Results 18,761-18,780 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: I outlined the practical steps, but whether a Border development zone is an idea that should form a centrepiece of policy is an issue around which there is room for genuine, open debate on its merits.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: Plenty of actions underpin the development in practical ways. I am not trying to be smart, but there is genuine debate about what is the best way to develop. Is it around a Border corridor or the all-island economy concept, through which we play to the overall strengths of the two economies and can take a greater look at regional strengths and opportunities? There is a genuine debate to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: We have a retail forum that is chaired by the Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Gerald Nash, where we listen to the retail sector.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: Exactly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: We do listen to the sector. I have not seen the report. My general opinion on institutional innovation is that I start with policy actions. It is only if the policy action cannot be delivered by existing institutional arrangements that I start to look at new institutions. I have been around a long time and have seen a lot of energy put into setting up institutions. What we should put our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: One must always compete for FDI. Investors will look, for example, at Manchester and different locations. An agency that is trying to win foreign direct investment, whatever its geographic mandate, will compete, and that has always been the case. I do not see competition as a bad thing. The more Ireland is promoted as a good place to invest, and the more vibrant the competition is, then...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Companies Act 2014 (Section 1313) Regulations 2015: Motion (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: I thank the committee for facilitating the passage of this statutory instrument. In preparation for the commencement on 1 June 2015 of the Companies Act 2014, a number of statutory instruments are to be issued to deal with functional issues related to the operation of the Act. The statutory instrument before us is one which requires positive approval by the Oireachtas. It concerns the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Companies Act 2014 (Section 1313) Regulations 2015: Motion (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: I understand there are no other unregistered companies in this category. While the matter is probably covered in existing statutory instruments, this regulation is to make assurance doubly certain. All of these provisions will apply.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Companies Act 2014 (Section 1313) Regulations 2015: Motion (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: The provisions will be applied by this statutory instrument. Bank of Ireland requested that section 1114 be applied to the bank on the basis that the generic company law accounting framework is not sufficient and it should be made clearer that the specific accounting framework for a bank or credit institution, which is covered by a Department of Finance statutory instrument, should apply to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Companies Act 2014 (Section 1313) Regulations 2015: Motion (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: This issue is, arguably, already covered and the regulation is being introduced to ensure there is no doubt in that regard.

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

Richard Bruton: Yesterday I launched for public consultation my Department’s Scheme of a proposed Consumer Rights Bill. Among other provisions, the Scheme provides that contracts for the supply of a gift card or voucher must not include a term that makes the card or voucher subject to an expiry date. While this and other provisions of the Scheme are only proposals at this stage, I am conscious of...

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

Richard Bruton: The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015 was published on 14 May 2015. Provisions in relation to collective bargaining are contained in Part 3 of the Bill. When enacted, the legislation will put in place the legislative amendments to the Industrial Relations Acts 2001 and 2004 required to give effect to the Programme for Government commitment to reform the current law on employees'...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Applications (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the person named by the Deputy previously held three spousal dependent permits that were current between 15 April 2008 and 21 July 2010 and is seeking a Reactivation Employment Permit. Reactivation Employment Permits are designed for situations where a foreign national entered the State on a valid Employment Permit but has fallen out of the system through no fault of their...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Supports (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: This closure, which was postponed until 29th May, is very much regretted. I travelled to Carrickmacross to discuss the issue with some of the workforce there after the announcement, and I am very conscious of the need to pursue replacement jobs in the area. I established an interagency group to co-ordinate the response from the state in terms of awareness of entitlements and opportunities...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Travel (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: So far in 2015, Ministers of State in my Department and I have undertaken trade and investment missions to the Gulf Region, India, France, Sweden, Denmark, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic. In the course of these missions, we have met with executives and representatives from a wide range of business sectors, bodies and organisations and also with Government Ministers and officials...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Closures (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: Immediately after the announcement by the company concerned, I established an inter-agency group to coordinate the response to the proposed job losses. The group, chaired by Enterprise Ireland, will seek to secure alternative employment for the area affected and ensure that departing workers have access to supports they need from State agencies for retraining, access to social welfare...

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

Richard Bruton: Yesterday I launched for public consultation my Department’s Scheme of a proposed Consumer Rights Bill. Among other provisions, the Scheme provides that contracts for the supply of a gift card or voucher must not include a term that makes the card or voucher subject to an expiry date. While this and other provisions of the Scheme are only proposals at this stage, I am conscious of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Biotechnology Industry (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: The indigenous Life sciences sector now has revenues in excess of €1bn, exports of €780m and employs over 6,000 people. Over the last six years, employment has grown by 42% with exports growing by 63% - an impressive performance given the economic climate over the period. The indigenous biotech sub-sector itself employs approximately 100 people with exports of €5m. While...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Construction Contracts (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to the earliest possible implementation of the Construction Contracts Act, 2013 and, as a consequence, approved the delegation of responsibility for its implementation to my colleague Mr. Gerald Nash T.D., the Minister of State for Business and Employment. Minister Nash announced on the 12th May 2015 that he intends to appoint Dr. Nael G. Bunni as the Chairperson...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Site Visits (26 May 2015)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 356 together. I am informed by IDA Ireland that since 2011 there have been 28 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Sligo. Details of the number of these visits are set out in the attached tabular statement. As Enterprise Ireland’s core focus is supporting the internationalisation of indigenous companies the Agency...