Results 48,481-48,500 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The introduction of Knowledge Acquisition Grants and Innovation Vouchers were recommended by the Small Business Forum in its report submitted to me last month. I set up the Forum last year to consider the environment in which small businesses operate and to advise on the appropriateness and adequacy of the public policy responses in the context of that environment. Since publishing the report...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The value of entrepreneurship amongst young people and enterprise education in contributing to the future strong economic development of this country has been acknowledged in two recent significant policy Reports i.e. the Report of the Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) and Report of the Small Business Forum (SBF). Both Reports have outlined a recommended strategic approach to enterprise...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The recent industrial action by SIPTU members in relation to the Birr relocation of FAS has ended on the basis that all the issues involved will be the subject of discussion under the aegis of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). Under the LRC proposals it has been agreed that "the process of engagement is designed to allow all parties to deal with their concerns and to jointly arrive at a...

Written Answers — Consumer Confidence: Consumer Confidence (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 56 together. The principal objective of the Consumer Sentiment Index is to record details on consumer attitudes towards trends in the economy. It, therefore, complements other data such as the value of personal consumption. In this respect consumer spending is still very strong with early CSO figures on the value of retail sales showing a 7.6%...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: As I and other Ministers have indicated in response to similar questions in the past, Ireland is not a party to the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1990. Nor has Ireland ratified this Convention. Other Member States of the European Union have not signed or ratified this...

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Assessments: Regulatory Impact Assessments (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Since the publication of the White Paper on Better Regulation in January 2004, six Regulatory Impact Assessments have been undertaken, or are currently underway, within my Department as follows: 1. A full RIA was carried out, under the aegis of the Company Law Review Group (CLRG), as an integral part of its review in the latter half of 2005 of Section 45 of the Companies (Auditing and...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Government launched its whole of Government Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-13 on Sunday morning last and copies of the Strategy have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Strategy sets out a vision for Ireland as "internationally renowned for the excellence of our research by 2013, to the forefront in generating and using new knowledge for economic and...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: This Government is committed to addressing the needs of those with disabilities. In particular, we are committed to removing the obstacles which make it difficult for people with disabilities to participate in the labour market. We have already done a lot in this area. Under the Government's mainstreaming policy, my Department through FÁS is seeking to increase the participation of disabled...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Bill 2005 was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 14th June 2006. My priority is now directed towards the early introduction of the new economic migration arrangements which I announced in my opening address on the Second Stage of the Bill on 12th October 2005, comprising: ∙a Green Card for occupations where there are skills shortages, which will be for a...

Written Answers — Regional Development: Regional Development (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment to this country and its regions. Under the Industrial Development Acts I am precluded from giving directives in respect of individual cases or in giving preference to one area over others. One of the key objectives of IDA Ireland strategy since the beginning of the current Operational Programme for Industry in...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Last month the Small Business Forum reported to me, making a number of recommendations to improve the environment for the conduct of small business in Ireland. These recommendations include measures to address the administrative burden on small business. These are being followed up on by my Department, other Departments or agencies, as appropriate. I am currently fast-tracking legislation to...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: In the past year the number of persons in employment increased by 89,800 or 4.7%. This indicates that the Irish labour market remains extremely buoyant, with job creation far exceeding job losses. Over 500,000 jobs have been created since 1997, which is testament to the successful economic and enterprise development policies which this Government intends to continue into the future through...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I presume the question relates to the recent abolition of the Groceries Order. The Groceries Order was abolished because it allowed wholesalers and suppliers to determine minimum retail prices being charged to consumers, virtually eliminated price competition in the grocery trade, resulted in more than 2,000 small independent retailers going out of business in a fifteen year period, and...

Written Answers — Departmental Briefings: Departmental Briefings (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I have sought clarification from the Deputy's Office and understand the information he requires relates solely to oral briefings, made in person, by officials of my Department. I have also confined my response to briefings made by my Department's Officials to members of the Oireachtas other than myself and the two Ministers of State at my Department. In May 2005, officials of my Department...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Report of the Small Business Forum, which recommended the increase of the turnover threshold for audit exemption for small businesses to €7.3m., states that this increase will afford the opportunity for audit exemption to approximately 5,000 additional small companies. The increased audit exemption turnover threshold will not entail any cost to the Exchequer.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: There are currently ten Agencies and twelve Offices operating under the aegis of my Department. Their functions, and their budgetary allocations for 2006, are as shown in the table. Agencies Name of Organisation Functions Budgetary Allocation 2006 € Forfás Forfás is the national policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation....

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Government launched its Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-13 on Sunday morning last and copies of the Strategy have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The timeline of the Strategy is an eight-year one, to 2013 and resources of €192 million up to and including 2008 have been provided to enable work on delivering the Strategy to commence with immediate...

Written Answers — Regulatory Authorities: Regulatory Authorities (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: As none of the existing sectoral regulators come within my remit as Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, this is not a matter for which I have any direct responsibility. Having said that, I have no plans to establish a single national regulator. I am concerned to ensure that our national system of regulation encourages and promotes competition within the economy and that individual...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 84, 90, 118 and 121 together. The General Scheme of the new Company Law Consolidation and Reform Bill is being drafted making use of an advisory body, the Company Law Review Group (CLRG), which is representative of business, regulators, professional bodies and social partners. The General Scheme has been drafted on the basis of a standing consultation...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The figures requested by the Deputy are outlined in the table. By definition the figures for work permit renewals refer to employees who had previously been the subject of successful work permit applications. The Work Permits section has informed me that it does not collate statistics on how many of the work permits issued were in respect of previously unsuccessful applications. Year...