Results 3,841-3,860 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Literacy Levels. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: In 1997 the OECD published the findings of its international adult survey. That survey, which was conducted in 1995, provided a profile of the literacy skills of adults in Ireland aged between 16 and 64. According to the survey, almost 25% of the Irish workforce lacked functional literacy skills. Since the publication of the OECD survey, the Government has committed substantial resources to...

Company Closures. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: As I indicated in replies to previous questions, matters arising from the liquidation of the company concerned are currently receiving attention from two of the agencies that operate under the aegis of my Department, the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. The latest position with regard to the involvement of the Employment Appeals Tribunal is...

Company Closures. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy has said, that would depend on whether there has been malfeasance, but the answer is "Yes". We have asked the Company Law Review Group to examine the case and ascertain what lessons might be learned from it. I referred to that earlier regarding the more comprehensive legislation on the way.

Job Creation. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the Deputy is referring to recent announcements of job losses in IDA client companies, Motorola and Bourns Electronic in Cork, which is part of the south-west region, and Thompson Scientific in Limerick, which is part of the mid-west region. Job losses are regrettable, no matter where they occur, but they are a feature of economic development in all countries as various...

Job Creation. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: When a redundancy takes place or a closure occurs, FÁS has a structured response which involves going into the company concerned and conducting a dialogue with the employer, seeking to profile the collective employee group and inviting employees to engage with FÁS. Not every employee does this. The feedback from the intervention by FÁS in a number of cases in the past year and a half has...

Industrial Development. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Investment decisions concerning grant aid, including research and development, to individual undertakings are operational matters for the development agencies. Under the Industrial Development Acts the Minister of the day is precluded from giving directions to the agencies concerning specific projects. Under existing arrangements local authorities can engage with the development agencies...

Control of Exports. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: In the autumn.

Employment Support Services. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The full range of services provided by FÁS is available to all unemployed people. In particular, FÁS provides an integrated support service for people being made redundant because of company restructuring or closures. This involves information sessions, skills analysis, training and retraining courses and job placement. In the delivery of these services, FÁS liaises with other relevant...

Employment Support Services. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The question relates to the difficulties older people encounter, because of their age, when seeking employment. Evidence suggests there has been an increase in the order of approximately 10% in the employment of older people over recent years. We have had good success in this regard. FÁS intervention through the One Step Up initiative is very much directed at workers in employment....

Official Travel. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The mode of transport staff of my Department use in travelling to and from work is a matter of choice for them. However, my Department generally supports the use of public transport by staff. In this context, it operates a travel pass scheme which was introduced by the Department of Finance in 2001. Under this scheme, an employee can forego part of his or her salary in lieu of the...

Official Travel. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I will not introduce a fatwa against civil servants, follow them around and insist that they travel in a certain way. We need practical application and to cop on. Mileage has been paid for some time and rates are negotiated by union representatives. One cannot unilaterally wade into this matter. In the case of labour inspectors and other civil servants travelling to particular locations,...

Official Travel. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Not necessarily. Taxis still run on petrol or fossil fuels. We need proportionality and pragmatism in this debate. People throughout the country seek access to public and civil servants. Those outside Dublin believe the official mindset to be too Dublin centred. If we continue along this route, we will ensure no one will leave Dublin or travel to any other part of the country.

Written Answers — Employment for People with Disabilities: Employment for People with Disabilities (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Vocational training and employment programmes for people with disabilities, including those with mental health difficulties, are delivered by FÁS. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply for training, and the appropriate supports are put in place to meet their particular individual needs. Where the disabled person cannot meet the requirements of mainline vocational training,...

Written Answers — North-South Enterprise Policy: North-South Enterprise Policy (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Good Friday Agreement set out a new vision for the island of Ireland. As both North and South face the common challenges and opportunities of a globalised market place and continuing the transition to a knowledge economy where science, technology and innovation are vital to economic success, it is appropriate that we should jointly address those challenges and opportunities where there is...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 29 together. The Industrial Development agencies continue to promote the greater Cork area for industrial development. In terms of new foreign investment, pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, information and communications technology and internationally traded services are among the area's strongest performers in recent years. Last year, new...

Written Answers — Personal Injuries Assessment Board: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: At the end of March 2007 there were 6,307 cases with the PIAB in the 90-day "consent to process" period i.e. PIAB has received a claim and has issued formal notice to the responding party and is awaiting consent to process from that party. There were a further 5,238 cases in the nine-month statutory assessment process, where the responding party has indicated that liability is not contested...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Nationals of Romania and Bulgaria may only come to Ireland to be employed by an employer if they are the subject of an employment permit application. Up to 24th April, 2007 of this year, 18 new employment permits were issued in respect of Romanian nationals, and 5 new employment permits in respect of Bulgarian nationals. I understand that the Department of Social and Family Affairs issued...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Government recently published the National Climate Change Strategy 2007 to 2012. The strategy reiterates the target, set in the White Paper "Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland", of 33% energy savings across the public sector and commits the Government to the introduction of an Energy Efficiency Programme, with targets and standards, for Government Departments, State...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: A National eBusiness strategy was launched by my colleague Michael Ahern T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Trade and Commerce in December 2004. The strategy outlines actions required to assist SMEs, including micro-enterprises, and particularly those in the non-ICT producing sectors of the economy, to use ICTs in a way that will maximise their competitive advantage. The...

Written Answers — Local Authority Schemes: Local Authority Schemes (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Planning and Development Act 2000 set out a framework to facilitate an updating and modernisation of development contribution schemes by Local Authorities. Under section 48 of this Act, elected members of Local Authorities are empowered to adopt a scheme of development contributions following a public consultation process. To assist these new arrangements for development contribution...