Results 4,241-4,260 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Legislative Programme. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: There is merit in what the Deputy has said and it is constructive. While the Parliamentary Counsel can begin drafting the Bill, it would do no harm to set up a committee to devise a general scheme. I will discuss this with the Whips. The committee dealing with enterprise would normally have enough on its agenda, but I will initiate discussions with the spokespersons to see what the best...

Public Holidays. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is the way we want to keep it.

Decentralisation Programme. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 97 together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme, FÁS is due to transfer its head office including some 383 posts to Birr, County Offaly, by 2009. FÁS currently has 20 staff members based in Birr who are working out of offices located within the Birr Technology Centre. It is anticipated that 40 staff will be located in Birr by the end...

Decentralisation Programme. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: A further 67 staff, in addition to the 40 staff expected to be in place by the end of the year, have expressed an interest of re-locating to Birr. This is made up of 23 existing staff and 44 new entrants recruited on the basis of relocation. On the planning application, I do not know the timeframe within which it will be lodged though it is due to happen in due course. FÁS is currently...

Decentralisation Programme. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: FÁS is a large organisation. It is clear that we have had difficulties in respect of the decentralisation of agencies which has not gone as smoothly as the relocation of departmental civil servants. For example, the centre in Carlow is now open and some 200 staff will shortly relocate there. This relocation and the relocation of the Health and Safety Authority, which is temporarily...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006 provide for a large number of obligations and offences. These include: offences relating to the employment of foreign nationals except in accordance with an employment permit and forgery, fraudulent alteration or fraudulent use of an employment permit. Under the 2006 Act, data in respect of certain matters may be exchanged between my Department and...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The marketing of the regions for job creation and investment is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies and while I may give general policy directives to agencies, I am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. Through its network of overseas offices, IDA...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Personal Injuries Assessment Board was established in April 2004 as part of the Government's insurance reform programme, with the aim of allowing certain classes of personal injury claim, where liability is uncontested, to be settled without the need for the costs associated with litigation. The threat of rising insurance costs at the time posed serious risks to Irish business and the...

Written Answers — Food Prices: Food Prices (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of recent media reports of increases in certain food prices. However, the September 2007 Consumer Price Index as published by the Central Statistics Office shows that annual rate of food inflation is 2%. This compares with an overall rate of inflation of 4.6%. Rising food prices are being experienced right across the world. Such increases are due to a number of different factors...

Written Answers — Departmental Applications: Departmental Applications (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department processes a wide variety of different applications from Employment Agency Licenses to Grants for Trade Union Amalgamations, from Insolvency Payments, Redundancy Lump Sums and Rebates to Export and Import Licenses and from Employment Permits to Applications for the approval of the prospectus for a proposed Business Expansion Scheme (BES), to name but a few. We operate a Customer...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 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. The CEBs provide both financial and...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The role of the thirty-five County and City Enterprise Boards is to provide a source of support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs can provide a single point of contact at local level for new and established small businesses....

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is due to relocate to Arklow, Co. Wicklow. The current NSAI implementation plan anticipates a target date of April 2009 as the completion date for its decentralisation programme; however, this is highly dependent on the resolution of matters at central level concerning the transfer of staff...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Ireland unquestionably faces competitiveness challenges, but to categorise it as becoming uncompetitive would be wrong. Rather the economy's competitive advantages are changing. This reflects the dynamic economy that Ireland is today. The structure of enterprise and the nature of job creation is changing. No modern economy is static and Government policies reflect this. Well balanced,...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: On 26 September 2007, the company in question notified me that it was proposing collective redundancies in order to streamline and improve operating efficiencies. The company employs 200 staff. I understand the redundancies will take place between January / February 2008 and September 2009. However, some 20 jobs will be retained in research and development and engineering / project...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 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 industrial undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. Through its range of overseas offices, IDA Ireland is...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: A total of 69,000 persons commenced FÁS training courses in 2006 with roughly 35% of those attending training unemployed and 65% who were in employment. In addition, in 2006, 176,000 persons attended Safe Pass and Construction Skills training and a further 9,000 persons attended Evening Courses. A training element was also included for the total of 32,300 persons who participated on...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: While it is recognised that Donegal has suffered particular difficulties in the past due to the demise of traditional industries such as agriculture, fishing and textiles, there is clear evidence that the county is successfully engaged in a transition to the new economy. Live register figures at 8,340 and 8,370 for September 2006 and 2007 respectively, are lower then any year going back to...

Written Answers — Consumer Information: Consumer Information (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: Prosecutions under the Consumer Information Act 1978 Act were essentially initiated by the Director of Consumer Affairs. Details of the proceedings taken by the Director under that Act can be found in the various annual reports of the Director's office. Should the Deputy require further information on these cases it can be obtained from the National Consumer Agency. The Consumer Information...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I share the sense of regret and disappointment voiced by business leaders and public representatives in the west and mid-west that Aer Lingus intends to cease its scheduled air service between Shannon and London Heathrow. Shannon Development and the City and County Enterprise Boards have a key role to play in promoting the development of the mid west region in line with the Government's...