Results 45,721-45,740 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 28, 45, 116 and 117 together. Following the enactment of the Competition (Amendment) Act 2006 which revoked the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 with effect from 20th March 2006, I asked the Competition Authority to review and monitor developments in the grocery sector in light of the new regulatory environment. The Authority published two...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following Table lists the number of Enterprise Agency assisted (Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Shannon Development and Údarás na Gaeltachta) full-time jobs gained and lost in the manufacturing and services sectors in each of the last five years. The data shows that while 128,913 jobs were lost in that period, 131,136 new jobs were created giving a net increase in employment of 2,223 jobs....

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The proposed Blue Card Directive is one of five complementary instruments in the area of legal migration and aims to put in place arrangements that will attract high skilled workers to the EU. Whereas at present high skills workers come to individual member States, this scheme deals with the EU essentially as a single destination. While initiatives such as this that are designed to enhance...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: According to the European Commission, Ireland is one of only ten Member States who have specific schemes for admitting highly qualified workers into its labour market. Our principal initiative in this respect is the Green Card Scheme, which I introduced in January 2007. Green Cards are granted initially for a period of 2 years, and then may be renewed indefinitely. The benefit package...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In 2007 FÁS provided Safe Pass Registration to 188,469 people and 17,000 people were registered under the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS). FÁS has developed a number of new programmes under the CSCS including Steel Fixing, Mobile Access Tower, Shot Firing, Signing, Lighting and Guarding at Road Works, and the Location of Underground Services. FÁS was unable to complete the...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The National Consumer Agency was established on a statutory basis on the commencement of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 on the 1st May 2007. The Act gave the Agency a significantly expanded remit with specific functions in areas such as consumer advocacy, research, information, education and awareness and enforcement. In the 12 months since its establishment, the Agency has been very active...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are currently a total of fifteen Directives due to be transposed by my Department up to 2012. Four of these Directives are currently overdue. Directive 2005/56/EC on cross-border mergers of limited liability companies is scheduled to be transposed by 30 May 2008. Directive 2007/13/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for both measuring...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Tackling high and increasing costs is a challenge and there are no simple solutions. International commodity prices such as oil and gas are outside our control. It is important, however, to ensure that our domestic cost base does not undermine competitiveness. The Government's last three budgets have been clearly non inflationary as a measure to help the cost environment for business. The...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 sets out ambitious targets for placing Ireland firmly on the global map in terms of the excellence of our research and its application for the benefit of our people and our economy. We are investing in Ireland's R&D infrastructure and human capital as the cornerstone underpinning our future competitive place in the world. It is a...

Written Answers — Competition Authority: Competition Authority (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In addition to its law enforcement and merger regulation functions under the Competition Act 2002, the Competition Authority has a duty to promote competition. One way in which the Authority fulfils this statutory duty is by studying how competition operates in the economy and making recommendations as it considers appropriate. In reports by the Competition Authority between 2002 and 2008,...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Employment growth, i.e. the excess of jobs created over jobs lost, is expected to continue to be positive in 2008, though growing at a slower pace than in previous years. In the Budget Outlook employment is forecast to grow by over 1% (24,000) in 2008 for all sectors. Employment increased by 66,800 year on year in 2007 (CSO, Quarterly National Household Survey, Quarter 4) and the number of...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Table 1 and Table 2 as follows list the Ministers from non-OECD countries that I have met in my official capacity as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The tables also list the dates and locations of these meetings. These meetings were arranged to discuss specific issues, including some of the following topics, depending on the circumstances, i.e. Bilateral Trade, Economic...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Irish economy continues to perform strongly in the global marketplace in an ever increasingly competitive world. Ireland's enterprise strategy is to create and sustain an environment conducive to business and to offer targeted support for enterprises to promote innovation, growth and competitiveness. Small to medium enterprises are a key component of this strategy. Growth in global...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Consumer Protection Act 2007 empowers the National Consumer Agency to prepare and publish Guidelines to traders in relation to matters of consumer welfare and protection and matters related to commercial practices. The Act also entitles the Agency to review or approve Codes of Practice voluntarily submitted to it by traders or their trade associations where the Agency is satisfied that...

Written Answers — Site Investigations: Site Investigations (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In the context of the further development of the former ISPAT site, the Department of Defence has requested further consultations on the requirements of the Naval Service at Haulbowline. That consultation is proceeding.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Department Decentralisation My Department has been making good progress in the relocation of the required 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. The following business units/Offices of my Department are earmarked for decentralisation: Companies Registration Office/Registry of Friendly Societies National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) Work Permits...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 63 together. This matter is under consideration by Government and I cannot comment further. The issue of compliance with State aid rules will be pursued with the European Commission, if necessary.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Over the three year period 2005- 2007, a total of 65 multinational companies set up operations in this country with support from IDA Ireland and Shannon Development and with the potential to create 1,827 jobs. In the same period, the total number of new jobs created in multinational companies supported by IDA Ireland and Shannon Development was 34,406. Many of these jobs were associated...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The issues raised by the Deputy relate to Sections 48 & 49 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007. The Deputy will recall that my Department conducted a public consultation process in relation to the commencement of these provisions of the Act in the summer of 2007. The Department received a total of almost 50 responses to the public consultation. These responses raised a number of specific...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department operates an early warning system of firms in difficulty and where jobs are at risk. The system applies to firms that have been assisted by the Industrial Development agencies operating under the aegis of my Department. Notifications of firms in difficulty and where jobs are at risk are received from these agencies as soon as the agencies become aware of the situation. I should...