Results 1,101-1,120 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Consumer Strategy Group Report. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I am glad the Deputy has acknowledged that there are other perspectives to the groceries order issue. I initiated the consultation process to allow those other perspectives to have an input into future decisions on it.
- Consumer Strategy Group Report. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: On the point the Deputy raised concerning planning, I agree with the consumer strategy group's broad recommendation that planning authorities should not impede competition and should never utilise planning as a vehicle for impeding competition. On behalf of the State and the Oireachtas, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government issues planning guidelines on a range of...
- Job Creation. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment on a regional or local basis comes within the remit of the industrial development agencies, IDA Ireland, which is actively marketing individual areas as a location for additional foreign direct investment, and Enterprise Ireland, which concentrates on the development of indigenous industries, with the 35 city and county enterprise boards having primary...
- Job Creation. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I do not wish to be adversarial, but the surest way of turning foreign direct investment away from an area is to label it a blackspot. Anything I said in my reply did not understate any difficulties there may be in Carrick-on-Suir in terms of creating employment. If we want to attract foreign direct investment to a particular location, we should avoid headlines or titles using the term...
- Job Creation. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I suggest to the Deputy that in the context of the Guidant Corporation investment or other investments in the area, the State agencies, in particular FÃS, the training agencies and the Tipperary Institute, should look at ways in which we can ensure that a significant proportion of the population in Carrick-on-Suir is in a position to access the jobs bring created in companies like Guidant. I...
- Job Creation. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I will consult the Deputy and other Deputies in the area on the matter rather than meet only a town council delegation.
- Job Creation. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I will talk to the Deputy afterwards about the best way to approach the matter.
- Regulatory Reform. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 265 together. While centrally, the better regulation issue is being driven by the Department of the Taoiseach and the better regulation group, I support any initiative aimed at keeping to a minimum the administrative and regulatory burdens on small business in Ireland. The Taoiseach launched the Government's White Paper on better regulation in January...
- Regulatory Reform. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I do not accept that nothing has been done. I have already outlined the programme of work under my Department, which dovetails with the recommendations of the White Paper, in particular the consolidation and simplification of existing legislation dating back over a long period. We are codifying, consolidating and simplifying that legislation for the benefit of those who come under its ambit....
- Regulatory Reform. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I was not in the Department then.
- Regulatory Reform. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: Which report does the Deputy mean?
- Regulatory Reform. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: Given the respect I have for the Oireachtas committee and the appreciation I have of its view, I will gladly discuss that issue with it, subject to commitments. However, I will ensure I do it before the recess. The review of the compliance directive is a good example of Government listening rather than ploughing ahead. Collectively the Government has taken the decision to listen to what...
- Regulatory Reform. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: We are trying to strike a balance between accountability, good governance and good behaviour on the one hand and on the other, a flexible business-friendly environment that allows people get on and be productive and efficient. The country has a good reputation for the latter, which is important in terms of the attraction of foreign direct investment, particularly in key sectors of the economy...
- Services Sector. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: In February this year my Department published a paper on the electricity market as part of the Department's policy to highlight competitiveness issues. The paper was written from an enterprise policy perspective and is intended as a contribution to the elaboration of an overall national energy policy. With regard to the electricity market, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural...
- Services Sector. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: The document my Department produced is a contribution to the debate and, in particular, to the review the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has initiated. My Department has no responsibility for how the market is structured, how it evolved or how it can be reformed and developed. Control of these issues has been transferred to an independent energy regulator and that...
- Services Sector. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I think I have answered the Deputy's query. Given that the current rate is 83%, it is clear that we are nowhere near achieving the target, which involves the ESB having a 60% share of the electricity generation market. The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has initiated a comprehensive review to ascertain whether we can add new elements to the existing infrastructure...
- Migrant Workers. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: The State, through its employment rights legislation, is committed to the protection of migrant workers' rights. All workers in Ireland receive the full protection of Irish employment law, which reflects the wider EU social protection framework. Like all other EU member states, Ireland has not signed and is not a party to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all...
- Migrant Workers. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I do not agree that Ireland's failure to ratify the convention demonstrates that the Government is not committed to protecting the rights of migrant workers. The Government is very committed to defending such rights. Irish labour law which is among the most progressive bodies of labour legislation in Europe, protects everybody who comes to this country to work legally.
- Migrant Workers. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: The Government demonstrated its commitment to Irish labour law when it ensured that those employed by Gama Construction were given their rights under such law.
- Migrant Workers. (31 May 2005)
Micheál Martin: I will not discuss that aspect of the matter as it relates to everybody involved, including the social partners. I do not accept that a message of the kind suggested by Deputy Morgan has been sent to employers, who know they are subject to penalties under Irish labour law if they breach that law. Just 22 countries have ratified or acceded to the UN convention, which is quite broad, even...