Results 621-640 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: The work permit section of my Department took a decision to refuse this application on the basis that it is not a highly paid or highly skilled job. Since the accession of the ten new member states, employers should look to the wider EU to source their future labour needs. The employer has been informed of this in writing and also notified of his right to appeal. To date no such appeal has...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: The work permit section of my Department recently wrote to the above named employer seeking additional information in order that these permits can be processed. To date this information has not been received.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: The information the Deputy requires is contained in Table 1 and Table 2. In the aftermath of EU enlargement, it is Government policy that employers should be able to source nearly all of their workforce needs from within the EU. Accordingly, only in cases where exceptional levels of skill and qualifications are needed for the job, and the employer has made meaningful attempts to find EEA...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together. A work permit is granted to an employer in respect of a specified employee and job vacancy, where the employer can demonstrate that the vacancy cannot be filled from within the wider European Economic Area, EEA. The EEA comprises the 25 member states of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Apart from the renewal of...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (10 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: The 35 city and county enterprise boards, which were established nationally in 1993, provide a source of support for small businesses with ten employees or fewer. The function of the boards is to develop indigenous enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity at local level. The boards provide a single point of contact at local level for new and established small businesses....

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (15 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am informed by FÁS that the information being sought by the Deputy is complex and requires a considerable amount of time to collate. At present FÁS is in the process of examining its records to establish the circumstance where statutory redundancy has been paid to participants on community employment, CE, schemes. There is a high throughput each year on CE schemes of between 7,000 and...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (15 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Data on job creation are compiled from an annual employment survey carried out by Forfás. The table below indicates the number of jobs created by the client companies of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in the period 2000-03. Definitive results for 2004 will not be available until mid-2005. Preliminary figures for 2004 indicate that client companies of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (15 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland, its regions and areas, while Enterprise Ireland has primary responsibility for supporting indigenous industry. My Department will provide funding of €149.073 million to IDA Ireland for 2005. This figure includes an amount of €2.5 million from the national training fund. My...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (15 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: The centre in question runs a community employment project, CE, which is funded by FÁS. I am informed by FÁS that it will assist the centre to find alternative affordable premises. It is the practice of FÁS to provide a standard payment to sponsors of CE projects. This is based on the number of participants and supervisors. In addition, a contribution is given towards the costs of...

Consumer Protection. (16 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Her contribution and complaint have enlightened me and the House about the nature of the case. A number of Departments wondered which Department should take up this concern. Eventually we looked at it under the issue of company law and have drawn up the following reply. I ask the Deputy to discuss the issue further with my officials in terms of the...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (16 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am very much aware of the jobs situation in Tallaght. The industrial development agencies are continuing to market the Tallaght area for new jobs and investment. Tallaght benefits from having a third level Institute — the Tallaght Institute of Technology — and excellent infrastructural facilities at City West and Grange Castle in Clondalkin. Wyeth Biopharma has approximately 700 people...

Written Answers — Seachtain na Gaeilge: Seachtain na Gaeilge (16 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Cuirim fáilte roimh an scéim tábhachta seo seachtain na Gaeilge agus tuigim, chun an seachtain a comóradh, molann mo Roinn do gach duine sa foireann an Gaeilge a úsaid chómh mór agus is féidir agus is oiriúnach éí rith seachtain na Gaeilge.

Seanad: Company Closures. (16 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment and for his kind comments on my new portfolio. The board of Greencore has made a commercial decision to cease production of sugar beet in Carlow, with Mallow remaining as the sole producer in Ireland. The company has indicated that the move is designed to ensure the survival of its business in the face of reforms to the existing...

Seanad: Physical Education Facilities. (16 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Department of Education and Science's overall strategy on the provision of physical education halls generally and at Castleknock Community College in particular. Modernising facilities in the country's 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of...

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Because the Deputy was told to leave.

Order of Business. (17 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: It was not.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (17 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: The statistics which the Deputy has sought for waste production by my Department are not available. Smart Waste Solutions dispose of IT type equipment for the Department, while Greenstar Limited, Onyx Ireland Limited and Information Security — Rehab recycling — dispose of our general and paper waste. It is proposed to extend a successful pilot paper recycling initiative operated by Onyx...

Written Answers — Departmental Credit Cards: Departmental Credit Cards (17 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: It is the policy of my Department that holders of credit cards obtained through the Department are responsible for the settlement of the credit card accounts. Official expenditure, irrespective of whether it was met by credit card or other means, is reimbursed on foot of a claim supported by receipts. Accordingly, the Department does not have information on the total expenditure by credit...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (17 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: During the past three years, my Department has engaged three public relations companies, as follows. Peter G. White Limited was paid €1,270.50 for the provision of advice on media strategy to the interim chairperson and the chief executive designate of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board prior to its establishment on a statutory basis. No formal terms of reference were drawn up, and the...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (22 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: The company has decided to close its chicken processing plant on 4 March next. There is overcapacity in the competitive chicken processing market. There is a trend towards consolidation into larger processing units. Further investment could not be contemplated because the plant was deemed to be small by industry standards. I understand that employees will be given an opportunity to take up...