Results 341-360 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Graduate Support Schemes (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: We all are concerned about graduates coming out of college and not having employment and we are all anxious to help address this situation. We are examining a series of initiatives in regard to this matter. The internship programme would be a matter for the Department of Education and Skills but my Department and the Department of Social Protection would have an input into that. I have...

Graduate Support Schemes (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I will obtain an estimate of the number of graduates but the figure is certainly not 100,000. There are placements available for graduates. In the past week, I took the trouble of speaking to two recruitment agencies, one of which informed me that recruitment had increased by 26% in retail, wholesale and purchasing, by 21% in production, manufacturing and materials, by 12% in engineering...

Graduate Support Schemes (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Another agency informed me that professional recruitment had increased in the third quarter by 40% as compared to the third quarter of 2009. We should not forget that a significant number of jobs are being created.

Departmental Agencies (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the staffing levels for each Department and its associated offices and agencies are determined by an employment control framework agreed with the Department of Finance in accordance with the Government decision on reductions to be achieved in civil and public service numbers over the period to end 2012. In allocating staff resources under the employment control...

Departmental Agencies (13 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: In May, when I received the letter in question, I spoke to the chairman of the IDA and indicated that I would give priority to the economic agencies that would deliver jobs. I made him aware that this would take place when we completed the overall employment framework and that is exactly what happened. I called in the chief executives of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland and asked what were...

Written Answers — Commercial Credit: Commercial Credit (12 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As I previously outlined in my replies to Question Number 1742 on 29 September 2010, Question Numbers 296 and 298 on 30 September 2010 and Question Number 312 on 6 October 2010, my officials are working with their colleagues in the Department of Finance, the Credit Review Office, Enterprise Ireland and Forfás to address access to credit issues for viable SMEs, including the option of a loan...

Written Answers — Departmental Strategies: Departmental Strategies (12 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, a Strategy and Action Plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015, is an integrated strategy that is global in scope and covers both existing and new high growth potential markets. It has set a number of ambitious targets to be achieved by 2015 i.e. to create 150,000 new jobs (manufacturing, tourism and traded services) with a similar number...

Written Answers — Credit for Business: Credit for Business (12 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Access to bank credit for businesses, particularly SMEs, has been central to Government Initiatives in addressing the crisis in the banking sector. Both the 2009 and 2010 Bank Recapitalisation arrangements provided specific commitments from the recapitalised banks to assist SMEs. Under the 2010 Bank Recapitalisation arrangement, AIB and Bank of Ireland have both committed to making available...

Written Answers — Task Force on Innovation: Task Force on Innovation (12 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together. The Report of the Innovation Task Force (ITF) provides a road map for positioning Ireland as an international innovation development hub. The report contains many new ideas, as well as calling for a reinforcement and better alignment of existing efforts and programmes. In May the Taoiseach asked me to chair the High Level Implementation...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am informed by IDA Ireland that IDA's units in Ballyshannon, and Donegal Town together with land holdings in the County are currently being transferred to the ownership of Donegal County Council. This transfer is part of IDA's rationalization programme, which was approved in 2009. A list of the various units involved is set out in the tabular statement. The transfer of these properties...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (7 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: International benchmarking statistics reveal that Ireland imposes a relatively low burden of regulation on business. The Forfás Annual Competitiveness Report 2010 states that Ireland's regulatory environment is one of the least restrictive in the OECD in relation to product market regulation, the time taken to comply with tax payments is one of the lowest in the OECD across all categories...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (7 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The annual remuneration awarded to all board members of State agencies under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation is set out in the tables below. The amount awarded to board members is in line with guidelines issued by the Department of Finance. Enterprise Ireland 2007 2008 2009 2010 Chairperson €24,000 €24,000 €21,600 €21,600 Member €14,000 €14,000 €12,600...

Community Employment Schemes (6 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on community employment programmes. Community employment is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged...

Health Services (6 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Deputy Deenihan for raising what is a very important issue on the Adjournment. I am taking it on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The national diabetes programme was established under the governance of the quality and clinical care directorate of the HSE to progress a national diabetes plan which has five key objectives, namely, to...

Flood Relief (6 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Deputy Ring for raising what is an important issue in that area. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, shares the Deputy's concern about repeated flooding in the Roundfort-Hollymount area of County Mayo and the need for remedial action. The area concerned involves two turloughs, which are part of the Kilglassan-Caheravoostia turlough complex...

Employment Support Services (6 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Deputy Michael McGrath for raising an issue on the Adjournment that is of serious concern to all of us. I want to begin by expressing my regret at the announcement by GlaxoSmithKline of the loss of 121 jobs at its Currabinny facility. GSK currently employs over 1,500 people in Ireland at its various sites in Cork, Dublin, Dungarvan and Sligo. The current job losses are a result of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department is responsible for the payment of pensions under the Competition Authority (Chairman and Members') Superannuation Scheme, 1996 and the Labour Court (Members) Superannuation Scheme, 1971-2005. Five former members of the Competition Authority are paid an annual pension ranging from €7,384.01 to €88,773.00; 12 former members of the Labour Court (including Chairpersons and...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am informed by IDA that, as far back as 2003, the IDA Board approved the sale of all the Agency's lands in Kildare to Kildare County Council. However, due to a failure in negotiations, this transaction was not finalised at that time. IDA again approached the Council about the matter, but the Council has confirmed that it now has no interest in acquiring the properties. IDA now proposes...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (6 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department facilitates the creation of new employment opportunities, through the State development agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, together with the County and City Enterprise Boards. These bodies assist and promote enterprise development and employment growth in businesses. The analysis of labour market data is a matter for the Department of Education and Skills and FÁS....

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (6 Oct 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The table below shows expenditure in 2009 and 2010 on Irish Language Training for staff in my Department. It also shows the number of staff who have undertaken such training. Irish Language Training 2009 & 2010 2009 2010 Cost â'¬1,185.00 â'¬490.00* No. of staff 19 13* * Figures to October 4th 2010. My Department is committed to building on the existing levels of knowledge and...