Results 101-120 of 7,153 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: In keeping with the commitment contained in the Renewed Programme for Government , the Government earlier this year reviewed the progress achieved by a number of Government Departments in relation to a list of Competition Authority recommendations which had been prioritised based on their impact on competitiveness. A Government Statement on the progress made issued in April. The Government...

Written Answers — Retail Sector: Retail Sector (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: Companies in Ireland are free to establish and organise themselves in the most suitable form to promote and run their businesses, provided that they comply fully with relevant national and EU legislation. The requirements regarding the preparation and publication of the accounts of limited companies and groups are determined by the First, Fourth and Seventh EU Company Law Directives and by...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: "Towards 2016" contains a Government commitment to introduce amending legislation to exclude voice-over actors, freelance journalists and session musicians when engaging in collective bargaining, from the provisions of Section 4 of the Competition Act 2002. The commitment takes into account, inter alia, that there would be negligible negative impacts on the economy or on the level of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The European Union (Provision of Services) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 533 of 2010) were signed into law by me on 10th November 2010. The Regulations give effect in Ireland to the Services Directive with the exception of the European Communities (Court Orders for the Protection of Consumer Interests) Regulations 2010(S.I. No. 555 of 2010), which, inter alia , transpose Article 42 of the...

Written Answers — National Recovery Plan: National Recovery Plan (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Recovery Plan 2011-2014, published on 24 November 2010, is a strategy for economic recovery with the aim of restoring stability to the public finances, improving Ireland's cost competitiveness, stimulating enterprise growth and job creation. There are two pillars to the strategy for competitiveness, growth and employment a) remove potential structural impediments to...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have noted the findings of this report. As regards listed companies (those on the main market of the Irish Stock Exchange), these have, for many years, been subject to the Combined Code on Corporate Governance, the provisions of which applied on a "comply or explain" basis. The Combined Code has recently been reviewed in the UK and revised in light of the financial crisis. The revised...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: At the operational level, the enterprise development agencies, namely: IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards and Science Foundation Ireland are responsible for enterprise promotion. They each have a core area of focus, which enables them to build a depth of relevant expertise and understanding of the enterprise cohort for which they are responsible, and to focus their...

Written Answers — National Recovery Plan: National Recovery Plan (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Recovery Plan 2011 – 2014 contains an action point to promote competition in the professions and that this will be overseen by an independent figure who reports to Government regularly. Arrangements for implementing this action point are being considered and I expect the matter to be brought to Government shortly. Financial Services Regulation

Written Answers — National Recovery Plan: National Recovery Plan (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The consultation paper referred to in the Deputy's question relates specifically to financial institutions and insurance undertakings, responsibility for which rests with my colleague the Minister for Finance. Having considered over 130 responses to the consultation paper, the Central Bank recently issued the corporate governance code for credit institutions and insurance firms which sets...

Written Answers — Credit Availability: Credit Availability (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As I outlined in my reply to Priority Question No. 69 on Wednesday 13 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 guarantee scheme to assist the working capital requirements of SMEs. This ongoing work is...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: As regards credit institutions and insurance companies, which come within the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Finance, the Deputy may be aware that the Central Bank recently issued the corporate governance code for credit institutions and insurance firms which sets out minimum statutory requirements on how banks and insurance companies should organize the governance of their...

Written Answers — National Recovery Plan: National Recovery Plan (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The National Recovery Plan, which was published by the Government on 24th November, provides a blueprint for Ireland's return to sustainable economic growth. It sets out a range of specific actions and supports designed to improve competitiveness across all sectors of the economy, and in all regions. These include measures to cut costs to business, the removal of barriers to employment...

Written Answers — Construction Contracts: Construction Contracts (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: My colleague, Mr. Brian Lenihan T.D., Minister for Finance is, on behalf of the Government, supporting Senator Feargal Quinn's Construction Contracts Bill 2010 which is currently before the Seanad. The main objective of the Bill is to provide a payment and adjudication mechanism to resolve payment disputes between contractors and sub-contractors for work done under construction contracts.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The enterprise agencies under the aegis of my Department currently have a range of initiatives for the provision of space for start up companies. These include incubation centres, community enterprise centres and business innovation centres. There are currently 21 campus incubation centres facilities that are operational. At present, there are over 250 companies in incubation units in...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The network of County and City Enterprise Boards, which come under the auspices of my Department, are the primary initial contact point for business start-ups in Ireland. The CEBs can assist micro-enterprises i.e. businesses with 10 employees or fewer and are to the forefront in supporting viable business start-ups and in assisting the development of growth-orientated micro-enterprises which...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The proposal for a Consumer Rights Directive was published in October 2008 and has been drafted on a full harmonisation basis which, if retained, would preclude member states from going beyond its protections in national legislation. Though some provisions of the proposed Directive would strengthen consumer rights in Ireland, others would potentially have a less positive effect. Concerns...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The role of my Department is to ensure that we have the right policies in place that will support and grow our enterprise base in order to facilitate both job creation and job retention. Workers are mobile, and migration, both inward and outward, has always been a feature of Ireland's labour force, as it has been the world over. Clearly, there is a difference between voluntary migration...

Written Answers — Single Market: Single Market (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: I met Commissioner Barnier in Dublin on 5 November last. The Commissioner was in Dublin to fulfil a number of engagements, including a meeting with my Department to discuss a number of initiatives designed to make the Single Market work more effectively. These include the Services Directive, the Single Market Act (SMA) and the operation of the SOLVIT Network. The transposition of the Services...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Capital Allocation for the CEBs in 2010 is almost €15m. I have recently secured an additional Capital allocation of €3.3m for the CEBs, which brings their total 2010 Capital allocation to €18.294m. This allocation represents a strong State investment in the micro-enterprise sector notwithstanding the significant pressure on Public finances. CEBs are prioritising and managing all...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (2 Dec 2010)

Batt O'Keeffe: The person concerned was appointed to facilitate discussions with stakeholders in relation to the drawing up of a Voluntary Code of Practice for the Grocery Goods Sector. The person concerned is currently continuing his engagement with the relevant stakeholders in relation to the development of a Voluntary Code and I expect to receive his report in the coming weeks. The engagement of the...