Results 47,621-47,640 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — International Standards: International Standards (1 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: I assume that the Deputy is referring to domestic clothes washing machines. The National Standards Authority of Ireland has advised me that it has adopted the following standards for such machines:— I.S. EN 60335-2-7:2003 including Amendments A1: 2004 and A2: 2006 HOUSEHOLD AND SIMILAR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES — SAFETY PART 2-7: PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS FOR WASHING MACHINES. I.S. EN...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (1 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: I would advise the Deputy that I do not have any responsibility in relation to the Equal Status Act 2000. The investigation of complaints under that Act is a matter for the Office of the Director of Equality Investigations.

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (1 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Merchandise Marks Act 1887, as amended by the Consumer Information Act 1978, makes it an offence to apply a false or misleading trade description to a wide range of characteristics of goods, including the material of which goods are composed. Directive 1984/450/EEC on Misleading Advertising, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Misleading Advertising)...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (1 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Section of my Department has informed me that the last application made to this section by the above named individual was on the 14th of June 2005 and was subsequently refused on the grounds that the above named individual was on a study visa and was therefore not entitled to enter full time employment. To-date no further application has been submitted to this section.

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (1 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: My Department has identified one Statutory Instrument which was not sent to the bodies prescribed in Section 3 (1) (a) of the 1947 Act within the seven day time limit, although all the other requirements of the Act were observed. I signed S.I. No. 290 of 2006 European Communities (Co-operation between National Authorities Responsible for the Enforcement of Consumer Protection Laws)...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (1 Feb 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am aware that the Director of Consumer Affairs has received a considerable number of complaints from consumers in relation to the introduction of the charge referred to in the Deputy's question. However, I do not share the view that introducing measures or imposing controls in relation to the price traders charge for goods or services would necessarily address the concerns raised by the...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am glad that this matter has been raised on the Adjournment. Like every other Deputy and person in Cork, I was very concerned and disappointed to hear about the situation in Motorola. The company, which employs 330 people, informed its employees on 29 January 2006 of its intention to enter an employee consultation process regarding the future of the Cork site. The company is considering...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Other companies did it differently in the past 12 months. Deputy Boyle must accept that. The key reason behind the proposal is that, as part of the company's worldwide reorganisation, the workforce is to be reduced by 3,500 globally. I was in ongoing discussions with the company before January. IDA Ireland is in constant negotiations with a range of companies, including Motorola. We have...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland and the Government work with senior management in companies. We liaise and discuss with them. I was in discussion with senior management at this company before this debate. The last quarter results from Motorola were poor. It did not reach its targets. The idea that a Minister in Ireland is responsible for Motorola's difficult international performance is a crazy notion.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Allen said it.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has tried to skew the debate into a personality issue. The bottom line is that Motorola has had international difficulties with some products and the Cork plant operates in a technological area that has created difficulties in that it has reached its plateau in generating revenue. We and the company were hoping that we could get other activities and projects into the plant to...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I will deal with that issue later. As regards job losses announced in companies in County Cork, I assure the people concerned that State agencies will provide every assistance possible. The priority will be to find an acceptable outcome for all those involved at the earliest opportunity. I do not accept Deputy Lynch's fatalistic view that everyone will be obliged to leave Cork because of...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The role of FÁS, the industrial training agency, is of particular importance in providing assistance. The agency's full range of services is made available to the companies generally when redundancies occur. In the context of Motorola, I have asked FÁS, IDA and Enterprise Ireland to engage with the company with a view to supporting, in every possible way, the workers at the plant. That...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: ——and our economy is now characterised by high output and productivity, together with high returns to labour in the form of wages, salaries and better living standards. Low technology production, which dominated our economic output in the past, is, as Deputy Boyle outlined, being replaced by higher technology and services enterprises. Contrary to what has been said, Irish manufacturing...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: As Deputy Boyle is aware, the number of jobs is not the only yardstick used in this regard. The coming into play of proper efficiencies provide longer sustainability and a better opportunity to retain plants. The latest CSO release on industrial employment in December indicates that employment in manufacturing increased by some 4,000 in the 12 months to September 2006. I accept that this is...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: One of the Government's main tasks is to ensure that Ireland remains an attractive place to do business and to support the development of economic competencies higher up the value chain. In that regard, we continue to work to maintain and enhance our framework competitive conditions and to promote new areas of competitive advantage, such as by developing our research and development base....

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: There has, in effect, been a significant turnaround in the nature of employment in Ireland. As we have seen in the past 15 years, long-term, sustainable economic growth and expansion in employment depend on a competitive and adaptable economy. For some time, the Government has recognised the inevitable changes taking place across world markets for both trade and investment. Enterprise...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: There are now over 2 million people working in Ireland. Job losses, which inevitably arise in the globalised marketplace, are far exceeded by new job creation in this country, usually accompanied by——

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy raised this issue and blamed the current crisis on cost-competitiveness.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy. He does not like what I am saying.