Results 3,981-4,000 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Industrial Development. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The role and functions of FÁS are reviewed on an ongoing basis. The current FÁS strategy statement outlines the vision and direction for FÁS for the period 2006 to 2009. The strategy is closely aligned with the policy goals of my Department and was developed in close collaboration with it. The current FÁS strategy recognises the changes in the labour market, including the relatively low...

Industrial Development. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: With the science, technology and innovation strategy, the national skills strategy will be a fundamental pillar of economic policy during the coming years. Both are essential for the country's competitiveness. The national skills strategy does not relate to FÁS alone. Rather, it is concerned with upskilling the workforce. We concentrated on the unemployed in previous decades, as we will...

Industrial Development. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Strong linkages are developing between FÁS and the institutes of technology in terms of skills, a good example of which is the LÍONRA initiative in the north west involving institutes from Letterkenny to Sligo and Galway. The idea is that where there can be complementarity, there should be, and where institutes can provide a certain component of training or programmes, they should do so....

Industrial Development. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: FÁS is rising to the challenge of upskilling. When the business forum produced its report and identified a deficiency in management capability training in the country and the need to do better in that respect, FÁS stepped up to the mark and worked with the SMEs on training programmes. On Deputy Hogan's comment, the best model of upskilling in and incentivising businesses I have seen is...

Consumer Rights. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 16 together. Section 85 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 provides that an authorised officer of the National Consumer Agency who has reasonable grounds for believing a person is committing, or has committed, a relevant offence may serve, personally or by post, a notice, popularly known as an on-the-spot fine, for an offence or offences relating to...

Consumer Rights. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: There is no doubting the validity of the Deputy's point about the need substantially to increase awareness among consumers of their rights and to advocate on the basis of the need to assert those rights when purchasing goods or services. If we can achieve that, we will improve competitiveness in the economy. The Consumer Protection Act specifies the precise function of the National Consumer...

Consumer Rights. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy asked about specific upcoming projects, so I am being specific in my reply. The agency recently commissioned consultants who will work to produce a publication in October or November, entitled Construction and the Consumer in Ireland. Also in autumn, the agency will release a guide on the consumer and bereavement.

Industrial Development. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 33 together. The high level group on manufacturing was established under the Towards 2016 social partnership agreement. Its terms of reference as set out in section 7 of that agreement are to review the challenges facing the manufacturing sector and, having regard to initiatives currently under way, identify any further measures that would help to meet...

Industrial Development. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The commentary on manufacturing has been overplayed. The NCB report of 14 June on Ireland's competitiveness takes a more robust position than that of some other commentators. The report argues that Ireland's competitive position is safe. However, I do not accept we can ever be safe; it is essential to safeguard our competitiveness. It is worth pointing out that the yield from manufacturing...

Industrial Development. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: We must be balanced in how we describe and comment on manufacturing. The Government is committed to the sector. It is changing, however, and we have a different type of manufacturing from what we had five years ago.

Industrial Development. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The indications are that the working group will complete its deliberations by the end of the year, if not sooner.

Industrial Development. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: This is an issue of which I am aware from my discussions with representatives of the port authorities earlier this year. The issue of port capacity was raised with the Irish Exporters Association at its annual awards event. As the fundamental vehicle through which we export much of our goods, it is important we expand and develop our port capacity. The Deputy asked about manufacturing.

Industrial Development. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am aware.

Job Losses. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: While all company closures and their associated job losses are to be regretted and their impact on a personal, community and national level should never be underestimated, these losses have occurred during a period of unprecedented job creation. Well over half a million jobs have been created in the past six years. In the 12 months to February 2007 the number of people in employment...

Job Losses. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: We are in a globalised world, which means we can never stand still but must consistently look ahead and ask where we should be in five or ten years time. That is the approach I take as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the reason for my concentration on the science and technology innovation strategy published last year. I worked with eight other Departments under the aegis...

Job Losses. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Job Losses. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I congratulate Deputy Reilly on his election. He asked questions of me in a different context previously, when I held a different portfolio. Deputy O'Keeffe asked about competitiveness and the early warning system. We get early warnings related to specific companies. The current commentary on manufacturing is quite positive. Following the prolonged period of slow growth in continental...

Job Losses. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: It would be initiated by the company or the agency. On an ongoing basis, companies would contact the agency and——

Job Losses. (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: We have an overall monitoring of the economy and of broad sectors. I prefer to look at these situations as challenges. To deal with Deputy Reilly's point, the Forfás annual report contains very good data on the dramatic increases in research and development expenditure over the past few years, particularly in 2006 and 2007. I do not have the specific figures here but sufficit to say our...

Written Answers — Regulatory Regime: Regulatory Regime (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: On 8 March last the Department of the Taoiseach published the results of an ESRI survey of business attitudes to regulation. At the same time the Taoiseach stated that the Government had agreed to put in place a new mechanism to tackle administrative burdens arising from national legislation in a targeted way. The Government also agreed that I should lead a Government-wide effort to drive...