Results 4,221-4,240 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Departmental Agencies. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: We can get that information for the Deputy.

Departmental Agencies. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the specific questions the Deputy asked, we can get the detail of that.

Departmental Agencies. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I would have to get analyses on those court judgments and their full implications from the Attorney General and our own people. The remit of the director is as wide as one would want it, and that applies to the remits of many agencies. Inevitably there will be a need for prioritisation and targeting. There must be a realistic assessment of what is achievable. That is the context in which...

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 95, 108, 112 and 132 together. As stated in my previous reply to the House on this matter, I was disappointed to hear about the decision by Amgen on 3 October last that it was to indefinitely postpone its proposed development of the Carrigtwohill site. On 15 October last detailed discussions were held in California between myself, the Secretary General of...

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The position is as I have stated. The company has not changed from its position, as articulated on 3 October 2007; in essence it has postponed the project indefinitely and is either redeploying or laying off staff. Prior to 3 October it was employing people and was planning and designing for the biopharmaceutical plant at Carrigtwohill. The company decided, however, it wants to hold on to...

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: There is an ongoing early warning system in the Department but that is dependent on information from the companies themselves. We maintain contact with the companies but corporate headquarters do not always tell people lower down the hierarchy of a business about the decision they are soon to announce. Amgen made an announcement in April. The Amgen personnel travelled especially to Ireland...

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Today we announced the Enterprise Ireland strategic review for the next three years, which clearly illustrates the range of supports that will be available to indigenous Irish companies to grow, develop their research capability and become international. This is not about pursuing Amgen. That is not in the spirt of the relationship. There are set procedures and processes in play that...

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: It is not largely at the expense of the taxpayer.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: This is a billion euro project. Let us be very careful. We have been very transparent, whereas normally we take a more confidential stand on the supports we give companies. We have a range of sites for potential investment. The Carrigtwohill site was developed specifically because Amgen had a view as to where it would locate. We offered a number of locations, and when this site was...

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I met representatives of the company in April for the tenth time. They reiterated clearly and determinedly that they were going ahead with the project.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: In August, the company issued a public statement declaring it was going ahead, despite rumours. One cannot work on the basis of rumour machines.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: No. IDA Ireland works with companies and has personnel who work with companies in California, the east coast of America, Japan, Germany or wherever they are located. We have IDA Ireland offices whose personnel liaise with companies in a tough competitive world.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is how things work and there is no mystery here. Representatives of the company flew into Ireland in April and assured everyone they were going ahead.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: It would have been totally inappropriate to hold a sod turning ceremony on the day the company announced that people were being laid off.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am telling you what was said. I am not the corporate headquarters of Amgen, nor is IDA Ireland.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: As late as August, the company said it was going ahead with the project and was making no deviation from its plans. There is no mystery. Companies make decisions. In some instances they communicate those decisions to IDA Ireland and in others they do not. In my experience, when one is alerted to a company closure one is alerted very late in the day and the company always insists on first...

Work Permits. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Under the Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006, it is illegal to employ a non-EEA national without an employment permit where one is required. These Acts provide for a large number of obligations and offences including those relating to the employment of foreign nationals except in accordance with an employment permit; refusal to co-operate with inquiries of the Garda Síochána; forgery,...

Work Permits. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I will check that matter for the Deputy. The situation has changed somewhat. The Employment Permits Act 2003 provided for no enforcement body other than the Garda Síochána. The 2006 Act provides that "the Minister may appoint, in writing, such and so many of his or her officers to be authorised officers for the purposes of all or any of the provisions of the Act or the Act of 2003". My...

Work Permits. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is a useful suggestion that I would not rule out and that we could pursue because it could be built into the compliance model. I have taken a fairly hard line with regard to some employers. One of the easiest things to say to employers is that if they are found guilty of flouting employment and labour law, they need not bother to reapply for a work permit. That would be a very simple...

Legislative Programme. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The legislative priorities for my Department are formulated in the context of the implementation of the programme for Government. The following are my current legislative priorities for the Thirtieth Dáil. The Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007 has been published. The purpose of this Bill is to regularise the position in Ireland as regards the lending of copyright works...