Results 2,181-2,200 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Sustainable Development Strategy: Sustainable Development Strategy (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department's sustainable development strategy 2003-2005 is built around four pillars. Three of these relate to reducing the environmental impacts of business in the areas of climate change, competitive sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The fourth pillar addresses the issue of departmental sustainability. I am pleased to report that very significant progress has been made...

Written Answers — Science Policy: Science Policy (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am very pleased with the positive conclusions of the report referred to by the Deputy, which I launched in December. This evaluation report, Science Foundation Ireland The First Years 2001-2005, which was commissioned by Forfás, is the culmination of a substantial evaluation process carried out by an international panel led by Professor Richard Brook, director of the Leverhulme Trust in...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: There are currently a total of 26 directives due to be transposed by this Department. Of these, ten are overdue for transposition and are detailed as follows. Eight directives require to be transposed before the end of 2006 and a further eight in 2007 and subsequent years. It is not possible to provide definitive information on infringement proceedings prior to 2001. However, since 2001, my...

Written Answers — Jobs for People with Disabilities: Jobs for People with Disabilities (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The 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 great deal in this area. Under the Government's mainstreaming policy, my Department through FÁS is seeking to increase the participation of...

Written Answers — Regional Development: Regional Development (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas, including Mayo, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day to day operational matter for the agency. While I may give general policy directives to the agency, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives...

Written Answers — Regional Development: Regional Development (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment in individual counties and regions is a day to day operational matter for the development agencies as part of their responsibility under the Industrial Development Acts. While I may give general policy directives to the agencies I am precluded under the Industrial Developments Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 185 and 187 together. I set out the current position on this proposed directive comprehensively in the course of the recent Private Members' motion on the matter — I refer the Deputy to the Official Report of 25 and 26 January. The European Parliament is scheduled to complete its first reading of the Commission's proposal later this month. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, following the resignation of the chief science adviser late last year, I announced that the post would be filled by open competition. The CSA is appointed by the Government and I intend to bring forward proposals to Government on this matter in the near future.

Written Answers — Pyramid Selling: Pyramid Selling (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 172 together. I am aware of recent reports regarding so-called gifting schemes operating in Cork and Kerry. Under these schemes people pay sometimes large sums of money to other people in the expectation of other people giving them multiples of the original amount. The Pyramid Selling Act 1980, which prohibits people from inducing others to participate...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The issues of job creation and retention in enterprise development agency supported companies is a day-to-day matter for the agencies and not one in which I am directly involved. I assume the question refers to client companies of the enterprise development agencies. In recent years Irish manufacturing firms, particularly in the more traditional sectors, have operated against a backdrop of an...

Written Answers — Consumer Rights: Consumer Rights (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Since the publication of the consumer strategy group report in May 2005, considerable progress has been made in progressing the report's recommendations. The establishment of a new national consumer agency, which was the principal recommendation of the CSG, was fully accepted by the Government. Preparations for the establishment of the new agency are well under way. In this regard, I hope to...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (7 Feb 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 — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 169 together. This was by far the largest trade mission from Ireland to have ever visited India, and, in accordance with the Government's Asia strategy, it was an important step in a structured programme designed to bring Ireland and India closer together. The mission to India visited three key business centres — Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai. A total...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Allegations of non-compliance with labour legislation in respect of a major construction firm were raised in this House on 8 February 2005 by Deputy Joe Higgins. Those allegations were that certain non-national construction workers were required to work excessive hours and that such workers were in receipt of pay of between €2 and €3 per hour in contravention of the statutory minimums...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Enterprise Ireland has been in ongoing contact with the company in question since the day after the fire. The agency met company management on 25 January 2006 to assess the situation and discuss the options available. I understand that an evaluation process is under way to determine the extent of the damage as well as the remaining production capability. The company is also facilitating the...

Written Answers — Competition Law: Competition Law (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Competition Authority is an independent statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition law in the State. Accordingly, I have no role in relation to its day-to-day activities. I presume, however, that this question relates to the decision of the authority regarding Irish Actors' Equity SIPTU and the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland concerning the terms and...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The fundamental approach of successive Governments to industrial relations has been one of voluntarism. There is a consensus among the social partners that the terms and conditions of employment of workers are best determined through the process of voluntary bargaining between employers and workers and between employers' associations and one trade union or staff association or more. This...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department operates an internal early warning system of potential job losses and firms in difficulty based on material provided on a confidential basis by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development. This information includes details as to why each particular situation has developed. There are various reasons for job losses and factory closures. The early years of this decade...

Written Answers — Competition Law: Competition Law (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I look forward to Mr. Prasifka taking up the position of chairperson of the Competition Authority next month. The Government sees competition as the life-blood of a vibrant economy and we are committed to removing unwarranted constraints on competition in all sectors of the economy and placing the consumer at the top of the policy agenda. I will work closely with the new chairperson, as I did...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 330 together. Data on the number of jobs that have been relocated to lower cost economies in the past five years are not available nor is it possible to predict how many will be outsourced to overseas locations in the future. Apart from definitional issues, outsourcing is two-way flow; many of the jobs in this economy, especially in the multinational...