Results 241-260 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (28 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Following the transfer of responsibility for FÁS with effect from 1st May 2010 this is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (28 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Shannon Development is the State agency which has the mandate for the support and establishment of both foreign and Irish owned enterprises in the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate, Co Clare. Shannon Development is also responsible for the management and development of the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate. This includes the provision of property solutions to accommodate the FDI and...

Written Answers — Retail Sector Pricing Strategies: Retail Sector Pricing Strategies (27 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The use of aggressive pricing strategies is a legitimate marketing tool and is the normal outcome of the competitive process. Low cost and below cost selling by a retailer, including an off-licence, is not of itself an offence unless it involves abuse of a dominant position. A determination on whether a retailer is abusing a dominant position in the marketplace would necessitate a...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am informed by IDA Ireland that IDA has no units in its ownership in Co Kildare. IDA has leases on 6 private sector units in Newbridge, Co Kildare. None of the units are currently occupied so IDA is not in receipt of any rent at present, as outlined in the tabular statement below: Building Name SQ M. Occupancy Status Head Lease Rent Rent € per m.sq. CL.BLDG.1 - UNIT 1...

Written Answers — Market Rights: Market Rights (27 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Casual Trading Act 1995 sets out the law regarding selling goods in public places. Casual trading is defined as "selling goods at a place (including a public road) to which the public have access as of right". The Act essentially requires those who engage in casual trading to hold a licence granted for that purpose by the relevant local authority where the casual trading takes please....

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Enterprise Ireland The Board of Enterprise Ireland is comprised of 12 members. Forfás The Board of Forfás is comprised of 13 members. The Health and Safety Authority The Board of the Health and Safety Authority is comprised of 12 members. IDA Ireland The Board of IDA Ireland is made up of 12 members. Intertrade Ireland The Board of Intertrade Ireland is made up of 12 members, 6 from The...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Table below sets out the funding allocated to each of the Agencies under the Aegis of my Department between 2006 and 2010. The allocations shown include exchequer funding and National Training Fund (NTF) monies, where appropriate. While the table shows Exchequer funding and NTF, some of the Agencies receive funding from other sources such as fees , property rental, grant refunds, and...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (27 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have been informed by the IDA that to date in 2010, there have been 25 first-time site visits to County Galway, of which 1 was to Ballinasloe. In 2009, there were 22 first-time site visits and 1 of these was to Ballinasloe. There were 14 first-time site visits to County Galway in 2008, none of which visited Ballinsloe. As part of its strategy to attract inward investment, IDA Ireland...

Written Answers — Small and Medium Businesses: Small and Medium Businesses (21 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: A number of initiatives have been taken over the last two years to improve participation by SMEs in tendering for public contracts. In 2008, the Tánaiste established the Procurement Innovation Group which was charged with identifying ways through which public procurement could be used to stimulate demand for innovative goods and services, while opening opportunities for all innovative...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The accompanying tables provide a breakdown of the number of new staff recruited to my Department with details of grades; the number of promotions with details of grades; the number of staff who have left under the incentivised early retirement scheme with details of grades and the number of staff who left for other reasons with details of grades for years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010....

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (21 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Section 198 of the Companies Act 1990 provides that there shall be a register of auditors maintained by the registrar of companies. I understand that the register has been in place, in paper form initially, since the commencement of that provision and subsequently in electronic format. The European Communities (Statutory Audits) (Directive 2006/43/EC) Regulations 2010 has expanded the...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (21 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department has one "High-Level" Group operating under its aegis and the information requested by the Deputy in relation to this Group is as follows: Name of High-Level Group Purpose of Group Date Established No. of Meetings High Level Group on Business Regulation The High-Level Group acts as a forum for dialogue between business, trade unions and Government agencies. Its primary role...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The number of persons employed on temporary contract in my Department and the cost involved for 2008 and 2009 is set out in the table below. Fixed Term Contracts Category No of Contracts 2008 Cost of Contracts 2008 No of Contracts 2009 Cost of Contracts 2009 Fixed Term Contracts2 - 4 year durationi.e. primarily appointed to professional grades, e.g. Accountant / Auditor/ Legal Adviser 4...

Written Answers — Emigration Statistics: Emigration Statistics (20 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government is pursuing a whole of enterprise approach to employment creation through support for Irish firms and winning foreign direct investment, to sustain and expand job opportunities. Many jobs that are being created are providing employment opportunities for our graduates. My Department's agencies are playing, and will continue to play, a key role in this regard, for example: § ...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Contracts held by my Department and its offices with telecommunication providers relate to three distinct areas: fixed data communications, fixed voice communications and mobile communications. A three stage review of these contracts is under way with a view to making significant cost savings as follows: Fixed Data Communications. Following a recent public tendering procedure, my Department...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department and the Offices of my Department do not have specific contracts with energy providers. The energy requirements of my Department and the Offices of my Department are catered for under special arrangements negotiated for Government Departments, Offices and Agencies by the Office of Public Works (through the Government Supplies Agency/National Procurement Service). I understand...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (19 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Following the transfer of responsibility for FAS with effect from 1st May 2010 this is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 526 together. Since 2007, my Department established the National Employment Rights Authority and the National Consumer Agency. The Information requested by the Deputy in relation to these bodies is as follows: (1) The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) was established on an interim basis in February, 2007 in line with the commitment in Towards...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (19 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Building Ireland's Smart Economy document, published in December 2008, contained a commitment to publish a whole-of-Government response to recommendations contained in Competition Authority reports within nine months of their publication. The October 2009 Renewed Programme for Government further strengthened this pledge. Following on from the commitment, my Department drew up an...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are currently six staff teleworking in my Department. There are no plans at present to increase this number because of budgetary constraints and the high demands placed on the Department's limited ICT and related resources in supporting teleworking arrangements.