Results 46,281-46,300 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I reiterate that agency workers, regardless of nationality, together with workers posted by their employer from overseas to work temporarily in Ireland have the same rights under Irish employment rights legislation as Irish employees. Workers in the categories mentioned also are able to take complaints to the labour inspectorate and to have their cases heard by the State's dispute resolution...

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: —— in the context of specific complaints to those established bodies.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will not argue with Members.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am not arguing with Members, I simply make the point that Members should go to the agencies that are charged with responsibility for enforcing and achieving compliance with Irish labour law. They want to acquire such specific information to pursue such matters.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: There appears to be a general impression that agency workers are mainly from overseas and are mainly poorly paid. One of the problems in addressing issues that arise in this area is the lack of hard data. I trust the work being undertaken by the CSO will help to inform and clarify some of the issues in this respect. It is too broad a generalisation to equate agency workers with migrant...

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: When Ireland was a relatively low-cost environment in manufacturing, we were quite successful in attracting investment at that end of the mobile investment market. However, as the world changed, we were obliged to adapt and develop other points of competitive advantage in the newer international economy and to move up the value chain. A key selling point in the armoury of IDA Ireland has...

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: We are not comparing like with like.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government was prepared to develop and formulate legislation as agreed in the last social partnership agreement. However, the union side stated, as it is entitled to do, that that was not sufficient. Consequently the Government is prepared, in partnership with the social partners——

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: ——to draft new legislation on an agreed basis to get the balance right.We are prepared to play our part such that Irish companies will have parity of esteem with other EU countries and will not be at a competitive disadvantage to their counterparts on the European mainland.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should bring them in.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: Long before the debate.

Agency Workers: Motion (19 Feb 2008)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the opportunity to discuss issues raised in the motion and the Government amendment and the improvements the Government has made, and is preparing, to improve the protection framework for workers. We have made considerable improvements over the past decade, many of them geared towards addressing new challenges in the labour market in a changing world of work and working...

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...