Results 48,341-48,360 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I will give the Deputy answers.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: In 2002, there were 1,976 people on the live register in Ballina. In August 2006, there were 1,448 on the register. In other words, 528 more people were unemployed in Ballina in 2002 than there are today. I respectfully suggest that calling towns like Ballina unemployment blackspots does nothing to enhance the attractiveness of the town for inward investment. It does not create the right...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am not so sure that the activities the Deputy has been engaged in sends out a wonderful signal to external investors who wish to invest in Mayo. Far from trying to arrive at a reasonable solution, the quality of the engagement by the Deputy and others on this issue actually sends out a negative signal in terms of trying to attract investment. We should always endeavour to exploit natural...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the opportunity Deputy Cowley has taken to clarify the change of direction he has clearly articulated regarding the Corrib gas field. That is most welcome.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I did not think the picketing of Deputy Kenny's constituency office suggested a positive outlook. The IDA will continue to market Ballina. There are other options if a particular site is not available. There are many examples of foreign direct investments locating either in private sector developments or in greenfield sites.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The manufacturing sector — both indigenous and foreign-owned — has been a key component of the economy over the past two decades and it will continue to be a significant contributor to exports, employment and economic growth in the future. Home based enterprises play a significant part in the sector, and the Government is encouraging the development of that element of the economy....

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy referred to haemorrhaging jobs. We created 88,000 jobs last year. We are on course to do something similar this year.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy. I have already pointed out that we did a useful exercise this year when I commissioned Forfás to do an analysis of employment patterns and trends in both manufacturing and traded services in the past five to six years. The result of that analysis was that approximately 150,000 jobs were created in high-end manufacturing and approximately 440 in services. I...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: On indigenous manufacturing, 87% of manufacturing units in Ireland are Irish-owned. Approximately 60% of those employ fewer than 20 people. The indigenous sector would be characterised by a large number of smaller firms. Those enterprises employ approximately 113,000 people, which is a significant number in indigenous manufacturing. We are keen to support that, as is Enterprise Ireland...

Employment Rights. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The labour inspectorate undertook an investigation of allegations made in this House on 8 February 2005 regarding compliance by Gama Construction Ireland Limited with certain employment rights provisions. A report on the investigation was prepared and circulated to relevant parties, including Gama Construction Ireland Limited. The outcome of an interlocutory hearing on a judicial review...

Employment Rights. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Regarding the legal issues that arose about the Department's capacity to publish the report of the labour inspectorate, it is my intention to deal with that legal deficiency in the legislative framework for employment rights compliance. A new compliance Bill will result from our commitments to the latest social partnership agreement.

Employment Rights. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Yes. As the report was adjudged to be ultra vires, pending adjudication by the Supreme Court, there was a legal deficiency. We are amending the legislation to grant broader powers to the Minister on these issues. We issue work permits to employers in good faith. One must trust that people will honour the decision and behave accordingly. We are not satisfied with the information received...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The European Commission report of 26 September 2006 stated that Bulgaria and Romania will be in a position to join the EU on 1 January 2007, as long as they address a number of outstanding issues. The European Council of Foreign Ministers will decide at its meeting on 16 October whether accession should go ahead on 1 January 2007. The treaties of accession provide for the following...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: We are examining this issue in the context of what has happened in recent years. That Ireland has, since May 2004, experienced the most rapid inward migration of any of the 25 EU member states will inform our deliberations on the matter. We undertook in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, to consult the social partners. The Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise,...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Some 80,000 people from the accession states are currently working here, according to CSO estimates. While the capture of data relating to people coming here is quite good, as a result of the issuing of PPS numbers, some work remains to be done to create a more accurate database of information about people on the way out. Ireland is now the fourth most favoured destination for Polish...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I was somewhat surprised by the recent development referred to by the Deputy. We need to be careful about language. The number of people in employment increased by 88,000 in 2005, which does not suggest that substantial barriers are preventing people from getting employment.

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am talking about barriers to employment. There was a need to facilitate integration and English language training is part of that. We fund a variety of employer and industry-led initiatives through the in-company training programme, the Skillsnet programme and the Accel programme. The various sectors may make proposals relating to, perhaps, the Skillsnet issue.

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: FÁS is actively providing training for foreign workers in this country. There are obligations on the employers to facilitate the proper integration of employees and many are fulfilling them. In terms of small and medium enterprises, SMEs, there are issues relating to economies of scale and capacity. A variety of schemes is available to companies if they wish to work with us. We will be...

EU Directives. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Subsequent to the European Parliament's vote last February, the Competitiveness Council adopted a Common Position on the draft directive on services in the Internal Market at its meeting on 24 July. The text was adopted as an A item at the council with only two member states abstaining. It was supported by Ireland. This followed intensive discussions on the proposal at the Competitiveness...

EU Directives. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Our major thrust in terms of developing enterprise in indigenous enterprise and SMEs has been to develop the services side of the equation, while supporting high end manufacturing underpinned by indigenous research and development within Irish manufacturing companies. There is a significant drive, on the services side, to inform companies of the opportunities worldwide, not just in the...