Results 46,281-46,300 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230, 235 and 236 together. IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment 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 Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: Table 1 sets out details in respect of the total number of posts filled in my Department at various grades in each of the past five years: Table 1 Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Numbers 121 107 128 150 260 The number of posts above include the total number of people assigned to my Department by one of the following avenues: (a)recruited from open competitions (b)promoted from...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: Subject to approved overall levels of staffing and to overall budgetary constraints, the filling of posts in the Agencies within the remit of my Department is a day-to-day matter for the agencies concerned. My Department has no role or function in this process.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment 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 precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Enterprise Development Agencies under the aegis of my Department, Enterprise Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards, and IDA Ireland have remits respectively in the areas of, growing indigenous enterprises, and attracting and growing foreign direct investment. In addition, Shannon Development is the regional economic development agency for the mid-west region, and has specific...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: In accordance with a recommendation contained in the Study of Efficiency and Effectiveness of Vocational Training Services and Rehabilitative Training Services for People with Disabilities provided by Specialist Training Providers, agreement has been reached on the capitation fee payable to FÁS contracted Specialist Training Providers in respect of vocational training services for people...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: The provision of assistive technology and training supports to people with disabilities is a requirement under the Employment Equality Act, 1998 and the Equality Act, 2004. This legislation requires that appropriate measures are available to enable a person with a disability to have access to employment, to participate in employment and/or to undertake training. Within its remit for...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: Since 2006 an annual national target is set in all FÁS regions in the first quarter of the year for all training and employment programmes in respect of a number of target groups, including people with disabilities. For 2007, there is a targeted increase of 1% over the 2006 figures regarding registration, completion and placement. Targets are monitored quarterly. In 2006, 7,385 persons in...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: The main sources of advice, externally provided to my Department, are the various agencies and bodies under its remit. Of these, Forfás is the main source of advice which inputs into decisions taken by me and my Department in relation to policy matters. Forfás is the national policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation and the body in which the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department is required to relocate 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme and this is planned to occur 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 decentralising staff and...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate and I apologise for my inability to attend yesterday evening. As the House will be aware, the main objective of competition policy is to prevent and remove distortions of competition resulting from the actions of companies or public authorities, thus enabling markets to function effectively. A regulatory framework that upholds effective...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: I was not aware of that.

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (18 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: The following table provides the numbers of participants on CE Schemes in Co. Mayo in the years 2002 to 2006 and to date in 2007. Year Participants 2002 1,031 2003 767 2004 795 2005 811 2006 774 2007 784 The following table details the current Community Employment Projects in Co. Mayo and the number of approved places in each project in the area. Name of Scheme Number of approved...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: The works or services paid for in advance by my Department, that will not be completed before the end of the 2007 financial year are set out on the following tabular statement. In relation to the agencies of my Department, this is a day-to-day operational matter for the agencies concerned and one in which I have no function. Project paid for in advance but will not be completed by end of...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (18 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Appeals Officer has requested some additional information from the employer in relation to this case. On receipt of that information a decision will be made on this appeal.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (18 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together. The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that these applications were refused on the grounds that the issue of permits in this instance would lead to more than 50% of the employees in the stated company being non-EEA nationals. The employer was notified of this decision in writing and of their right to appeal. To-date...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: The following is the information requested by the Deputy: 1. Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) The terms of reference, functions and purpose of An Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) are set out in the Labour Services Act, 1987. In summary the main functions and purpose relate to the provision of training or retraining for employment and the provision of assistance in obtaining employment or work...

Written Answers — Refund Policies: Refund Policies (18 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: I have no direct responsibility for the investigation of complaints relating to contracts for airline travel and associated accommodation. I am aware, however, of a number of issues relating to those contracts, including that of non-availability of, or restrictions on, refunds. The National Consumer Agency has been examining various practices in the airline industry in recent months,...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (18 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: Notifications of firms in difficulty and where jobs are at risk are received from all of the Industrial Development agencies under my Department's Early Warning System. However, the information is provided on a confidential basis and it must remain confidential. The Deputy will understand that this is commercially sensitive information which could be of benefit to national or international...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (18 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: Two companies based in the Shannon Free Zone announced job losses in 2007. Mohawk Europa announced job losses of 92 in August 2007. The Company, a manufacturer of specialized cutting tools, attributed the losses to increasing costs, the impact of a strengthening Euro and decreased order levels. The company's survival plan did not meet with the approval of employees and the company ceased...