Results 2,941-2,960 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The European Commission report of 26 September 2006 stated that Bulgaria and Romania will be in a position to join the EU on 1 January 2007, as long as they address a number of outstanding issues. The European Council of Foreign Ministers will decide at its meeting on 16 October whether accession should go ahead on 1 January 2007. The treaties of accession provide for the following...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: We are examining this issue in the context of what has happened in recent years. That Ireland has, since May 2004, experienced the most rapid inward migration of any of the 25 EU member states will inform our deliberations on the matter. We undertook in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, to consult the social partners. The Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise,...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Some 80,000 people from the accession states are currently working here, according to CSO estimates. While the capture of data relating to people coming here is quite good, as a result of the issuing of PPS numbers, some work remains to be done to create a more accurate database of information about people on the way out. Ireland is now the fourth most favoured destination for Polish...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I was somewhat surprised by the recent development referred to by the Deputy. We need to be careful about language. The number of people in employment increased by 88,000 in 2005, which does not suggest that substantial barriers are preventing people from getting employment.

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am talking about barriers to employment. There was a need to facilitate integration and English language training is part of that. We fund a variety of employer and industry-led initiatives through the in-company training programme, the Skillsnet programme and the Accel programme. The various sectors may make proposals relating to, perhaps, the Skillsnet issue.

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: FÁS is actively providing training for foreign workers in this country. There are obligations on the employers to facilitate the proper integration of employees and many are fulfilling them. In terms of small and medium enterprises, SMEs, there are issues relating to economies of scale and capacity. A variety of schemes is available to companies if they wish to work with us. We will be...

EU Directives. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Subsequent to the European Parliament's vote last February, the Competitiveness Council adopted a Common Position on the draft directive on services in the Internal Market at its meeting on 24 July. The text was adopted as an A item at the council with only two member states abstaining. It was supported by Ireland. This followed intensive discussions on the proposal at the Competitiveness...

EU Directives. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Our major thrust in terms of developing enterprise in indigenous enterprise and SMEs has been to develop the services side of the equation, while supporting high end manufacturing underpinned by indigenous research and development within Irish manufacturing companies. There is a significant drive, on the services side, to inform companies of the opportunities worldwide, not just in the...

EU Directives. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: It is fair with the exception of the Deputy's suggestion that the services directive does not constitute a high priority. The development of services will always be a high priority as the employment return is huge and it is the direction in which most developed countries are headed. The Deputy is correct that the advice to me is that the services directive is not a huge step forward and...

EU Directives. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: It remains to be seen whether the directive will break these barriers. Some countries impose conditions of establishment on Irish companies that would be anxious to establish bases in other EU countries and require them to deposit substantial sums of money. I am sure those companies would be willing to speak to the Deputy and other Members. They have found the current position quite...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: This issue is a day-to-day operational matter for Enterprise Ireland and neither I, as Minister, nor my Department has any function in respect thereof. Enterprise Ireland has informed me that the issue relates to a fire that took place at a plant in Rooskey, County Roscommon, in May 2002. As a result of the fire, slaughtering and boning activities in the plant were terminated. A cannery...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department is not doing that or saying anything about it.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The agencies involved are statutory bodies and my Department is not involved.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Enterprise Ireland is the agency involved and my Department does not get involved in the day-to-day administration of grants or the return thereof. This is fundamentally a matter for the agency. The House has delegated this authority to it and the other industrial development agencies. We cannot delegate authority to the agencies while at the same time running their day-to-day operations....

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has the wrong take on this. We should never get to the stage of saying we are giving money to one side to the detriment of another. Grant money is not allocated on that basis. Enterprise Ireland or any agency would wisely work with all of the food companies in Ireland to add as much value as possible, within the jurisdiction. It will continually encourage companies to do added...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: ——-a transfer of one to the other. It should not have to mean that. I am not at liberty to discuss ongoing fluid discussions that are under way between a number of interested parties as regards the Roosky site.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: That is all I can say at this stage. We are very well aware of the need. All Members of the House, particularly Deputies in the constituency such as Deputy Finneran and Deputy Naughten, have raised this issue on an ongoing basis and are very keen to see development here. The fundamental point, however, is that whereas I am accountable for Enterprise Ireland, a global sum is allocated to...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through the industrial development agencies. IDA Ireland has statutory responsibility for marketing Ireland, including individual areas and towns such as north Mayo and Ballina, for overseas investment. Enterprise Ireland has responsibility for the promotion of indigenous industry, while county enterprise boards concentrate on the...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I will give the Deputy answers.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: In 2002, there were 1,976 people on the live register in Ballina. In August 2006, there were 1,448 on the register. In other words, 528 more people were unemployed in Ballina in 2002 than there are today. I respectfully suggest that calling towns like Ballina unemployment blackspots does nothing to enhance the attractiveness of the town for inward investment. It does not create the right...