Results 981-1,000 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The report of the labour inspectorate into the wages and hours worked by Turkish workers is the subject of a High Court injunction. Accordingly, I am not in a position to inform the Deputy concerning any of the contents or recommendations in the report. I cannot indicate definitively, at this stage, the specific actions which I may take with regard to these allegations. Officials from my...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the job losses in several companies in County Limerick which are significant setbacks to the locality. I am concerned for the workers who are losing their jobs as well as their families and the wider community in the county. The full services of FÁS, particularly in regard to re-training and up-skilling, are made available to such workers if the workers wish to avail of those...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am concerned at the increasing number of complaints in respect of the acquisition by both children and adults of ring-tones, games and other products for their mobile phones. There are several legal issues associated with the provision of this type of service and I have informed the Director of Consumer Affairs of my concerns. She is investigating some of these complaints in the context of...

Written Answers — Indigenous Enterprise: Indigenous Enterprise (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: Many Irish companies, especially those in the traditional manufacturing sector, face particular difficulties in expanding due to productivity and competitiveness issues. Enterprise Ireland's competitiveness fund was established to help increase productivity levels and build competitiveness of companies operating in the traditional manufacturing sector. Some 97 applications, to the value of...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has met once with senior management of the parent company overseas and its Irish subsidiary. The discussion was without prejudice to the issues before the High Court and centred on putting in place an oversight mechanism enabling workers to access monies held overseas. The Minister subsequently met with a delegation of workers and their...

Written Answers — Consumer Strategy Group: Consumer Strategy Group (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The consumer strategy group presented its final report to me on 2 March 2005. The group's report contains over 30 recommendations involving a variety of different Departments and agencies. 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 plans for progressing the recommendations in the...

Written Answers — Events Ticket Sales: Events Ticket Sales (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the level of public concern at the market share held by certain companies engaged in the sale of concert and theatre tickets and of the allegations that the companies may be abusing their position within this market. I understand that the Competition Authority, which is the independent expert body charged with the enforcement of competition law in the State, namely the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Government would welcome a debate about the proposed directive, on which discussions are continuing in the Council working group and in the European Parliament. My Department gave a presentation on the draft directive to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business on 5 March, but the views of all Deputies on this important proposal would be particularly welcome. My...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment on a regional or local basis comes within the remit of the industrial development agency IDA Ireland, which is actively marketing individual areas as a location for additional foreign direct investment, and Enterprise Ireland, which is concentrating on the development of indigenous industries, with the 35 city and county enterprise boards, or CEBs,...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The following tabular statement sets out details regarding my private office: Name Title Function Full-time/ part-time Terms of Contract Remuneration (Per annum) â'¬ Deirdre Gillane Policy Adviser To provide advice and assistance to Minister. Full-time The appointment is strictly temporary and will terminate not later than the date on which I cease to hold office. 81,431...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: Details sought by the Deputy in respect of persons in the specified categories who were in the employment of the offices of Ministers and Ministers of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment during the calendar year 2004 are as follows:

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The small and medium sized enterprise sector is supported and encouraged by the Government's active and constant pursuit and promotion of an economic environment that is supportive of entrepreneurial activity, combined with a wide range of targeted interventions by various State enterprise development agencies. The strong focus of many of the interventions, particularly those involving...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I reiterate that the decision to provide support to a particular company is an administrative matter for the agency concerned and not one in which I have a direct function. The 140 Enterprise Ireland supported companies mentioned in my previous reply are located in east Cork. As the Forfás employment survey for 2004 has now become available, I can provide the most recent data. In 2004, there...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland has statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to all regions and areas of Ireland. While I may give general policy directives to IDA Ireland, I am precluded under legislation from giving directives about individual undertakings or giving preference to one area over others. As I stated in my reply of 16 December last, I understand from IDA Ireland...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: Some 200 people, including 20 participants from Youghal and Cobh, participated in training programmes organised by the south Cork county enterprise board in 2003 and 2004. The board operates clinics every month in Youghal and Cobh. The training and other soft supports provided to micro-enterprises by the county enterprise boards are designed to assist new and existing enterprises in improving...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 230 together. IDA Ireland has statutory responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment to all regions and areas of Ireland. Under the Industrial Development Acts, I may give general policy directives to the agency but I am precluded from giving directives about individual undertakings or giving preference to one area over others. One of the...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 228 together. IDA Ireland has statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to all regions and areas of Ireland. While I may give general policy directives to IDA Ireland, I am precluded under legislation from giving directives about individual undertakings or giving preference to one area over others. The table that follows...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency. I do not have a direct function in that regard. From inquiries I have made of the agency, I understand that IDA Ireland's lands at Castledermot — approximately 1.39 hectares, Monasterevin — approximately 2.5 hectares and Kildare town — approximately 4.6 hectares, were...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: Employment data is not provided in a format that differentiates between types of employment or salary levels. In the past few years, conditions in the global economy have been difficult, and Irish firms have had to win business against a backdrop of difficult external demand conditions, pricing pressures and an increasingly competitive international environment. These factors have affected...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (20 Apr 2005)

Micheál Martin: A total of 13,928 valid work permit applications were received from 1 October 2004 to 31 March 2005. In that period, 14,967 applications were granted and 869 were refused. These figures include applications which were received prior to 1 October 2004. There are currently 1,252 applications being processed.