Results 46,121-46,140 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am amazed that there is no national minimum wage in Germany but the country is split wide open on the issue.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Germany is contemplating introducing it on a sectoral basis. That is an issue on which we can hold our heads up and it gives lie to the presentation that this Government ignores the rights of workers on the lower end of the pay scale or that it wilfully tolerates the widespread abuse and neglect of workers. That is simply not the case and it should not be used as an argument in this debate.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were set up in 1993 to provide support for micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role and they can provide both financial and...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Feb 2008)

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

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section has indicated that they have no record of a valid application in this case. However, if an application is submitted it will be considered on its own merits.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that this application was refused on the grounds that the position on offer is currently one of the occupations ineligible for an employment permit. In addition it appears that the proposed employee has already been in employment without a valid employment permit. An appeal was received in the Employment Permits Section on the 12th...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Over the last number of years there has been churn in employment as is typical of a developed, open, and dynamic economy such as Ireland's. Ireland is no longer a low cost economy and manufacturers in particular are facing increased competition from producers in lower cost economies. Other sectors, especially the services sector, are providing significant new employment opportunities. Since...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (14 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The National Training and Employment Authority, FÁS, will be giving immediate attention to the workers at the company in Athy who are losing their jobs and will be making contact with the company to offer its full range of services to all staff who wish to avail of its assistance. It is a matter for companies themselves to decide which sites they wish to visit and where they wish to locate...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Secretary General of my Department has held meetings with his counterparts in the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government, the OPW and the County Manager to identify the needs of Departments and State bodies insofar as the ISPAT site is concerned. Considerable progress has been made in addressing a range of development issues associated with the former ISPAT site at...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department is required to relocate a minimum of 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...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: FÁS International Consulting Limited (FICL) was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of FÁS in 1988 in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Services Act. Its purpose was to promote and carry out training and consultancy work in human resource development and related areas for the overseas market. The Articles of Association were registered on 22 September 1988. No equity was...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) was established in 1985 to accredit calibration and testing laboratories. INAB was subsequently established as a Committee of Forfás under Section 10 of the Industrial Development act, 1993 as amended by Section 46 of the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act. 1998. The Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) is the sole national...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Nítrigin Éireann Teoranta (NET) was established in 1961 to manufacture nitrogenous fertiliser. Since 1987 on the formation of Irish Fertilizer Industries Limited (IFI), a joint venture with ICI, NET acted as a holding company. More recently NET's primary role since the liquidation of IFI in 2002 had been to monitor the progress of that liquidation in the context of NET's claims on the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Skillnets Limited was established in 1999 to encourage and support enterprise-led training, to enhance the capacity and employability of workers, to contribute to increased productivity and profitability and to assist in developing a more competitive business environment. Under a Mandate and Funding Agreement agreed with my Department, Skillnets Limited operates the Training Networks Program....

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government established the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) in 1997 to provide advice on Ireland's future skills requirements and make recommendations as to how those needs could be met. The mandate of the EGFSN was formalised in 2001. The EGFSN is an independent advisory body appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in consultation with the Minister for...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (13 Feb 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 — Job Creation: Job Creation (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 255 and 256 together. 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. While I may give general policy directives...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am informed by Enterprise Ireland that the company in question has not returned any grant aid to the agency. Discussions are ongoing but have been complicated by a fire at the Glanbia plant in Edenderry last year and the current proposed management buy out of the Glanbia Pork Division. Notwithstanding this, I understand that progress is being made in the negotiations and it is expected...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Payment and repayment of grants are day-to-day operational matters for the Industrial Development agencies. While I do not have any role in the day-to-day operations of the agencies, I understand from Enterprise Ireland that in this particular case the company received approximately €370,000 in grant aid over the past ten years. There is no contingent liability on this grant aid according...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (13 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Enterprise Development Agencies under the aegis of my Department, Enterprise Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development are responsible for growing indigenous enterprises and attracting and growing foreign direct investment. Shannon Development's role is in the mid-west region, including North Tipperary, includes the provision of tailored property solution...