Results 861-880 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: Under the Industrial Development Acts support for job creation and investment on a regional or local basis comes within the remit of the industrial development agencies. IDA Ireland is marketing individual areas as a location for additional foreign direct investment, while Enterprise Ireland is concentrating on the development of indigenous industries, and the 35 city and county enterprise...

Written Answers — Unsolicited Goods: Unsolicited Goods (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: My reply to the Deputy's earlier question was based on the understanding that the practice complained of was one that was set down in the terms and conditions of supply specified by the distribution companies involved. Such terms and conditions are not uniform but they would, typically, give the supplier the right to specify a minimum order number. That being so, I took the view that this is...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: In 2004, the work permit section of my Department received 35,553 applications from employers seeking work permits in respect of non-EEA nationals. Some 34,067 applications were granted and 1,486 were refused. Of the 34,067 permits issued, 5,107 were issued in respect of workers from the new EU member states, who required work permits up to 30 April 2004 and the remainder were issued in...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: Under the decentralisation programme, approximately 300 core staff from my Department will be relocated to Carlow. The following business units-offices of my Department have been selected as part of the decentralisation programme and will be relocated in the new decentralised office: Companies Registration Office-Registry of Friendly Societies. Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs. Work...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment. FDI, to Ireland and its regions. While I may give general policy directives to the agency, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. On 23 July 2004, IDA Ireland, through a series of newspaper...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 497 and 498 together. FÁS policy is to respond positively to the demand for places on community employment, CE, from persons referred to it by the national drugs task force. The number of places filled for this purpose from 2001 to 2004 inclusive, is as follows: Year Number 2001 749 2002 873 2003 855 2004 896 There are an additional number of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together. The projects listed have been awarded assistance from the European Social Fund by my Department under the EU's EQUAL community initiative programme. EQUAL seeks to identify and address fundamental forms of discrimination and inequality in the labour market through the development of new and innovative policies and practices. Projects are...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: Detailed statistics on work permits, are available on the work permits web page of my Department's website at www.entemp.ie. I have arranged to have the Deputy supplied with details of the work permits issued by nationality and sector in respect of each year since 1997.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The annual fees paid to the chairpersons and directors of State bodies under the remit of my Department are as follows: The chairperson and directors of FÁS, IDA, EI, Forfás, SFI, PIAB and SFADCo receive an annual fee of €15,237 and €10,158, respectively. The chairperson and directors of the NSAI, and Crafts Council of Ireland receive an annual fee of €10,158 and €6,349,...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 to 507, inclusive, 509 and 510 together. These questions relate to a particular company which has been the subject of an investigation by the labour inspectorate of my Department. The issues raised in these questions are the subject of, or arise from, proceedings currently before the High Court. Accordingly, I am constrained from publishing the report of...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (12 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Labour Inspectorate is continuing to collect evidence relating to possible breaches of employment law that may be used in future legal proceedings.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (13 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: Under the Industrial Development Acts, support for job creation and investment on a regional or local basis comes within the remit of the industrial development agencies. IDA Ireland is actively marketing individual areas as locations for additional foreign direct investment, while Enterprise Ireland is concentrating on the development of indigenous industries. The 35 city and county...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (13 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: Under the Industrial Development Acts, support for job creation and investment on a regional or local basis comes within the remit of the industrial development agencies. IDA Ireland is actively marketing individual areas as a location for additional foreign direct investment, while Enterprise Ireland is concentrating on the development of indigenous industries. The 35 city and county...

Written Answers — Maximum Price Orders: Maximum Price Orders (13 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The policy on prices followed by this Government and by most Governments since price controls were abandoned in the 1980s is that prices should be set by competition in the marketplace. While a maximum prices order was made under the Prices Act in July 2000 to freeze the price of certain drinks sold in pubs, hotels and restaurants, the order lapsed after six months as its impact on prices was...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: On 18 February 2004 the Tánaiste announced the introduction of a new initiative to facilitate easier access to the Irish labour market by spouses of certain skilled non-EEA nationals working in Ireland. These new measures are confined to the spouses of persons working here on working visas or work authorisations, to spouses of certain intra-company transferees and spouses of certain...

Seanad: Rights of Migrant Workers: Statements. (13 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the opportunity to address the Seanad on an issue which is helping to drive Ireland's social and economic development. Immigration, which is and will continue to be essential to the development and prosperity of Irish society, is a relatively new phenomenon in this country. We have known the other side of the coin for generations. I want to send a clear message that people who come...

Written Answers — Regional Authorities: Regional Authorities (14 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 97 and 102 together. I am aware of the correspondence from the Mid-West Regional Authority and, earlier this year, agreed to meet its representatives at a mutually convenient time to discuss their concerns about the future of Shannon Development. While it has not proved possible to hold this meeting in the intervening period, there is no question of its...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The spouse of a national from outside the European Economic Area, EEA, is eligible for an employment permit in the State. In accordance with normal practice, the would-be employer must make an application and demonstrate that the position cannot be filled from within the EEA. This entails advertising the position with FÁS for a period of one month. Recently, applications are only granted in...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (14 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order was designed to regulate the grocery sector in Ireland in 1987. The order contains a number of provisions aimed at curbing anti-competitive practices such as the selling of grocery goods at "below net invoice price", "hello money" and boycotting. The order covers all grocery goods as well as intoxicating liquor and other household goods ordinarily...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (14 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The consumer strategy group presented its final report to me on 2 March 2005. I am considering the report and its recommendations in conjunction with my colleagues in Government. I expect to publish the report and will announce my proposals in regard to progressing the recommendations in the coming weeks.