Results 46,481-46,500 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Industrial Development. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: That is a fair point. Through Enterprise Ireland's enterprise centre programme, we have allocated significant funding for enterprise. In recent weeks, for instance, we announced a significant raft of decisions in regard to enterprise centres throughout the State, particularly in rural areas and in those counties that may not have had the same success as others in securing foreign direct...
- Industrial Development. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: I am not in a position to instruct local authority officials.
- Industrial Development. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: I take the Deputy's point. We work closely with local authorities and there are many pro-enterprise county managers and town clerks throughout the State with innovative development plans. In Mallow, for example, a proactive leadership approach is being taken in terms of involving the local community in decisions regarding the zoning of land for enterprise purposes. In Dungarvan, there have...
- Industrial Development. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: That is the model we want. We invariably find that the types of practices to which the Deputy referred occur most often in those areas that are loudest in seeking investment but have the least proactive policies. The Deputy's second question relates to a function of local authorities. Park and ride facilities are the type of infrastructure that can best facilitate access to parking for...
- Industrial Development. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: That is a matter for local authorities. It can only be decided on a case-by-case basis.
- Work Permits. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: Under the Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006, it is illegal to employ a non-EEA national without an employment permit where one is required. These Acts provide for a large number of obligations and offences, including those relating to the employment of foreign nationals except in accordance with an employment permit, refusal to co-operate with Garda inquiries, forgery, fraudulent...
- Work Permits. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy and the Employment Permits Act 2006 gives me those teeth. It states "the Minister may appoint in writing such and so many of his or her officers to be authorised officers for the purposes of all or any of the provisions of this Act or the Act of 2003". It was a gap in the 2003 legislation that the issue of prosecution was left to An Garda.
- Work Permits. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: The GAMA episode, which may still be in the Supreme Court, made this matter crystal clear for me. We were quite vulnerable to legal challenge, even in the compilation of a report. I have instructed my officials that the national employment rights agency, NERA, will be the agency to prosecute for breaches of the Employment Permits Act2006.
- Work Permits. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: The Bill to give NERA statutory provision is being drafted currently by the Parliamentary Counsel, and it should be placed on a statutory footing in early 2008. The overall approach is to build compliance. NERA is in discussions currently with the GNIBââ
- Work Permits. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: They are authorised officers of my Department so I can activate it. I have had discussions with NERA on this specific issue last week. The GNIB still has a significant role to play because there is a migration aspect to this. A benefit of this Act, which will give us more teeth, is the capacity for the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and my Department to...
- Work Permits. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: Under the new employment permit arrangements I launched earlier this year, registered nurses and specialist nurses are both occupations for which green cards may be issued for posts with an annual salary over â¬30,000. Nurses must be fully qualified and registered with An Bord Altranais. In 2007 to the end of October, a total of 1,331 employment permits have issued in respect of nurses, of...
- Work Permits. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: My officials discussed the matter this morning and we understand the association may have articulated the difficulties outlined by the Deputy; we will facilitate a meeting to work through a proper system. There has always been a specific allowance for health care because it was an area identified repeatedly, along with IT and construction professionals, as having skills shortages. This must...
- Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: Broadband infrastructure and telecommunications policy is the primary responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. There has been much debate and discussion about broadband provision over the past few years. As a result of forward-thinking investment many years ago our international broadband connectivity is superior to or as advanced as any...
- Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: I accept the Deputy's point on speed. There is no argument about the OECD measurement. There are reasons for this in that countries like Japan have higher population densities, which give them some advantage over lower speed countries. For example, 26 million people live in the greater Seoul area, half of whom live in apartment blocks.
- Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: The point is that I do not disagree with the Deputy. The other competitive issue regarding the digital and Internet space is energy. That would be of concern to me in the medium term as it affects the cost base that may apply. I have also discussed that area with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan. The Deputy has said we are playing catch up. We...
- Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: We are moving particularly quickly.
- Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: We did.
- Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: I am not interested inââ
- Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: I take the Deputy's point that we always aim to be the best. Although I note that just as the Deputy criticises me for using European parameters, on another day the Opposition loves to use European averages. I accept the Deputy's basic point that it is not the key issue for us. The key issue for us relates to FDI. We compete with Israel, Singapore, Puerto Rico, eastern Europe and other...
- Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)
Micheál Martin: The Minister, Deputy Ryan, is ahead of the game in that he is already calling together a forum regarding next generation technologies.