Results 47,761-47,780 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 141, 159 and 196 together. In December 2005, agreement was reached between SIPTU, the Seamen's Union of Ireland and Irish Ferries on the number of redundancies to be effected, voluntary severance packages to those workers taking redundancy, the terms and conditions of those workers opting to remain with Irish Ferries, the terms and conditions of agency...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: We do not have discretion and must follow the law. We received legal advice in this regard. We have published the heads of new legislation to address such situations and will publish the Bill, which will deal with collective redundancies, to prevent a repeat of the Irish Ferries case on land shortly. It was a major part of the social partnership talks. On taxation status, if they were not...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: No. I am responding to a question asked of me and putting the information on the record. I am not entirely happy with the conditions that pertain in the maritime world because they are a cause for considerable concern. Given our labour laws and conditions, what pertains in the maritime world seems to be a retreat from what we would accept in developed economies.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: No. The matter must be resolved internationally because it leads to competitive pressures if people——

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: I recall that when the Cork-Swansea ferry service was set up ten or 15 years ago with council involvement, the rates earned by crews were not similar to those of traditional B&I crews. It has been a trend in the international maritime sector that we do not want applied to Irish domestic conditions. In the context of the proposed domestic legislation that has emanated from our discussion...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: ——undermining of basic pay standards and conditions. Everyone in the House would aspire to such.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: If the Deputy can recollect, we managed to involve the Labour Relations Commission contrary to the initial wishes of some of the parties, particularly the employers. The commission played a significant role in trying to resolve the issues at the time. A variety of sources pressured the commission and some pressed for a resolution. The scale of the redundancy payment created its own momentum...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: It is our intention that the legislation will be passed before the election; we will publish the Bill shortly. It is not normal procedure, however, to publish the advice of the Attorney General. We were conscious of this and that is why we want to introduce the legislation. We have consulted social partners on it and we will now move ahead. We want to close off any other potential...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Martin Brady asked whether, if it was not declared to be redundancy in conformity with the Act, people would be liable to taxation, and I understand that they would be. I can get the details for the Deputy but that is the implication for the workers. If a decision was taken that the payment was not in accordance with the Redundancy Payment Acts, that would be the position. It is...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: That is not what I said.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Morgan asked if, at the time of the controversy, when Irish Ferries announced its decision, obstacles could have been put in the way then. In response I said that at the time, when the Labour Relations Commission was overseeing the negotiations between the two trade unions and the employer, there were different pressures on the participating parties. It would be wrong to take from...

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is wrong. We should not read this and spin it out the wrong way.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Martin Brady asked a question seeking clarity on the tax status of a lump sum paid to workers which would not be in conformity with the Acts and I gave him a simple, straight answer to that.

Job Losses. (31 Jan 2007)

Micheál Martin: Nothing can be deduced from that in the context of the motivation or rationale behind the decision that was taken. As I said, it is not a matter for personal preference. We must look at the law as it is, take the advice we are given and make a decision.

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...