Results 741-760 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Regulation System: Regulation System (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am concerned to ensure that our national system of regulation encourages and promotes competition within the economy and that individual regulators recognise such objectives as an important national priority. Indeed, in this regard I am aware that the Competition Authority has already co-operation agreements in place with many of the existing sectoral regulators. There is a danger that the...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the excellent work of the IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council in promoting economic co-operation on the island of Ireland over many years. At its meeting on 8 March next, the joint business council proposes to formally endorse an action plan for the period 2005-6. The action plan will comprise key actions drawn from more than 100 recommendations contained in a number of North-South...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Entrepreneurship in Ireland is supported and encouraged by the constant pursuit and promotion by the Government of an economic environment supportive of entrepreneurial activity combined with a wide range of targeted interventions by various State enterprise development agencies. Ireland's extraordinary success over the past decade has been built on key competitive strengths such as having...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment in individual counties is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies. IDA Ireland has responsibility for foreign direct investment. Enterprise Ireland concentrates on the indigenous sector and the county enterprise boards have primary responsibility for the promotion of indigenous industry in the micro-enterprise sector. While the...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Job creation and job losses are a feature of economic development in all countries as various sectors expand and contract in response to market demand for goods and services, competitive forces, restructuring and technological change. Despite the slowdown in the global economy the Irish labour market has been very resilient with employment continuing to grow and unemployment remaining stable....

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Since the establishment of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority on 1 May 2003, under the aegis of the Minister for Finance, I have no responsibility in the supervision and regulation of insurance undertakings. I am not in a position to supply the information requested as my Department does not collect the data in question. I am aware that the Irish Financial Services Regulatory...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: In 2004 the work permit section of my Department received 35,553 applications for work permits. Of this figure 34,067 permits were issued and 1,486 were refused. Of the 34,067 permits issued, 5,107 were issued to applicants from the new EU states who required a work permit up to 30 April 2004 and the remainder were issued to citizens of the non-EEA area.

Written Answers — Export Markets: Export Markets (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Ireland exports across the globe. As such, there are virtually no markets to which Irish companies do not export. The Government's strategy is to assist companies, through Enterprise Ireland, on an individual basis to deepen market penetration where they are already active and to identify opportunities in markets where they have not yet achieved significant penetration. In terms of export...

Written Answers — Export Markets: Export Markets (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Between 17 and 25 January 2005, I accompanied the Taoiseach on an official visit and trade mission to China. The Ministers for Education and Science, Agriculture and Food and Communications, Marine and Natural Resources also participated. The trade mission was the largest in the history of the State, involving in total 121 Irish companies and educational institutions primarily involved in the...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland, including its regions and areas. I am informed by the agency that an advance technology building of 16,000 sq. ft. with 100% expansion capability is under construction on the business park at Knockenrawley. Construction is expected to be completed in the next few months. This...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I plan to travel to Australia for the St. Patrick's celebrations. My itinerary for this visit has not yet been finalised so it is not possible to make a more detailed statement on the areas to be visited.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The work permit section of my Department wrote to the above named employer on 21 February 2005 seeking additional information to process this application further. To date, the work permit section has not received a reply to this correspondence.

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together. I am aware of the jobs situation in County Limerick. My immediate concern is for the workers who are losing their jobs. The full services of FÁS, particularly in relation to re-training and upskilling, are made available to such workers if the workers wish to avail of those services. Most of the job losses are in the poultry sector. I...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: Shannon Development is the agency responsible for regional economic development in the mid-west region and plans for the factory site in question are an operational issue for the company and not one in which I have any direct function. I understand that the group concerned has met the chairman of Shannon Development recently to discuss the issue. In the circumstances, I have no plans to meet...

Written Answers — Job Initiative: Job Initiative (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: Following the recent review of FÁS employment schemes which comprise community employment, social economy and job initiative, JI, I announced that with effect from 10 November 2004, there would be no compulsory lay-offs on JI and; participants on JI would have their contracts renewed for a further term. People who leave JI voluntarily may be replaced by community employment participants....

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: In recent years, Irish manufacturing firms, particularly in the more traditional sectors, have operated against a backdrop of significantly declining external demand, downward price pressure and an increasingly competitive international environment from China and central and eastern Europe, together with upward pressure on costs and the strengthening of the euro against our key trading...

Leaders' Questions. (2 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: It is beyond Deputy Boyle's wildest dreams.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (2 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am informed that there is no record of a valid work permit application in this case. Applications which are incomplete or incorrect are returned to the employer for completion. In the aftermath of EU enlargement, it is the Government's 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...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (2 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I have received a copy of the report of the consumer strategy group within the past 24 hours. I have not yet had an opportunity to read the report or to consider its findings in detail. Neither do I propose to comment on the content of the report until such time as I have had an opportunity to discuss the matter with my colleagues in Government. I expect to publish the report in the coming...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (2 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland, including its regions and areas. IDA Ireland is committed to regional development as a core part of its strategy and has set itself a high level performance target for the Objective One, Border-Midlands and West, BMW, area. This commits IDA Ireland to try to achieve a target of...