Results 3,881-3,900 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The role and functions of FÁS are reviewed on an ongoing basis through the formation of its Statements of Strategy. The current FAS Strategy Statement outlines the vision and direction for FAS for the period 2006 to 2009. The Strategy is closely aligned to the policy goals of my Department and was developed in close collaboration with my Department. In addition a comprehensive internal and...

Written Answers — Environmental Support Schemes: Environmental Support Schemes (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Enterprise Ireland (EI) operates two direct financial support schemes that help Irish SMEs to increase awareness of and promote eco-efficiency in their operations. These are the Environmental Management System (EMS) Support Scheme and the Environmentally Superior Products (ESP) Support Scheme. The EMS Support Scheme has been in operation since late 1998 and since then 105 Irish SMEs have been...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: A total of 69,000 persons commenced FÁS training courses in 2006 with roughly 35% of those attending training for employment and 65% attending training that were in employment. In addition, 176,000 persons attended Safe Pass and Construction Skills training and a further 9,000 persons attended Evening Courses. A training element was also included for 32,300 persons on Community Employment...

Written Answers — Enterprise Planning: Enterprise Planning (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I assume the Deputy is referring to the report "Business Continuity Planning – Responding to an Influenza Pandemic" which I launched at the end of February. I am very supportive of the work being undertaken at central level in the area of emergency planning. One of the key risks being considered at this level is that of an influenza pandemic. An influenza pandemic would have a very...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The broader responsibility for the promotion of life long learning lies with the Department of Education and Science. My own Department is primarily concerned with the job of enhancing the skills of workers to ensure a more effective labour market and to sustain and enlarge a competitive and productive national economy. In cooperation with the Department of Education and Science we are now...

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

Micheál Martin: There has been no person-hours lost either in my Department or in the Agencies under the aegis of my Department to date in 2007, due to industrial action. There are no pending strike notices in place against my Department or any of the agencies under the aegis of my Department.

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

Micheál Martin: Irish employment rights law makes a distinction between a contract of service, which applies to an employer-employee relationship, and a contract for service, which applies in the case of an independent sub-contractor. In effect, employment rights legislation does not apply to independent sub-contractors with the exception of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 and the Equality...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Following is the information requested by the Deputy. Enterprise Ireland— there is currently one vacancy on the Board of Enterprise Ireland which is in the process of being filled. Labour Relations Commission— 6 Rights Commissioners will be appointed before 31 May 2007, 5 under the terms of Towards 2016, and 1 arising from a vacancy. National Competitiveness Council— As 4 members of the...

Written Answers — Energy Consumption: Energy Consumption (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: To minimize the carbon footprint of my Department in its daily operations, the Department through its Green Team, which was established some years ago, has over the past few years initiated the following actions: Ensured that all lighting in the Department's eight buildings is switched off overnight; Ensured that the Office of Public Works, which looks after the replacement of electric light...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Since the beginning of 2007, I, Ministers of State and staff of my Department have made 8 journeys on Government aircraft. The journeys undertaken were as follows: International Flights: Minister Martin Baldonnel-Cork-Paris, 14 January 2007 — EI Trade Mission Baldonnel-Cork-Brussels-Baldonnel, 19 February 2007 — Competitiveness Council Minister Ahern...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Enterprise Development agencies under the aegis of my Department are committed to continuous evaluation and modification of their service delivery models in order to best meet the needs of client companies. As part of the development of the implementation strategy to achieve the targets set out in the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006 — 2013 (SSTI), Enterprise Ireland...

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

Micheál Martin: In the period from the beginning of January, 2005 to the end of March, 2007, there have been a total of 7 IDA sponsored visits by overseas investors to Kerry. Details of those visits are set out in the following tabular statement. The visits are arranged as part of the day-to-day operational activities of the agency and there was no ministerial involvement. In the main, itineraries for...

Written Answers — Science and Technology Groups: Science and Technology Groups (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: On 18 June last year, the Government launched a comprehensive Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation to 2013, based on the work of the Cabinet Subcommittee on STI, which I chair, and the Interdepartmental Committee on STI, lead by my Department. I can assure the Deputy that our STI Strategy was developed in consultation with stakeholders in the STI arena, including enterprise and...

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

Micheál Martin: The National Employment Action Plan Preventive Strategy (NEAP) involves a systematic referral of certain cohorts of registered unemployed persons by the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) to FÁS for assistance. The National Development Plan (2007-2013), Towards 2016, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005, contain a...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section have set out below the figures as requested above. Country Permits Issued 2004 Permits Refused 2004 Permits Issued 2005 Permits Refused 2005 Permits Issued 2006 Permits Refused 2006 Australia 906 8 926 17 879 30 Canada 269 6 315 9 335 16 New Zealand 550 11 527 9 531 18 U.S.A. 926 19 1,046 30 1,037 26

Written Answers — Skills Strategy: Skills Strategy (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The recently published National Skills Strategy sets out clear long-term objectives in developing Ireland's human capital through upskilling, training and education for the period to 2020. The Strategy will be essential in ensuring that Ireland's education and training systems are able to meet the future demands of industry in the medium to longer term. One of the key recommendations of the...

Written Answers — Housing Management Companies: Housing Management Companies (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Residential management companies are generally constituted as companies limited by guarantee under the Companies Acts and are required to comply with the relevant provisions of company law. The operation of such companies under their relevant memorandum and articles of association is a matter for determination by the company members, who generally are the owners of the properties in question....

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137, 138 and 140 together. There are many factors that influence a firm's decision to relocate. Firms adjust their plant location and utilisation strategies to address matters such as accessing new markets, moving production nearer to customers, meeting firm or market specific customer relationship issues, accessing technology or other competitive...

Written Answers — Trade Balance Statistics: Trade Balance Statistics (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: For over ten years, Ireland has had a very significant surplus on its merchandise exports. For example, last year we had a surplus of €28.3bn on exports of €88.7bn. This is an extremely healthy position. In relation to services trade, where data is not as well developed, we had a deficit last year of €8.3bn on services exports of €54bn and that deficit has been declining over the...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 146 together. Statistics for Merchandise Trade performance in 2006 show that these exports increased by 2% on 2005. Exports from Enterprise Ireland's client base of indigenous companies is expected to show a significantly higher increase. This is a very creditable performance, against a background of a difficult global trading environment, and shows...