Results 2,201-2,220 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Job Initiative: Job Initiative (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 Cork, 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 IDA Ireland, I am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (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. Data on job creation in supported companies are compiled from an annual employment survey carried out by Forfás. The breakdown of IDA Ireland employment data is available only on a regional and county basis. County data for 2005 will not be available from IDA...

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

Micheál Martin: I set out the position on this proposed directive comprehensively in the course of the recent Private Member's motion on the matter. I refer the Deputy to the Official Report of 25 and 26 January 2006. The European Parliament is scheduled to complete its first reading of the Commission's proposal later this month. The Parliament is expected to propose several amendments to the proposal. These...

Written Answers — Migrant Workers. : Migrant Workers. (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I have no plans to change the policy regarding the access of EU-ten nationals to our labour market. Ireland has had strong employment growth for a sustained period and skill shortages exist in many sectors. The presence of migrant labour in Ireland is critical to the continuation of our economic growth. I have asked FÁS to review the labour market effects of immigration. This work is still...

Written Answers — Enterprise Development Programme: Enterprise Development Programme (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The enterprise development programme is a new programme set up in association with the Líonra network of third-level institutions, Athlone IT, GMIT, Sligo IT, Letterkenny IT, NUI Galway and St. Angela's College. This programme, supported by Enterprise Ireland and FÁS, is based on the enterprise platform programme already in place in the south east. The aim of the enterprise development...

Written Answers — Community Enterprise Schemes: Community Enterprise Schemes (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The administration of the community enterprise centre, CEC, scheme is a day to day matter for Enterprise Ireland, and not one in which I am directly involved. Enterprise Ireland advertised the 2006 CEC scheme in a public call for proposals in the national press on 19 and 20 January 2006. The closing date for receipt of applications is 27 April 2006. As this is a competitive scheme there is no...

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

Micheál Martin: Responsibility for development of property solutions for enterprise promotion in the mid west lies with Shannon Development. Responsibility for grant assistance to companies locating in the region is an operational matter for the relevant development agencies. IDA Ireland is the national agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland and...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial 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 available property solutions, for new or expanded FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency. IDA Ireland is actively marketing the new industrial park in Tuam to potential investors on...

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

Micheál Martin: The company concerned announced to its staff on 31 January last that it would cease operations in Carrick-on-Suir with the loss of 53 jobs. Some 11 permanent staff will be transferred to new offices in Waterford city and will be retained in distribution support activities and finance. The IDA strategy for South Tipperary is to concentrate future economic development in Clonmel by developing...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The National Competitiveness Council in its annual competitiveness report 2005 found that of the 16 countries benchmarked, Irish expenditure on non-life insurance was the fourth-highest. However, the NCC also found that the rate of growth in the cost of insurance has slowed down substantially in recent years. That can be attributed to the series of initiatives that the Government has pushed...

Written Answers — Retail Sector Developments: Retail Sector Developments (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Part 3 of the Competition Act 2002 is designed to regulate mergers and acquisitions in the economy, including the retail sector of the economy, to ensure that there is no significant lessening of competition in the market. Under the merger provisions in the Act, parties to mergers and acquisitions that exceed the specified financial thresholds must notify their proposals to the Competition...

Written Answers — Retail Sector Developments: Retail Sector Developments (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Competition is the life-blood of a vibrant economy, and the Government is committed to removing unwarranted constraints on competition in all sectors of the economy, including the retail sector. The retail grocery sector has seen significant changes in recent years, particularly since the entry of discounters Aldi and Lidl. There have been other developments too, such as the opening of...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (7 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 331 to 333, inclusive together. Ireland's economy continued to perform exceptionally well in 2005. GNP grew by approximately 5%, compared with an OECD average of 2.7% for last year. The recently published NCB purchasing managers' index showed that the Irish manufacturing sector maintained solid growth in output and new business in January. Last year,...

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

Micheál Martin: The company in question has undertaken a major restructuring and upgrading of its plant in Naas, County Kildare. Although the restructuring involved 245 redundancies, the company has chosen Ireland as the international manufacturing site for its next generation of products, involving substantial capital investment at its plant. Those workers who lost their jobs are highly skilled workers, and...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (8 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland and its regions. The Forfás annual employment survey records jobs gained and lost in companies supported by the industrial development agencies. Data are compiled on an annualised basis and provisional data on a county basis for 2005 in respect of IDA client companies will...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards: Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards (9 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I understand, that the company in question was incorporated on 4 December 2000 and struck off the register on 21 November 2004 and dissolved on 26 November 2004 for non-filing of its annual returns. There is no provision under existing legislation automatically preventing directors of a struck-off company from being or seeking to be directors of another company. Unless such a person has been...

Written Answers — Civil Service Travel Scheme: Civil Service Travel Scheme (9 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department operates the Civil Service travel pass scheme on an annual basis. The closing date for applications is mid-November and travel passes are issued in December each year for the following 12 month period. New entrants may also apply for travel passes in January and February. All applicants must be employed on a permanent basis at the date of application. Officers on probation are...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department has been making good progress in implementing its decentralisation programme. In relation to the site, the current position is that the Office of Public Works has completed the purchase of a site in Carlow town centre. Next steps in the process will include the OPW issuing a call for expressions of interest for the design, build, finance and maintain procurement option selected...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The work permits section of my Department has indicated that the above named individual's current permit expired on the 21 January 2006 and that it has no record of a renewal application being received. In order for a new permit to issue, the employer will have to submit a renewal application on behalf of this employee.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together. Of the approximately 300 posts in my Department decentralising to Carlow there are, based on the most recent information available, 256 first preference applications registered with the Central Applications Facility. In 2004 the Department of Finance requested each Secretary General or head of office to discuss the question of...