Results 1,421-1,440 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day to day operational matter for the agency as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas. While I may give general policy directives to IDA Ireland, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings. All IDA Ireland lands are sold on the basis of commercial...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Through Enterprise Ireland, the Government supports the growth of Irish exports by working with individual companies in identifying new product and market opportunities and devising and implementing appropriate strategies to capitalise on them. Enterprise Ireland client companies delivered a good export performance in 2004, following the global economic growth revival that began in the latter...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Where a non-EEA national is legally employed and legally resident in the State, my Department is prepared to consider applications from prospective new employers in respect of that employer. My Department has no record of a valid application in respect of person about whom the Deputy inquires.

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 688 to 691, inclusive, 694 and 697 together. Ireland is undergoing a positive transformation in how we earn our living from international trade and investment, which is affecting all sectors of the economy. We can no longer be seen as a low cost location for investment but to compensate have developed other strong competitive strengths and advantages....

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: In a small open economy it is not the role of Government to have direct control of all industrial costs. Ideally, market forces should determine the vast majority of these. The priority for Government has been to provide the framework conditions for the creation of competitive markets including a benign business environment in which businesses can prosper and create sustained employment....

Written Answers — Trade Statistics: Trade Statistics (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: According to figures published by the Central Statistics Office, Ireland imports goods and services from over 200 country locations. The latest import figures, for which 12 monthly figures are available, are in respect of the year ended 31 December 2004. The information requested has been forwarded to the Deputy. The table provides a list of the top 12 countries from which Ireland has...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Supervision of insurance undertakings is the responsibility of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, the financial regulator, which is under the aegis of the Department of Finance. Since the end of 2004, the Department of Transport has responsibility for motor insurance, including follow up on the remaining recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board reports, which are...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment is a day-to-day operational matter for the industrial development agencies. The agencies seek to attract new greenfield investments as well as working with existing clients with a view to helping them expand their activities. They also work with other publicly funded bodies to enhance the attractiveness of individual areas and regions within the context...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Overseas companies in Ireland that are clients of IDA, submit investment proposals to the agency for consideration for State support. Typically, these proposals include fixed asset — capital, labour and technology/research and development components. The proposals set out indicative targets with regard to achievement of the investment using criteria such as sales, profitability, exports and...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: 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 have affected employment trends in companies assisted by the enterprise development agencies. While the net increase in employment in...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: In pursuit of the objectives of the national spatial strategy, the efforts of IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the city and county enterprise boards are directed towards the promotion of employment and investment in all areas of the country. As regards helping those who are unemployed to enter the labour market, under the national employment action plan, FÁS engages intensively those who...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's economy is undergoing fundamental change, which is affecting all sectors of our economy. Ireland can no longer be seen as a low cost location for investment as our strengths and competitive advantages have inexorably changed. High output and productivity together with high returns to labour in the form of wages, salaries and better living standards now typify Ireland's economy....

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 702 and 704 together. The number of people in the labour force has reached an all time high as indicated by the latest quarterly national household survey recently released. There are now over 2 million people in the labour force, giving an annual increase of 94,500. Over the past ten years the labour force has grown by over 38%. The growth in the labour force...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The work permits section of my Department received an average of 578 applications per week over the 12 month period up to 27 September 2005. This compares with an average of 713 applications received per week in the preceding 12 months. Approximately 75% of all applications are now for the renewal of earlier permits. The number of new, first time permits issued is expected to decrease by over...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 708 and 710 together. The work permits section of my Department received 32,518 work permit applications in the 12 months up to 31 August 2005 and processed 31,246 applications in that period. Of the applications received, 29,417 were approved, 1,829 were rejected and there were 632 applications pending. Applications for work permits are currently taking 15...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Set out in the table are permits issued to employers in respect of new employees over the past three years and in 2005 to date. Year First Time Permits 2002 19,529 2003 18,513 2004 7,950 2005 to date 5,304 It should be noted that some of the employees included above may already be in the State but changing to a new employer.

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (4 Oct 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the correspondence to which the Deputy refers concerning the acceptability of the EU funding ethically sensitive research activity, which arose in the context of the recent adoption by the European Commission of its specific programmes under the proposed seventh research framework programme, FP7. The Government is fully conscious that the ethical framework within which research...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (4 Oct 2005)

Micheál Martin: The issue of job creation is a day-to-day operational matter for the industrial development agencies and relevant county enterprise boards, and not one in which I have a direct role. IDA Ireland informs me that it continues to market south County Dublin, including Tallaght and its environs, as a potential location for new foreign direct investment, FDI, to secure new investment and additional...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (4 Oct 2005)

Micheál Martin: While recent returns show that inflation in Ireland continues to moderate and is in line with the average rate of inflation throughout the European Union, it is undoubtedly the case that many consumers do not feel they are getting a fair deal. The Deputy will be aware that in March 2004, my Department appointed the consumer strategy group to advise and make recommendations for the development...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (5 Oct 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together. I have noted the points made in these correspondences which concern the current review of the groceries order. The public consultation process on the groceries order has generated over 550 submissions which were received from a wide range of parties, including a significant number from the public. The submissions have all been considered...