Results 19,761-19,780 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Joint Labour Committees Agreements (9 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: Section 41A of Industrial Relations Act 1946 (inserted by Section 11 of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012) provides that reviews of each Joint Labour Committee (JLC) be carried out by the Labour Court as soon as practicable after the commencement of the Act, and at least once every 5 years thereafter. In this context the Court undertook a review of the ten existing JLCs in 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Data (9 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: In 2013, the value of exports to Iran from Ireland was €57 million. The main products exported were soft drink concentrate and medical and pharmaceutical products. Imports in 2013 from Iran amounted to under €1 million, most of which was accounted for by vegetables & fruit. Due to the EU sanctions that have been in place, Enterprise Ireland has not considered Iran a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: An Fhoireann Rannach (9 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: Níl an fhaisnéis atá iarrtha ag an Teachta ar fáil toisc nach bhfuil post ar bith laistigh de mo Roinnse a bhfuil inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge mar réamhriachtanas dá chuid. I gcomhréir lenár gcuid oibleagáidí faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 tá mo Roinnse tiomanta don chumarsáid le cliaint ar mian leo a gcuid gnó...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Licence Applications (4 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: The only licences which are issued by my Department for the sale of goods relate to Occasional Trading Licences under the Occasional Trading Act 1979. I also have policy responsibility for the Casual Trading Act 1995 but casual trading licences under that Act are issued by the relevant local authorities. Given the nature of the cash-and-carry or wholesale business, neither of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (4 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: The aim of the Action Plan for Jobs is to help enterprises to create employment in all regions of the country. If we are to do this successfully, it is important that the economic potential of each region is maximised and that each region builds on its particular strengths and assets to provide an environment that stimulates entrepreneurship and attracts both indigenous and foreign...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: I am unsure of what issue Senator Healy Eames was raising in terms of our tax competitiveness. Ireland is the most competitive in terms of corporate tax.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: Our personal tax rates are decreasing, which as the Senator will be aware were raised during the crisis to levels that are too high. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance have indicated that we are now firmly on a downwards route in this regard, with reductions in the USC and in the top rate of income tax. We are pretty tax competitive but we can do more. The CGT rate is 33% rather...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Government now has well over €3 billion in an alternative to bank finance in the marketplace. We are putting in other things because banks will be more risk averse. To be fair to the banks the refusal rates, as reported by a Red C survey, are falling. They are down from 30% to 19%. There is some growth in credit from the banking system. There is change afoot but we are not...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: These are Central Statistics Office figures. There is a perception that all jobs are going to Dublin but that is not borne out by the statistics. There is a good spread. I agree with Senators that we need a stronger regional strategy. I will be the first Minister to put in place a regional enterprise strategy, which I will do over the next 12 months. We will go into each region, sit down...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: I agree. Many sectors such as food, tourism, engineering and agricultural machinery have a strong regional base where we are competitive and can grow more competitive companies. That will be a focus. The total focus in this debate on how many IDA visits came to X, Y or Z town or village is not a realistic way to build the competitive strengths of our regions. We have to consider sectors...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: I will get to the-----

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: Senator Naughton asked if employer's PRSI is too high. We brought down the low rate temporarily. That was funded by the pension levy which has been dropped. It did have an impact that we saw on tourism and other sectors. We are moving to a point where we can start selectively to consider taxes where the boot is pinching and the Minister for Finance will do that each year. We are...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: Indeed we will not. The Senator should give me a list of the things on which we can have a small business exemption and I will consider them. Most regulation concerns the environment and protection of workers. We protect people with good reason. These are good standards for doing business. We do not want to dilute important ones. We can consider flexibility for some companies. Crowd...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: I have no specifics. Several leads are being followed but like all of these matters, they are commercially sensitive and we do not discuss people’s interests in public. There is a joint IDA and Enterprise Ireland task force because it is equally attractive to both and we are pursuing that. If the Senator gives us examples of the shortage of suitable buildings in the Border regions we...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: On a point of information-----

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: I apologise for intervening but what the Senator said is just not true.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: It is a perception.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: So the Senator is referring to high-tech jobs.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: It is now 10.7%.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2014: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Richard Bruton: That is the live register figure. As it is based on the quarterly national household survey, it is the authoritative number.