Results 47,021-47,040 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Official Travel. (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Not necessarily. Taxis still run on petrol or fossil fuels. We need proportionality and pragmatism in this debate. People throughout the country seek access to public and civil servants. Those outside Dublin believe the official mindset to be too Dublin centred. If we continue along this route, we will ensure no one will leave Dublin or travel to any other part of the country.

Written Answers — Employment for People with Disabilities: Employment for People with Disabilities (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Vocational training and employment programmes for people with disabilities, including those with mental health difficulties, are delivered by FÁS. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply for training, and the appropriate supports are put in place to meet their particular individual needs. Where the disabled person cannot meet the requirements of mainline vocational training,...

Written Answers — North-South Enterprise Policy: North-South Enterprise Policy (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Good Friday Agreement set out a new vision for the island of Ireland. As both North and South face the common challenges and opportunities of a globalised market place and continuing the transition to a knowledge economy where science, technology and innovation are vital to economic success, it is appropriate that we should jointly address those challenges and opportunities where there is...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 29 together. The Industrial Development agencies continue to promote the greater Cork area for industrial development. In terms of new foreign investment, pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, information and communications technology and internationally traded services are among the area's strongest performers in recent years. Last year, new...

Written Answers — Personal Injuries Assessment Board: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: At the end of March 2007 there were 6,307 cases with the PIAB in the 90-day "consent to process" period i.e. PIAB has received a claim and has issued formal notice to the responding party and is awaiting consent to process from that party. There were a further 5,238 cases in the nine-month statutory assessment process, where the responding party has indicated that liability is not contested...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Nationals of Romania and Bulgaria may only come to Ireland to be employed by an employer if they are the subject of an employment permit application. Up to 24th April, 2007 of this year, 18 new employment permits were issued in respect of Romanian nationals, and 5 new employment permits in respect of Bulgarian nationals. I understand that the Department of Social and Family Affairs issued...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Government recently published the National Climate Change Strategy 2007 to 2012. The strategy reiterates the target, set in the White Paper "Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland", of 33% energy savings across the public sector and commits the Government to the introduction of an Energy Efficiency Programme, with targets and standards, for Government Departments, State...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: A National eBusiness strategy was launched by my colleague Michael Ahern T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Trade and Commerce in December 2004. The strategy outlines actions required to assist SMEs, including micro-enterprises, and particularly those in the non-ICT producing sectors of the economy, to use ICTs in a way that will maximise their competitive advantage. The...

Written Answers — Local Authority Schemes: Local Authority Schemes (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Planning and Development Act 2000 set out a framework to facilitate an updating and modernisation of development contribution schemes by Local Authorities. Under section 48 of this Act, elected members of Local Authorities are empowered to adopt a scheme of development contributions following a public consultation process. To assist these new arrangements for development contribution...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 33 together. Agencies under the remit of my Department are conscious of the need to achieve a high level of energy efficiency. Although there is no formal policy in place in relation to energy efficiency in most of the agencies, a number have undertaken efficiency surveys and carbon footprint audits to ensure efficiency measures are met. A number of...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Vibrant, successful and growing economies have strong flows of capital investment as firms decide where it is optimum to invest and locate different aspects of their value chain. In this context and with the extending influence of globalisation, every major economy of the European Union experiences both inflows and outflows of plants and jobs. There will always be changes to firms' production...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The County and City Enterprise Boards are the principal government agencies at local level with responsibility for enterprise promotion and micro business development. The key objectives of the Boards are to stimulate and promote local enterprise culture and entrepreneurship and to assist new business start-ups and the expansion and growth of existing small business. The Enterprise Boards...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: There are currently a total of sixteen Directives due to be transposed by my Department up to 2010. Four of these Directives are overdue and the following is the position with regard to implementation progress. Directive 2004/22/EC of 31 March 2004 concerning harmonisation of measuring instruments had a transposition deadline of 30 April 2006 and has an expected date of implementation of 27...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: Following the closure of the plant in question, finding alternative employment for the area and the county was a priority for the Industrial Development agencies. In this regard, a major financial services project which will provide 700 jobs was announced for Navan in 2006. This project will be of significant benefit to the whole county. Another financial services company, which announced...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: There has not been a negative impact on the work of my Department and the Agencies under the aegis of my Department arising from the Government's Public Service Staffing Reduction Programme. All services carried out by my Department and Agencies have been maintained to the highest standard.

Written Answers — National Consumer Agency: National Consumer Agency (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The National Consumer Agency operates a Lo-Call helpline number 1890 432 432 from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday through Friday to assist consumers in relation to queries or complaints. The Agency also provides comprehensive consumer information and advice on its website at www.consumerconnect.ie. Consumers can email their queries or complaints to ask@consumerconnect.ie. The Consumer Strategy...

Written Answers — Regulatory Programme: Regulatory Programme (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 44, 47, 57, 68, 69 and 75 together. International benchmarking reports suggest that the regulatory burden in Ireland is relatively light. The IMD (International Institute for Management Development) World Competitiveness Yearbook 2006 ranks Ireland 8th out of 61 countries surveyed for the extent to which bureaucracy does not hinder business activity. The...

Written Answers — Third Level Institutions: Third Level Institutions (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: It is vitally important to ensure that supports are available to help companies achieve successful R&D results through interfacing with third level institutions and other potential solution providers. A broad range of collaboration supports is made available through Enterprise Ireland. This includes the Innovation Vouchers scheme, which I recently launched, which give small companies access...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: The carbon footprint of my Department for 2006 is not available. Greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the public sector in general, arise from energy use in public sector buildings. These are not reported on separately in the annual Environment Protection Agency's National Inventory Report but are included in the emissions from the Industry, Commercial and Services sector. Specific...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Apr 2007)

Micheál Martin: I presume the Deputy's question relates to air travel. As outlined in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007 – 2012, the Government, pending the inclusion of aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme, has decided that it will voluntarily introduce a carbon-offsetting scheme for all air travel on Government business, including flights by Ministers and by civil servants, from the beginning...