Results 3,901-3,920 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: In 2006 Ireland's total merchandise imports were valued at €60.4bn. The major categories of such imports were, in descending order, Computers (€10.4bn), Road vehicles (€4bn), Electrical machinery (€3.8bn), Petroleum and related products (€3.7bn), Miscellaneous manufactured articles €3bn), Medicinal and Pharmaceutical products (€2.2bn) and Telecommunications and Sound...

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

Micheál Martin: Officials in the Employment Permits Section of my Department have informed me the number of work permit applications received up to the 20th April 2007 is 7547, the number issued is 4930, the number refused is 554 and the remainder are currently being processed. Employment Permit statistics for the previous four years are contained in the following table. Year Permits Issued Permits Refused...

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

Micheál Martin: In an increasingly knowledge-based and globalised environment, the skills required are progressively becoming more sophisticated. The Government has made provision to ensure that we have the best assessment of future skills needs and the policies and training programmes in place to respond to them. Central to this endeavour is the work of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. It has been...

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

Micheál Martin: State support for enterprise and job creation, including embedment and retention, is channelled through the industrial development agencies. While we have been very successful over the past decade in attracting investment and jobs we now face new challenges. We are no longer a low cost country with high levels of unemployment. Ireland is now a less competitive location for what might be...

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

Micheál Martin: State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through the industrial development agencies. While I may give general policy directives to the agencies I am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. I have been assured by the agencies under the remit of my Department...

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

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. Today the level of FDI in Ireland, relative to the size of the economy, is one of the highest in the world. At present there are over 1,000 overseas companies with substantial international operations in Ireland, employing over 135,000 people. The...

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

Micheál Martin: The development agencies under the remit of my Department, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards and FÁS (the Training and Employment Authority) have remits, respectively, in the areas of attracting and growing foreign direct investment, growing indigenous enterprises; and developing the labour market. A range of strategies, programmes and financial incentives are in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (26 Jun 2007)

Micheál Martin: The following is the position in relation to the Bills in my Department: Chemicals Bill I expect to seek Government approval for the drafting of this Bill before the end of the year. The content and timing of publication of the Bill will be decided by the Government in due course. Collective Investment Schemes Consolidation Bill My intention is to have Heads of Bill available for submission...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (26 Jun 2007)

Micheál Martin: On 7 May, the company in question announced that it was necessary for it to discontinue with immediate effect, the sale of the sole product manufactured in Athlone. On 22 May, the company advised all employees that it was considering closing its facility in Athlone and entered into a period of consultation with employees and their representatives. In the meantime, discussions had been taking...

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

Micheál Martin: I am informed by the Employment Permits Section of my Department that a Work Permit in respect of Mr. Wai Ming Mak was renewed for the period 19 March 2007 to 18 March 2009. The original work permit was issued to the employee and a copy was issued to his employer on 13 June 2007.

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

Micheál Martin: The development agencies under the remit of my Department, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards and FÁS (the Training and Employment Authority) have remits, respectively, in the areas of attracting and growing foreign direct investment; growing indigenous enterprises; and developing the labour market. A range of strategies, programmes and financial incentives are in...

Written Answers — Departmental Projects: Departmental Projects (26 Jun 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Finance's guidelines on the Appraisal and Management of Capital Expenditure Proposals in the Public Sector provide that a cost-benefit analysis should be carried out on capital projects above a threshold of €30 million. My Department has not directly approved any capital projects costing over €30 million this year. Capital funding allocated to my Department's Vote is...

Written Answers — Market Rights: Market Rights (27 Jun 2007)

Micheál Martin: I assume the Deputy's question refers to market rights as defined under the Casual Trading Act 1995. The 1995 Act sets out the law regarding selling goods in public places. Casual trading is defined as "selling goods at a place (including a public road) to which the public have access as of right". The activity is regulated by way of by-laws made by local authorities under section 6 of the...

Written Answers — Interpretation Act 2005: Interpretation Act 2005 (27 Jun 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am advised that section 22 of the Interpretation Act 2005 is of general application and statutory instruments, or related decisions, are not made under that provision. Section 22 provides for a general rule that a statutory instrument made under other enactments can be revoked or amended even if those enactments do not contain an express power to do so. In this context, the definition of...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (28 Jun 2007)

Micheál Martin: It has been a key strategic objective for Enterprise Ireland (EI) to bring all Dublin based staff together in one location since the Agency was established in 1998. The Board of Enterprise Ireland decided that the single site office in the East Point Business Park was the most appropriate from a number of perspectives, including value for money, flexibility, and customer service delivery. In...

Social Partnership. (3 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Ó Caoláin is stretching it.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department has been making good progress in regard to the relocation of 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...

Written Answers — Corporate Enforcement: Corporate Enforcement (3 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I have no function in relation to investigations undertaken under the Company Law Enforcement Act, 2001 by the Director of Corporate Enforcement. Under the Act, the Director is an independent statutory office-holder. Section 12(5) of the Act provides that the Director shall be independent in the performance of his or her functions.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (3 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permit section of my Department informs me that, to date, no renewal work permit application has been received in the section.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (3 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that a work permit was issued recently in this case.