Results 47,801-47,820 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: There is always a good chance of success on St. Valentine's Day. We have examined this within the Department as well. We have had some animated discussions internally on the merits of the amendment. Of course the intention and motivation behind the amendment has significant merit. It is designed to prohibit a trader discriminating between consumers on the basis of the consumer's chosen...

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: There will be an amendment, which will have to be brought to the Dáil first and brought back here then because anything that is changed in the Dáil must be vetted subsequently by the Seanad.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: Yes, subject to us getting over the technical issues and being able to insert it in the relevant part of the Bill. It will not be inserted into section 52, but we will look at other sections where we can insert an amendment of this kind. We must draft an amendment now. We know the intention. We know what is required and what people want.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: It is not quite clear what is intended by the first part of the proposed amendment, which seeks to amend the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003. I am not sure to what director Senator Coghlan is referring in that context, but I will comment on some of the points raised in the amendment. The effect of the amendment would appear to empower the Director of...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that they have no record of a valid work permit application in this case.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (13 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies is collated by Forfás on an annual basis and the agencies are still in the process of finalising their 2006 data, accordingly figures for that year cannot, at this stage, be regarded as definitive. Preliminary data indicates that in 2006, 486 full time jobs were created in enterprise agency supported firms in County...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (13 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: There were ten IDA sponsored visits by overseas investors to Navan in 2005 and one in 2006. There have been no site visits so far in 2007, although this may change as the year progresses. Ultimately it is a matter for potential investors to decide where to locate, including what areas to visit as potential locations. IDA Ireland is actively marketing Navan Business Park for additional...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (13 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: Records in my Office indicate that I answered 1,528 parliamentary questions in 2006. No data is kept in my Department on the cost of answering parliamentary questions. Answering parliamentary questions is an activity which is integral to my Department's activities, and the costs are spread across a wide number of divisions and systems; there are also costs arising in the Oireachtas for...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department has informed me that this application was refused on the 2nd September 2006 on the basis that the position the employer seeks to fill could be filled from within the EU. Furthermore it appears that the above named individual entered the state as a visitor and is therefore not entitled to take up full time employment. Having heard an appeal the...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that they have no record of a valid work permit application in this case.

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (13 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: I assume that the Deputy is referring to EU Structural Funds allocated to Ireland over the period 2000-2006. My Department was allocated funding under two of four funds which make up the Structural Funds — the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): Three measures within the Productive Sector Operational...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (13 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: I presume that the Deputy's question is intended to refer to the proposal of the company concerned to impose an additional charge on customers who pay their bills by means other than direct debit. I would have to advise the Deputy that this practice would not be in breach of consumer law. I do, however, share the concerns expressed in a number of quarters that the introduction of this charge...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (13 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together. The National Development Plan (2007-2013) is a strategic document setting out a broad investment framework and investment priorities, together with indicative financial allocations, for the next seven years. It does not contain a list of all projects to be undertaken in 2007 over the period of the Plan, although certain Chapters,...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (8 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that they have no record of a valid work permit application in this case.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (8 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The management of Shannon Development's land bank between Tarbert and Ballylongford is a day to day operational matter for the Agency and is not a matter in which I have any function. I understand that Shannon Development has entered into an 'option to purchase' agreement with a private company for the development of a liquefied natural gas, LNG, receiving terminal on 281 acres of the land...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (8 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: Responsibility for the location of business parks in the Shannon Region is an operational matter for Shannon Development and not one in which I have any function. Shannon Development has informed me they do not have any current plans to provide a Business Park in Tarbert. However, Shannon Development has identified Tarbert as the County Kerry location for its E-Towns Live/Work programme. In...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (7 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: Member States are obliged to transpose the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive into national law by 12 June 2007 and to have the provisions of the Directive in force by 12 December 2007. The Consumer Protection Bill, which was introduced in the Seanad yesterday, contains, amongst other things, specific provisions to transpose the Directive into Irish law. I am confident that Ireland will...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (7 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment and Human Resources Development Operational Programme 2000-2006 is comprised of both NDP funded and ESF co-funded projects/measures targeted at a regional level, not at county level. Monitoring and reporting of activity both physical and financial is done at regional level, that is, at Border, Midlands and Western and Southern and Eastern Regional levels. Therefore, little...

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: I hope to have it passed by Easter.