Results 47,001-47,020 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department has informed me that a work permit application was received in this case. This application was refused on the basis that her immigration status renders her ineligible to apply for a work permit while in this country. The Employer was notified of this decision in writing, and has since lodged an appeal. This appeal will be heard within the next...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matters for the agency and not a matter in which I have a function. I have been informed by IDA Ireland that the Agency owns six individual landbanks in County Kildare — Naas, Athy, Monasterevin, Castledermot, Newbridge and Kildare Town. Of these sites, the lands at Kildare Town lands are the only...

Written Answers — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The table below lists the Ministerial-led Trade Missions undertaken in the last 12 months. In the case of the Trade Mission to the Gulf (Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) in January 2007, three of the companies who participated in that Mission were based in County Kildare. There were no other instances of Kildare addresses being given by participants, but it could be the case that...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The provision of grant assistance for individual companies is a matter for the development agency or body concerned, and not one in which I have a direct function. Enterprise Ireland has primary responsibility for indigenous companies in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. Enterprise Ireland supports companies employing 10 or more people, and start-up companies...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not compile specific annual statistics on the number of new start up SMEs that have commenced trading in the State nor their geographic basis. As an assistance to the Deputy, the closest approximation to the information sought may be derived from the number of new companies registered each year and the yearly number of VAT registrations. However these figures in...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Employment data in respect of companies supported by the enterprise agencies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development) is collated by Forfás on an annual basis and accordingly there is no data available for 2007. The attached tabular statements show the number of new full time jobs created in Enterprise Agency assisted companies for each of the years 2004, 2005 and 2006. In...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Employment data in respect of companies supported by the enterprise agencies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development) is collated by Forfás on an annual basis and accordingly there is no data available for 2007. The attached tabular statements show the number of full time jobs lost in Enterprise Agency assisted companies for each of the years 2004, 2005 and 2006. Number of...

Written Answers — Youth Employment: Youth Employment (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Data in relation to the number of people in employment classified by age group is compiled by the Central Statistics Office and is available on the CSO website (www.cso.ie). The data, covering the age group 15-19, and broken down between part-time and full-time, is set out below. The latest data in respect of 2007 is Quarter 2 (May 2007). Number of persons aged 15-19 in employment Total...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am interpreting the Deputy's question as relating to expenditure on Official Entertainment, for lunches, dinners and receptions hosted for official delegations. The total amount spent by my Department on Official Entertainment in the period 1 November 2006 to 30 October 2007 was €40,432.73. This sum includes expenditure incurred by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together. Several county and local authorities have taken initiatives to improve the information available on skills in their respective localities. Skills databases have been established in Laois, Meath and Carlow where residents can register their skills and qualifications profile. Similarly both Waterford County Enterprise Board and North Cork...

Written Answers — Small Business Forum: Small Business Forum (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The extent of the Government's commitment to the small business sector is already obvious from the substantial changes already implemented in response to the recommendations in the Small Business Forum Report. The measures outlined in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 546 of 26 September 2007 clearly ensure that there is a supportive environment for small business in Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the attached tabular statement. All figures quoted refer to 2007 and are in millions of euro. InterTradeIreland, the all-island trade and business development body, is co-sponsored by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and is funded in a ratio of 2:1 (South and North). The above figures assume an exchange...

Written Answers — Departmental Facilities: Departmental Facilities (31 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department has only a small canteen in two of its buildings at Adelaide Road and Kildare Street. These canteens are run by outside caterers (who operate independently of my Department) and who have indicated that all of the beef, pork, and lamb supplied in each canteen is Irish. Raw chicken fillets used by the caterers are Irish. Cooked chicken fillets used by the caterers are from an...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (25 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Green Card applications are considered based on the following criteria: Firstly, Green Cards may be issued for all occupations, other than those which are contrary to public interest, where the annual salary offered is €60,000 or more. Secondly, Green Cards may be issued for positions with a salary range of €30,000 to €59,999 in identified areas of skills shortages in key sectors of...

Written Answers — Competition Authority: Competition Authority (25 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Competition Authority has already examined the issue of waste collection and regulation in Ireland in the context of responding to the Consultation Paper of 3rd August 2006 "Regulation of the Waste Management Sector" issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Authority's submission is available on its website at www.tca.ie.

Order of Business (Resumed) (25 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: What about the deal that was made for the Seanad election?

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006 provide for a large number of obligations and offences. These include: offences relating to the employment of foreign nationals except in accordance with an employment permit and forgery, fraudulent alteration or fraudulent use of an employment permit. Under the 2006 Act, data in respect of certain matters may be exchanged between my Department and...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The marketing of the regions for job creation and investment is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies and while I may give general policy directives to agencies, I am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. Through its network of overseas offices, IDA...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (24 Oct 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 — Food Prices: Food Prices (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of recent media reports of increases in certain food prices. However, the September 2007 Consumer Price Index as published by the Central Statistics Office shows that annual rate of food inflation is 2%. This compares with an overall rate of inflation of 4.6%. Rising food prices are being experienced right across the world. Such increases are due to a number of different factors...