Results 3,341-3,360 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: It is our intention that the legislation will be passed before the election; we will publish the Bill shortly. It is not normal procedure, however, to publish the advice of the Attorney General. We were conscious of this and that is why we want to introduce the legislation. We have consulted social partners on it and we will now move ahead. We want to close off any other potential...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Martin Brady asked whether, if it was not declared to be redundancy in conformity with the Act, people would be liable to taxation, and I understand that they would be. I can get the details for the Deputy but that is the implication for the workers. If a decision was taken that the payment was not in accordance with the Redundancy Payment Acts, that would be the position. It is...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is not what I said.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Morgan asked if, at the time of the controversy, when Irish Ferries announced its decision, obstacles could have been put in the way then. In response I said that at the time, when the Labour Relations Commission was overseeing the negotiations between the two trade unions and the employer, there were different pressures on the participating parties. It would be wrong to take from...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is wrong. We should not read this and spin it out the wrong way.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Martin Brady asked a question seeking clarity on the tax status of a lump sum paid to workers which would not be in conformity with the Acts and I gave him a simple, straight answer to that.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Nothing can be deduced from that in the context of the motivation or rationale behind the decision that was taken. As I said, it is not a matter for personal preference. We must look at the law as it is, take the advice we are given and make a decision.

National Pay Agreement. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am happy to report that my Department is making significant progress on commitments in Towards 2016. Work on the preparation of the necessary legislation to give effect to the comprehensive package of measures contained in the agreement concerning employment standards is being progressed as a matter of urgency. In addition, the additional resources identified under the agreement for...

National Pay Agreement. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am putting considerable pressure on the Department to move on this issue as quickly as possible. We are looking at putting the bulk of the staff in place in the second quarter of the year. The Deputy will appreciate recruitment processes must be engaged in but I am determined that the 60 additional inspectors will be appointed in 2007. The management team is almost in place. The...

National Pay Agreement. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Carlow was the original location for the employment rights division of the Department but regional bases are also anticipated. That process has been completed and we are in a position to move on that. Inspectors will be recruited not only to the centralised agency but also to regional locations. Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am glad that this matter has been raised on the Adjournment. Like every other Deputy and person in Cork, I was very concerned and disappointed to hear about the situation in Motorola. The company, which employs 330 people, informed its employees on 29 January 2006 of its intention to enter an employee consultation process regarding the future of the Cork site. The company is considering...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Other companies did it differently in the past 12 months. Deputy Boyle must accept that. The key reason behind the proposal is that, as part of the company's worldwide reorganisation, the workforce is to be reduced by 3,500 globally. I was in ongoing discussions with the company before January. IDA Ireland is in constant negotiations with a range of companies, including Motorola. We have...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland and the Government work with senior management in companies. We liaise and discuss with them. I was in discussion with senior management at this company before this debate. The last quarter results from Motorola were poor. It did not reach its targets. The idea that a Minister in Ireland is responsible for Motorola's difficult international performance is a crazy notion.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Allen said it.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has tried to skew the debate into a personality issue. The bottom line is that Motorola has had international difficulties with some products and the Cork plant operates in a technological area that has created difficulties in that it has reached its plateau in generating revenue. We and the company were hoping that we could get other activities and projects into the plant to...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I will deal with that issue later. As regards job losses announced in companies in County Cork, I assure the people concerned that State agencies will provide every assistance possible. The priority will be to find an acceptable outcome for all those involved at the earliest opportunity. I do not accept Deputy Lynch's fatalistic view that everyone will be obliged to leave Cork because of...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The role of FÁS, the industrial training agency, is of particular importance in providing assistance. The agency's full range of services is made available to the companies generally when redundancies occur. In the context of Motorola, I have asked FÁS, IDA and Enterprise Ireland to engage with the company with a view to supporting, in every possible way, the workers at the plant. That...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: ——and our economy is now characterised by high output and productivity, together with high returns to labour in the form of wages, salaries and better living standards. Low technology production, which dominated our economic output in the past, is, as Deputy Boyle outlined, being replaced by higher technology and services enterprises. Contrary to what has been said, Irish manufacturing...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: As Deputy Boyle is aware, the number of jobs is not the only yardstick used in this regard. The coming into play of proper efficiencies provide longer sustainability and a better opportunity to retain plants. The latest CSO release on industrial employment in December indicates that employment in manufacturing increased by some 4,000 in the 12 months to September 2006. I accept that this is...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: One of the Government's main tasks is to ensure that Ireland remains an attractive place to do business and to support the development of economic competencies higher up the value chain. In that regard, we continue to work to maintain and enhance our framework competitive conditions and to promote new areas of competitive advantage, such as by developing our research and development base....