Results 4,461-4,480 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The number of companies located in the Shannon Free Zone in the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 was 112, 109 and 101 respectively. Employment in these companies for these years was 7472, 7207 and 7188. The number of companies was unchanged for the first half of this year but employment figures for 2007, which are compiled on a full year basis, will not be available until early in 2008. The Zone...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The legally binding agreements covering the payment of industrial grants by IDA to its client companies provide, among other things, that companies are obliged to repay grants in their entirety in the event of the project not proceeding. I am satisfied that the company concerned is fully aware if its obligation to repay the grant in its entirety. Where a contractual entitlement to recover a...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: Under the Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006 it is illegal for a national from outside the European Economic Area to be in employment without an employment permit, except in specific circumstances. It is not possible to establish the precise number of people from other countries working illegally in Ireland. However, measures are being taken to restrict illegal working in Ireland. Under...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The National Consumer Agency is empowered under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 to advocate the consumer's case to any public body in relation to matters of consumer protection and welfare. I understand that, in response to a public consultation in relation to a draft toll scheme for the M50, the Agency recently made a formal submission to the National Roads Authority. I would advise the...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: Price display law is covered by Orders made under Section 19 of the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 and under the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002, Statutory Instrument No. 639 of 2002. The various Price Display Orders made under the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 cover Drinks Display in Licensed Premises, Hairdressing Services, Petrol and Diesel and...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Enterprise Development Agencies under the aegis of my Department, Enterprise Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards, and IDA Ireland have remits respectively in the areas of, growing indigenous enterprises, and attracting and growing foreign direct investment. In addition, Shannon Development is the regional economic development agency for the mid-west region, and has specific...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section has indicated that in line with current policy renewal applications should be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to the expiry of the existing permit. Assuming that everything is in order applications are currently being processed within 15 working days of receipt.

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the live register figures increased in October by 8,943 year on year. The total number of people recorded on the live register for October is 157,449. This equals the average numbers recorded on the live register for the year in both 2005 and 2006 and is less than that recorded in the previous four months of 2007. The Department of Social and Family Affairs maintains the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: There are currently a total of twelve Directives due to be transposed by my Department up to 2010. None of these Directives is overdue. One Directive is due for transposition by the end of 2007 and eleven further Directives are scheduled to be transposed in 2008 and subsequent years. My Department has received 24 Reasoned Opinions from the European Commission related to Directives since...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: As I advised the House in my reply of 24th October 2007 to a previous question on the same matter (PQ 25384/07 refers), my Department conducted a public consultation process in relation to the commencement of the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 regarding payment method charges. My Department received almost 50 submissions in response to the consultation process. These...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The question refers to the recent 'sweep' or joint enforcement action co-ordinated by the European Commission to check websites selling airline tickets for compliance with consumer protection legislation. Enforcement authorities from 15 member states and Norway examined 447 airline websites to identify whether legal requirements were being met in relation to price information, limitations on...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: There are four recommendations in the ICTU document 'A Fair Way In', two of which directly relate to my Department. The first recommendation states that undocumented workers must be guaranteed, in law, access to, and protection under, all employment rights law, including their trade union rights. Ireland's body of employment rights legislation protects all workers employed on an...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The price of a range of foods has increased in the last number of months. In this regard, the October 2007 Consumer Price Index as published by the Central Statistics Office shows that the price of food and non alcoholic beverages increased by 1.4% in the month and this was one of the main factors contributing to the increase in the annual rate of inflation to 4.8%. As I advised the House in...

Written Answers — Personal Injuries Assessment Board: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (28 Nov 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 — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, FÁS is due to transfer its head office, including some 383 staff, to Birr, Co Offaly. This remains the case. The staff referred to by the Deputy work in the FÁS Services to Business Section (STB) and had moved some years ago from Baggot Street to temporary accommodation in Kilmainham. The back section of FÁS' building in Baggot Street...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 104 together. IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The commitment to introduce on-the-spot fines for breaches of consumer legislation has been met by the Consumer Protection (Fixed Payment Notice) Regulations 2007 which came into effect on 13 October 2007. The Regulations permit an authorised officer of the National Consumer Agency to serve a fixed payment notice in respect of breaches of the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies is collated by Forfás on a countywide annual basis only and accordingly data is not available for 2007. Responsibility for indigenous enterprise transferred from Shannon Development to Enterprise Ireland in Jan 2007. Data provided by the latter agency indicates that the number of companies in County Clare that...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The particular statistics sought by the Deputy are not compiled at present. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) recently published its first thematic report which focused specifically on the importance of small business in Ireland. The publication of this CSO "Small Business In Ireland" Report (May 2007) followed on from a recommendation of the Small Business Forum for a publication of...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The function of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to develop indigenous enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity at regional level throughout the country. There are 35 Boards located throughout the 26 counties and their local base means that the projects and related job opportunities they support are specifically tailored to the particular needs of the local...