Results 46,281-46,300 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The issues raised by the Deputy relate to Sections 48 and 49 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007. My Department launched a public consultation process in relation to the commencement of these provisions of the Act in the summer of 2007. Almost 50 submissions were received in response to the consultation process. The submissions gave rise to a number of complex matters, which require careful...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that a work permit issued in this case on the 25th March 2008.

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: When job losses are announced, the relevant agencies under the aegis of my Department adopt a coordinated approach in dealing with the situation and in making the workforce aware of the supports available to assist in finding new employment or to start their own business. The Industrial Training agency FÁS has written to both of these companies offering its services. The agency will make...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, a review of the operation and implementation of the Competition Act 2002 is currently underway and in the course of that review, all submissions, including the matters raised in the Deputy's question will be considered.

Written Answers — Departmental Facilities: Departmental Facilities (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are 99 car park spaces available for staff in the Dublin buildings of my Department and approximately 310 car park spaces available for staff of the 8 Offices which operate under the aegis of my Department in Dublin, Kilkenny, Carlow, Cork, Sligo and Shannon. Most of the buildings occupied by my Department and by the 8 Offices under the aegis of my Department are leased by the Office...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that this application was refused on the grounds that it is current Government policy to issue new employment permits for highly skilled highly paid positions or for non-EEA nationals already legally resident in the State on valid employment permits. Furthermore, the proposed employee is currently resident in the State on a Student...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The situation with this company has not changed since the announcement, on 3 October last, of an indefinite postponement of its proposed Irish projects. IDA officials maintain regular contact with the company executives. The company has made no announcement regarding plans for the utilization or disposal of its site at Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork. It is only six months since the company...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following are the bodies, organisations or committees outside my Department, other than semi-State commercial companies, that have been established by and report to my Department between 2007 and end-March 2008: the National Consumer Agency, the High-level Group on Business Regulation, the Advisory Group on Media Mergers, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Human Capital...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: There has been no expenditure by myself or my Department on helicopter travel in the period 2002 to date.

Unemployment Rate: Motion (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Economic migration is a challenging debate for us. I have brought in a green card system to facilitate the attraction of high-skilled persons with their families to this society. Only approximately 1,000 were facilitated last year since the scheme was introduced. However, I am conscious it is not a popular message to send out. If we are serious about competitiveness, we must heed what...

Unemployment Rate: Motion (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: There is a company developing something for the hair as well but the conservative within me is loath to chance it.

Unemployment Rate: Motion (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Varadkar mentioned Allergan. What happened in Arklow is extremely disappointing for the workers and all concerned. We will work hard to replace that and get in alternative employment. It has a different operation in Mayo. Mayo is the sole manufacturing site for botox in the world. When I say botox, people should not think only of the face, etc. Botox is a remarkable drug which has...

Unemployment Rate: Motion (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is an outstanding tribute to the management and staff there. Our challenge is to get an increased level of that type of activity in Ireland so that those locations become the key ones for global companies and that we retain our position. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, is working actively on the broadband issue. We have made extraordinary...

Unemployment Rate: Motion (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "—commends the Government on the successful management of the economy which has placed Ireland in the top 4 of the 27 EU Member States in terms of job creation and the second most competitive economy in the European Jobs and Growth Monitor; notes that exports continue to grow, inward investment...

Unemployment Rate: Motion (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: With respect, those are the facts. The number of jobs created in the last three years is very significant. We have moved from a workforce of one million, 12 years ago, to more than two million now. Yet all the debate and the rhetoric would suggest none of that happened and that it was all a mirage. We need some reality and perspective. I certainly accept reasoned debate as regards the...

Unemployment Rate: Motion (2 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am glad to note that the Ceann Comhairle is heading that way.

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (13 Mar 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. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to...

Written Answers — Retail Sector: Retail Sector (13 Mar 2008)

Micheál Martin: Since the abolition of the Groceries Order, the Consumer Price Index shows that the price of alcohol decreased initially by 4.1% during the period March 2006 to December 2006. During this period the price of spirits decreased by 8.1%, wine and cider by 3.3% and beer by 1.3%. Since December 2006, CSO price statistics use that month as a base. The previous base was December 2001. Between...

Written Answers — Regional Development: Regional Development (12 Mar 2008)

Micheál Martin: Following a Government decision in 2005, I established an interdepartmental Group on Donegal. This Group, which was chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, focused on the progress being made or planned on infrastructure developments, which would assist in improving the attractiveness of County Donegal as a location for enterprise development. In July 2006, I launched the report...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (12 Mar 2008)

Micheál Martin: Donegal is a target location for the IDA with the County now competing for a different type of business to labour intensive manufacturing, which IDA so successfully won over the past four decades. The overseas investor is now seeking locations for more advanced manufacturing or office based solutions, to a great extent depending on high skill and high value work. While this has required a...