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Results 47,821-47,840 of 51,015 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 117 together. I have provided funding of more than €30m to the County and City Enterprise Boards this year. This represents an increase of nearly 8% on the allocation provided in 2005. In addition to the Exchequer funding provided, the CEBs have an increasing flow of funds available to them from repayments of refundable grants provided in earlier...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The information being requested falls within the statutory remit of Enterprise Ireland, an agency under the aegis of my Department. However, I understand that a significant proportion of the requested material now being sought is incorporated in the material recently supplied to Deputy Ryan by Enterprise Ireland following the Deputy's Parliamentary Questions, numbers 406, 407 and 408, of the...

Written Answers — UN Conventions: UN Conventions (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 154 together. As I and other Ministers have indicated to similar questions in the past, Ireland has not signed nor has it any plans to ratify the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1990. This is also the position of other Member...

Written Answers — Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy: Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: In the months since the launch of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (SSTI) in June, 2006 the following implementation initiatives have been set in train: The composition and terms of reference of Technology Ireland (TI) have been agreed and it has become operational. TI, which operates under the aegis of the Office for Science and Technology, is charged with ensuring...

Written Answers — Live Register: Live Register (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: As part of the Government's National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) Preventive Strategy, people aged between 18 and 64 years and who are approaching three months' duration on the Live register, are systematically referred by the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) to FÁS for interview with a view to assisting them enter/re-enter employment. During the period January to December...

Written Answers — Public Services Portal: Public Services Portal (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 113 together. My Department has co-operated with Reach Services on the integration of electronic services into one common portal. At present, all of the Department's websites and online services are available via Reach. These services include database and register searching, downloading official forms, and document searching, downloading and...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the information being sought by the Deputy refers to Bodies or Agencies that come under my Department's remit, and which are funded by my Department, but which are statutorily independent of the Department in the execution of their day-to-day functions. I should also say that under Delegation of Ministerial Functions Orders, responsibility for making a number of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department and its agencies support the financing of SMEs in a number of ways. The funding provided by Enterprise Ireland and the County and City Enterprise Boards in the form of grants, refundable aid and equity participation provides an important source of finance to many SMEs. In addition, Enterprise Ireland actively promotes the availability of venture capital in Ireland and, earlier...

Written Answers — Groceries Order: Groceries Order (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 145 and 207 together. The Groceries Order was abolished on the 20th March 2006. Recent CSO figures show that the prices of products previously covered by the Groceries Order fell by 0.7% in the seven-month period from April to October. However, food prices have been fluctuating during the past 12 months and while we are seeing a downward trend in some...

Written Answers — Company Mergers: Company Mergers (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I have not made any representations to the European Commission in relation to the proposed acquisition of Aer Lingus by Ryanair as for the purposes of the EU Merger Regulation, the Irish Competition Authority is the competent authority responsible for regulating mergers and, accordingly, I have no function in mergers, other than media mergers.

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Personal Injuries Assessment Board has received thirty six thousand cases since it was established. I understand from the PIAB that six thousand of these were settled up-front from the outset, nine thousand cases were settled between the parties during the PIAB process, over five thousand assessments have been made, and an estimated four thousand cases are heading into litigation,...

Written Answers — Jobs Relocation: Jobs Relocation (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: It is not possible to determine the number of jobs which have relocated to lower wage economies, nor can the number of posts awaiting relocation be identified. The offshoring of lower value-added functions is, however, part of the reality of modern global manufacturing for a highly developed economy such as Ireland. There are a variety of differing and complex factors which might influence a...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Open and fair competition is one of the central keys to a successful economy. A visible effect of competition is that companies that compete to win business and to increase market share will reduce prices, provide enhanced service and variety, and generally become more responsive to the needs of consumers. Another benefit of competition, and the one that is less visible, is the fact that...

Written Answers — Competitiveness and Innovation Programme: Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I understand that a scheme supporting "Young Innovative Companies" has been in operation in France since 2004. While I am not aware of a specific EU Programme or proposals for a new type of company under the general title mentioned by the Deputy there are a range of initiatives proposed under the Commission's Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme 2007-2013, which includes a...

Written Answers — Company Mergers: Company Mergers (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Under the merger provisions of the Competition Act, 2002, proposed mergers require regulatory clearance from the Competition Authority. I have no role in this process, other than in the case of "media mergers". Following the announcement from the Competition Authority that it had incorrectly calculated the legal deadline before which it was required to issue a determination under the mergers...

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: International oil and gas prices are the main drivers of electricity prices in the country. We are price takers when it comes to buying fuel for electricity generation and are subject to the same fossil fuel cost pressures experienced by SMEs in other economies. In addition, economic expansion and a growing population makes it imperative that our generating and electricity network is both...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that I published the general scheme of the legislation to establish the new National Consumer Agency in August this year. Since then my Department has been working in close co-operation with the Attorney General's office in relation to the legal drafting of the Bill. It is my intention that the Bill will be published before the end of the year and that it will be...

Written Answers — National Regulators: National Regulators (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I presume the deputy is referring to co-operation agreements between the Competition Authority and statutory bodies. Section 34 of the Competition Act, 2002 requires the Authority to enter into formal co-operation agreements with the regulators and I can confirm that such agreements are in place. The Authority currently has agreements with the following bodies: Broadcasting Commission of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Between 16th to 19th October, 2006, in my capacity as Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, I paid an official visit Canada at the head of an Enterprise Ireland-sponsored Trade Mission. The main purpose of the Trade Mission was to promote Ireland as a source of world-class products and services in Canada, and also to highlight the growing economic links between the two countries. At...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 144 together. I am aware of recent media publicity concerning the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. The PIAB has received thirty six thousand cases since it was established. I understand from the Board that six thousand of these were settled up-front from the outset, nine thousand cases were settled between the parties during the PIAB process, over...

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