Results 46,581-46,600 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The number of companies located in the Shannon Free Zone in the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 was 112, 109 and 101 respectively. Employment in these companies for these years was 7472, 7207 and 7188. The number of companies was unchanged for the first half of this year but employment figures for 2007, which are compiled on a full year basis, will not be available until early in 2008. The Zone...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The legally binding agreements covering the payment of industrial grants by IDA to its client companies provide, among other things, that companies are obliged to repay grants in their entirety in the event of the project not proceeding. I am satisfied that the company concerned is fully aware if its obligation to repay the grant in its entirety. Where a contractual entitlement to recover a...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: Under the Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006 it is illegal for a national from outside the European Economic Area to be in employment without an employment permit, except in specific circumstances. It is not possible to establish the precise number of people from other countries working illegally in Ireland. However, measures are being taken to restrict illegal working in Ireland. Under...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The National Consumer Agency is empowered under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 to advocate the consumer's case to any public body in relation to matters of consumer protection and welfare. I understand that, in response to a public consultation in relation to a draft toll scheme for the M50, the Agency recently made a formal submission to the National Roads Authority. I would advise the...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: Price display law is covered by Orders made under Section 19 of the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 and under the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002, Statutory Instrument No. 639 of 2002. The various Price Display Orders made under the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 cover Drinks Display in Licensed Premises, Hairdressing Services, Petrol and Diesel and...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (28 Nov 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 — Work Permits: Work Permits (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section has indicated that in line with current policy renewal applications should be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to the expiry of the existing permit. Assuming that everything is in order applications are currently being processed within 15 working days of receipt.

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (28 Nov 2007)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the live register figures increased in October by 8,943 year on year. The total number of people recorded on the live register for October is 157,449. This equals the average numbers recorded on the live register for the year in both 2005 and 2006 and is less than that recorded in the previous four months of 2007. The Department of Social and Family Affairs maintains the...