Results 47,381-47,400 of 51,015 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department have informed me that the following are the figures for permits applied, approved and rejected in the past five years. Total Received Approved Rejected 2003 48,562 46,943 1,619 2004 34,491 33,206 1,285 2005 27,416 26,288 1,128 2006 22,626 21,502 1,124 2007 to date 3,341 2,950 391

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 377 together. The following tabular statement sets out the position in relation to full time permanent jobs in manufacturing in Enterprise Agency (Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland) assisted firms in Co. Kildare in the past eight years. In that period 8,112 new permanent jobs were created in manufacturing, while job losses amounted to 5,169 giving a...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 372 together. Since the abolition of the Groceries Order almost 12 months ago, I have regularly reviewed the Consumer Price Index, which is published monthly by the Central Statistics Office. The CPI includes statistics on items previously covered and not covered by the Groceries Order. Despite the implication in the question, I never predicted that...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 374 together. A budget totalling €1,046,861,000 has been allocated to FÁS for 2007. This budget ensures that overall numbers on schemes are maintained at 2006 levels. I am satisfied that this level of funding is more then adequate to support the ongoing requirements of FÁS in the delivery of its labour market programmes.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (6 Mar 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. With regard to the property side of the Department's move, the Office of Public Works completed the purchase of a site in Carlow town centre late in 2005. On 31st May 2006, the OPW commenced the tendering process by seeking expressions of...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: The relocation of businesses within particular types of industry, and with it a certain number of jobs, is a reality of modern global manufacturing for a highly developed economy such as Ireland. The factors that influence a firm's decision to relocate are varied and complex. In addition to relative wage rates and other cost factors, these may include business takeovers, consolidations and...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 to 380, inclusive, together. Economies throughout the developed world experience flows of capital as firms make adjustments to their operations and decide where to locate different aspects of their value chain. In this context and with the extending influence of globalisation, every major economy of the European Union has seen plants and jobs relocate to...

Manufacturing Forum. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: The high level group on manufacturing has been established. The terms of reference for the group, as set out in section 7 of part 1 of Towards 2016, are to review the challenges facing the manufacturing sector and having regard to initiatives currently under way, identify any further measures that would help to meet those challenges. The group, membership of which is in accordance with the...

Manufacturing Forum. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: While I will deal with this question later, there has been and continues to be export growth in Ireland.

Manufacturing Forum. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: In the past three years alone, Ireland's merchandise exports have recorded year on year increases of approximately 3% per annum. This was achieved despite adverse conditions in many markets, including currency rate changes. It follows a long-standing trend of many years that was disrupted in the aftermath of the attacks on 11 September, as well as the bubble difficulties associated with the...

Manufacturing Forum. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: Ireland continues to have a very healthy trade surplus, which stood at €29 billion on merchandise trade. On the issue to which people are adverting, it is always important to retain a sense of perspective about debate. The Deputy has had a tendency in the past four or five years to predict continually——

Manufacturing Forum. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: ——doom and gloom. I can quote all his comments to the effect that——

Manufacturing Forum. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: ——unemployment would rise dramatically and employment would collapse. While I have all such quotations to hand, I will not repeat them as the Deputy is aware of them.

Manufacturing Forum. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: Thankfully, the Deputy's predictions have not been borne out.

Manufacturing Forum. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: As a percentage of world share exports have fallen from 1.5% to 1.4%. However, there also have been changes in terms of the volume of world share. Obviously, growth in the past decade has been extremely rapid and the National Competitiveness Council compares Ireland with a number of benchmarked countries. This is important when preparing for the future and in ensuring that we provide the...

Manufacturing Forum. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: Mr. Hogan is correct to state the employees should be the first to be told by the company. The company indicated it will make an announcement to the workers tomorrow morning. We have been aware of the situation. A study on the optimal solution for Procter and Gamble as a company with regard to its future production of cosmetics in the Nenagh region has been ongoing for approximately nine...

Manufacturing Forum. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: The early warning system is in operation. We continue to receive alerts. In some instances they come through and in others they are averted. The IDA has an ongoing programme of interacting with its client companies, particularly where it identifies areas that might be at risk, to see whether it can bring added and increased activities from other areas of a company's operations to Ireland....

Unemployment Levels. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: Under the Industrial Development Acts I am specifically precluded from giving directives to the industrial development agencies regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over another. IDA Ireland's strategy for achieving a better regional distribution of overseas mobile investment is to work in partnership with other stakeholders to present companies with...

Unemployment Levels. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Unemployment Levels. (6 Mar 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy asked if I was for real but the Deputy should get somewhat real as well.