Results 46,221-46,240 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Four or five have left. There are some in training and the ten language inspectors are in place. We are well advanced. The only issue we had to resolve was through the industrial relations process and social partnership. We worked with the unions in the public sector to devise methods of recruitment and so forth. There has been a dramatic transformation not only in the number of labour...

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The vast majority are on the ground already.

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should relax. They are out working.

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is welcome to consult the public service union.

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: We have worked extremely hard and the problem is not on our side.

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, provides for greater co-ordination between organisations concerned with employment rights compliance, with a view to realising the considerable potential for synergy that exists in this area. In particular, the agreement provides that authorised officers of the new National Employment Rights Authority, NERA, will join officers of the Department...

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is wrong on that point. I have seen the press release issued by the Deputy's colleague in that regard. The press release referred to the national minimum wage legislation, in which there is no provision for fines. The NERA legislation is not yet in place. We are preparing legislation to bring to Government. That legislation will provide, as has already been agreed in the...

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is in the proposed legislation. There is no issue. I respectfully suggest the Deputy should be properly briefed. Otherwise, he was deliberately mis-spinning in the press release that was issued yesterday.

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: It has not.

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The NERA legislation is not yet published so how the Deputy can ask a question as to why something is not in a Bill that is not published is beyond me.

Employment Rights. (28 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: In any event, I assure the House that there will be significant penalties in the new national employment rights legislation. There are now 76 inspectors employed in the National Employment Rights Authority. A further five are due to commence on 3 March and the appointment of inspectors to fill the four remaining posts is progressing. Five more vacancies arose with people retiring and so...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (27 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy's question refers to the practice of the company concerned imposing a charge on customers who pay their bills by means other than direct debit. I note the concerns expressed by a number of commentators that this charge could impact disproportionately on certain groups of vulnerable consumers. I understand that the National Consumer Agency (NCA) received a number of complaints from...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (26 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: It would be entirely misleading to suggest that plant relocation or company restructuring giving rise to job losses, whether due to individual firm or sector challenges, indicate that whole economies are uncompetitive. Companies allocate their resources and plant location strategies for many practical and business reasons such as to be closer to key customers, to have access to specialist...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (26 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I have no plans to amend the Personal Injuries Assessment Board legislation as proposed. The settlement of hospital bills is a matter for the patient and the hospital concerned, and the PIAB has no function in this matter.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (26 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 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 to the Agency, I am...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (26 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware the provision of taxis, which are accessible for people with disabilities and wheelchair users, is a matter for each taxi company and the Taxi Regulator. However, my understanding is that the main taxi company used by my Department and its Offices has approximately 10% of vehicles available for people with disabilities and wheelchair users. The amount...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (26 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: An employment Permit for an unlimited period has already been issued in respect of the above person. There is no record of any new application having been received.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Enterprise Ireland (EI) is to move 300 posts to Shannon under the decentralisation programme. Progress on the full transfer of EI's HQ to Shannon, within the Government decentralisation programme, will be influenced by factors (many exogenous to EI) such as; the level of interest in the Shannon location expressed by CAF applicants and by progress made discussions at a central level on...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (21 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I do not appoint members to the Board of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs). The 35 CEBs are individual companies limited by guarantee and appointment to their Board is effected by ordinary Resolution of the Board of Directors, as set out in the Articles of Association of each Board. The Articles also set out the relevant categories of persons, bodies and organisations from which...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (21 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act, 1998 the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment appoints, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, eleven of the twelve members of the board of Enterprise Ireland. The CEO of Enterprise Ireland is an ex officio member of the Board as set out under the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act, 1998.