Results 46,201-46,220 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

EMERGE Project. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The economy is going through a transition phase and there has been significant correction, particularly in the construction sector. In some ways this opens up opportunities for the entrepreneurial sector. We are hoping that mobile capital and funding will be redirected towards start-up companies. The good news is that the high-potential start-up companies supported by Enterprise Ireland...

EMERGE Project. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The bottom line is that it will be the only game in town in terms of the actual operation of the schemes.

EMERGE Project. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: They can.

EMERGE Project. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will answer very quickly. We have reformed the business expansion seed capital schemes and increased the limits dramatically. This affects all companies, whether clients of Enterprise Ireland or not. A company does not have to be a client to avail of these schemes.

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Law Compliance Bill currently being drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel is designed to secure better compliance with employment law in accordance with the provisions of part 2, sections 11 to 16 of Towards 2016, the ten-year framework social partnership agreement. Drafting of the Bill is proceeding for Government consideration as soon as possible. The main provisions of the...

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: There has been appalling spinning of this story from the beginning. We agreed with the social partners to introduce legislation pertaining to agency workers. As soon as the ink was dry on the agreement the trade union movement stated that it was not enough and sought more. It is entitled to do so. We had the legislative template ready to introduce an agency Bill after the last agreement....

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I assume the Deputy is referring to breaches of employment law or of employment-related legislation. I reiterate, as indicated during the recent Private Members' motion of last week on agency workers, that this Government is deeply committed to decent standards of employment. Significant and substantial measures to underpin our employment standards apply to all workers, including migrant...

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: There has been much debate on this issue in recent times. If people are aware of cases, I urge them to refer them to the National Employment Rights Authority, NERA. That is the key advice I offer Deputies and the public. We have significantly enhanced the number of labour inspectors in the past 12 months. We have also regionalised the inspectorate significantly. Approximately 76...