Results 48,061-48,080 of 51,015 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Employment Rights. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Regarding the legal issues that arose about the Department's capacity to publish the report of the labour inspectorate, it is my intention to deal with that legal deficiency in the legislative framework for employment rights compliance. A new compliance Bill will result from our commitments to the latest social partnership agreement.

Employment Rights. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Yes. As the report was adjudged to be ultra vires, pending adjudication by the Supreme Court, there was a legal deficiency. We are amending the legislation to grant broader powers to the Minister on these issues. We issue work permits to employers in good faith. One must trust that people will honour the decision and behave accordingly. We are not satisfied with the information received...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The European Commission report of 26 September 2006 stated that Bulgaria and Romania will be in a position to join the EU on 1 January 2007, as long as they address a number of outstanding issues. The European Council of Foreign Ministers will decide at its meeting on 16 October whether accession should go ahead on 1 January 2007. The treaties of accession provide for the following...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: We are examining this issue in the context of what has happened in recent years. That Ireland has, since May 2004, experienced the most rapid inward migration of any of the 25 EU member states will inform our deliberations on the matter. We undertook in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, to consult the social partners. The Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise,...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Some 80,000 people from the accession states are currently working here, according to CSO estimates. While the capture of data relating to people coming here is quite good, as a result of the issuing of PPS numbers, some work remains to be done to create a more accurate database of information about people on the way out. Ireland is now the fourth most favoured destination for Polish...

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I was somewhat surprised by the recent development referred to by the Deputy. We need to be careful about language. The number of people in employment increased by 88,000 in 2005, which does not suggest that substantial barriers are preventing people from getting employment.

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am talking about barriers to employment. There was a need to facilitate integration and English language training is part of that. We fund a variety of employer and industry-led initiatives through the in-company training programme, the Skillsnet programme and the Accel programme. The various sectors may make proposals relating to, perhaps, the Skillsnet issue.

EU Enlargement. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: FÁS is actively providing training for foreign workers in this country. There are obligations on the employers to facilitate the proper integration of employees and many are fulfilling them. In terms of small and medium enterprises, SMEs, there are issues relating to economies of scale and capacity. A variety of schemes is available to companies if they wish to work with us. We will be...

EU Directives. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Subsequent to the European Parliament's vote last February, the Competitiveness Council adopted a Common Position on the draft directive on services in the Internal Market at its meeting on 24 July. The text was adopted as an A item at the council with only two member states abstaining. It was supported by Ireland. This followed intensive discussions on the proposal at the Competitiveness...

EU Directives. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Our major thrust in terms of developing enterprise in indigenous enterprise and SMEs has been to develop the services side of the equation, while supporting high end manufacturing underpinned by indigenous research and development within Irish manufacturing companies. There is a significant drive, on the services side, to inform companies of the opportunities worldwide, not just in the...

EU Directives. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: It is fair with the exception of the Deputy's suggestion that the services directive does not constitute a high priority. The development of services will always be a high priority as the employment return is huge and it is the direction in which most developed countries are headed. The Deputy is correct that the advice to me is that the services directive is not a huge step forward and...

EU Directives. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: It remains to be seen whether the directive will break these barriers. Some countries impose conditions of establishment on Irish companies that would be anxious to establish bases in other EU countries and require them to deposit substantial sums of money. I am sure those companies would be willing to speak to the Deputy and other Members. They have found the current position quite...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: This issue is a day-to-day operational matter for Enterprise Ireland and neither I, as Minister, nor my Department has any function in respect thereof. Enterprise Ireland has informed me that the issue relates to a fire that took place at a plant in Rooskey, County Roscommon, in May 2002. As a result of the fire, slaughtering and boning activities in the plant were terminated. A cannery...

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department is not doing that or saying anything about it.

Industrial Development. (11 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The agencies involved are statutory bodies and my Department is not involved.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Work Permits section of my Department has informed me that there are no restrictions on a foreign national on a valid work permit changing employer. However their new employer must obtain a new work permit on their behalf. Detailed guidelines for both employers and employees are available on the Department's website at www.entemp.ie.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (10 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together. In the four year period 2002 to 2005 a total of 95 new jobs were created in IDA supported companies in County Cavan while 71 new jobs were created in County Monaghan. The attached tabular statement sets out the number of jobs created in each county in each year. The marketing of individual areas, including Cavan and Monaghan, for new or...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Work Permits section of my Department has informed me that this application was refused and the employer was notified of this decision in writing and of their right to appeal. To-date no such appeal has been received in the Work Permits section. In the aftermath of EU Enlargement, it is Government policy that employers should be able to source nearly all of their workforce needs from...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Work Permits section of my Department has informed me that this application was refused and the employer was notified of this decision in writing and of their right to appeal. To date no such appeal has been received in the Work Permits section. In the aftermath of EU Enlargement, it is Government policy that employers should be able to source nearly all of their workforce needs from...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (10 Oct 2006)

Micheál Martin: Entrepreneurship in Ireland is encouraged by the active and constant pursuit and promotion by the Government of an economic environment that is supportive of entrepreneurial activity combined with a wide range of targeted interventions by various State enterprise development agencies. There are, in the first instance, thirty-five City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) spread throughout the...