Results 45,981-46,000 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Employment/unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey, collated and published by the Central Statistics Office. The most recent Quarterly National Household Survey, Quarter 4, 2007, which covers the period September-November 2007, indicates that employment has increased by 66,800 in the year. Data for Quarter 1 2008 (December-February) will not be available until...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are a number of key policies which the Government is implementing to maintain and enhance our competitiveness and to invest for the future. The Government has made a major commitment, through the substantial investment set out in the Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation (SSTI) and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013, to making the transition to a knowledge-economy by...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In regard to the Midlands Region, IDA Ireland is working to develop the knowledge economy in order that it can compete both nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment. Over the past 5 years the Agency has been promoting the Midlands as part of an integrated Midlands Region with access to a population base of 310,127. The Midlands has traditionally been a centre of...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (29 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...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: In the period 2000 to 2006 Total Capital (Fixed Asset) Investment in job creation projects supported by IDA Ireland in Counties Wicklow and Carlow amounted €15,725,000. Details of these payments in respect of each county in respect of each of those years is set out in the following Tabular Statement 1. Figures for 2007 will not be available until publication of the Agency's 2007 Annual...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not have offices located within the areas mentioned. However, my Department is aware of 12 civil servants within the Department awaiting transfers to these areas, as per the table. Athlone Nenagh Mullingar Portlaoise Laois Total 3 1 4 3 1 12

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Details in relation to announcements of multinational greenfield projects for each of the past 5 years are set out in the following Tabular Statement 1. Since the beginning of 2008 there have been a further 5 announcements relating to new multinational, greenfield start-ups with approximately 595 jobs announced. The names of these companies are set out in the following Tabular Statement 2....

Written Answers — Industrial Properties: Industrial Properties (29 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency, as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas and it is not a matter in which I have a function. The IDA's building portfolio currently consists of 144 units, of which 82 are leased from private landlords, and are referred to as Private Finance [PF]...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (24 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The level of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ireland, relative to the size of the economy, is one of the highest in the world. Today, in Ireland, there are over 1,000 IDA supported companies employing in excess of 136,000 people. While competition for FDI continues to be relentless, Ireland continues to punch above its weight when it comes to attracting overseas investment. While our...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (24 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. The programme helps unemployed people to progress to the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (24 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. The programme helps unemployed people to progress to the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (24 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that they cannot consider the re-issue of a permit in this case as they understand from the Department of Foreign Affairs that the visa application in respect of the above named has been refused and upheld on appeal.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department is required to relocate 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme and this is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009. In order to accommodate staff who wished to move earlier than the projected building completion date of late 2009, officials of my Department, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the OPW, as well as decentralising...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (23 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that the issue of a work permit has now been approved in this case.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department's budgetary allocation for 2008 was published in December 2007, in parallel with the presentation to the Dáil by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance of the 2008 Budget. The allocation made to my Department will finance the programmes which I have prioritised for 2008, as well as funding the running costs of my Department and its agencies. My Department has a structured...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (23 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the concerns expressed by some commentators that the benefits of recent movements in exchange rates between the Euro and Sterling may not be passed on to consumers. I understand that the National Consumer Agency has raised these concerns in bilateral discussions with retailers. In the course of those discussions, retailers have advised that the benefits of recent exchange rate...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (23 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that they have no record of a work permit being applied for in this case.

Written Answers — Research and Development: Research and Development (22 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (2006-2013) recognises the importance for Ireland in building its international collaborative networks in science and highlights the importance of making investments in a way that produces the greatest benefit to Ireland. Ireland is currently involved in various international programmes and initiatives including the European Seventh...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (22 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The total number of new jobs created in multinational client companies of IDA Ireland and Shannon Development in the period 1998 to 2007 is 137,864. The annual breakdown of these figures is set out in tabular statements 1 and 2. This information is taken from the Forfás Annual Employment Survey. Information on jobs numbers is gathered on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only....

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (22 Apr 2008)

Micheál Martin: The issue raised by the Deputy relates to Sections 48 and 49 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007. My Department launched a public consultation process in relation to the commencement of these provisions of the Act in the summer of 2007. Although the deadline for receipt of submissions was the 7th September 2007, my Department continued to receive submissions until November, 2007. A total...