Results 46,501-46,520 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: There appears to be a general impression that agency workers are mainly from overseas and are mainly poorly paid. One of the problems in addressing issues that arise in this area is the lack of hard data. I trust the work being undertaken by the CSO will help to inform and clarify some of the issues in this respect. It is too broad a generalisation to equate agency workers with migrant...

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: When Ireland was a relatively low-cost environment in manufacturing, we were quite successful in attracting investment at that end of the mobile investment market. However, as the world changed, we were obliged to adapt and develop other points of competitive advantage in the newer international economy and to move up the value chain. A key selling point in the armoury of IDA Ireland has...

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: We are not comparing like with like.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government was prepared to develop and formulate legislation as agreed in the last social partnership agreement. However, the union side stated, as it is entitled to do, that that was not sufficient. Consequently the Government is prepared, in partnership with the social partners——

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: ——to draft new legislation on an agreed basis to get the balance right.We are prepared to play our part such that Irish companies will have parity of esteem with other EU countries and will not be at a competitive disadvantage to their counterparts on the European mainland.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should bring them in.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Long before the debate.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the opportunity to discuss issues raised in the motion and the Government amendment and the improvements the Government has made, and is preparing, to improve the protection framework for workers. We have made considerable improvements over the past decade, many of them geared towards addressing new challenges in the labour market in a changing world of work and working...

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am amazed that there is no national minimum wage in Germany but the country is split wide open on the issue.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Germany is contemplating introducing it on a sectoral basis. That is an issue on which we can hold our heads up and it gives lie to the presentation that this Government ignores the rights of workers on the lower end of the pay scale or that it wilfully tolerates the widespread abuse and neglect of workers. That is simply not the case and it should not be used as an argument in this debate.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were set up in 1993 to provide support for micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role and they can provide both financial and...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that a work permit has now issued in this case.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section has indicated that they have no record of a valid application in this case. However, if an application is submitted it will be considered on its own merits.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that this application was refused on the grounds that the position on offer is currently one of the occupations ineligible for an employment permit. In addition it appears that the proposed employee has already been in employment without a valid employment permit. An appeal was received in the Employment Permits Section on the 12th...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Over the last number of years there has been churn in employment as is typical of a developed, open, and dynamic economy such as Ireland's. Ireland is no longer a low cost economy and manufacturers in particular are facing increased competition from producers in lower cost economies. Other sectors, especially the services sector, are providing significant new employment opportunities. Since...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The National Training and Employment Authority, FÁS, will be giving immediate attention to the workers at the company in Athy who are losing their jobs and will be making contact with the company to offer its full range of services to all staff who wish to avail of its assistance. It is a matter for companies themselves to decide which sites they wish to visit and where they wish to locate...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Secretary General of my Department has held meetings with his counterparts in the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government, the OPW and the County Manager to identify the needs of Departments and State bodies insofar as the ISPAT site is concerned. Considerable progress has been made in addressing a range of development issues associated with the former ISPAT site at...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department is required to relocate a minimum of 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme and this is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009. In order to accommodate staff who wished to move earlier than the projected building completion date of late 2009, officials of my Department, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the OPW, as well as...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: FÁS International Consulting Limited (FICL) was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of FÁS in 1988 in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Services Act. Its purpose was to promote and carry out training and consultancy work in human resource development and related areas for the overseas market. The Articles of Association were registered on 22 September 1988. No equity was...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) was established in 1985 to accredit calibration and testing laboratories. INAB was subsequently established as a Committee of Forfás under Section 10 of the Industrial Development act, 1993 as amended by Section 46 of the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act. 1998. The Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) is the sole national...