Results 46,821-46,840 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The price of a range of foods has increased in the last number of months. In this regard, the October 2007 Consumer Price Index as published by the Central Statistics Office shows that the price of food and non alcoholic beverages increased by 1.4% in the month and this was one of the main factors contributing to the increase in the annual rate of inflation to 4.8%. As I advised the House in...

Written Answers — Personal Injuries Assessment Board: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Personal Injuries Assessment Board was established in April 2004 as part of the Government's insurance reform programme, with the aim of allowing certain classes of personal injury claim, where liability is uncontested, to be settled without the need for the costs associated with litigation. The threat of rising insurance costs at the time posed serious risks to Irish business and the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, FÁS is due to transfer its head office, including some 383 staff, to Birr, Co Offaly. This remains the case. The staff referred to by the Deputy work in the FÁS Services to Business Section (STB) and had moved some years ago from Baggot Street to temporary accommodation in Kilmainham. The back section of FÁS' building in Baggot Street...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 104 together. IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The commitment to introduce on-the-spot fines for breaches of consumer legislation has been met by the Consumer Protection (Fixed Payment Notice) Regulations 2007 which came into effect on 13 October 2007. The Regulations permit an authorised officer of the National Consumer Agency to serve a fixed payment notice in respect of breaches of the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies is collated by Forfás on a countywide annual basis only and accordingly data is not available for 2007. Responsibility for indigenous enterprise transferred from Shannon Development to Enterprise Ireland in Jan 2007. Data provided by the latter agency indicates that the number of companies in County Clare that...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The particular statistics sought by the Deputy are not compiled at present. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) recently published its first thematic report which focused specifically on the importance of small business in Ireland. The publication of this CSO "Small Business In Ireland" Report (May 2007) followed on from a recommendation of the Small Business Forum for a publication of...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The function of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to develop indigenous enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity at regional level throughout the country. There are 35 Boards located throughout the 26 counties and their local base means that the projects and related job opportunities they support are specifically tailored to the particular needs of the local...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department has been making good progress in the relocation of the required 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. The following business units/Offices of my Department have been selected as part of the Decentralisation Programme and will be relocated in the new decentralised office: Companies Registration Office/Registry of Friendly Societies; National...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Government recognises that an environment conducive to entrepreneurial activity that harnesses the abundant creativity of Irish entrepreneurs is critical to Ireland's economic future and national prosperity. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), benchmarks Ireland as one of the most entrepreneurial economies in Europe, ranking 3rd highest in the EU. The 2006 GEM report found that...

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Assessments: Regulatory Impact Assessments (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The number of Regulatory Impact Assessments carried out by my Department are set out on the attached tabular statement. Title of RIA Was RIA published? Yes / No If not published, why not? Any Additional Information An Assessment of the Increase in the Minimum Wage Recommended by the Labour Court in 2006 No ESRI report was circulated to Social Partners. A full impact assessment was...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The latest employment data published by the Central Statistics Office indicates that the numbers in employment grew by almost 68,000 in the year to Quarter 3 2007 bringing the total number in employment to 2,140,900 (Quarterly National Household Survey 15 November 2007). The seasonally adjusted data indicates that the unemployment rate decreased from 4.5% to 4.4% in the 12-month period and a...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: As I advised the House in my reply of 24th October 2007 to a previous question on the same matter (PQ 25387/07 refers), the National Consumer Agency, which was established on a statutory basis on the commencement of the Consumer Protection Act in May 2007, is empowered as part of its mandate to publish Guidelines applicable to traders in relation to matters of consumer welfare and protection....

Written Answers — Employment Permits: Employment Permits (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section has indicated that this application was refused on the grounds that the position on offer is currently one of the occupational categories ineligible for an employment permit. Having examined the appeal the Appeals Officer has upheld the original decision in this case.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: There are currently 186 valid employment permits in respect of Romanian nationals and 63 in respect of Bulgarian nationals. I understand from the Department of Social and Family Affairs that since January 2007, 13130 PPS numbers have been issued in respect of Romanian nationals and 886 in respect of Bulgarian nationals. The CSO Quarterly National Household Survey for the third quarter of 2007...

Written Answers — National Training Fund: National Training Fund (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The following revenue was received from the National Training Fund 2004 to 2007: 2004 2005 2006 2007 (estimate) 2008 (Pre-Budget estimates) 276,679 312,686 353,954 395,666 402,907 In accordance with the National Training Fund Act 2000, expenditure under the Fund is allocated to organisations that operate schemes to raise the skills of those in employment, or to provide training to those...

Written Answers — Manufacturing and Services Sectors: Manufacturing and Services Sectors (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department, in conjunction with the Enterprise Development Agencies, has taken a number of steps in recent years to identify and address issues affecting the manufacturing and services sectors particularly through implementation of the enterprise action plan arising from the Enterprise Strategy Group report and implementation of recommendations from the Small Business Forum. The 2006...

Written Answers — Manufacturing and Services Sectors: Manufacturing and Services Sectors (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: In 2004 the Enterprise Strategy Group report outlined the sectors where Ireland has considerable potential for future growth, building on existing expertise and capitalising on new opportunities in internationally-traded services, high-value manufacturing in a number of sectors and locally-trading businesses. A number of service sectors and activities were considered to offer opportunities...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: There are a number of competitiveness benchmarks against which Ireland is measured. For example, the World Bank ranks Ireland as 8th out of 178 economies globally for "ease of doing business". This puts us in the top 5% of world economies in their survey. In its recently published report on global competitiveness rankings, the World Economic Forum (WEF) positioned Ireland, in 22nd position...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: Employment data in enterprise agency assisted firms is collated by Forfás on an annual basis only. Accordingly data on jobs created and jobs lost in 2007 will not be available until early 2008 and in annual format only. The latest employment data published by the Central Statistics Office indicates that the numbers in employment grew by almost 68,000 in the year to Quarter 3 2007 bringing...