Results 46,181-46,200 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Industrial Development. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I certainly do. We were digging the sod in that business park which is a significant one in Mullingar.

Industrial Development. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: There is no reason to develop it unless we fill it. I will use the comparison I used earlier with Carlow and other areas. That the facility is being put in place is a reflection of the IDA's commitment to market it. It is the triangular marketing of the region that says to a multinational that if one locates in Mullingar one has access to the population base in the region of approximately...

Industrial Development. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Exactly. Enterprise Ireland recently announced a €50 million development for the institutes of technology — equipment grants and grants for the incubation centres — to facilitate business development and incubation to provide added capacity to help companies to start up. The institutes are located regionally. The idea behind that is to give a stronger regional focus to enterprise...

Departmental Agencies. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In accordance with the initiative announced by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance in his 2008 budget speech, my Department carried out an efficiency review earlier this year which encompassed the Department, its offices, agencies and associated bodies. The efficiency review for my Department will be considered by the Government, along with similar exercises carried out by all other...

Departmental Agencies. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy's predecessor as Fine Gael spokesperson on enterprise, trade and employment attacked my predecessor and me for what he claimed was our delay and prevarication in establishing a national consumer agency.

Departmental Agencies. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: When we introduced the relevant legislation the Deputy's predecessor said it was about time, only to oppose it later. Even in the context of NERA and Gama Construction Limited, we heard cries from the other side that we needed——

Departmental Agencies. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will return to the issue of the Government's role. The cries were not only for a greater number of inspectors but also for sufficient legal capacity to take on unscrupulous employers who exploit workers. This requirement could not be satisfied by appointing additional inspectors without legal context or proper capacity to take on such employers in the courts. The Deputy will recall that...

Departmental Agencies. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I accept the need for reform to make State agencies more accountable to the Legislature, through the relevant Minister. The OECD report makes an important point on the need for greater connectiveness in the wider public service, Civil Service, political system and, ultimately, Parliament.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that an application was received in respect of the above named on the 20/09/2007. This application was refused on the grounds that new employment permit applications are normally only considered where the starting salary on offer is over €30,000 and no newspaper advertisements were submitted in support of the application. Having...

Written Answers — National Science Museum: National Science Museum (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In January of this year Science Gallery, located in the Naughton Institute in Trinity College Dublin, opened to the public. The Gallery, which provides a venue for a variety of science exhibitions and events, aims to present science in new and stimulating ways. While open to all, the primary target audience for Science Gallery is young adults in the 15-25 age bracket. It aims to present...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government, when approving the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in 2006, agreed that the full implementation of the Strategy had been costed at €3.8 billion over existing levels of service. In accepting the overall costings of the Strategy, the Government also agreed that decisions on the provision of funds for the Strategy would have to be taken in the context of the...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Whilst the Consumer Strategy Group directed its recommendation in relation to small claims court enforcement procedures to my Department, the responsibility for the administration of the Small Claims Court lies with the Courts Service. In so far as the Small Claims Court procedure is concerned, the Deputy may be aware that the limit for processing claims in the Small Claims Court was raised...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas and not a matter in which the Minister of the day has a function. However, I did meet with local T.D.'s and a delegation from Gorey Town Council in February 2005 to discuss the development of the 2.5 hectares...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that they have re-accessed this application in light of the additional information received and that a work permit has now issued in this case.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has experienced a prolonged period of exuberant economic growth. However, we now face a more challenging and uncertain environment. Forfás and the National Competitiveness Council believe that this is not a time for pessimism about the outlook for the Irish economy. We have significant capacity — a skilled workforce, a strong enterprise base and a healthy fiscal position. These...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. The programme helps unemployed people to progress to the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Employment/unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey, collated and published by the Central Statistics Office. The most recent Quarterly National Household Survey, Quarter 4, 2007, which covers the period September-November 2007, indicates that employment has increased by 66,800 in the year. Data for Quarter 1 2008 (December-February) will not be available until...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are a number of key policies which the Government is implementing to maintain and enhance our competitiveness and to invest for the future. The Government has made a major commitment, through the substantial investment set out in the Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation (SSTI) and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013, to making the transition to a knowledge-economy by...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In regard to the Midlands Region, IDA Ireland is working to develop the knowledge economy in order that it can compete both nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment. Over the past 5 years the Agency has been promoting the Midlands as part of an integrated Midlands Region with access to a population base of 310,127. The Midlands has traditionally been a centre of...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The manufacturing sector in Ireland has evolved noticeably since 2000, in terms of the composition of industry and the nature of activities, and is likely to continue to do so. Manufacturing continues to be a significant employer accounting directly for 11% of total employment and a significant amount of associated services employment. In order to sustain and grow the sector, the Irish based...