Results 19,221-19,240 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Procurement Contracts (3 Mar 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Government acknowledges the significant role that SMEs play in the Irish economy and is committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged with public sector procurement and the opportunities presenting. Policy responsibility for public procurement is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, T.D and the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) falls...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: National Internship Scheme Administration (3 Mar 2015)

Richard Bruton: The JobBridge scheme is the national internship scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection. The legislation underpinning the JobBridge scheme specifically provides that a participant shall, for the purposes of any enactment or rule of law (other than the Tax Acts and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005), be deemed not to be an employee. Any complaints regarding...

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

Richard Bruton: If the non-EEA national spouse or civil partner of an Irish or EEA national is resident in the State with his or her spouse or partner, he or she does not require an Employment Permit to work in the State, though the permission of the Minister for Justice and Equality should be sought in relation to his or her residence in the State.

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

Richard Bruton: If the non-EEA spouses and civil partners of EEA nationals are resident in the State without their Irish or EEA spouses or civil partners, the normal criteria for granting of an employment permit apply (but the fee is waived). Therefore, if fulfilling a Labour Market Needs Test is required for the grant of an Employment Permit, this will be required.If the non-EEA spouse or civil partner of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU Regulations (26 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: In general, the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation, which sets out requirements regarding the CE Mark for Structural Steel, is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (D/ECLG). I understand that officials in that Department have worked with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure the industry was aware of, and prepared for, the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (26 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: I can advise the Deputy that there have been no severance packages paid in my Department to Special Advisors in the period referred to.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: The amendment is not appropriate as section 7(2) of the Bill already provides for the criminal liability of certain persons connected to a body corporate in certain circumstances in the case of offences under the Act. Extending liability for the debts of a solvent company to its officers would, I am advised by the Attorney General, be constitutionally suspect and represent a major departure...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: The amendment is of a drafting nature and does not result in any substantive change to the Bill. It is necessary to include definitions of the terms "employer registration number" and "personal public service number" for the purposes of the section.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Section 32, as drafted, is strictly limited in its application to information on the alleged commission of an offence under a relevant enactment or the contravention of a relevant enactment. As such, the amendment is inappropriate as it is inconsistent with the section taken as a whole.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: The amendment is in response to an amendment proposed by Deputy Peader Tóibín on Report Stage in the Dáil when I indicated that I would afford further consideration to it. I introduce amendment No. 51 to address the issues raised. The proposed amendment broadens the scope of the information the Workplace Relations Commission may disclose to a public contracting authority. As...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: I think the Senators misunderstand the purpose of this provision. This is not a penalty for non-payment of the minimum wage. The non-payment of the minimum wage is a criminal offence subject to penalties elsewhere in legislation. The provision dealt with by these amendments is for a fixed payment notice which can only be used in certain limited circumstances. Only three offences are...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: This section is concerned with the penalties that can be issued by way of a fixed payment notice. It is like a traffic cop giving out a fine. An employer who commits the offence of breaching the national minimum wage would be prosecuted in the normal way. One cannot hand out a fixed payment notice of €20,000 in this relatively informal manner because, as I noted earlier, that would...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: This section deals with fixed payment notices.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: These amendments are of a drafting and technical nature and make no substantive change to the section.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: It is implicit that the consent of both parties is a prerequisite to all forms of mediation and case resolution. The Senator's proposed amendment is, therefore, superfluous in this regard and inappropriate in so far as it focuses only on the claimant.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Senator Norris is confusing what we are dealing with here. This is a mediation process, into which people enter voluntarily. The Senator is seeking in such a voluntary mediation process to give case resolution officers directive powers to compel the production of documentation and evidence to the other party that the party intends to rely on. That would be in conflict with a voluntary...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: If one is entering into a voluntary process, one does not introduce powers to compel. They are in conflict in that one is attempting to bring the two sides together voluntarily to agree. The Senator is seeking to give compulsion powers. It would drive people away from mediation because they would fear that if they went into it, they would suddenly be compelled to do this, that and the...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: One cannot on the one hand issue a direction and then on the other hand say that the parties should have a chat.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Senator should read the amendment.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: I would have to take advice. In any mediation, people will exchange freely and will talk to one another. However, it is a voluntary process and one does not seek to codify that in the way the Senator is seeking. I do not see why an informal process of that nature seeking to explore a voluntary solution should be tied up in requirements of the sort the Senator is seeking. I will certainly...