Results 48,961-48,980 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: Sustaining Ireland's competitiveness continues to be a key priority for this Government. It is monitored in particular through the work and advice of the National Competitiveness Council. The Government's response is manifested in numerous ways, most recently as evidenced by the introduction of a non-inflationary budget for the third consecutive year. This displays the Government's prudent...

Written Answers — Trade Union Recognition: Trade Union Recognition (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: I presume this question relates to the decision of the Competition Authority regarding Irish Actors' Equity, SIPTU and the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland concerning the terms and conditions under which advertising agencies hire actors. I have already spoken on this issue a number of times in the House. The authority's decision, which is published on its website tca.ie,...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: A European Commission decision of 27 March 2002 dealt with the creation of a Group of Directors-General for Industrial Relations. This decision, reference no. 2002/260/EC, was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 6 April 2002. Under this decision, the group comprises the directors-general for industrial relations of the member states and is chaired by a Commission...

Written Answers — Skill Shortages: Skill Shortages (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am satisfied that there is good co-ordination between my Department and the Department of Education and Science on the issue of providing skills. There is regular contact and co-ordination between the two Departments, both in the identification of skills needs and in the responses required to meet those needs. This co-ordination is achieved through regular interaction between officials in a...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: The PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, inaugural CEO Pulse survey is a useful addition to the analyses and commentary that I receive about evolving confidence indicators and the competitiveness of the economy. The CEO Pulse survey reveals that business confidence among Ireland's CEOs is high, with more than 75% predicting growth in revenues, profits and spending within the economy in 2006....

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 67 together. I was very concerned to hear the announcement of the closure of the plant in question at Mallow, County Cork. I am fully aware of the impact the job losses will have on the employees concerned and the local communities in both Mallow and the surrounding area. I understand that the company had hoped to undertake one more sugar campaign but...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: There is currently a total of 29 directives due to be transposed by this Department. Of these, as at end March 2006, ten are overdue for transposition and are detailed in the table. Description of Directive Deadline for Transposition Current position Directive 2001/45/EC amending Council Directive 89/655/EEC concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work...

Written Answers — Consumer Affairs: Consumer Affairs (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: As I advised the House previously, the Consumer Strategy Group report, Make Consumers Count, was published in May 2005 and to date considerable progress has been made in progressing its recommendations. The report's core recommendation that a new national consumer agency, incorporating the existing Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, be established was fully accepted by the...

Written Answers — Skill Shortages: Skill Shortages (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: Management skills are critical to the success of business and to the viability of the more than 200,000 SMEs in Ireland. For this reason my Department and its agencies are already significantly involved in a range of programmes to support management development. The Department, FÁS, Skillnets, Enterprise Ireland and the county enterprise boards all provide support for training and other...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: Very significant growth in research has been achieved through the commitment of €2.5 billion to science, technology and innovation across a range of Departments under the current NDP. The Government is committed to continuing to invest in research and development. Investment to date has been critical in developing the base of knowledge, discoveries and new ideas from which new products,...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: The interdepartmental committee on science, technology and innovation is currently finalising a strategy on STI to 2013 and this will be presented shortly to the Cabinet sub-committee on STI, which I chair. The implementation of this new strategy in a whole-of-Government manner is a complex and demanding task, which will be linked with the further refinement of the over-arching co-ordination...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: Sixteen investigations into company law matters were initiated by my predecessor in the period since 1997. In three cases, the High Court appointed, on an application by the Minister, inspectors under section 8 of the Companies Act 1990. The inspectors appointed to Ansbacher (Cayman) Limited presented their report to the High Court on 10 June 2002. The report was subsequently published and...

Written Answers — Sports Sponsorship: Sports Sponsorship (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of concerns raised in a number of quarters regarding the practice highlighted in the Deputy's question. It is the case that there is no law to prevent sports organisations from changing their sports shirts. I would, however, agree with the Deputy that constant and frequent changes of replica apparel by sports organisations can give rise to considerable expense for some consumers....

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: Since the establishment of the county development boards, the relevant CDB is now seen as the body that is best placed to oversee any additional response that is required over and above the work of the agencies under the auspices of my Department. IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and FÁS all play their part in developing a way forward for redundant workers. In co-operation with the industrial...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: The budget for FÁS is agreed on the basis of detailed discussions between FÁS, my Department and the Department of Finance in the context of the annual Estimates process. This budget is allocated in respect of specific approved programmes/schemes which are designed to meet the overall objectives set out in the FÁS Statement of Strategy 2006-2009. The FÁS board and my Department monitor...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: I was very concerned to hear that the company in question was closing with the loss of 350 jobs. The decision to cease production was announced by the parent company on 21 February 2006. On 22 February 2006, I met with representatives of Meath County Council and the State development agencies to discuss the situation. Finding alternative employment for the workers is a priority for the State...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: The costs incurred since 1997 on company investigations initiated by or on behalf of my Department currently amount to approximately €11.3 million. This amount does not include the salary costs of Civil Service staff who worked on a number of these investigations or those legal costs borne by the Vote of the Chief State Solicitor. Costs of some €9.3 million were incurred by High Court...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: I join the relevant EU Commissioner in broadly welcoming the compromise amendments on the services directive which were agreed by the European Parliament on 16 February last. It is generally agreed that the amendments form a good basis for making progress on the directive. I formed that view on foot of the informal discussion on the matter that took place at the eve-of-Council dinner on 12...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: In June 2005 I directed the authorised officer, in the case of the three section 19 examinations, to place at the disposal of relevant public authorities, including two tribunals, the information and assistance arising from his investigative work that was required by the authorities for the purpose of the performance of their statutory functions in accordance with section 21 of the Companies...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (23 Mar 2006)

Micheál Martin: I assume that the Deputy is referring to broadband infrastructure. Therefore, I refer her to my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who has primary responsibility in that area.