Results 3,301-3,320 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Foreign Direct Investment. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: It has. I will refer the Deputy to the study which has been published. The reason is clear. As we move towards a more efficient manufacturing environment and apply technologies more effectively we will experience a loss in numbers in employment but will have a more efficient and competitive enterprise that is sustainable in the long term. We should welcome that development. Approximately...

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The payment of statutory redundancy to employees is a matter, in the first instance, for the employer. My Department is responsible for ensuring that statutory redundancy is paid to all employees who find themselves in a redundancy situation and who, by reference to age, insurability and length of service are deemed eligible for such payment. Ex gratia payments, that is, payments over and...

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is the Deputy's analysis of what happened.

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I heard the Deputy's questions.

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I also have personal views on the matter. I was particularly unhappy with what transpired. However, I cannot allow my personal preferences or instincts to impact on the legal entitlement as per the existing legislative framework. We must, therefore, rely on the law as it stands. We have taken steps in our discussions with the social partners to remedy what could be considered deficiencies...

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Irrespective of the language the Deputy uses, the redundancies were negotiated by representatives of the workers.

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: There can be many different perspectives on this issue.

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I have been through it at all ends. The redundancy package was negotiated. I understand the Taoiseach replied today to the Deputy's party leader's correspondence on the matter. There is a long-standing precedent on the publication of the legal advice of Attorneys General, of which the Deputy is aware having been a Minister. We have been in discussions with the social partners. The heads...

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The continued availability of a well-educated, highly skilled and flexible workforce will be critical to ensuring the continued competitiveness of the economy and to enhancing social inclusion. Our labour market situation is favourable with forecasted 2006 employment growth of 4.4% and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Total employment now exceeds 2 million for the first time in the history of...

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Such action is already being taken. We have a broad idea of the sectors that are in difficulty. A recent Forfás report pointed out the decline in certain traditional areas of manufacturing, including textiles, leather and electrical machinery. On the other hand, however, we have made gains in engineering, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Those areas in which jobs are being lost are...

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Morgan might list some of the job gains in the Dundalk-Drogheda area in the past six to nine months. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, is busy doing so. Deputy Morgan might make a similar acknowledgement. For the information of the House, I wish to clarify a statement I made earlier. The Taoiseach's letter to Deputy Rabbitte has not yet issued.

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I emphasise the important priority I attach to business costs and the broader issue of competitiveness. There has been an increase in business costs in areas where statutory and independent regulators have to respond to international price movements, for example, in energy markets. These have undoubtedly contributed to increased business costs, but these increases are also a burden on all...

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Central Statistics Office does not publish separate data covering Government and regulator-controlled charges. We checked widely and the only source we can get for the 55.5% net increase is a Fine Gael press release of 14 December which is on the Fine Gael website.

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I respectfully suggest that website is not the most robust source or reference I check for figures of that kind. The National Competitiveness Council in its report produced the data and the assessment on the cost competitiveness of Irish cities; I did not do it. I clearly excluded Dublin in my reply. I referred to Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford and these are important.

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Given our regionalisation policy, when an analysis is done independently of Government and of everybody else in this House, it is important to put on record——

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: ——that, compared to other developed cities across Europe, some of our cities are significantly better in this respect. That is all I was doing and it is important to record that. I agree and have articulated for a long time that we need to become more competitive in our domestic economy. When we took a decision in the retail sector to do that in terms of the removal of the groceries...

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The track record of the Deputy's party is that people talk a good talk but when it comes to taking on some sheltered sectors of the economy, which is the key to making our domestic sector more competitive, its members pull back and revert to the old electoral political game.

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Fine Gael does not have much credibility in terms of resolving some of the pressures in the domestic economy that have given rise to some of the cost issues, which we need to move to address. There is no question that costs are a fundamental issue in any developed economy. We are conscious of that and it is the reason the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, took a clear premeditated...

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the anti-inflation position, as part of the social partnership process, we are establishing an anti-inflation group to deal with inflationary pressures on the economy, but the broad macro statistics for Ireland are strong. We had a very high economic growth rate in 2006 and that is also predicted for 2007. In terms of a quality of life index and the UN human development index,...

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: It flies in the face of reality. We will continue to focus on making sure we can take steps to maintain our cost competitiveness. It is a challenge——