Results 19,301-19,320 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: The Bill makes adequate provision for an increase in the staffing of the Labour Court. It also makes provision for the making of temporary appointments to the Labour Court to cover certain absences of a full-time officer or member. There is no case to support the creation of a panel of temporary members. The Labour Court is bound to act judicially at all times and to avoid bias or the...

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

Richard Bruton: Amendments Nos. 112 and 113 are intended to allow the Minister to make a temporary appointments to the office of deputy chairman of the Labour Court to fill a temporary vacancy that may arise in certain circumstances in that office. Such a vacancy may occur, for example, where an incumbent deputy chairman is unable to perform his or her duties for a period or dies or is removed from office.

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

Richard Bruton: Government amendments Nos. 114 to 120, inclusive, are largely technical and of a drafting nature. These amendments are necessary to ensure that the complaints and redress procedures which will apply to complaints brought under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 are as analogous as possible with the complaints in redress scheme provided for in Part 4 of the Bill. In particular, section 11 of the...

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

Richard Bruton: There are alternative means.

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

Richard Bruton: These amendments seek to address the complex issue of so-called informal insolvency. This issue is not within the scope of the scheme of the Bill. Furthermore, the issue raises complex questions at the intersection of employment and company law which would require detailed and separate consideration. The amendments are not appropriate for these reasons, therefore I do not propose to accept...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Construction Products Regulations 2013 () were signed into law by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on 27 June 2013 to facilitate the application of the Construction Products Regulation (or CPR) in Ireland and providing for inspection of products on the Irish market by Local Authorities. These Regulations came into operation on 1 July 2013. Since July 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: National Standards Authority of Ireland (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: The number of approvals processed since January 1st, 2014 is 971 across the four broad categories of vehicle approvals. As at the 20thFebruary 2014 there were 166 outstanding applications to be processed. The timeframe for approvals to be processed from submission of application to final approval ranges from 10 days in respect of disabled driver applications to 42 days for commercial...

Topical Issues: Job Creation (24 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: We need to have a realistic debate about what we can do. IDA Ireland does not decide where an industry locates. An industry locates in areas where it can get the things it needs to grow. Very often for multinational companies, that will centre on education and the skill base. That is why the institutes of technology in Tralee and Athlone are the magnets. They are what are needed for...

Topical Issues: Job Creation (24 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: I thank both Deputies for raising this issue. Part of the response to our employment crisis lies with the IDA, but much of it lies elsewhere. The overall picture is worth stating both in respect of Kerry and the midlands. In Kerry during the crash the live register increased by 10,000. Many of those came from the construction sector which completely collapsed. Since the Government...

Topical Issues (24 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: I am taking the matter to be raised by Deputy Brian Stanley.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Equality Tribunal Cases (24 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Equality Tribunal is a quasi- judicial and independent statutory body set up under the Employment Equality Act 1998 to investigate and decide on complaints of discrimination. The Equality Tribunal as one of the quasi-judicial bodies of this Department and is operated independently of the Minister and as such the Minister does not interfere in the exercise by that body of its...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Equality Tribunal Cases (24 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: The 2014 budget allocation for the Equality Tribunal was €1.955 million. The number of staff employed in the Tribunal at the end of 2014 was 21.6 full time equivalents (FTEs), a number of which are assisting with Workplace Relations Reform projects. The Tribunal had 730 new cases referred to it in 2014 and closed 506 cases.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Carer's Benefit Eligibility (24 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: The National Carer’s Strategy published in 2012 by the Department of Health, sets out the strategic direction for policies, services and supports provided for carers. This strategy, prepared in consultation with carers, established the key priorities to support carers given scarce resources and a Carers’ Forum is held annually to continue to give carers a voice at policy...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Services (24 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: I understand that Carers Scotland, a charitable organisation, has received funding to develop Carer Positive, a ‘caring for carers’ kitemark to recognise employers who offer the best support to carers, allowing them the flexibility they often need to deliver care at home. I understand it is overseen by an Advisory Group of key stakeholders that have supported the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Tax Code (24 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Following clarification, I understand that the question relates to the payment of tax and pay related social insurance (PRSI) while an employee is out sick. In general, an employee has no right under employment law to be paid by their employer while on sick leave. Consequently, it is at the discretion of the employer to decide his/her own policy on sick pay and sick leave, subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (24 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: On 11 February, the Government announced details of the Action Plan for Jobs: Regional initiative which will seek to maximise the strengths and assets of each region to support enterprise growth and job creation. The Regional Action Plans will identify specific measures that can be taken to help each region to realise its economic potential, with a view to increasing the number of people at...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: International Bodies Membership (24 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: International linkages are a crucial component of a national innovation system. In this context membership of international research organisations can play an important role in enhancing and supporting the effectiveness and output of Ireland’s innovation system. However, Ireland’s membership of international research organisations must be predicated on whether the benefit of...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: This amendment deals with the commencement arrangements that will apply after enactment. The amendment's purpose is to clarify that section 8(5) contains a specific commencement provision.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: These amendments are of a drafting and technical nature. They do not result in any substantive change in the Bill.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: I may be introducing an amendment to section 3 on Report Stage.