Results 46,021-46,040 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: In the space of four or five months we had the announcement of Merck Sharp & Dohme for Carlow and two weeks ago, an internationally traded service company, Unum. The idea of having property solutions is very important. The strategic serviced sites to which I referred are a new development by the IDA in terms of major sites with all the utilities in place and the planning permission secured...

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am mindful of the claims of Mullingar to inward investment, given its centrality to the nation. I will continue to work with the IDA to try to bring investment there.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Not miserably.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is representing his leader very well. He is even prepared to go to Carlow and sacrifice his own constituency.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Forfás annual employment survey shows that in five-year period from 2003 to 2007 the net gain in the numbers of new jobs created in IDA supported companies amounted to 4,623. This relatively small net gain masks the fact that there has been a considerable churn in employment in client companies. The significance of foreign direct investment to Ireland's current economic prosperity and...

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The question asks about the net gain. That is a fair question because it amassed some of the bigger issues. A total of 53,976 jobs was created over that period.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: That is a huge number. Unfortunately 49,300 odd jobs were lost. That reflects the churn in the economy. Fortunately, over the past decade we have been in the strong position where we created many jobs in services and the indigenous sector improved. We have had record job creation figures of 80,000 last year and 90,000 the previous year. We have created more jobs than we have lost. In...

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Watch this space in regard to Kerry. We do not like putting targets on it because although I understand fully the Deputy's sincerity, I know what he would do with them if we did not reach them. The IDA, of course, has benchmarks and targets for the different sectors.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: To qualify that, the period 2001 to 2004 was not a great period given the post dotcom experience. The FDI situation——

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The people were worried in 2002, which is why they voted us back in. They felt we were a safer hand at the tiller.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: There was a reduction in activity in the years after the international problems in the post 2001 scenario.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I have visited Athy——

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will have to check that.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: We certainly will. In my opening reply, I stated that we will have to try to think regionally as opposed to locally. Kildare overall has done extremely well in terms of employment creation.

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: That said, we will work on certain areas. Some counties which have done very well in terms of their commuter traffic, such as County Meath, did not complain. They analysed the situation and produced information that is now of value to would-be investors. They made the point that as there is significant commuter traffic into Dublin in IT and life sciences, the people are all prepared to...

Job Creation. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: That kind of can-do attitude is important at local level, with county enterprise boards working with the local authorities. With regard to Deputy Penrose's point, the IDA has sold much land to county councils in recent times. I am anxious that the land would continue to be used for employment purposes and indigenous purposes. However, in order to build the sites at Oranmore and so on, it...

Priority Questions. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: We are open to all questions——

Priority Questions. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: ——subject to the parameters of Standing Orders.

Priority Questions. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I always bow to the superior wisdom of the Ceann Comhairle.

EMERGE Project. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The EQUAL programme has provided co-funding to 43 projects over the programming period, one of which is the EMERGE project, which operates under the entrepreneurship pillar of the programme. The aim of the EMERGE project was to develop methodologies for the development and expansion of ethnic minority enterprises, EMEs and to assist EMEs in overcoming business obstacles within the regulatory...