Results 2,761-2,780 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: ——which indicate oil and interest rates as the causes.

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The future challenges will be in respect of those two areas. Domestically, it is about creating greater competition within the economy.

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: That is very important. The one time I decided to do something about it, the Deputy's party took an ambivalent approach to it——

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: ——and played both sides of the House on the groceries order. I know he would have had a different view from that of the party's spokesman on enterprise because he always favoured the abolition of the groceries order, yet Fine Gael tried to undermine that for political reasons. Every time we try to move on the domestic economy the vested interests come out of the traps and politicians from...

Economic Competitiveness. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The joint European resources for micro to medium enterprise is a joint initiative by the European Commission, European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund, which is intended to improve the access of SMEs to finance within the framework of the European regions. The initiative, which is known by the acronym, JEREMIE, is voluntary and is designed to enable European member states and...

Economic Competitiveness. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I certainly will come back to the Deputy as regards this initiative. It is worth pointing out that the county and city enterprise boards were already co-funded by the ERDF and to a certain extent have been doing some of this type of activity. Some 40% of grants from county enterprise boards, I believe, were on a refundable basis. This is an increasing phenomenon and it helps them in terms of...

Economic Competitiveness. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: That is a fair point. However, let us not overstate the impact into the future of ERDF on our business support measures, as the bulk of this will be Exchequer financed. Entrepreneurship in Ireland has gone from strength to strength. The most recent global economic monitor rates Ireland as No. 1 in terms of entrepreneurial activity within the entire European Union. Some 80% of Irish people now...

Economic Competitiveness. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I do not accept that. The role of Enterprise Ireland and——

Economic Competitiveness. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: ——the support we have been giving Enterprise Ireland has been very strong. Venture capital initiatives have been particularly effective and the most recent round I have announced will be even more effective. The results from Enterprise Ireland more or less confirm that. The county enterprise boards have had good success across the country in terms of micro business. That is not to say we...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The introduction of Knowledge Acquisition Grants and Innovation Vouchers were recommended by the Small Business Forum in its report submitted to me last month. I set up the Forum last year to consider the environment in which small businesses operate and to advise on the appropriateness and adequacy of the public policy responses in the context of that environment. Since publishing the report...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The value of entrepreneurship amongst young people and enterprise education in contributing to the future strong economic development of this country has been acknowledged in two recent significant policy Reports i.e. the Report of the Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) and Report of the Small Business Forum (SBF). Both Reports have outlined a recommended strategic approach to enterprise...

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

Micheál Martin: The recent industrial action by SIPTU members in relation to the Birr relocation of FAS has ended on the basis that all the issues involved will be the subject of discussion under the aegis of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). Under the LRC proposals it has been agreed that "the process of engagement is designed to allow all parties to deal with their concerns and to jointly arrive at a...

Written Answers — Consumer Confidence: Consumer Confidence (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 56 together. The principal objective of the Consumer Sentiment Index is to record details on consumer attitudes towards trends in the economy. It, therefore, complements other data such as the value of personal consumption. In this respect consumer spending is still very strong with early CSO figures on the value of retail sales showing a 7.6%...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: As I and other Ministers have indicated in response to similar questions in the past, Ireland is not a party to the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1990. Nor has Ireland ratified this Convention. Other Member States of the European Union have not signed or ratified this...

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Assessments: Regulatory Impact Assessments (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Since the publication of the White Paper on Better Regulation in January 2004, six Regulatory Impact Assessments have been undertaken, or are currently underway, within my Department as follows: 1. A full RIA was carried out, under the aegis of the Company Law Review Group (CLRG), as an integral part of its review in the latter half of 2005 of Section 45 of the Companies (Auditing and...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Government launched its whole of Government Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-13 on Sunday morning last and copies of the Strategy have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Strategy sets out a vision for Ireland as "internationally renowned for the excellence of our research by 2013, to the forefront in generating and using new knowledge for economic and...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (21 Jun 2006)

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

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

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Bill 2005 was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 14th June 2006. My priority is now directed towards the early introduction of the new economic migration arrangements which I announced in my opening address on the Second Stage of the Bill on 12th October 2005, comprising: ∙a Green Card for occupations where there are skills shortages, which will be for a...

Written Answers — Regional Development: Regional Development (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment to this country and its regions. Under the Industrial Development Acts I am precluded from giving directives in respect of individual cases or in giving preference to one area over others. One of the key objectives of IDA Ireland strategy since the beginning of the current Operational Programme for Industry in...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Last month the Small Business Forum reported to me, making a number of recommendations to improve the environment for the conduct of small business in Ireland. These recommendations include measures to address the administrative burden on small business. These are being followed up on by my Department, other Departments or agencies, as appropriate. I am currently fast-tracking legislation to...