Results 3,401-3,420 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department has been making good progress in the relocation of the required 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. With regard to the property side of the Department's move, the Office of Public Works completed the purchase of a site in Carlow town centre late in 2005. On 31st May 2006, the OPW commenced the tendering process by seeking expressions of...

Written Answers — STI Strategy: STI Strategy (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 179 together. As the Deputies will be aware, on 18 June last year, I joined the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and other Cabinet colleagues to launch our comprehensive Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation for the period 2006-2013. This Strategy provides for the continued development of a world-class research system, underpinned by the essential...

Written Answers — Skills Requirements: Skills Requirements (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: This Government is committed to the promotion of lifelong learning both as a means of ensuring personal career advancement for workers and of ensuring the skills needs of industry are met. It therefore co-operates with industry and employees by investing significant resources in training programmes for the employed. This year my Department will invest €70m in schemes for the employed....

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164, 1127 and 1129 together. The relocation of businesses within particular types of industry, and with it a certain number of jobs, is a reality of modern global manufacturing for a highly developed economy such as Ireland. The factors that influence a firm's decision to relocate are varied and complex. In addition to relative wage rates and other cost...

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Family reunification for the purposes of immigration is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I am informed that provisions relating to family reunification are included in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2006 which is being promoted by him. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and my Department work closely together in this...

Written Answers — Skills Requirements: Skills Requirements (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) is the body appointed by the Irish Government to advise on aspects of education and training related to the future skills needs of the enterprise sector and the Irish economy. It carries out studies into the supply and demand for skills in individual business or industrial sectors and occupations. Its reports put forward recommendations for...

Written Answers — Manufacturing Sector: Manufacturing Sector (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Any figure above 50 in the NCB Purchasing Managers Index indicates sectoral growth. The Irish manufacturing sector expanded for the 39th consecutive month in November with a modest growth rate of 51.6. Further expansion occurred in December when the index rose to 53, above its long-term average of 52.6. The Irish manufacturing sector has been a key component of the Irish economy over the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 1090 together. The Health and Safety Authority currently has a sanctioned staffing complement of 185 sanctioned posts, of which 110 are due to move to Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. To date a total of 62 people (11 HSA staff, 41 Civil Servants, 10 Public Servants) have expressed an interest through the Central Application Facility (CAF) to transfer to...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172, 185 and 199 together. International benchmarking reports suggest that the regulatory burden in Ireland is relatively light. The IMD (International Institute for Management Development) World Competitiveness Yearbook 2006 ranks Ireland 8th out of 61 countries surveyed for the extent to which bureaucracy does not hinder business activity. The World...

Written Answers — Consumer Policy: Consumer Policy (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The work of the Consumer Policy Section of my Department in 2006 will be reported on in detail in my Department's 2006 Annual Report. The main highlights of the Section's work in the year related to the implementation and follow on of the Report of the Consumer Strategy Group. In this regard, the Report of the High Level Inter-Departmental Committee established to examine the implementation...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Detailed costs of complying with Freedom of Information responsibilities are not generally kept by public bodies. As FOI has become more ingrained into the culture of public bodies, certain aspects of compliance such as record keeping practices, training and staff awareness are covered by the general staffing and administration costs of those bodies, and could not easily be separated out. It...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Companies operating in Ireland are no different than companies anywhere else in the world. They operate in a market economy, are affected by international events that influence global economic activity and the employment they create here is subject to specific business and product life cycles in different sectors. Over the decades since Ireland became a location of choice for so many foreign...

Written Answers — Economic Growth: Economic Growth (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The European Commission published its Annual Progress Report for 2006 on implementation of the renewed Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs on 12 December 2006. The overall assessment of Ireland's performance is that we are making very good progress in the implementation of our National Reform Programme (NRP), including the priority areas arising from the 2006 Spring European Council. The...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Act 2006 does not preclude me from granting a new employment permit to an employee to enable them to change employer within the first 12 months of commencing employment in instances where it can be demonstrated that exploitation of the employee has taken place.

Written Answers — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I accompanied the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern TD on the very successful trade mission, organised by Enterprise Ireland, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 14th to 19th January 2007. The Minister for Agriculture and Food Ms. Mary Coughlan TD and the Minister for Education and Science Ms. Mary Hanafin TD also participated. The mission visited Riyadh, Abu Dhabi...

Written Answers — Competition Law: Competition Law (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The first part of the question relates to the day-to-day work of the Competition Authority which is the independent statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition law in the State. Its mandate and functions are set out in the Competition Act 2002, as amended. The Competition Authority is statutorily required to publish an annual report of its activities during the year within...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 190 together. The outfitting of Enterprise Ireland's new Dublin based offices at Eastpoint is an operational matter for the Agency itself, and not one in which I am involved. A design team is currently working on the specific internal layout and design of the offices. The design team will prepare a detailed cost estimate for the outfitting of the...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The number of Work Visas/Work Authorisations issued for the period 2002 to end of September 2006 was 9,898. Working Visa/Work Authorisations were issued for two years and could be renewed for a further two year period once persons fulfilled the conditions of the scheme. At end September 2006, the most recent date for which data is available, there were approximately 5,500 valid Work...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together. The details of Enterprise Ireland's leasing arrangements in order to meet its business needs and health and safety obligations, is an operational matter for Enterprise Ireland, and not one in which I have a function. However, it has been a key strategic objective for Enterprise Ireland to bring all Dublin based staff together in one...

Written Answers — Enterprise Strategy Group: Enterprise Strategy Group (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Enterprise Strategy Group's (ESG) report was an important policy agenda both for national competitiveness and for strengthening a positive business environment. The subsequent Action Plan to progress implementation of the ESG's recommendations covers 47 topics. Implementation is underway on all topics and I am satisfied that good progress is being made on the Plan. There are no topics on...