Results 1,601-1,620 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Local Authority Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: First, I object to the Deputy's comments. It is about time we accept responsibility at local level.

Local Authority Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: With the greatest respect, Deputy Hogan's party made a big song and dance about gaining control of local authorities the length and breadth of the country. We will now see how——

Local Authority Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: ——pro-enterprise and responsible it is in terms of managing these levies at local level.

Local Authority Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The legislation is no excuse for the wide differentiation between local authorities vis-À-vis these particular levies. Why is it that in one county it can be at a certain level and at a much higher level in another county? The Deputy cannot keep blaming the centre.

Local Authority Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: When we give enabling powers and authority to local authorities, we in this House should accept that the responsibility then lies——

Local Authority Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: ——with that particular body. The amount of funding allocated to local authorities has been increased year by year by consecutive Ministers.

Local Authority Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am not out of touch and am very insulted.

Local Authority Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I hope that, from Fine Gael's latter day control of local authorities, we will witness some response to these types of issues.

Local Authority Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I look forward to engaging with that party. I hope the matter rates enough of Fine Gael's attention in the forthcoming election at local authority level.

Unemployment Levels. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 111 and 151 together. The House will be aware that there have been significant job announcements in County Donegal recently with over 210 new jobs announced by Zeus Industrial Products, Letterkenny and PowerBoard, Burnfoot, which are being supported by the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland, respectively. This was in addition to 423 jobs...

Unemployment Levels. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The figure was 11.4% in 1995 but it is now 4.9%.

Unemployment Levels. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: However, I recognise that there have been significant job losses in County Donegal in recent years, which is why I have visited the county a number of times since becoming Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I have met many groups and companies on these visits to discuss the county's difficulties and its positive developments. My colleagues in Government recognise the particular...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The main purpose of the community employment programme operated by FÁS is to provide work experience and training for the long term unemployed and disadvantaged groups and thereby enable participants to advance successfully to employment in the open labour market. Following a review of FÁS employment schemes — community employment, job initiative and social economy programmes — on 10...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: In determining the allocations for individual city and county enterprise boards, CEBs, in 2005, my Department adopted a systematic approach to ensure the maximum degree of objectivity and equity of treatment. This approach involved the provision of funding calculated on the basis of a standard allocation to each board as well as an additional allocation that was determined mainly by...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: As a consequence of a Commission audit decision in the year 2000, €15.6 million of European Social Fund moneys were withheld from Ireland. The sum involved represents less than 1% of the amount allocated to the three operational programmes for the period 1994-99. The Commission decision was contested by my Department and this resulted in a hearing before the European Court of Justice this...

Written Answers — National Consumer Strategy: National Consumer Strategy (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 146 and 174 together. The Consumer Strategy Group was established in March 2004 to advise and make recommendations on the development of a national consumer strategy. The group's final report, Make Consumers Count, was published in May this year. The report contains over 30 separate recommendations, including the recommendations mentioned in the Deputies'...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Since 1997 over 450,000 new jobs have been created. There has also been a significant fall in unemployment from 10.4% to 4.2% at present. Long-term unemployment fell from 5.5% in 1997 to 1.6% in 2000 and this very low level has been maintained; it is now at 1.4%. This long-term unemployment rate compares very favourably with the EU average of 4% and ranks fourth lowest among the 25 EU member...

Written Answers — Departmental Inquiries: Departmental Inquiries (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 149 together. Sixteen investigations into company law matters were initiated by my predecessor in the period since 1997. In three cases, the High Court appointed, on an application by the Minister, inspectors under section 8 of the Companies Act 1990. The inspectors appointed to Ansbacher (Cayman) Limited presented their report to the High Court on 10...

Written Answers — Regulatory Amalgamation: Regulatory Amalgamation (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The enterprise strategy group recommended that the existing regulators for networked sectors, for example, electricity, gas, telecommunications and broadcasting, should be replaced by a new regulatory body covering all networked sectors. The Government considered this recommendation and decided not to implement it. In looking at international experience the Government remains to be convinced...

Written Answers — Small Business Forum: Small Business Forum (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Small Business Forum, which I have set up to consider the current environment for conducting small business in Ireland, has held two plenary sessions to date. In addition, the forum has held a number of thematic workshops covering various areas of interest identified by the initial plenary meetings. I should also mention that the forum has been very proactive in seeking to obtain the...