Results 4,041-4,060 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. On 23 April, 2007, I was informed of the situation in the company in question by Enterprise Ireland. The company is moving its manufacturing operation to China in 2008. It will, however, maintain a sales and marketing centre in Ireland which will employ ten people. I understand that over the coming months, the company will be discussing...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The full-time job losses, job gains and net gains/losses in Agency assisted enterprises in Co. Kildare for years 2002 to 2006 inclusive are outlined in the following table. According to the most recent Quarterly National Household Survey, the total labour force in the Mid East Region, of which Kildare is a part, grew from 206,300 in May 2003 to 244,300 in 2007. The corresponding figures for...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Manufacturing is an important and integral part of the economy, directly employing almost 250,000 people. During 2005 the sector spent €25bn on Irish labour, material and services and contributed almost 30% of corporation tax receipts. Over the last two decades however there has been a structural shift in the economic composition of developed economies. In the OECD countries, this has...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The employments Permits Section of my Department have informed me that the following are the figures for permits applied, approved and rejected in the first six months of 2006 and the first six months of 2007. Applications Received Permits Issued Permits Refused 2006 Jan-June 14,487 12,378 531 2007 Jan-June 13,289 8,966 863

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Factors affecting the competitiveness of dynamic market economies are constantly changing. Ireland has prospered by being closely connected with global markets and using the opportunities of globalisation and the EU Single Market to create employment and build a broad based enterprise economy. Markets and companies adjust to aspects of competitiveness that are specific to their sector. Some...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 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 — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Community Employment budget for 2007 is €355.5m and has been provided with a view to maintaining overall numbers on schemes at 2006 levels (circa 22,200 nationally). Following a review of FÁS employment schemes, I announced that, with effect from 10th November, 2004 funding would be provided for participants on the Job Initiative Scheme to continue to have their contracts renewed.

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together. Employment figures in Enterprise Agency assisted firms are collated on an annual basis. The latest figure available for total full-time job losses is 21,090 in 2006; 27,017 full-time jobs were created in the same year. While any factory closures or job losses are to be regretted they must be viewed in the context of an historically...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (4 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: When the company in question announced the closure of its Naas facility last December, the reasons that were cited for the closure were a reduction in market demand, intense cost pressure from automotive manufacturers, competitive pressures and the euro/dollar exchange rate. The company decided it had no option but to retrench its global European mirror production into one company site in...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The issue before us, which requires the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 to be amended, centres on the activity following the PIAB making a formal award. While PIAB awards mirror court awards, as both have regard to a book of quantum to determine the appropriate award to be given, some claimants choose to reject the award and...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is not true.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputies for their contributions, in particular newly elected Deputies such as Deputies Creighton, Michael McGrath and Kennedy, whom I congratulate on their election. I wish to make several general points before addressing the specific issues raised by Deputies. I am somewhat taken aback by the strong anti-PIAB sentiment expressed by the Opposition and in particular by Fine Gael...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Of course the Government does not have that agenda. Our agenda is completely the opposite because we want to protect the common good, the ordinary citizen and, ultimately, the taxpayer, as well as make our economy and society more competitive, effective and efficient. That is what we are trying to achieve. I find the Fine Gael position quite extraordinary. It is clear we are in a...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I genuinely mean that and——

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am struck by the fact that Deputy Hogan was on the Oireachtas committee that recommended the legislation I am implementing. The committee unanimously recommended this legislation to the Government, the same committee of which Deputy Hogan was a member.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy obviously supported it then but now he has come into the House and done a spectacular U-turn, attacked the PIAB and opposed the legislation. That is, in essence, what has happened here.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I have pointed out this fact on a number of occasions in this House and in the Seanad. There has always been strong lobbying against the Personal Injuries Assessment Board by the legal profession — let us be very clear about that, and I understand it. I have no axe to grind with the legal profession but its opposition to the PIAB has been relentless and will continue to be so. The legal...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Of course we must do it within the terms of the Constitution. I accept, by the way, the measured approach taken by Deputy Quinn. I accept that his presentation this morning is consistent with his earlier positions, in terms of enterprise, and I understand his legitimate concerns about the constitutional framework. The Deputy made a measured contribution and I will deal with the issues he...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Second, a further amount in legal costs, adding another 46% on top of the compensation itself, where the majority of the cases do not proceed into a court and no additional amount in compensation is achieved on behalf of the injured party. That is the net point here. What is available to the citizen? In short, the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, as Senator O'Toole pointed out, is open...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Opposition Deputies went over the top in their criticisms of the Bill and its rationale.