Results 5,121-5,140 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Job Losses. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The manufacturing sector in Ireland has evolved noticeably since 2000 in terms of the composition of industry and the nature of activities and is likely to continue to do so. Manufacturing continues to be a significant employer accounting directly for 11% of total employment and a significant amount of associated services employment. In order to sustain and grow the sector, the Irish-based...

Job Losses. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The question dealt with the manufacturing sector and I was anxious to outline the correct position, which is important.

Job Losses. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Sometimes people use general and simplistic catchphrases such as "manufacturing in decline". Due to the high capitalisation and more specialised nature of manufacturing, it is a changing story but, between 2000 and 2006, manufacturing output increased by 35%. We are performing well in this sector but the same numbers will not be employed as ten years ago due to the nature of the change....

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In March 2008, the Government decided to reduce the administrative burden of domestic regulation on business by 25% by 2012. This target was set in response to the invitation to member states by the European Council to set national targets in line with the European Commission's 25% target reduction in the burden of EU regulations. My Department is responsible for devising the methodology...

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy was anxious that I would set the target and that has been done.

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I recall telling the Deputy that when we set the target, we must have an idea of the future path in progressing the issue. We are endeavouring to avoid a scenario where we over-bureaucratise the reduction of bureaucracy, which is a danger.

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In Germany 110 civil servants are working to allegedly reduce the burden of bureaucracy. In the UK, the process cost is almost £27 million. I am conscious of how other countries have approached burden reduction and not yielded the concrete results we all desire. Ireland is lightly regulated compared with other EU member states. The World Bank ranks Ireland eighth out of 178 countries in...

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The acronym SARS was coined during our deliberations by an official and I think it is excellent. It stands for sudden acute regulatory phenomenon or whatever. This means that there can be very acute and urgent calls from within this House for legislation and we are the worst offenders at times.

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: When something happens and it is publicised on radio and television we are all here in the House some morning shouting and demanding to know when the Government plans to introduce regulation A, B and C. This House needs to adopt a mindset as does the Civil Service and the public service, that people in the real world have to get on with life and we cannot overburden them. We must decide how...

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am trying to keep it simple.

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Deputy English asks parliamentary questions like he plays football.

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Which one?

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is correct; the EU directives are very important.

Consumer Protection. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The recent increase in consumer prices is clearly a matter of concern. While the increase in the annual rate of inflation to 5% as recorded in the Central Statistics Office's most recent bulletin is particularly disappointing, the factors giving rise to this increase are mainly being driven by international developments such as the global increases in the price of oil, food etc. While our...

Consumer Protection. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy asked what has happened since the abolition of the groceries order. We are all aware that the price of oil went through the roof in that period.

Consumer Protection. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: This had a significant impact on global prices. Food prices have increased significantly, particularly in the last six months, and various explanations have been put forward for this. Since the abolition of the groceries order, the monthly consumer price index information from the Central Statistics Office has included a comparison of price movement in respect of goods previously included...

Consumer Protection. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I refer to society in general. We all recall the various representations and so on. The Deputy has raised the important issue of the impact of exchange rate movements, particularly in the case of sterling and the United States dollar, on the price of goods in this jurisdiction. The National Consumer Agency has raised this point with retailers. Some retailers make the case that they have...

Consumer Protection. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will get back to the Deputy on that.

Skill Shortages. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In December, the expert group on future skills needs published its report, Future Skills and Research Needs of the International Financial Services Industry. This report identifies the skills requirements of the international financial services industry in Ireland and sets out a blueprint for the future skills development required to ensure the continued growth and success of that industry....

Skill Shortages. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The international financial services sector has grown dramatically in this State in the last two decades. For example, banking assets have trebled from €422 billion in 2001 to €1.2 trillion in 2006. The numbers employed in financial occupations had grown to 148,000 in 2006, approximately 22,000 of whom are engaged in international financial services. I meet the representative group for...