Results 2,961-2,980 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am not so sure that the activities the Deputy has been engaged in sends out a wonderful signal to external investors who wish to invest in Mayo. Far from trying to arrive at a reasonable solution, the quality of the engagement by the Deputy and others on this issue actually sends out a negative signal in terms of trying to attract investment. We should always endeavour to exploit natural...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the opportunity Deputy Cowley has taken to clarify the change of direction he has clearly articulated regarding the Corrib gas field. That is most welcome.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I did not think the picketing of Deputy Kenny's constituency office suggested a positive outlook. The IDA will continue to market Ballina. There are other options if a particular site is not available. There are many examples of foreign direct investments locating either in private sector developments or in greenfield sites.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The manufacturing sector — both indigenous and foreign-owned — has been a key component of the economy over the past two decades and it will continue to be a significant contributor to exports, employment and economic growth in the future. Home based enterprises play a significant part in the sector, and the Government is encouraging the development of that element of the economy....

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy referred to haemorrhaging jobs. We created 88,000 jobs last year. We are on course to do something similar this year.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy. I have already pointed out that we did a useful exercise this year when I commissioned Forfás to do an analysis of employment patterns and trends in both manufacturing and traded services in the past five to six years. The result of that analysis was that approximately 150,000 jobs were created in high-end manufacturing and approximately 440 in services. I...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: On indigenous manufacturing, 87% of manufacturing units in Ireland are Irish-owned. Approximately 60% of those employ fewer than 20 people. The indigenous sector would be characterised by a large number of smaller firms. Those enterprises employ approximately 113,000 people, which is a significant number in indigenous manufacturing. We are keen to support that, as is Enterprise Ireland...

Employment Rights. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The labour inspectorate undertook an investigation of allegations made in this House on 8 February 2005 regarding compliance by Gama Construction Ireland Limited with certain employment rights provisions. A report on the investigation was prepared and circulated to relevant parties, including Gama Construction Ireland Limited. The outcome of an interlocutory hearing on a judicial review...

Employment Rights. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Regarding the legal issues that arose about the Department's capacity to publish the report of the labour inspectorate, it is my intention to deal with that legal deficiency in the legislative framework for employment rights compliance. A new compliance Bill will result from our commitments to the latest social partnership agreement.

Employment Rights. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Yes. As the report was adjudged to be ultra vires, pending adjudication by the Supreme Court, there was a legal deficiency. We are amending the legislation to grant broader powers to the Minister on these issues. We issue work permits to employers in good faith. One must trust that people will honour the decision and behave accordingly. We are not satisfied with the information received...

Joint Policing Committees. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am deputising for the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who, as Deputies will be aware, is engaged in important work elsewhere. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and assure him the Tánaiste and I share his interest in joint policing committees. The genesis of the committees is the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the most significant legislation affecting the...

Joint Policing Committees. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Following the review, the guidelines will be amended as necessary and new guidelines issued for a full rollout of the committees.

Company Closures. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Collins and Deputy Neville for raising this important matter. Like the Deputies, I was disappointed to hear about the situation at the company in question. I am conscious of the effect the job losses will have on the workers involved and their families as well as the community in the surrounding area. This is distressing news for those who will lose their jobs. I assure the...

Company Closures. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Unfortunately, the situation is a voluntary engagement between employer and employee, but we will pursue that issue in so far as we can with the employer, as we undertook today in our meetings with the workers' representatives. As the Deputies know, Microtherm was established in Ireland in 1975 and employs 46 people in Bruff, County Limerick, where it manufactures thermostats for the white...

Company Closures. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: A central goal for the industrial development agencies is the achievement of balanced regional development. The attractiveness of Limerick lies in its position as a regional gateway, with the critical mass and infrastructure necessary to attract mobile investment to the region. Both the Government and the agencies recognise the need to provide high-volume employment opportunities in...

Company Closures. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Boyle for raising this issue and I accept his absolute commitment, and that of all public representatives in the city of Cork, in respect of it. As the Deputy is aware, the issue of the retail workers in question and their jobs concerns the transfer of a lease. The parties involved have been unable to reach agreement on the matter. On Thursday and Friday last, we met the...

Company Closures. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: There are areas that could be considered in terms of the transfer of undertakings etc., but this matter would not really be suitable in that regard. I would argue that Roches Stores made a good effort to transfer staff but that effort came unstuck in respect of the workers at Wilton. The matter was not closed off and not everything was tidied up prior to the cessation of trading at Roches...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The reasons for companies to relocate activities from Ireland are many and varied, and include relocation to be closer to customers or other competitive considerations. I believe that firms must be free to allocate resources and production to where the returns are highest. It is not in our interest to obstruct what is in the best interest of competitive enterprises. Our best response to the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 17, 57 and 66 together. I should point out at the outset that return and recovery of grant aid are day-to-day operational matters for Enterprise Ireland and that neither I, as Minister, nor my Department have any function in relation to these matters. I understand that discussions between Enterprise Ireland and the company concerning grant aid to the plant...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The main bodies operating under the auspices of my Department which are concerned with consumer protection are the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs and the Interim National Consumer Agency. In so far as the ODCA is concerned, its remit includes a specific statutory role in relation to enforcing price display orders. These orders essentially relate to the manner that prices are...