Results 5,141-5,160 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Skill Shortages. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: What has occurred in the last three years is a regional development of financial services. Companies whose representatives I have met include State Street in Kilkenny, Citco in Cork and IFS in Drogheda and Naas. There has been a significant churn in financial services in Dublin. The representatives of every company we meet highlight skill shortages. It is a significant problem in the...

Departmental Properties. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Industrial Development Act 1986, as amended by the Acts of 1993 and 1995, IDA Ireland has the power to acquire, hold and dispose of land and any other property or any interest therein for the purpose of facilitating an industrial undertaking. Accordingly, the management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency, as part of the...

Departmental Properties. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Yes, but obviously it depends on the owner of the building and the objectives he or she may have for the building.

Departmental Properties. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In some instances, the owner is co-operative and constructive. If this is so, the agencies will work with the county council to preserve the employment zoning such a building enjoys, which is critical. The IDA or Enterprise Ireland, county enterprise boards and county councils will work together to ensure economic activity can be retained in a particular building or facility. The IDA...

Departmental Properties. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy and I will work to obtain the audit which is under the remit of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs which initiated the idea. We are anxious to co-operate with it and it would be useful. Deputy Penrose is correct to state that property solutions and facilities are important. It is part of the jigsaw which brings investment to a location. County...

Departmental Properties. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is 40% of a much reduced number. Since 1998, the number of properties has been reduced from 523 to 164, which is a drop of 69%. The IDA has had a progressive and dramatic divesting of properties. That said, that any property would lie vacant for more than five years is not satisfactory. I remember on the previous occasion we discussed this I made the point about a location in Carlow...

Departmental Properties. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will not be able to get that information.

Company Closures. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 58 together. On Monday, 12 April Iralco issued a press statement to the effect that liquidators had been appointed to the company. The company had indicated previously to the IDA that jobs were at risk if specific industrial relations issues in respect of pay increases could not be resolved. Extra funding was also needed to proceed with the investment...

Company Closures. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am always reluctant to go into the detail of discussions between companies, agencies and so on.

Company Closures. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: There is a key issue involved in respect of industrial relations. The Deputy is correct that the decision to go into liquidation was sudden and not anticipated. The one general observation I would make in situations like this — I have had experience of a few such situations where we have managed to intervene — is that there are challenges involved for all parties concerned. The...

Company Closures. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Obviously, I have had discussions with the IDA officials directly involved in the case.

Company Closures. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy's assessment is fair. We would have preferred a further opportunity to explore avenues to resolve the issues prior to the company going into liquidation. However, now is not the time to be judgmental. We must try to move forward and create a new atmosphere. In regard to companies in the manufacturing sector, I have come across a number of cases during the past few years wherein...

Industrial Development. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The indigenous enterprise development agencies under my remit, Enterprise Ireland and the county enterprise boards, have a clear and unequivocal mandate to develop enterprise in all regions. As in the other regions, their activity in the midlands and western regions has been successful to date. Enterprise Ireland has a wide range of programmes to address the multidisciplinary demands of...

Industrial Development. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the view on experiential learning. The agenda of translating a person's experience in the workplace into a qualification is with the national qualifications framework, FETAC and HETAC, with a view to developing a template by which one can enable somebody who wanted to start a particular programme to get credit for their experience in industry or in services. That is an issue...

Industrial Development. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will have to head back to Mitchelstown.

Industrial Development. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Senator Cassidy is in the US.

Industrial Development. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I certainly do. We were digging the sod in that business park which is a significant one in Mullingar.

Industrial Development. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: There is no reason to develop it unless we fill it. I will use the comparison I used earlier with Carlow and other areas. That the facility is being put in place is a reflection of the IDA's commitment to market it. It is the triangular marketing of the region that says to a multinational that if one locates in Mullingar one has access to the population base in the region of approximately...

Industrial Development. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Exactly. Enterprise Ireland recently announced a €50 million development for the institutes of technology — equipment grants and grants for the incubation centres — to facilitate business development and incubation to provide added capacity to help companies to start up. The institutes are located regionally. The idea behind that is to give a stronger regional focus to enterprise...

Departmental Agencies. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In accordance with the initiative announced by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance in his 2008 budget speech, my Department carried out an efficiency review earlier this year which encompassed the Department, its offices, agencies and associated bodies. The efficiency review for my Department will be considered by the Government, along with similar exercises carried out by all other...