Results 47,941-47,960 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Competitiveness is a remarkably broad policy area constantly under review and consideration both in my Department and across the Departments of my Government colleagues. Several activities are directed at identifying and improving our competitiveness. Recently the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) published its Annual Competitiveness Report (ACR) with its presentation of international...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together. The National Competitiveness Council recently published a Statement on the Costs of Doing Business in Ireland. The Statement outlines the key findings of research assessing the cost of doing business at four locations in Ireland — Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick. These locations are compared with international centres in both...

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The data in the OECD report refers to foreign direct investment, FDI, inflows and outflows that cover a wide variety of transactions. The flows of FDI associated with companies for which IDA Ireland has responsibility would only form a component of the OECD data. It would be incorrect to take the OECD data in isolation and infer from it that Ireland has become uncompetitive, or is losing...

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Like everything else in life, the projects built and the jobs created are the ultimate benchmarks or inputs to any database. I referred to the impact of the American Jobs Creation Act 2004. If the Deputy listened carefully to my reply, he will note it stated that a range of inflows and outflows are assessed. However, the bottom line is that 2005 was the best year since 2000 in respect of...

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Yes. A total of 70 greenfield and expansion projects were sanctioned in 2004, and a further 71 in 2005. This year looks even better. The quality of this year's investments says a great deal about Ireland and its world class manufacturing capability in the field of pharmaceuticals and of bio-pharmaceuticals in particular. For example, the largest biotechnology company in the world, namely,...

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The financial services company Northern Trust will locate in Limerick. Today, Google, the Internet company that is the brand name in terms of Internet activity, decided to locate in Ireland. From my perspective, such high quality investments in what I would describe as the industries of tomorrow are reassuring. Such organisations have made hard decisions. When I visit such companies in...

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Opposition parties did not introduce it.

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: They opposed it. Deputy Rabbitte opposed it.

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I welcome any constructive suggestions from Deputy Hogan regarding ongoing issues pertaining to foreign direct investment.

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: We are planning very effectively and comprehensively for the future. The research and development strategy is a plan for future industry, jobs and competitiveness. This is why we put so much effort into it. A total of eight Departments were involved in the process, which was chaired by my Department. I chaired a Cabinet sub-committee on science and technology. We see it as critical for...

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Charlie McCreevy personified the tax cutting agenda in this country, which produced increased revenue flows in respect of corporation tax and capital gains tax.

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I always remember how Deputy Rabbitte attacked Mr. McCreevy's policies on positive tax reform on that occasion and tried to score some political points off them.

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: It is important to always remember that the Deputies opposite opposed Mr. McCreevy's policies at that time. It is a very positive development that they now attempt to seek credit for them.

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: On the contrary, it is important that Mr. McCreevy——

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: With the greatest respect, Mr. McCreevy is making a great contribution to the global enterprise that is the European Union and his impact is already being felt in that jurisdiction.

Economic Competitiveness. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy may speak for himself.

State Property. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The details of Enterprise Ireland's expenditure over the past five years on its current headquarters in Glasnevin in order to meet both its business needs and health and safety obligations is an operational matter for Enterprise Ireland and not one in which I have a function. However, I understand from Enterprise Ireland that, in the period 2001-06, it spent €6.6 million on redevelopments...

State Property. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: I have already answered the Deputy's last question about when the decision was made. The decision was made by Enterprise Ireland. The agency has been undergoing significant change over the past two years. It has launched a very impactful strategic vision for the future and is very clear in its focus following the report of the enterprise strategy group on what it must do to develop and...

State Property. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: Such money was not effectively thrown out the window. If the Deputy was to go through the reply in detail, he would note it illustrates that is not the case. I will not estimate the value of any sale.

State Property. (15 Nov 2006)

Micheál Martin: The market will determine that. The Deputy knows as well as anyone that the sales of any asset or building in Dublin are buoyant.