am satisfied, however, that in all cases, they have the skills and expertise to allow them to contribute positively to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Funding (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 298 together. As published in the Revised Estimates Volume 2015, the total gross Exchequer provision to the Department to support the enterprise, job creation and innovation agendas for 2015 amounts to €810.18 million. This includes €20 million in capital carryover from 2014 for use in 2015. The €810.18 million provision is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: My Department is acutely aware of the benefits that can be gained, both in terms of providing enhanced services to the public and in securing greater value for money, by moving from paper based to on-line systems. In recent years, services provided to the public by my Department's Export Licensing Unit, the Companies Registration Office and the Patents Office and have been reviewed and are...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Correspondence (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I am aware that the Westmeath LEO met with the company concerned during April 2014, when the attendees were fully briefed on LEO services. The company subsequently applied for tradeshow assistance and I understand from the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Westmeath that they were approved funding to exhibit at a tradeshow in the UK in 2015. The LEO received no further applications for any...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Reports (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently at an advanced stage in finalising the Department’s Annual Report for 2013 and I expect this will be published in the 3rdQuarter 2015. Following publication of the 2013 Annual Report, work will urgently commence to prepare the 2014 Annual Report, with a view to publishing it before the end of 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: The goal of this Government has been to replace all of the jobs lost during the economic crisis and deliver sustainable full employment by the end of 2018. This whole of Government effort has been integrated into the Action Plan for Jobs process which aims to strengthen the enterprise base, support entrepreneurship and start-ups, regain Ireland’s lost competitiveness and ensure the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (16 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together. In general, the Government’s approach to supporting job creation at regional level is through the new Action Plan for Jobs: Regional initiative. Since the start of the national Action Plan for Jobs process in 2012, employment across the economy as a whole has increased, and has exceeded the Government’s initial target of...

Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I think the Deputy really is letting ideology run away with her. The total sum that my Department disperses is €500 million. This compares to a welfare budget of €20 billion, an education budget of €8 billion and the health budget of €13 billion. We are not engaged in substantial corporate welfare in any sense of the term. Any of the money we disperse is...

Other Questions: Employment Rights (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: There is no legal definition of the term "au pair" in Irish legislation, and individuals described as au pairs, nannies or childminders are not exempted or treated as separate categories of workers under Irish employment law. Ireland's body of employment rights legislation protects all employees who are legally employed on an employer-employee basis, regardless of what title is given to...

Other Questions: Employment Rights (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: My officials have met representatives from Migrant Rights Centre Ireland. Furthermore, NERA is keen to engage with people in any way. It has a lo-call number, 1890 808 090, and a website. It has provided a usable guide to entitlements. It seeks to engage with people in those conditions, advise them of their rights and investigate any case of breaches. If the Deputy has any particular...

Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I do not wish to be evasive but the written question tabled by the Deputy related to start-ups and the statistics provided to me relate specifically to start-ups. In general terms, the vast majority of start-ups are Irish. Enterprise Ireland supports approximately 185 start-ups. Only ten of those would be sponsored by non-Irish individuals. The vast majority of the run of money, running...

Other Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy knows, under the EU's regional guidelines, there are huge restrictions on state aid that can be given to large companies. By and large, there is no substantial state aid. The companies can be supported in areas such as research and development or training, but the era of large grants is over. Neither is the Deputy right when she says the predominant magnet of Ireland is our...

Other Questions: Departmental Communications (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: To be fair to all concerned there are unprecedented efforts taking place to make the EU-US trade agreement as transparent as possible. All EU text proposals on the EU-US trade negotiations are now published on the European Commission website, generally within a week or two after each negotiating round. The website also includes a wide range of position papers, fact sheets and documents...

Other Questions: Departmental Communications (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: The position on access for the European Parliament is set out in the framework agreement. Part of the increased transparency is that it will provide broad access to all MEPs, subject to appropriate modalities to be agreed with the Parliament to ensure the confidentiality of the information provided, including taking the appropriate steps in the event of unwarranted disclosure of documents...

Other Questions: Departmental Communications (15 Jul 2015)

Richard Bruton: I have to deny categorically that there is any effort by either the Commission or anyone else to conceal information. There is a huge effort to make the information publicly available.