Results 1,901-1,920 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I stated publicly on 15 November, Mr. Barry McSweeney left his position as chief science adviser to the Government on that date and he is to take up a new position as research co-ordinator within the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Mr. Barry McSweeney left his position as CSA under the terms of his contract, which was with Forfás. I understand that no...

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

Micheál Martin: Mr. Henneberry formally informed me of his intention to resign from his post of member of the Competition Authority on 15 November 2005. His resignation, which is for personal reasons, will be effective from 30 January 2006. I take this opportunity to place on record my appreciation of the excellent contribution Mr. Henneberry has made to the work of the Competition Authority since his...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: In response to a similar question posed by the Deputy in November last, I indicated that I had visited Kerry on 21 July 2005 with officials from my Department and the State development agencies. During the course of this visit I met Kenmare Chamber of Commerce and representative organisations and businesses in Caherciveen, Killorglin and Killarney. Wide-ranging discussions were held...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 105 and 110 together. The purpose of competition law is to prohibit anti-competitive practices by "undertakings" such as price fixing and-or the abuse of a dominant position. The Competition Act 2002 applies to all sectors of the economy in the State. An "undertaking" is defined in the Act as "a person being an individual, a body corporate or an...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: National aviation policy, including the establishment of the new Shannon Airport Authority and changes to the Ireland-US bilateral air services arrangements fall within the policy remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport. My Department and the development agencies under its remit, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Shannon Development and the city and county enterprise boards, are...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: There are 13 county enterprise boards operating in the BMW region. These boards deliver the micro-enterprise measure under the Border, midlands and west, BMW, regional operational programme 2000-2006. The BMW region's Objective One status allows the use of comparatively better rates of incentives to business and assists the region in promoting and developing indigenous micro-enterprises. The...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I indicated in response to previous parliamentary questions, on 28 July last, following detailed consultations with the board of Shannon Development, other stakeholders and regional interests, I announced a decision on a future mandate for the company. This new mandate envisages an active, focused role for the company, complementary to that of national agencies in line with Government...

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

Micheál Martin: The recently established interdepartmental group on Donegal, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, has met on two occasions to date, with further meetings planned. The terms of reference of the group are to: identify the various local issues representing barriers to the establishment and operation of enterprises; take stock of relevant projects and actions already under way or...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The county and city enterprise boards, CEBs, continue to play an extremely important role in developing the small business sector in Ireland and, to support them in delivering their programmes, some €30 million in Exchequer funds was allocated to fund them in 2005. The CEBs have been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the current National Development Plan 2000-2006....

Written Answers — Mergers and Acquisitions: Mergers and Acquisitions (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The proposed acquisition by UPC Ireland BV — ultimately owned by Liberty Global Inc. which also owns Chorus — of MS Irish Cable Holdings Limited, trading as NTL, was notified to the Competition Authority on 24 May 2005. This proposal constituted a "media merger" under the Competition Act 2002. The Competition Authority carried out a full competition assessment of the case and on 4...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: Within the past two years my Department, through Forfás, commissioned a review of the role and functions of the CEBs in the development of micro-enterprises. The review represents the most comprehensive examination of the role and functions of the CEBs since their inception over ten years ago. It largely endorsed the activities and operations of the CEBs and concluded that there is...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has responsibility for policy on equality and the ESRI report to which the Deputy referred was commissioned by his Department. I have not received a copy of the report but I understand it has been received at official level in my Department. Consideration of all issues arising from the report is primarily the responsibility of the Department...

Written Answers — Labour Force: Labour Force (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The number of older workers in employment has increased by 33% over the past ten years and the employment rate now stands at close to 51%. This is above the EU target of 50% to be reached by 2010. This increase was mostly due to those outside the workforce returning to employment. In addition, the average exit age from the labour force is now the highest in the EU at 64.4 years. Government...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 122, 129, 138, 147, 151, 291, and 292 together. On 4 December 2005 the National Implementation Body made a series of recommendations to the social partners and the Government regarding the maintenance and protection of employment standards in the Irish labour market. The National Implementation Body also made recommendations in respect of the dispute at...

Written Answers — Environmental Issues: Environmental Issues (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: My Department has a specific policy unit, comprising three staff members dedicated to dealing with environmental policy issues affecting business. The unit is currently engaged on a range of environmental policies, including: climate changes issues such as preparations for the second national allocation plan under the EU emissions trading scheme; the EU environmental technologies action...

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. Following a review of FÁS employment schemes — community employment, job initiative and social economy programmes — on 10...

Written Answers — National Consumer Agency: National Consumer Agency (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I advised the House in previous replies to parliamentary questions on this matter, the core recommendation of the Consumer Strategy Group is that a new statutory body, the National Consumer Agency, be established to be an advocate on behalf of consumers. The Government fully approved this recommendation and has agreed to establish the new agency as soon as practicable. The establishment of...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer to this question where I pointed out that I can only comment on that part of the question relating to my remit. The Government facilitates the creation of an environment attractive to businesses and business creation. Government policies in this regard have helped propel economic growth and employment expansion and these have encouraged...

Written Answers — Mergers and Acquisitions: Mergers and Acquisitions (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Competition Authority carried out a full competition assessment of this case and on 4 November 2005 determined that the acquisition would not substantially lessen competition provided the parties comply with the conditions set out in its determination. As regards cable TV, the authority found no significant overlap between the merging parties' businesses as both Chorus and NTL serve...

Written Answers — National Consumer Agency: National Consumer Agency (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Consumer Strategy Group in its report, Make Consumers Count, which was published earlier this year, concluded that the consumer voice should be represented at the social partnership table. In this regard one of its specific recommendations is that social partnership should be expanded to include consumer representation on both the Government and voluntary sides. My Department, given its...