Results 4,181-4,200 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Pre-Budget Outlook: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is disingenuous. Deputy Burton knows the pre-budget Estimates were not designed to deal with a detailed scheme under the aegis of one Department. We should not use this process as an opportunity for propaganda. What is of primary concern within this framework is the outcome, which is about looking after those most vulnerable and disadvantaged. This is the focus we wish to develop. I...

Pre-Budget Outlook: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I expect the authority to be fully staffed by the end of 2007 and there is an ambitious business plan in place for 2008 focusing on the promotion and enforcement of employment rights. The Labour Court, the Labour Relations Commission and the Employment Appeals Tribunal, which are all funded through my Department's Estimate, provide further supports where necessary to workers — and indeed to...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department's Annual Output Statement for 2007 has not yet been published on my Department's website. However, I have no objection to publishing the Statement on the website and I have asked my officials to do so immediately. Future Annual Output Statements will be published on my Department's website following their presentation to the Select Committee on Enterprise and Small Business...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has responsibility for immigration matters and immigration stamps. This person would need to have his/her situation regularised with that Department in the first instance. Once this is completed, my Department will consider an application for an employment permit.

Written Answers — Labour Force Skills: Labour Force Skills (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) is a project of the OECD together with a number of member countries for the development of a new generation of household-based surveys of adult skills in selected domains of measurable ability. Ireland declined to be involved in the OECD's PIAAC due to a number of concerns. These included the high cost of...

Written Answers — Labour Force Skills: Labour Force Skills (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs was established in 1997 to advise the Government on aspects of education and training related to the future skills requirements of the enterprise sector of the Irish economy. The Group is comprised of representatives of business, employees, education, Government departments and State agencies. Its mandate provides that it will act as the central...

Written Answers — Labour Force Skills: Labour Force Skills (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: There is no skills register for County Kildare maintained under the auspices of my Department or its agencies. Through its Quarterly National Household Survey the CSO collects statistics and information concerning skills and education qualifications at a regional level. However, this information does not give an insight to the skills of the individuals working or living at county level.

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am advised that frequent flyer schemes operated by the principal airlines flying into and out of Ireland operate on the basis of offering points to the named individual who is travelling and that points are not transferable. Accordingly, my Department allows frequent flyer points accrued by Ministers and civil servants to be retained by the individuals concerned. The approach adopted by...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency and not one in which I have a function. As I have previously stated in my reply on 26th September, for commercial reasons, and in order to protect IDA's negotiating position in relation to any similar properties it is not appropriate for information on the commercial terms agreed...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Forfás Annual Employment Survey records jobs gained and lost in companies supported by the Industrial Development Agencies. Data is compiled on an annualized basis and is aggregated at county level. Data in relation to 2007 will not be available until mid 2008. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the years 2005 and 2006 is set out in the attached tabular statement....

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (23 Oct 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 development 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 informed by IDA Ireland that to date in...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Following the closure of the plant in question, finding alternative employment for the area and the county was a priority for the Industrial Development agencies. In this regard, a major financial services project which will provide 700 jobs was announced for Navan in 2006. This project will be of significant benefit to the whole county. Another financial services company, which announced...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies is collated by Forfás on an annual basis and accordingly there is no data available for 2007. In 2006 there were 5621 persons in permanent employment in Enterprise Agency assisted firms in Co.Meath; the table outlines the number of jobs created in the years mentioned. In addition to these figures, the Meath County...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio, including the purchase and disposal of property, is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas and not a matter in which I have a function. I have been informed by IDA Ireland that, in 1998, the Agency sold 1.3152 Hectares, on a leasehold basis, to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department is the Managing Authority for the EQUAL Community Initiative Programme. This Programme is co-funded by the European Social Fund during the period 2000-2007. The Programme seeks to identify and address fundamental forms of discrimination and inequality in the labour market through the development of new and innovative policies and practices initiated by EQUAL Development...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Excluding the offices and agencies of my Department which have their own budgets, my Department has spent €59,903.85 on paper (of which €53,373.35 was spent on recycled paper) and €52,000.89 on stationery so far in 2007.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that all applications are considered upon receipt into the Department. However, the following occupations are on the Ineligible Job Categories for Employment Permit for new applicants, as it is considered their positions can be filled from within the EEA region. All Clerical and Administrative positions. All General Operatives /...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The thirty-five County & City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) are the principal initial point of contact for people seeking support in setting up a new business. Their role is to provide support to micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate entrepreneurship at local level. They can provide both financial and...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (23 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Green Card scheme was introduced under the Employment Permits Act 2006 to address skills shortages in the economy in specified and identified occupation categories. Therefore, Green Card holders would normally be expected to hold a third level qualification and earn a salary in excess of €30,000. Between February and end-September 2007, a total of 2,260 Green Cards were issued, 361...