Results 1,281-1,300 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: We will watch with interest. As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I am particularly interested in this area.

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: Many businesses throughout the country are keen to ensure that they are not disproportionately hammered in terms of either the commercial rate or other charges, which can be seen as a soft options by members of local authorities. As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I have travelled the country to meet various interested parties. I am aware that there are strong views. If...

Order of Business. (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: We built Naas Hospital.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Forfás employment survey is the authoritative source measuring employment in companies supported by the enterprise development agencies. The employment survey is undertaken on an annual basis and as such, 2004 is the latest and most definitive information available. Enterprise Ireland, EI, and IDA Ireland report the following new jobs being created in County Wexford over the period 1992...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: In my reply to the Deputy's question relating to the number, name, cost, publication date and preparation time for reports published in my Department since 1997, I informed the Deputy that I would forward the requested information to him as soon as it was compiled by officials of my Department. There is a significant amount of work involved in compiling this information, which covers an...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not commissioned or evaluated such research and has no plans to do so.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The net Estimate for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for 2004 was €1,124,471,000. The amount surrendered to Department of Finance at year's end was €55,029,000. Some €34,237,000 of unspent capital expenditure was carried over into 2005 under the terms of the capital investment framework agreement which exists between both Departments.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: To date in 2005, it has been calculated that my Department has spent a sum of €20,783 on the implementation of the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003. It is estimated that €56,000 will be spent on the Act in 2005.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The sectors of the economy in which work permits were issued for each of the past five years are appended for the Deputy's information. Statistics by skill level are not at present compiled.

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand from IDA Ireland that the company in question has confirmed that there have been no recent job losses, nor are any job losses planned, at its facility in County Kildare where over 2,500 people are employed. The company, which employs over 150,000 people worldwide, has recently announced a global workforce reduction of 15,000, but this is not expected to impact on the Leixlip...

Written Answers — Anti-competitive Practices: Anti-competitive Practices (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I have advised the House previously, I am aware of the high market share held by certain companies engaged in the promotion and sale of concert and theatre tickets. The Competition Act 2002 prohibits the abuse of a dominant position and other anti-competitive activities. The Act is enforced by the Competition Authority, which operates independently of my Department. Accordingly, if there...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The issue regarding the cost of creating IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs is a day-to-day matter for the agencies themselves and not one in which I am directly involved. Data indicating the average cost of creating IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs is compiled from an annual employment survey carried out by Forfás — see following table. The cost per job is...

Written Answers — Consumer Affairs: Consumer Affairs (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The final report of the consumer strategy group, entitled Make Consumers Count — A New Direction for Irish Consumers, was published on 18 May 2005. It has as its core recommendation that a new national consumer agency be established. This recommendation has been accepted in principle by the Government. The establishment of the new agency will require primary legislation and my Department...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The position regarding current vacancies on the boards of statutory or State bodies under the remit of my Department is set out in the following paragraph. There is one vacancy at present on the board of the National Standards Authority of Ireland. The reason for the vacancy is retirement by rotation, as required under the National Standards Authority of Ireland Act 1996. The decision on the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The position regarding vacancies expected to arise before 31 December 2005, on the boards of statutory or State bodies under the remit of my Department is set out in the following paragraphs. There is currently one vacancy on the board of the National Standards Authority of Ireland. No further vacancies are expected this year. Subject to paragraph 1(3) of the Second Schedule of the National...

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The National Competitiveness Council's annual competitiveness report for 2005, benchmarks Ireland's competitiveness relative to our 15 main trading partners and competitors using a compendium of 170 indicators. The indicators contained in the report are published by a wide variety of international sources. The NCC's annual competitiveness report is published separately this year while the...

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: First, it is not the same reply.

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: No. The Deputy would not have been in a position to get the last paragraph because it shows a change.

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be only too glad to hear this one.

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The latest competitiveness rankings compiled by the World Economic Forum, which were published today, show that Ireland has moved up four places — from 30th to 26th out of 117 countries. The higher ranking suggests, perhaps, that we have turned an important corner in rebuilding national competitiveness. As regards the Deputy's second point concerning better regulation, things have happened.