Results 3,541-3,560 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: ——if evidence was inadvertently leaked to the complainant which found its way back to the person being pursued the investigation could simply be terminated there and then. That is the problem. I know that is not the Senator's intention.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: However, it could be the effect of the inclusion of this amendment. We might consider the Senator's proposal in general terms. It is not our intention that there should be no communication with the complainant. We might discuss this with the authority, which would have experience of pursuing complaints to establish if there is a mechanism by which certain milestones could be articulated to...

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: This is a technical amendment. The Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel has advised that the words "of the Industrial Development Act 1993" should be deleted because they are unnecessary.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: We indicated on Second Stage and in public commentary that we would consider the issue being addressed in this amendment and introduce an amendment on Committee Stage. The Casual Trading Act 1995 requires those engaging in casual trading to hold a licence granted for that purpose by the local authority in the area where the trader operates. When the Competition Authority and the Consumer...

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: As I mentioned earlier, some of the amendments I have agreed to consider will be dealt with in the Dáil. I will return to the Seanad to update it on what has been agreed in the Dáil. The sale of cars on roadsides is essentially a matter for the local authorities in the first instance. The Garda has a specific role in implementing the Road Traffic Acts if road safety issues arise in this...

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: It is not beyond our capacity to ensure that the guidelines reflect the issues which have been raised by Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: We are trying to provide for uniformity throughout the country.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: I indicated on Second Stage that I would introduce this amendment on Committee Stage. This new section, which is based on section 87 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, relates to the powers of the National Consumer Agency regarding product safety. Power to enforce product safety regulations is already vested in the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs and will...

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: It is often when the consumer item is on the shelf or perhaps another country may have had experience of a certain product and the consumer agency may be alerted to the unsafe nature of a particular product. Other jurisdictions might alert our agency. There will be some degree of international co-operation between agencies. It is often the case, particularly at Christmas, that a particular...

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: This amendment relates to the powers of the National Consumer Agency with regard to product safety. The intention of this new section is to allow for the purposes of any proceedings under any of the statutory instruments specified in Schedule 6 the admissibility in evidence of the results of tests carried out by any laboratory recognised by any designated authority. The designated...

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Director of Consumer Affairs exercises no functions under the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003. There is no need, consequently, for this Act to feature in the list of enactments in Part 1 of the Schedule for which the national consumer agency will assume responsibility for functions now exercised by the director. The Director of Consumer Affairs...

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The purpose of this technical amendment is to correct the title of the Package Holidays and Travel Trade Act 1995 which was incorrectly recorded in Schedule 3.

Seanad: Consumer Protection Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Seanad Éireann for their co-operation and for the expeditious passage of the Bill. I assure Senators Coghlan, Leyden and Cox that the Department will advise the other House that amendments will be tabled as a consequence of amendments proposed in this House. The manner in which the Seanad has organised its business leaves time to have suitable amendments...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (15 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: Applications for Work Permits are issued in accordance with the Employment Permits Act 2006 and are processed in order of receipt. I have no role or responsibility in relation to matters of naturalisation or citizenship. These are matters for my colleague the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (15 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 126, inclusive, together. IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: Employees from EU Member States other than Bulgaria and Romania do not require a Work Permit. However, nationals of Bulgaria or Romania do require a work permit to be employed in Ireland and evidence is required to show that job vacancies have been advertised with FÁS/EURES employment network and additionally in local and national newspapers.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (20 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: Responsibility for the maintenance and development of the Shannon Free Zone lies with Shannon Development. The company also has responsibility for the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment and indigenous industry into the Zone. It provides buildings, land, information, and investment incentives to companies relocating to or investing in the Zone. The regeneration of the Zone is one of a...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department has informed me that this application was received in the Section in January 2007 and it is currently being processed.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The number of work permits issued to date in 2007 is 2335, the number of renewal applications is 1268 and the number of new work permits issued is 1067. The following chart indicates the breakdown by nationality of the permits granted. Work permits are only considered when there is an employer/employee relationship and are not granted for self-employment. There is a scheme for business...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: As Turkey is not a Member State of the European Union, the rules applicable to non-EU/EEA nationals should be followed in respect of applications for Work Permits. Information on the procedures to be followed, including details of the new economic migration arrangements which I announced on 24th January, 2007, is readily available on the Department's website at www.entemp.ie. Any Turkish...