Results 47,701-47,720 of 51,015 for speaker:Micheál Martin

National Pay Agreement. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am happy to report that my Department is making significant progress on commitments in Towards 2016. Work on the preparation of the necessary legislation to give effect to the comprehensive package of measures contained in the agreement concerning employment standards is being progressed as a matter of urgency. In addition, the additional resources identified under the agreement for...

National Pay Agreement. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I am putting considerable pressure on the Department to move on this issue as quickly as possible. We are looking at putting the bulk of the staff in place in the second quarter of the year. The Deputy will appreciate recruitment processes must be engaged in but I am determined that the 60 additional inspectors will be appointed in 2007. The management team is almost in place. The...

National Pay Agreement. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Carlow was the original location for the employment rights division of the Department but regional bases are also anticipated. That process has been completed and we are in a position to move on that. Inspectors will be recruited not only to the centralised agency but also to regional locations. Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

Foreign Direct Investment. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The level of foreign direct investment in Ireland, relative to the size of the economy, is one of the highest in the world. Many of the world's leading overseas companies have substantial international operations in Ireland. These include companies in ICT, life sciences and international services, including financial services. Employment in IDA-assisted companies increased by 3,795 in...

Foreign Direct Investment. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I was with Mr. O'Hara yesterday at the announcement of a significant investment by Intel in a new digital health research project, the first of its kind by Intel outside the United States. This indicates the attraction of Ireland as a location for high-end research and development in areas that represent core strategic objectives of companies of the calibre of Intel. The project involves...

Foreign Direct Investment. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I must be careful because Deputy Hogan has made gloomy forecasts in the past which did not turn out as he had predicted. I commissioned a study from Forfás last year on the state of manufacturing in Ireland today vis-À-vis internationally traded services. An important outcome of that analysis was that while manufacturing jobs have been lost the yield and output from Irish manufacturing...

Foreign Direct Investment. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: It has. I will refer the Deputy to the study which has been published. The reason is clear. As we move towards a more efficient manufacturing environment and apply technologies more effectively we will experience a loss in numbers in employment but will have a more efficient and competitive enterprise that is sustainable in the long term. We should welcome that development. Approximately...

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The payment of statutory redundancy to employees is a matter, in the first instance, for the employer. My Department is responsible for ensuring that statutory redundancy is paid to all employees who find themselves in a redundancy situation and who, by reference to age, insurability and length of service are deemed eligible for such payment. Ex gratia payments, that is, payments over and...

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is the Deputy's analysis of what happened.

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I heard the Deputy's questions.

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I also have personal views on the matter. I was particularly unhappy with what transpired. However, I cannot allow my personal preferences or instincts to impact on the legal entitlement as per the existing legislative framework. We must, therefore, rely on the law as it stands. We have taken steps in our discussions with the social partners to remedy what could be considered deficiencies...

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Irrespective of the language the Deputy uses, the redundancies were negotiated by representatives of the workers.

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: There can be many different perspectives on this issue.

Redundancy Payments. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I have been through it at all ends. The redundancy package was negotiated. I understand the Taoiseach replied today to the Deputy's party leader's correspondence on the matter. There is a long-standing precedent on the publication of the legal advice of Attorneys General, of which the Deputy is aware having been a Minister. We have been in discussions with the social partners. The heads...

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The continued availability of a well-educated, highly skilled and flexible workforce will be critical to ensuring the continued competitiveness of the economy and to enhancing social inclusion. Our labour market situation is favourable with forecasted 2006 employment growth of 4.4% and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Total employment now exceeds 2 million for the first time in the history of...

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Such action is already being taken. We have a broad idea of the sectors that are in difficulty. A recent Forfás report pointed out the decline in certain traditional areas of manufacturing, including textiles, leather and electrical machinery. On the other hand, however, we have made gains in engineering, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Those areas in which jobs are being lost are...

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Morgan might list some of the job gains in the Dundalk-Drogheda area in the past six to nine months. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, is busy doing so. Deputy Morgan might make a similar acknowledgement. For the information of the House, I wish to clarify a statement I made earlier. The Taoiseach's letter to Deputy Rabbitte has not yet issued.

Economic Competitiveness. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I emphasise the important priority I attach to business costs and the broader issue of competitiveness. There has been an increase in business costs in areas where statutory and independent regulators have to respond to international price movements, for example, in energy markets. These have undoubtedly contributed to increased business costs, but these increases are also a burden on all...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (14 Dec 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 to 261, inclusive, together. I would advise the Deputy that I do not have any function or responsibility in relation to regulating the activities of mobile phone service providers. Furthermore, I have no function or responsibility in respect of the charges imposed by such service providers. Nor have I any function or responsibility in regard to the...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (14 Dec 2006)

Micheál Martin: State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through the industrial development agencies. IDA Ireland has statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to the Mid-West, except for the Shannon Free Zone, which falls within the remit of Shannon Development. While IDA Ireland is actively marketing all areas within their remit, including the Mid-West,...