Results 46,001-46,020 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Employment Action Plan. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Not at all. The Acting Chairman's absence was noted. It is an extraordinary event when he is not present.

Employment Action Plan. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: We should mention him also.

Planning Issues. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The provision of information in respect of the planning process is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and local authorities. I understand that the Department provides documentation in respect of this issue, including the leaflet, "Planning for the Business Person". Enterprise development agencies operating under the aegis of my Department provide...

Planning Issues. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: This is the job of directors of enterprise, which are positions of employment in many local authorities. I am glad the Deputy raised this question, as it gives me an opportunity to make a few points. I am concerned that in some local authority areas, the issue of enterprise has fallen down the ladder. Family enterprises and so on that have been in rural locations for 30 years or so are...

Planning Issues. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Yes, to set up one's business again. Enterprise Ireland is giving grants to companies in terms of human resources, research and development and so on but, thanks to development levies, those grants are increasingly going from one State agency to the county manager. Through the Small Business Forum, we made strong representations to the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Planning Issues. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I accept the broad thrust of Deputy Penrose's proposition, and that my Government colleagues and I have a collective responsibility in this regard that I must discharge. I take on board the Deputy's opinion that my Department should meet local authority managers. Traditionally, it was a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. On an individual basis, I...

Planning Issues. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: It would put into context the Oireachtas' opinion in this regard, not just the Executive's.

Groceries Order. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Competition Authority made a submission to the Government alcohol advisory group last month and, subsequently, made it available on its own website. As the independent statutory agency responsible for the enforcement of competition law in the State, the authority is entitled to respond to public consultations. While I have not discussed the submission with the authority, I am aware of...

Groceries Order. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The issue of alcohol is multifaceted and the advisory group established by the Minster for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is examining a range of issues. I took this opportunity to put the groceries order debate in context. Much alcohol is now imported and there are issues such as unit cost and selling price, which are provisions defined in legislation. There is significant difficulty in...

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency. During 2007, the latest period for which data are available, 9,216 new jobs were created in IDA supported companies, of which...

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: What target is the Deputy referring to?

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Are we talking about strategic sites?

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: No.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: That is strategic. I will explain.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I did not anticipate Deputy Penrose endeavouring to outdo Senator Cassidy on the virtues of Mullingar. Deputy Mary O'Rourke is keeping a watchful eye on both of you in terms of job creation in Westmeath.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The objective of 50% was for new greenfield projects. The general question the Deputy asked was about jobs created.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: That was always the objective. I will go through that in a moment.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The 16% I mentioned is of all new jobs created, that is, 9,216 in 2007. How many existing companies create additional jobs by new project expansions and so on? Quite a number of the 9,000 jobs would be expansions to existing facilities and the operations of companies that already exist in Ireland. The greenfield ones are new projects. Substantial progress was achieved during the period...

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: It shows the following — 45% in 2000, 43% in 2001, 44% in 2002, 46% in 2003, 41% in 2004, 39% in 2005 and 36% in 2006. Very significant progress was made by the IDA in the BMW region and there were very significant projects across the region. In reply to Deputy Penrose's question, the IDA has business parks across the country, including a substantial one for which I dug the sod in...

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I would refer the Deputy to Carlow. I spent a number of years going there and took many heated attacks and so on in regard to our inability——