Results 45,741-45,760 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Social and Family Affairs maintains the Live Register. The total number of people recorded on the Live Register for March 2008 is 197,992. The number of people signing on the live register for March 2008 in Newbridge is 3,987. The Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment benefit....

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

Micheál Martin: Price display law is covered by Orders made under Section 19 of the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 and under the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002, Statutory Instrument No. 639 of 2002. The various Price Display Orders made under the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 cover Drinks Display in Licensed Premises, Hairdressing Services, Petrol and Diesel and...

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

Micheál Martin: The Consumer Protection (Fixed Payment Notice) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 689 of 2007) came into effect on 13 October 2007. Responsibility for the enforcement of these Regulations is a matter for the National Consumer Agency and I have no direct function in the matter. I am informed that, to date, authorised officers of the National Consumer Agency have served twelve fixed payment notices....

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The reviews of the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Supported Employment Programme, that have been commissioned respectively by my Department and FÁS, are nearing completion and are expected to be concluded very shortly. Copies of these reviews will be made available to relevant interest groups in due course.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Consistent with best practice internationally, labour market services for people with disabilities that are administered by FÁS on behalf of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, are mainstreamed. The objective of the Government's mainstreaming policy is the systematic integration of people with disabilities into the open labour market. FÁS seeks to create the conditions...

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

Micheál Martin: A total of 41% of Ireland's merchandise exports were to other Eurozone countries in 2007. The most significant non-Eurozone destinations are the United States and the UK. There has been a significant rise in the value of the Euro against many currencies over recent times and this has been particularly evident in relation to its exchange rate with the United States Dollar and the Pound...

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

Micheál Martin: The EU's 7th Framework Research Programme provides support for R&D across the whole spectrum of research. In the particular area of stem cell research, specific conditions and safeguards apply. In line with our support for ethical subsidiarity, we insist that no Community funding shall be allowed for embryonic stem cell research in Ireland. The corollary of this is that we have to respect...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Donegal is a target location for the IDA with the County now competing for a different type of business to labour intensive manufacturing, which IDA so successfully won over the past four decades. The overseas investor is now seeking locations for more advanced manufacturing or office based solutions, to a great extent depending on high skill and high value work. While this has required a...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The potential of a cross border business and technology park to attract and grow high-value enterprise in the Letterkenny/Derry corridor was recognised by both IDA Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland. Discussion between the development agencies and relevant stakeholders concluded at the time that the most appropriate solution was the creation of a Virtual Cross Border Technology Park. This...

Written Answers — Regulatory Functions: Regulatory Functions (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, my Department prepares and administers legislation in areas such as commerce, employment rights, occupational safety health and welfare, competition and consumer rights, chemicals and intellectual property. Naturally, in that regard, we exercise many regulatory functions. The information requested by the Deputy, insofar as it relates to the ten...

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

Micheál Martin: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has primary responsibility for the procurement of suitable accommodation for both the advance and permanent re-location of decentralising Departments, including my Department's staff to Carlow. Officials of my Department, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the OPW, as well as decentralising staff and Business Units, opened an advance office in...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 121 together. There are many factors that influence a firm's decision to relocate, therefore, it is not possible to determine the number of jobs which may have been lost to more competitive economies. Firms adjust their plant location and utilisation strategies to address matters such as accessing new markets, moving production nearer to customers,...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together. There are a variety of differing and complex factors and not just cost related, which might influence a decision to relocate all or part of a firm's functions. Therefore, it is not possible to determine the number of jobs which may have been lost to more competitive economies. In addition to relative wage rates and other cost factors,...

Consumer Protection. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that sections 48 and 49 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 seek to restrict the manner in which traders impose additional charges on consumers solely by reason of the method of payment chosen by the consumer. This issue first arose in the course of the passage of the Consumer Protection Bill through the Oireachtas. An amendment was proposed in the Seanad which...

Consumer Protection. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I share the views of the Deputy regarding the unacceptability of these surcharges. During the course of the discussion and debate on the Bill in the Houses, a specific Senator raised the surcharge issue and pleaded with us to include a provision on it in the Bill. As the Deputy will understand, the timeframe was not as long or as wide as one would have liked in terms of going into the...

Consumer Protection. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: We did, of course. We then sought a public consultation on the sections because many people, external to Parliament, felt that they should have a say on the matter and be consulted on the provisions of these sections. My own view is that Parliament is supreme in these matters, ultimately, but we facilitated the consultation. In the course of that consultation, detailed questions arose...

Job Losses. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The manufacturing sector in Ireland has evolved noticeably since 2000 in terms of the composition of industry and the nature of activities and is likely to continue to do so. Manufacturing continues to be a significant employer accounting directly for 11% of total employment and a significant amount of associated services employment. In order to sustain and grow the sector, the Irish-based...

Job Losses. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The question dealt with the manufacturing sector and I was anxious to outline the correct position, which is important.

Job Losses. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Sometimes people use general and simplistic catchphrases such as "manufacturing in decline". Due to the high capitalisation and more specialised nature of manufacturing, it is a changing story but, between 2000 and 2006, manufacturing output increased by 35%. We are performing well in this sector but the same numbers will not be employed as ten years ago due to the nature of the change....

Proposed Legislation. (30 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In March 2008, the Government decided to reduce the administrative burden of domestic regulation on business by 25% by 2012. This target was set in response to the invitation to member states by the European Council to set national targets in line with the European Commission's 25% target reduction in the burden of EU regulations. My Department is responsible for devising the methodology...