Results 46,401-46,420 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: The seed capital scheme and the business expansion scheme were radically reformed in last year's budget. The bureaucracy of VAT returns improved dramatically for small business, the management development council was established and €175 million of venture capital has been contributed by the State through Enterprise Ireland, which will leverage €1 billion in private sector venture...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: The motion is correct in pointing to productivity as an important part of competitiveness. Without strong productivity growth, we cannot maintain high standards of living and high incomes. However, Fine Gael has chosen to ignore the fact that our productivity levels have converged with those of the OECD and continue to improve. The important sectors in which our economy is successful show...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: This is incredibly important because expanding productivity in key higher value added sectors is the core of being competitive. It demonstrates in clear and unambiguous terms that Ireland is both productive and competitive. Key international reports state that we display a strong capacity to work with technology and human resources to expand the productivity frontier and innovate stronger...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Varadkar did not quote this and has quoted very little of what I have quoted.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: From another perspective, we cannot have high productivity and consequently incomes without a serious commitment to innovation. Clever innovation and innovation based on our research base will drive our success in demanding markets. According to the fourth Community innovation survey, Ireland performs above the EU 15 average. This further underlines the continuing competitive attributes of...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt Deputy O'Donnell.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: Without high-level research we cannot hope to be a success in the future. We have been world class at exploiting new ideas but we must also become world class in generating those ideas. This is why we have prioritised research and development policy consistently during our time in office. This has never been a substantial item on the Opposition's agenda and it has required major resources...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: I thought I would receive an early warning in respect of my time.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: I was heckled to a large degree.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: Inflation is a concern and we must work to reduce the level at which it stands. However, people must face reality regarding the origins of inflation. It is important to distinguish between external factors, which are beyond domestic policy control, and internal factors. Externally, the main cause is higher mortgage interest payments due to ECB interest rate increases. Excluding mortgage...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: On the European measure of comparable inflation rates, inflation measured 2.7% last year. The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority expects the figure for this year to be approximately 2.8% this year but to decline to the euro area average next year. Nevertheless, cost pressures are a concern. The Government has not increased indirect taxes in three successive budgets in order to...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: I will conclude by saying that the responsible fiscal policies we have pursued have enabled us to deliver the most competitive tax regime in Europe. In this we have been opposed every year by Fine Gael, which continues the policy of attacking general increases while demanding countless specific increases. Lower taxes, higher social supports and a falling debt burden are what we have...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: We are not saying that.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is wrong. They have all been implemented.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Micheál Martin: The future lies in mobile broadband.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (29 Nov 2007)

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. Having heard the appeal the Appeals Officer has upheld the original decision in this case.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (29 Nov 2007)

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

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (29 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together. For IDA purposes the mid west region consists of the counties Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary excluding the Shannon Free Zone. Since 2002 there have been 7 new IDA supported projects opened in the Mid West region and 6 new FDI projects opened in the Shannon Free Zone. Details of each of those projects and their location is set out in...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons (including those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Government has approved the drafting by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel of the Companies Consolidation and Reform Bill along the lines of the General Scheme prepared by the Company Law Review Group. The General Scheme was designed to provide an appropriate framework for the formation and operation of companies and is framed primarily with private, commercially operating, companies...