Results 48,241-48,260 of 51,015 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Figures are not available for overall numbers of enterprises established in the economy over the last three years. The performance of the enterprise development agencies, however, gives an indication of the relative strength of the economy. From 2003 to 2005, 2,025 new start-up projects were approved for grant assistance by the County and City Enterprise Boards. Of these 724 start-ups were...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: As we have seen over the past 15 years, long term, sustainable economic growth and expansion in employment depends on a competitive and adaptable economy. The effects of globalisation are being felt in even the smallest markets and global competition will both intensify and extend its reach well into the foreseeable future. For a long time this Government has recognised the inevitable changes...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 164 together. I presume the questions relate to the recent abolition of the Groceries Order. The Groceries Order was abolished because it allowed wholesalers and suppliers to determine minimum retail prices being charged to consumers, virtually eliminated price competition in the grocery trade, resulted in more than 2,000 small independent retailers...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am informed by the Work Permits section that a total of 10,649 permits have issued up to the 19th June, 2006 compared to a total of 13,552 for the period January to end June 2005. The figures broken down by month are set out in the table. Year Month New Renewals Group Total 2006 3,224 7,000 425 10,649 January 520 854 55 1,429 February 580 957 44 1,581 March...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The tabular statement gives redundancies notified to my Department from 2001 to date. These figures do not show the number of companies which have ceased trading; companies can have redundancies without ceasing to trade. Figures relating to company closures are not available. Nor is it possible to determine the number of these jobs, if any, which have relocated to lower wage economies....

Written Answers — Skill Shortages: Skill Shortages (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Our economy now has more than 1.9 million people in employment and continues to experience growth. This has led to skills shortages in some areas. However, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) has been charged with monitoring emerging Ireland's skills requirements. Since 1997, it has produced estimates of skills requirements by sector, including in ICT, Biotechnology, Finance,...

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Four of the agencies under the aegis of my Department are due to decentralise as follows: FÁS is to move 383 posts to Birr, County Offaly; Enterprise Ireland is to move 292 posts to Shannon; the Health and Safety Authority is to move 110 posts to Thomastown, County Kilkenny, and the National Standards Authority of Ireland is to move 132 posts to Arklow, County Wicklow. Under the Government's...

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am satisfied the agencies will manage this process in such a way as not to undermine or jeopardise their core activities or performance.

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt Deputy Bruton and I would appreciate being allowed the opportunity to reply. Enterprise Ireland's results, published yesterday, are a clear manifestation that the decentralisation process is not undermining its performance or capacity to achieve and to work. Subsequent to previous decentralisation of major agencies such as the Central Statistics Office, there was no...

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: At no stage have I stated this is a political stroke and Deputy Bruton is clearly distorting what I stated in that regard. I appreciate the Deputy's honesty in saying he is basically against decentralisation.

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I must take that on board.

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: No, it is a fact. Members are taking a two-sided approach to decentralisation. Many Dublin-based Members and Opposition spokespersons articulate a negative attitude to decentralisation to please their constituency——

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: ——while their colleagues down the country are endlessly beseeching Ministers about decentralisation.

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: A duplicitous approach is emerging on the issue of decentralisation.

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I acknowledge challenges must be overcome to successfully implement the programme but the bottom line is the reason behind it is to increase and facilitate development throughout the regions and to act as a catalyst for further development in those regions.

Employment Rights. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The "black economy" is generally described as the hidden sector of the economy where private cash transactions go unreported and hence untaxed. As such, the policing of this area is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners in the first instance. In the context of the new social partnership agreement, which is subject to ratification over the coming weeks, it is proposed that the hidden economy...

Employment Rights. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: A cross-departmental approach is needed to tackle the hidden economy as no Department in isolation can deal with it. We are anxious and committed to undermining the black economy because it affects the entire edifice on which most of our social progress is based and on which legitimate business is carried out. However, the Revenue has a significant role to play on the working group with ISME,...

Employment Rights. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Employment Rights. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I must reject the Deputy's assertion that neither I nor my Department are committed to this issue. It appears as though the Deputy had made up his mind in that regard before asking the question or hearing the reply. For example, our contribution to the social partnership talks in respect of labour law compliance has been strong. If one considers health and safety, within the past year my...

Employment Rights. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I do not see anything wrong with the agreement on the part of the social partners to the effect that Revenue should chair a working group on this matter. It is of key importance that everyone should be represented on the working group to ensure co-ordination. Revenue is a powerful force with regard to the hidden economy and its impact on the latter should not be underestimated or understated....