Results 1,881-1,900 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Employment Support Services. (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I thought the Deputy would be more enthusiastic.

Departmental Appointments. (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The chief science adviser is appointed by Government. As I have stated publicly, the post will be filled by open competition. It is expected the process will commence in the new year.

Departmental Appointments. (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The circumstances surrounding the first appointment to the post of chief science adviser have already been well articulated.

Departmental Appointments. (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: No, I do not. The reasons for this were advanced at the time in terms of developing a science architecture for the purposes of Government and public policy and the availability of a person who had a strong track record in his responsibilities in the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.

Departmental Appointments. (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: This appointment was undertaken in good faith and in the context of his work in BioResearch Ireland and so on. That has been articulated at length.

Departmental Appointments. (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: It is time to move on. In regard to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Deputy is aware that a broader undertaking is ongoing in terms of the strategic implementation plan for research. I chair the relevant Cabinet sub-committee. This initiative covers a wide range of Departments, one of which is the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources....

Departmental Appointments. (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I already said it arose in the context of the work we have been undertaking——

Departmental Appointments. (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: In the last year. We have discussed with different Departments their respective sectoral plans that will feed into a broader Government strategic implementation plan on research. Arising from this, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources indicated he had a need for such a post and such a person. In the circumstances that evolved, it was considered by the Government that...

Departmental Appointments. (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I have already issued a statement on this issue. The press release I issued at the time is a matter of public record. In the context of the controversy that had arisen at the time and its impact on the post of chief science adviser and future science policy, he agreed to move to a new position.

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I believe the Deputy is quoting from a table in The Competitiveness Challenge 2005 produced by the NCC. That table comprises some 13 measures of Ireland's innovation performance relative to the EU 25. We do well on some of the suite of indicators and less well on the others. In five areas, Ireland is above the EU average, in some cases such as hi-tech manufacturing output and science and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The reduced Exchequer allocation to Enterprise Ireland under grants to industry does not represent a reduction in the agency's activities. The reduction was sought by my Department in light of various factors, in particular the agency's funding needs and its ability to generate its own income. It should be noted that Enterprise Ireland expects to generate significant own resources in 2006...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Government, at its meeting this morning, approved the text of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005. I plan to publish the text as soon as practicable allowing for the fact that the Bill must now be printed. The purpose of the Bill is to repeal the groceries order and to amend the Competition Act to prohibit resale price maintenance, unfair discrimination and "hello money" in the grocery...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: In 2006, under the aegis of Discover Science and Engineering, my Department's integrated awareness programme, it is intended to provide funding to develop a new post-primary pilot programme related closely to the new junior certificate science curriculum and complementing the discover primary science initiative. It is also proposed in 2006 to develop and pilot both subject and career focused...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 146 and 153 together. I welcome last month's publication of the National Competitiveness Council, NCC, Competitiveness Challenge 2005. The challenge, which builds on the analysis and benchmarking of the Annual Competitiveness Report 2005, is an important contribution to our policy making and thinking on strategic development issues. The purpose of the...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The success of the Irish labour market over the past decade has been unparalleled in the recent history of Europe. Since 1997 more than 522,000 jobs have been created, unemployment has more than halved and long-term unemployment has fallen to 1.4%. Over the same period, the number of young persons in employment has increased by approximately 20% while the number of unemployed youths has...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (6 Dec 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. On 10 November 2004, following a review of FÁS employment schemes — community employment, job initiative and social economy...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The company in question has announced that it intends to close its Sligo operation by the end of 2006. I understand that the company has commenced an extended staff consultation process of 60 days and the outcome of this process is likely to be a phased transfer of the operation outside of Ireland next year. The company was acquired earlier this year and, I understand, the parent company...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that there have been significant job announcements in Donegal recently with more than 210 new jobs announced in September 2005 by Zeus Industrial Products, Letterkenny and PowerBoard, Burnfoot. These projects are being supported by the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland, respectively. This was in addition to 423 jobs I announced earlier this year for...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 290, 294 and 295 together. Maintaining Ireland's attractiveness as a competitive and profitable location from which to do business is a key priority of the Government. Ireland's economy is undergoing fundamental change and we are no longer in the business of competing as a low cost location for basic manufacturing investment. We are now a modern, advanced...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 113 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...