Results 3,761-3,780 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (4 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 contains a significant number of clear quantitative goals, progress towards attainment of which will be regularly tracked. Notable examples of these include the commitment to double our annual output of Science, Engineering and Technology PhDs to 997 by 2013; to increase the annual output of Humanities and Social Sciences PhDs...

Written Answers — Passports for Investment Scheme: Passports for Investment Scheme (4 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The operation of this scheme, which was abolished by the Government in 1998, is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (4 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio, including the purchase and disposal of property, is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas and not a matter in which I have a function. I have been informed by IDA Ireland that, in 1998, the Agency sold 1.3152 Hectares, on a leasehold basis, to...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (4 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my reply of yesterday on the same subject to his Question No. 424.

Written Answers — Corporate Law Enforcement: Corporate Law Enforcement (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) sought 20 additional staff, including 6 Gardaí. In advance of approval of these posts, full detailed costings have not been itemised. The full pay costs would depend on the exact grades and scale points which would apply to any additional staff allocated. The following table outlines the staff grades requested by the ODCE; the numbers at each...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The objective of the Innovation Voucher initiative, which I launched in March and which is being administered by Enterprise Ireland, is to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers and small businesses to create a cultural shift in the small business community's approach to innovation whilst creating greater synergies between the two. This initiative, which is based on a...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department is required to relocate 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme and this is planned to occur by the end of 2009. As at 4th April 2007, there have been 321 applications to decentralise to Carlow with my Department. There are 108 Carlow-bound applicants assigned within the Department, with a further 73 Carlow-bound applicants yet to be assigned to...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I have been informed by the development agencies under the remit of my Department, that no funding or grant aid for the development of the Skellig Bay Golf Course (formerly Atlantic Links and previously Hog's Head Golf Course) in the townlands of Baslickane and Ballybrack, Waterville, Co. Kerry, was provided. All funding or grant aid pertaining to the development of sporting projects or...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I understand that in 2003, the Drumshanbo Community Council received a grant for a Feasibility Study from Leitrim County Enterprise Board to a total value of €6,350. The purpose of this grant was to investigate the feasibility of renovating the Laird/Kepak Food Facility into a food village, now known as the Drumshanbo Food Hub. Drumshanbo Food Hub was also approved for assistance amounting...

Written Answers — Employment Statistics: Employment Statistics (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: 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 am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving...

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Judgement of the Supreme Court delivered on the 29th March, 2007, in the case of Tector and Quinn, is confined to the issue as to whether the Minister for Agriculture and Food may amend Regulations which have statutory effect by further Regulations made under Section 8 of the Animal Remedies Act, 1993, or whether such amendments may be made by statute only. Accordingly, the Attorney...

Written Answers — Foreign Investment: Foreign Investment (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: 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 am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Early Warning System of potential job losses and firms in difficulty operating in my Department is an internal system based on material provided on a confidential basis through IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development. Not only is the information confidential, but it is also very sensitive. Indeed, the information is provided initially by the relevant companies on the...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The comprehensive STI Strategy launched by Government on 18 June last year, and supported to the amount of 8.2bn euro in the current National Development Plan, included a new Competitive Fund of 40 million euro for additional public sector research in 2007 and 2008. Following submissions to the Interdepartmental Committee on STI and consultation with the Minister for Finance, this Fund has...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (5 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: For the first three months of this year, 15 new employment permits were issued in respect of Romanian nationals, and 4 new employment permits in respect of Bulgarian nationals. I understand that for the same period the Department of Social and Family Affairs issued 6,265 Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers to Romanian nationals and 289 to Bulgarian nationals. My Department has been...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (24 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The table sets out details in respect of current staff appointed by me: Name Title Function Date of Appointment Salary (Per annum) Christopher Mannion Special Advisor Full-time To provide advice and assistance to the Minister. 29/09/04 PO Level Deirdre Gillane Policy Adviser Full-time To provide advice and assistance to the Minister on policy issues. 29/09/04 PO Level Jerry O'Connor...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (24 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the concerns raised in the correspondence referred to in the Deputy's question regarding particular provisions of the recently enacted Consumer Protection Act 2007. Essentially the correspondent is concerned that the provisions in the Act prohibiting traders from imposing additional charges on customers by reason of the customer choosing to make payment for goods or services by...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department is required to move 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. The following business units/Offices of my Department have been selected as part of the Decentralisation Programme and will be relocated in the new decentralised office: Companies Registration Office/Registry of Friendly Societies National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) Work Permits...

Written Answers — Legal Metrology Service: Legal Metrology Service (24 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware of the background to this matter from replies on 28 September 2005, 25 January, 16 February, 20 June and 14 December 2006. Following identification of a number of serious health and safety risks, the testing of weighing equipment used for trade in meat processing plants was reviewed during the period 2002 to 2004. Full checks have not been undertaken since the...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (24 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 589, 590 and 603 together. Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by breaking their experience...