Results 19,801-19,820 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (26 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Agreement (TTIP) was discussed most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council of Trade Ministers on 21 November. The primary objective of the TTIP is to promote growth and jobs, greater compatibility in regulation, high standards and common rules to facilitate trade and investment. The EU Commission’s mandate to negotiate with the United States...

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Data (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: This is not the question the Deputy asked. He asked for a tabular statement containing the number of civil servants employed in the Department. There were 1,021 employed in 2007, 1,075 in 2008, 994 in 2009, 906 in 2010, 831 in 2011, 788 in 2012, 802 in 2013 and 803 as of today. Those figures reflect changes in responsibility as well as the effect of the employment control framework. The...

Other Questions: Departmental Staff Data (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputy that all of the evidence of alleged tax evasion went to the various authorities, including the Revenue Commissioners. The Revenue Commissioners issued a statement outlining the investigation they undertook in respect of various individuals under the Ansbacher accounts. They also went to the Garda, which issued a statement that it has dealt with these issues and a file...

Other Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: My colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, by means of the Youth Guarantee, has introduced a range of measures to support young people getting back into the workforce. I refer to very successful schemes such as JobBridge, which has a 60% placement rate. MOMENTUM is under review and it is envisaged it will provide work experience as part of the scheme. The JobsPlus...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Expenditure (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: There is and has always been a distinction between businesses with an export potential and businesses that provide a purely domestic service. The rationale for that is very understandable. It would be considered unfair if one is running an existing business and a Department is providing grant aid to someone down the road with whom one is in competition. However, grants are available if...

Other Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: Unemployment is a very important factor in all of our work. The economic crash saw a rise in unemployment in every region, and my Department and agencies have sought to respond to the employment challenge in every region. Since the launch of the Action Plan for Jobs, approximately 70,000 extra people have got work. Enterprises in every region have increased employment and in almost all...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Expenditure (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: The ongoing aim of the Action Plan for Jobs is to support enterprise growth and job creation in all regions of the country and in all towns and cities. Recent CSO data show that the number at work has increased by 33,500 in the past 12 months. Compared to a situation where the private sector was losing 7,000 jobs per month, we are now creating 2,800 jobs per month. Looking at the live...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Expenditure (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: If Deputy Fitzmaurice wants to draw to our attention a specific office where he is having difficulty, we will look at that situation. By establishing the local enterprise office, we sought to forge a partnership with the local authorities. The local authorities are one of the most powerful influences in the local area. They have access to property solutions. They provide the environment...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: To be fair, the Government has set its face towards reducing regulation. This is reflected in Ireland's improved position in the ease-of-doing-business rankings. We have removed many obstacles. For example, with the assistance of the House we have simplified many aspects of company law. In addition, we have sought to make it easier to do business in many areas. The Deputy drew my...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for his question, which asks what projects are in the pipeline. He will understand that any project is commercially sensitive until it is finally announced and I am not at liberty to indicate what might be in the pipeline. However, I am optimistic about projects for the future. There have been a number of good projects and good, strong announcements have been made in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Government offers greater aid in these regions. Under the regional aid guidelines, the Government is allowed to provide aid at a higher level in certain regions and in the recent negotiations at European Union level, the Government succeeded in getting new regions within that ambit that were areas of high unemployment. Consequently, higher supports are available. The Government has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: On the harmonised index of prices across Europe, Ireland’s increase is 1.2% in the past 12 months. That is among the lowest in the EU. They are higher in Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Portugal and Finland. Ireland is controlling administrative costs more effectively than other European countries. I agree with the Deputy that there are areas where we need...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is attempting to be very selective in his quotes. We have improved compared with all our international competitors on the ease of business index and on our competitiveness rankings-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: We have done better than all our competitors on administrative prices, which the Deputy raised in his question. In every area the Deputy addressed we have done better when one considers the global picture. We are influenced by international prices in the electricity area and are dependent on fossil fuels, but the ESB and other electricity companies have been focusing on controllable costs...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: That is a slightly different question from the one the Deputy asked. The position in regard to competitiveness generally is one where we have seen a very significant improvement in recent years. Ireland's international competitiveness rankings have improved from 24th to 15th in the IMD's world competitiveness yearbook report and from 29th to 25th in the WEF global competitiveness report....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Expenditure (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: The overall mission of my Department is to support the creation of good jobs by promoting the development of a competitive business environment in which enterprises will operate to high standards and grow in sustainable markets. In this context, the majority of the funding of my Department directly supports this overall mission statement. In particular, my Department provides a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: Ireland’s robust suite of employment rights legislation applies to all workers, whether employed by a sub-contractor or other class of employer. Workers who consider they are not receiving the correct wage rate can make a complaint to the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) which is the body responsible for enforcing minimum statutory employment rights entitlements in the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Takeovers (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: The proposed takeover of Covidien by Medtronic was announced earlier this year but is subject to certain conditions such as shareholder approval and regulatory clearances around the world, including by the European Commission. Assuming this process progresses as envisaged, the transaction is expected to be concluded by the end of 2014 or early 2015. The acquisition will see the businesses...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: A series of actions are being implemented by local and national agencies to source an alternative employer and find alternative employment for those impacted by the MBNA announcement. An inter-agency group, led by Enterprise Ireland, has been formed and its membership includes representatives of all the relevant State players. This Group is providing a coordinated approach to the needs of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Manufacturing Development Forum (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Strategy for the Manufacturing Sector, which I commissioned, and which was published in April 2013, identified that an additional 20,000 jobs can be created in the sector by 2016. A complementary report on the skills needs for the sector, which I had commissioned at the same time, was published by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and Forfás, and it identified a series of...