Results 2,241-2,260 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Order of Business. (21 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Will that be a campaign issue?

Order of Business. (21 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Bring back the guitar.

Order of Business. (21 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Does this also apply to the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party?

Order of Business. (21 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Does this apply to the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party?

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (21 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Consumers benefit from competition in the market and the Government is committed to fostering competition in all sectors of the economy. Should any oil or fuel company decide to exit the market, I expect that there would be a high level of interest in the business being sold and many suitable prospective bidders. However, any such acquisition would be subject to regulatory clearance by the...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (21 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The phenomenon of globalisation is changing the way economic production is organised the world over. Lower barriers to trade and improvements in transport technology are increasing the specialisation of production, resulting in a global supply chain. Products consumed today are most likely the result of production in several countries, with the package indicating only the location of final...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (21 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 413 together. My Department will prepare a corporate procurement plan during the course of 2006. Following the Minister for Finance's speech late last year on achieving value for money, the Department of Finance issued guidelines requiring that formalised contract reviews be undertaken by Departments of projects costing over €30 million. There are no...

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

Micheál Martin: The work permit section of my Department has informed me that it has no record of any valid application in this instance. It should be pointed out, however, that incomplete and incorrectly completed applications, or applications for ineligible sectors or ineligible types of positions, are returned to the employer concerned. I should add that, in the aftermath of EU enlargement, it is...

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

Micheál Martin: The work permit section of my Department refused an application in respect of the named non-EEA national on 1 February 2005 on the grounds that the proposed employee was here on a student visa, for which work permits are not issued. Following two appeals by the employer, this decision was upheld on 8 April 2005. There has been no further correspondence from the employer on the issue. The...

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

Micheál Martin: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's work permit section refused an application in respect of the named non-EEA national on 8 December 2005 on the grounds that the proposed employee was here on a D-visit stamp, for which work permits are not issued. The employer was notified of this decision and of the right to appeal in writing. An appeal has not yet been received. The Deputy...

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

Micheál Martin: Under the Government decentralisation programme, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is required to relocate 250 posts to new offices in Carlow. The Department's Companies Registration Office, work permits unit, redundancy and insolvency payments section and employment rights enforcement bureau are relocating to Carlow. It is envisaged that information technology and service...

Labour Affairs: Motion (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am delighted to participate in this debate, which is about several important issues that fall within my responsibility and that of my colleague, Deputy Killeen, Minister of State with responsibility for labour affairs. Deputy Killeen has given the House a detailed account of measures introduced by this Government to secure and improve employment standards and the quality of our work. I do...

Labour Affairs: Motion (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The integrated response is a good one in terms of enterprise, trade and employment. These are inter-related issues. It is extraordinary that a motion of this type, particularly in terms of its incredible negativity, is such a distance from reality. Some 94,000 jobs were created in the economy last year and people want to break up the Department that is responsible for enterprise. I am not...

Labour Affairs: Motion (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: Does the State, through the Labour Relations Commission, the Labour Court, the Employment Appeals Tribunal, the Equality Tribunal and the civil courts, not seek to ensure compliance by employers and to provide effective means of redress in cases of non-compliance? In this area, as in other aspects of our provisions, the Irish framework reflects the provisions of the broader EU social...

Labour Affairs: Motion (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I want to draw attention to Articles 6 and 7 of the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights cited in the motion. Article 6 deals with the right to work freely and avail of vocational guidance and training. Article 7 deals with the right to paid work with fair and safe conditions and with special regard to equal pay for equal work. Article 8 deals with the right to...

Labour Affairs: Motion (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: I must invite the House to consider if we live in a society which does not uphold the principles and secure the rights set out in the preceding paragraphs. Is it really suggested that we live in a society which does not enjoy full employment, together with vocational guidance and access to training?

Labour Affairs: Motion (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: It is not true. The Deputy's position is wrong, and factually incorrect. Do we not inhabit a State in which workers enjoy free collective bargaining, social partnership arrangements, a very active and well funded Health and Safety Authority and a solid corpus of equality legislation supported by a dedicated Equality Authority and Equality Tribunal? With regard to trades unions, not only do...

Labour Affairs: Motion (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: ——Article 4, the right to fair remuneration; Article 5, the right to organise; Article 6, the right to bargain collectively; Article 7, the right of children and young persons to protection; Article 8, the right of employed women to protection of maternity; Article 9, the right to vocational guidance; and Article 10, the right to vocational training. All these provisions are very...

Labour Affairs: Motion (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Convention on Migrant Workers was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1990 and it entered into force on 1 July 2003. The convention has been open for signature and ratification since December 1990. However, to date only 34 states have ratified it. No European Union member state has as yet signed or ratified the convention, nor has any indicated an intention to do so.

Labour Affairs: Motion (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Government must first ensure that domestic law is fully in conformity with the agreement in question. I have a detailed script which I will not have time to read into the record of the House, but I hope it may be taken on board. If Ireland were to ratify the convention it would appear that significant changes must be made across a wide range of existing legislation, including...