Results 1,121-1,140 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Migrant Workers. (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: I would prefer to ask officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to prepare a brief explanatory paper for the Deputy so that he can understand the implications of the convention. I am loath to put in place a new tranche of EU regulation and legislation in this area, especially in light of the issue raised by Deputy Hogan earlier. The EU needs to concentrate on the...

Migrant Workers. (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: Is the Deputy referring to 1990?

Migrant Workers. (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: I would have to check. I am open to the idea of teasing this issue out with the Deputies. It might be useful to prepare a note for the Deputies on the matter.

Migrant Workers. (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: Irish labour law, and the successful and effective prosecution of issues which arise when there are clear breaches of that law, are the key issues for employers here. That is the clearest message we can send to such employers.

Migrant Workers. (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: It is odd. I will not say anything else about it.

Research and Development. (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: The research and development performance of Irish industry has shown a worthwhile improvement in recent years. Data made available by Forfás indicates that business expenditure on research and development increased from €917 million in 2001 to €1,076 million in 2003. We have made considerable progress, but more needs to be done. The EU's research and innovation performance is...

Research and Development. (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: There has been a review of Enterprise Ireland. I am preparing a roadmap or blueprint to achieve the Lisbon Agenda target of 2.5% in research and development. This will include the business spend as well as the State spend. We have signed up for the goals. We are in favour of increased research and development investment. We did a fantastic job in the past five or six years in research and...

Software Industry. (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: Software companies and others in the high technology sectors face significant challenges as a result of globalisation and increased global competition. Irish companies must increasingly compete through innovation, increased investment in research and development and a strong focus on export growth. These are the key issues both now and for the future. The software sector is a substantial...

Software Industry. (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: Of the 800 companies in the software industry, 600 are indigenous. We are witnessing strong growth in companies, not only in volume but in quality. The key strategic objectives are increased investment in research and development; to facilitate the involvement of those companies in such investment; a strong focus on IT education both at third and second levels; stronger research and...

Written Answers — Trade Figures: Trade Figures (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: Trade statistics produced by the Central Statistics Office are not broken down by company ownership, so it is not possible to say precisely what the ratio of exports from the multi-national sector to exports from the indigenous sector is. However, Forfás conducts an annual business survey of economic impact, the ABS, which analyses, inter alia, exports by company ownership. This survey is...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I announced on 10 November last, FÁS employment programmes, which comprise community employment, social economy and job initiative, will provide 25,000 places overall in 2005. I am informed by FÁS that the number of participants on CE was 24,992 on 1 January 2003, 19,848 on 1 January 2004 and 22,194 on 1 January 2005. During 2004 there was an increase of 2,346 participants on the CE...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: The proposed employment permits Bill, which will govern the issue of employment permits for nationals from outside the European Economic Area, is in the final stages of drafting. The intention is to have the Bill published before the summer recess. The Bill will put the existing administrative arrangements on a sound legislative footing. It will lay down the conditions relating to the...

Written Answers — Ticket Sales: Ticket Sales (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I advised the House on 20 April 2005, I am aware of the concerns expressed by the public about the sale of concert and theatre tickets. I understand, however, that the Competition Authority's investigation into the market is ongoing. Given the independent status of the authority and the confidential nature of its investigation, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this...

Written Answers — Consumer Strategy Group: Consumer Strategy Group (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: I have noted the recommendation of the consumer strategy group regarding the abolition of the limit on the number of pub licences awarded. It is the case that this is but one of three separate recommendations contained in the group's report in relation to the alcoholic drinks sector. The consumer strategy group's report is comprehensive, covers most sectors of the economy and contains more...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: The work permits section of my Department has issued 1,127 work permits to spouses of work permit holders from the announcement of the new arrangements for spouses of skilled non-EEA nationals on 18 February 2004.

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: Nationals of the EU, including nationals of the ten new member states, are entitled to register with FÁS and avail of all the services they offer including employment seeking services. Non-EEA nationals generally enter the State through the work permits system only after they have been offered employment by a specific employer.

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 290 and 291 together. I am aware of the recent announcement by Magna Donnelly Electronics Limited of a major restructuring and upgrading of its plant in Naas that will involve redundancies and of the other companies that closed in Celbridge and Naas in 2004. I understand that Magna Donnelly has decided to choose Ireland as the international manufacturing...

Written Answers — Science Education: Science Education (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: The outgoing Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, ICSTI, held its final plenary meeting in November 2004. ICSTI has been succeeded by a new advisory science council. The new council held its first meeting on 18 May and is preparing its annual work programme. I am arranging to bring the Deputy's views to the attention of the council in that context.

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 64 and 86 together. These questions relate to a particular company which has been the subject of an investigation by the labour inspectorate of my Department. As the Deputies will be aware, the labour inspectorate report is subject to proceedings before the High Court. Accordingly, I am constrained from elaborating further on issues which arise in the...

Written Answers — Landlord and Tenant Legislation: Landlord and Tenant Legislation (31 May 2005)

Micheál Martin: The urgent passing of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Bill 2005 was necessary to protect the interest that the State holds in property that has been acquired for industrial development purposes by IDA Ireland, Shannon Development and Údarás na Gaeltachta by including these bodies among the State authorities that are not bound by the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No.2) Act 1978....