Results 2,481-2,500 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am not averse to returning to the House on this matter but as we move towards the Seanad debate I will have more time to think about the full implications of every issue which could be the subject matter of a dispute which would not necessarily be referred to the rights commissioner.

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am genuinely prepared to consider the matter.

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 219: In page 29, line 5, to delete "under subsection (4)" and substitute "referred to in subsection (4)". This is a technical amendment proposed on the advice of the Parliamentary Counsel.

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 220: In page 30, to delete lines 16 to 20 and substitute the following: 39.—Section 1(1) of the Act of 2003 is amended—— (a) by inserting the following definition after the definition of "employer": "'foreign national' means a non-national (within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1999);", and (b) by deleting the definition of "non-national".". Acceptance of this...

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 223: In page 34, line 21, after "1982" to insert "and section 134 of the Companies Act 1990". This is a technical amendment proposed on the advice of the Parliamentary Counsel.

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to bring forward an amendment to the Bill on Committee Stage in the Seanad to insert an enabling provision to permit me, as Minister, by regulation, to allow, continue or restrict access to our labour markets by nationals of Romania and Bulgaria. The purpose is to facilitate the entry of those countries into the European Union. That decision will be taken later in the year in...

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: That is correct. I thank Opposition Deputies. We had a very constructive debate on Committee Stage and have taken on board quite a number of amendments. The discussion on Committee Stage and the interaction between us have allowed for a better and more enhanced Bill. I thank my officials for the hard work they put into the drafting of the Bill and, in particular, for their tolerance and...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 297 together. The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency and not a matter in which I have a function. In view of the Deputy's interest, I have made enquiries in the matter and have been informed by IDA Ireland that it owns two industrial parks in Athy, Townspark and Woodstock...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: The previous question referred to by the Deputy related to the offence of a person representing themselves as being a limited company where they had not been incorporated under the Companies Acts. My policy responsibility in this area is firstly the creation of the offence in statute and secondly to ensure that there is an appropriate system in place to deal with persons who commit this...

Written Answers — Environmental Assessments: Environmental Assessments (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department and its Agencies are aware of the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 and its underpinning Directive. We monitor all projects and plans in order to ensure that those programmes requiring an SEA are assessed in line with the Directive. To date, no areas have been identified as requiring a Strategic Environmental...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: Following the designation of the Health and Safety Authority as competent authority for the proposed EU chemicals regulation (REACH), responsibility for the regulation transferred from the Environment Unit to the Health and Safety Liaison Section of the Department. Two of the five posts in Environment Unit, one Assistant Principal post and one Executive Officer post, transferred with the work.

Written Answers — Sustainable Development Strategy: Sustainable Development Strategy (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Environment Unit is currently preparing an implementation report on the Sustainable Development Strategy 2003-2005. The report will identify areas in which progress has been achieved, including the following. In the area of climate change the Department had a very significant involvement with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in regard to negotiations at EU and...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: The power to investigate suspected misconduct, or matters of public concern, is available in a number of statutory regimes. Whenever cases arise, the decision to commence an investigation under one particular statutory code, rather than another, is related inter alia to the circumstances involved, the appropriateness of the statutory investigation regime then in place and other factors. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: In my Department, the number and grade of staff who each day receive a copy of one daily Irish newspaper is as shown. Assistant Secretary 4 Principal Officer 31 Special Adviser 1 Personal Secretary 1 Total No. of staff 37 The number and grade of staff in my Department who each day receive a copy of more than one daily Irish newspaper is as shown. Secretary General 1 ...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: New work permits are only being considered for highly skilled, highly paid positions which it is not possible to fill from within the EEA. In ethnic restaurants where there is significant investment, significant employment of EEA nationals and where a business case can be made for highly skilled and qualified non-EEA staff, my Department will consider such applications on a case by case...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (3 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: This case, on examination, proved to be complex and involves more that one Department. It also appears from the information available to the Department that the person about whom the Deputy asks is currently employed by an employer who does not hold a work permit; a breach of the Employment Permits Act, 2003. In the time available, it is not possible for my Department to complete its...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (4 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I do not intend to extend the working visa/work authorisation scheme at this stage. In my opening address on the Second Stage of the Employment Permits Bill 2005 on 12th October 2005 I announced that the current procedures for granting working visas / work authorisations will be phased out and replaced by a new Green Card system. As I indicated on that occasion, Green Cards will be awarded...

Written Answers — Agrifood Sector: Agrifood Sector (4 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department enjoys an excellent relationship with the Department of Agriculture and Food especially with regard to the agrifood sector. Contacts between officials of my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food are numerous both in terms of occasions and channels. Officials from both departments attend such meetings as the Monitoring Committee of the Productive Sector...

Written Answers — Agrifood Sector: Agrifood Sector (4 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: Rather than providing policy prescriptions for separate sub sectors of the enterprise economy, the Enterprise Strategy Group's report presented a strategic approach to strengthening the competitiveness of the enterprise sector. In this context the Group proposed a range of recommendations to change broad enterprise policy and the way important supports are delivered to enterprise by the...

Written Answers — Agrifood Sector: Agrifood Sector (4 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: Science Foundation Ireland, the State Agency with responsibility for funding oriented basic research's, total commitment in Biotechnology to date is €200 million. Of this commitment, the investment in the Agrifood sector is €22.7M (or 11.35%). This can be broken down by year as follows: Year Award â'¬ 2002 3,503,707 2003 17,036,829 2004 1,082,770 2005 1,070,682 2006...