Results 1,961-1,980 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Public-Private Partnerships: Public-Private Partnerships (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: This subject matter does not fall under my Department remit and is more appropriate for my colleague the Minister for Finance. My Department has not entered into any PPP contracts.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am particularly pleased to have the opportunity to bring this Bill before the Seanad at this time. On 8 November last, I announced that the Government had decided to revoke the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order in its entirety. This decision can only be implemented by means of an Act of the Oireachtas. Thus, the revocation of the groceries order is one of the principal purposes of...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: That is why the Senator was such a good wage negotiator on behalf of the INTO.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: It was Senator Coghlan but we will discuss it later. It was not UCD.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The garage forecourts have grown with the groceries order. That is the point.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Senators for the comprehensive debate on the Bill. They have made a number of points with which I will try to deal separately. It is important that we focus clearly on the subject matter of the Bill, which is about the removal of the groceries order and issues such as "hello money", resale price maintenance, unfair practices and so on. Some Senators, including Senator Leyden,...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The report said that the groceries order put a floor under grocery prices — it did predict lower prices — but refused to be drawn on their extent or the speed at which they would occur. In my own press releases and statements I have said that I have not been drawn, and will not be lured into the trap of giving a sum and — in the style perhaps of Eddie Hobbs, or the Competition Authority...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I have met so many such people in my lifetime and I take Senator O'Toole's comments on board. That is probably why he was such a good negotiator for the INTO through the years. He always seemed to know what the market would bear in that respect too.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: Senators O'Toole and Norris were bemoaning the demise of the French bakery throughout rural France.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: Yes. Clearly there is a legislative predisposition there to the French lifestyle. It is interesting that France has a groceries order, or a similar below-cost selling provision, yet that has not prevented the demise of the French boulangerie or bakery. Perhaps we need to do more analysis of the status of the French bakery in rural France. However, just around the corner from me in my own...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand there were a small number of complaints to the authority. These were investigated and found not to be examples of predatory pricing in the marketplace. Senator O'Toole contended that the removal of the groceries order is a bottle of smoke, a populist measure that will make no difference. This is not a question of populist politics. I understand the Senator believes the order...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: It is our job, through the various agencies and through good legislation, to protect the consumer. In regard to the Eddie Hobbs phenomenon and the associated discussion of the level of profits enjoyed by business, I am somewhat amused by the freedom with which Senators O'Toole and Norris can pour scorn on Mr. Hobbs. When one backbencher and one Senator from the Government side made reference...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The work permits section of my Department issued one work permit to employ a non-EEA national for one company within the horticultural sector in County Leitrim in the 12 months up to 30 November 2005. The wages and employment conditions of workers employed in the horticulture sector are generally governed by the agriculture employment regulation order, which is enforced by the labour...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The National Competitiveness Council was established in 1997 in the framework of the national partnership process. Its reports are an important contribution to the development of policies that help sustain economic competitiveness, growth and employment. The council's essential administrative and research supports are provided by Forfás through its annual Vote from my Department. Given the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The bodies and agencies which my Department both funds and staffs are: the Companies Registration Office; the Registry of Friendly Societies; the Labour Court; the Labour Relations Commission; the Employment Appeals Tribunal; the Patents Office; the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs; and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. In addition, the following are the...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (14 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: My Department and the development agencies under its remit, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Shannon Development and the city and county enterprise boards, are committed to the economic and industrial development of the Shannon region, including County Clare, in line with national enterprise policy goals, and the achievement of balanced regional development, within the framework of the...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (14 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the comments attributed to this person, which were circulated in the media. The policies of this Government are tightly focused on maintaining and strengthening the good health of our economy. The enterprise strategy group's analysis of national enterprise policy recognized that we are broadly implementing the right mix of initiatives and policies to maintain economic growth....

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (14 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand what Senator Coghlan is trying to do with these amendments. He proposes to widen the scope of products covered by the Bill to include household necessaries, which were included in the groceries order. That issue was discussed at some length in the course of preparing this Bill. Household necessaries are excluded because the definition contained in the groceries order was proving...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (14 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am not clear on the intention of this amendment. Section 15B(3) is designed to deal with allowances for advertising or display of grocery goods. Displaying and advertising a product would necessitate the provision of space for that product. Therefore, it is not necessary to insert the additional phrase. There is also an overlap here with the provisions for the prohibition of "hello money",...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (14 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I dealt with this at some length on Second Stage yesterday. Following the Competition Act 2002, the law on predatory pricing is much broader and stronger than the words in the text. The Act is designed to be analogous to Articles 81 and 82 of the European Union treaty. European case law supports the analogous provisions to prohibit and punish instances of predatory pricing. I do not want to...