Results 19,821-19,840 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government provides Secretariat support to the Inter-Departmental Group on Social Enterprise. Policy responsibility for public procurement, meanwhile, is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, T.D. The Office of Government Procurement falls under Minister Howlin’s remit. My...

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

Richard Bruton: The scope of the EU Commission’s mandate to negotiate with the United States on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a very broad and comprehensive one, covering sectors and regulatory and rules issues, and investment protection including investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) is included. The mandate is available on the EU Council’s website at The...

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

Richard Bruton: Since the formal negotiations between the European Union and the United States on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) began in July 2013, seven negotiating rounds have taken place, the most recent of which took place in the US from 29 September to 3 October 2014. Reports of Rounds, together with background documents, are available on the European Commission’s TTIP...

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

Richard Bruton: The Construction Contracts Act, enacted last year seeks to ensure prompt payment practices throughout the construction industry. It is intended that the legislation will in the future provide easier access to payment for contractors who have carried out work. The commencement of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 is dependent on a number of factors contained within the legislation...

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

Richard Bruton: Seven formal rounds and numerous inter-sessional meetings have taken place in the sixteen months that have passed since the launch of the negotiations in June last year. While I am not aware that a date has yet been set for the eighth round, I expect that it will most likely take place early next year. It is not possible at this stage to say when the negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade...

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

Richard Bruton: The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Peru, is an Agreement within the meaning of Article 29.5.2 of the Constitution. Ratification by Ireland is therefore subject to prior approval of Dáil Éireann. It is my intention to seek the necessary approval of Dáil Éireann shortly. According to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: My Department has ongoing structured engagement with the Department of Finance across the range of access to finance issues for SMEs, including the operation of the Credit Review Office. The primary conduit for this engagement is the SME State Bodies Group, which is chaired by the Department of Finance and includes officials from my Department and Enterprise Ireland. The Credit Review...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Establishment (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: There is a commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 to establish a Low Pay Commission (LPC) on a statutory basis as an independent body to make annual recommendations to the Government about the appropriate level of the minimum wage and related matters. With a view to ensuring that the LPC is in a position to carry out its functions as soon as possible, the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: As part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, we are bringing a particular focus to regional job creation and are delivering a range of measures to support this goal. I announced in April that IDA Ireland had agreed contracts for the delivery of two advanced technology buildings in Athlone and Waterford, which will be suitable for future IDA client investment across the full spectrum of...

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

Richard Bruton: One of the clearly stated objectives in the EU’s negotiating mandate is sustainable development, which encompasses the respect of international environmental and labour agreements and standards while promoting high levels of protection for the environment, labour and consumers, consistent with the EU acquis and Member States' legislation. It is, therefore, an explicit objective that...

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

Richard Bruton: Ireland has a robust body of employment law, encompassing a comprehensive range of employment rights together with both civil and criminal remedies to ensure that individuals can vindicate their rights. The suite of employment rights legislation is underpinned by a proactive labour inspectorate. As regards wages, the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 modifies all existing contracts of...

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

Richard Bruton: The scope of the EU Commission’s negotiating mandate for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) includes Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). The EU Commission earlier this year decided to conduct a formal public consultation on ISDS in TTIP, and negotiations on ISDS under TTIP have been suspended since then. The formal consultation closed in July, and the EU...

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

Richard Bruton: Under the Industrial Development Acts, the management of IDA Ireland’s property portfolio, including the provision of property solutions for client companies, is a day to day operational matter for the Agency and not one in which I have a function. I am informed by IDA Ireland that they have invested in a number of Business and Technology Parks in Galway city and county -Parkmore,...

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

Richard Bruton: As part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, we are bringing a particular focus to regional job creation and are delivering a range of measures to support this goal. I announced in April that IDA Ireland had agreed contracts for the delivery of two advanced technology buildings in Athlone and Waterford, which will be suitable for future IDA client investment across the full spectrum of...

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

Richard Bruton: In general, the implementation of the Construction Products Regulations (CPR), is a matter for the Minister for the Environment Community and Local Government, and has resulted in increased compliance requirements for manufacturers of construction products across the board. The requirement for Steel Fabricators to CE mark product is a complex matter requiring the implementation of systems...

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

Richard Bruton: The final decision as to where to visit and ultimately where to locate is taken in all cases by the investor. My Department’s agencies provide a range of grant aid and financial supports throughout the country including the counties listed by Deputy. This investment is provided primarily through direct financial grant supports to client companies and the breakdown of these figures in...

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

Richard Bruton: The scope of the EU Commission’s mandate to negotiate with the United States on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) includes investment protection and investor state dispute settlement (ISDS). The mandate is available on the EU Council’s website at I believe that ISDS is a valid mechanism. But I also believe that the experience of ISDS internationally...

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

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that in accordance with the Statement of Government priorities, my colleague the Minister for Business and Employment, Ged Nash TD, issued on Monday 17 November a call for tenders to carry out a study into the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts and the impact of such contracts on employees. The tender can be accessed on the Government’s website...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (25 Nov 2014)

Richard Bruton: State agency spending on Irish owned companies is approximately €770 million versus €470 million for foreign owned companies. We have a range of supports to help indigenous companies start to expand and create jobs including: start up grants, innovation, technology support, management development, graduate placements and export supports. Since coming into office, this...

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

Richard Bruton: I fully appreciate the concerns of retired and deferred members of pension schemes whose schemes are being restructured, particularly where such restructuring may impact on existing or potential pension benefits. The question of whether it is appropriate that pensioner groups have access to the State’s industrial relations machinery in pursuing pension scheme grievances has been...