Results 46,681-46,700 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: It is not largely at the expense of the taxpayer.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: This is a billion euro project. Let us be very careful. We have been very transparent, whereas normally we take a more confidential stand on the supports we give companies. We have a range of sites for potential investment. The Carrigtwohill site was developed specifically because Amgen had a view as to where it would locate. We offered a number of locations, and when this site was...

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I met representatives of the company in April for the tenth time. They reiterated clearly and determinedly that they were going ahead with the project.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: In August, the company issued a public statement declaring it was going ahead, despite rumours. One cannot work on the basis of rumour machines.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: No. IDA Ireland works with companies and has personnel who work with companies in California, the east coast of America, Japan, Germany or wherever they are located. We have IDA Ireland offices whose personnel liaise with companies in a tough competitive world.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is how things work and there is no mystery here. Representatives of the company flew into Ireland in April and assured everyone they were going ahead.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: It would have been totally inappropriate to hold a sod turning ceremony on the day the company announced that people were being laid off.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am telling you what was said. I am not the corporate headquarters of Amgen, nor is IDA Ireland.

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: As late as August, the company said it was going ahead with the project and was making no deviation from its plans. There is no mystery. Companies make decisions. In some instances they communicate those decisions to IDA Ireland and in others they do not. In my experience, when one is alerted to a company closure one is alerted very late in the day and the company always insists on first...

Work Permits. (24 Oct 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 inquiries of the Garda Síochána; forgery,...

Work Permits. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I will check that matter for the Deputy. The situation has changed somewhat. The Employment Permits Act 2003 provided for no enforcement body other than the Garda Síochána. The 2006 Act provides that "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 the Act or the Act of 2003". My...

Work Permits. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is a useful suggestion that I would not rule out and that we could pursue because it could be built into the compliance model. I have taken a fairly hard line with regard to some employers. One of the easiest things to say to employers is that if they are found guilty of flouting employment and labour law, they need not bother to reapply for a work permit. That would be a very simple...

Legislative Programme. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: The legislative priorities for my Department are formulated in the context of the implementation of the programme for Government. The following are my current legislative priorities for the Thirtieth Dáil. The Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007 has been published. The purpose of this Bill is to regularise the position in Ireland as regards the lending of copyright works...

Legislative Programme. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: There is merit in what the Deputy has said and it is constructive. While the Parliamentary Counsel can begin drafting the Bill, it would do no harm to set up a committee to devise a general scheme. I will discuss this with the Whips. The committee dealing with enterprise would normally have enough on its agenda, but I will initiate discussions with the spokespersons to see what the best...

Public Holidays. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is the way we want to keep it.

Decentralisation Programme. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 97 together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme, FÁS is due to transfer its head office including some 383 posts to Birr, County Offaly, by 2009. FÁS currently has 20 staff members based in Birr who are working out of offices located within the Birr Technology Centre. It is anticipated that 40 staff will be located in Birr by the end...

Decentralisation Programme. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: A further 67 staff, in addition to the 40 staff expected to be in place by the end of the year, have expressed an interest of re-locating to Birr. This is made up of 23 existing staff and 44 new entrants recruited on the basis of relocation. On the planning application, I do not know the timeframe within which it will be lodged though it is due to happen in due course. FÁS is currently...

Decentralisation Programme. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: FÁS is a large organisation. It is clear that we have had difficulties in respect of the decentralisation of agencies which has not gone as smoothly as the relocation of departmental civil servants. For example, the centre in Carlow is now open and some 200 staff will shortly relocate there. This relocation and the relocation of the Health and Safety Authority, which is temporarily...

Business Regulation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: In response to the business regulation forum recommendation and to progress the agenda of reducing administrative burdens for business, I established the high-level group on business regulation under the chairmanship of the Secretary General of my Department. The high-level group comprises representatives of Departments and agencies, the business sector and a representative of ICTU. The...

Business Regulation. (24 Oct 2007)

Micheál Martin: We will not introduce the standard cost model as employed by the Netherlands, although we have engaged with Dutch authorities and they made representations to the business regulation forum on the application of the model there. One of the key issues is required resources in terms of a base measurement that a standard cost model would entail. We would need a significant cohort of civil...