Results 46,801-46,820 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (26 Sep 2007)

Micheál Martin: There is no age discrimination in employment rights legislation and there are no provisions in employment or equality law that impose a compulsory retirement from employment. The Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004, among other things, protect against discrimination on the ground of age in relation to access to employment. However, they also permit an employer to decide on a retirement...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (26 Sep 2007)

Micheál Martin: Under Section 24 of the Employment Permits Act 2007 if the employment of a foreign national pursuant to an employment permit is terminated by the employer or the holder of the permit or otherwise, for whatever reason ceases, the original of the permit and any copies thereof must be surrendered to my Department within 4 weeks. Any person who fails to comply with this section is guilty of an...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (26 Sep 2007)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas, including Waterford and Dungarvan, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am precluded under the Acts from...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (26 Sep 2007)

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency and not one in which I have a function. IDA Ireland has been in discussions with Mayo County Council regarding the acquisition of a 27 acre site on the Sligo Road in Ballina. These discussions have been protracted. The Agency requires unburdened title to the site before it can...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (26 Sep 2007)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas, including Ballina, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am precluded under the Acts from giving...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (26 Sep 2007)

Micheál Martin: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons 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 return to a work routine and to...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: There are no plans to ratify the European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers which was finalised in 1977. However, I would point out that the provisions of the Convention in relation to work permits and re-employment have been largely provided for through the provisions of the Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006 and their implementation in practice. With regard to the UN...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Directive 98/6/EC on consumer protection in the indication of prices of products offered to consumers was transposed into Irish law by way of the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002 (Statutory Instrument No. 639 of 2002). The aim of the Directive is to ensure that consumers have unambiguous indications as to the price of products. This is done by...

Written Answers — Protection of Copyright: Protection of Copyright (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together. The Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 (No. 28 of 2000) provides protection to musical publishers and recording artists in respect of their productions and recordings. The levels of protection provided are fully in line with EU and wider international law in the area of copyright and related rights and are widely regarded in...

Written Answers — Scale Verification: Scale Verification (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Weighing equipment used for trade is subject to control by the Legal Metrology Service (LMS) in accordance with the Metrology Acts 1980 to 1998. The regime of control includes approval of new designs of weighing equipment, verification of instruments of an approved design upon installation and following repair or recalibration, and inspection over the life of the instruments. The maintenance...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department has been making good progress in the relocation of the required 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. Officials of my Department, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the OPW, as well as decentralising staff and Business Units, are finalising arrangements for an advance move to Carlow ahead of the substantive move scheduled for...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: It is something that has worked and has been effective. I am not saying it is perfect or that we cannot have a continual review, but we should keep a balance and perspective in our commentary. It is not about the strong arm. The new practice that is emerging is neither valid nor sustainable. Something that should cost €50 is costing €1,500; that is not a runner.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: It is simple and straightforward and people outside the House will understand it readily.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Hogan's last point does not arise in the context of the case in the Supreme Court.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I cannot comment on the case while it is before the court.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: You were a very hard-working and valued member of that committee as well, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The insurance industry is making a lot of profits but, with respect, that is a separate issue to the one before the House. Nonetheless, it is an issue that must be addressed by having more competition in the marketplace. We are anxious to attract more competition. It is not valid, however, to...

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: Hopefully, the profitability of the sector in the modern economy will, in itself, act as an incentive for greater competition with more players coming into the field.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I invite Deputy Hogan to read the record of the contributions made in this debate. The points made were not just legal points. A clear sentiment emerged that was negative towards the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and suggested the board had very little or no impact, just as Deputy Hogan has done——

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: It was suggested what happened on 11 September 2001 was responsible for increasing costs and that there were other factors.

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2007)

Micheál Martin: I accept that Quinn Direct is very competitive. Let us accept that the legislation to establish the PIAB, which was an Oireachtas initiative, was very successful——