Results 48,421-48,440 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: The only other option might be the back to education allowance.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I thank all Senators who spoke for their broadly strong support for the legislation. I look forward to going through the details on Committee Stage. Senator Coghlan stated his party would accept the Bill. A number of issues were raised, including the Gama situation, which is still before the Supreme Court. We worked on this issue through the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court,...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: A one-stop shop will be created and, ultimately, we will have one system for people who apply for green cards, work permits and residency. That will involve the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It is evolving.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: It has already been established, although my Department retains the economic migration policy function, which is important because we deal with industry, enterprise and business. The Departments of Foreign Affairs and Justice, Equality and Law Reform have already come together and we now work with that group. INIS is the name of the group, and its fundamental objective is to make it more...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: Yes, if they are above the family income supplement threshold. Some provisions will be made on that. The only issue is that people must have sustainable employment for the future. I will return to the issue of Senator Coghlan's sustainability policy later. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has already moved on that issue and articulated publicly on it. Work permits will be for...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: It is also the right thing to do. We learn as we go along. I stated before — Senator Mansergh made the same point — that in 1999 only 5,000 work permits were issued in this country. By 2003, 50,000 were issued annually. Since May 2004, 200,000 people have entered the country. It is rapid and fast-moving. I met Bruce Morrison before I formulated the Bill and I had constructive engagement...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: If they see a new opportunity, they can apply for work permits to work there and approach the employer to ask whether he or she would employ them if they obtain work permits. If an employee has a bad experience during the first year, he or she can leave and we will facilitate him or her with a new work permit. This will ensure they do not have an unacceptable experience in terms of...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: The one advantage with the employer applying is that one can go to source quickly. One can ask for the books and state if the employer does not rectify what he or she has done wrong, he or she will never get a work permit again and the sanctions of the Bill will be applied. Senator Mansergh raised the issue of the information on the work permit. The agreed remuneration rate will be on the...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department is beginning to work on this issue. We have taken submissions and people are working on the challenges that the rapid inward migration pattern of recent years presents to Irish society, both at a societal level and from the Government's perspective of policies that need to be developed. The permit must indicate a statement of the agreed remuneration, which relates to Senator...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: The permit will go to the employee and it must include the agreed remuneration. Section 9(3), as amended on Report Stage in the Dáil, provided that the permit shall include or be accompanied by a statement of the employee's employment rights and protections. A statement of the rights and entitlements under Irish labour law will be included.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: Senator Norris raised that issue. Senator Norris wondered if we were discriminating in favour of the highly skilled. We expect most of the low and medium-skilled to come from Europe. There are significant numbers coming in, and it does not make sense to duplicate that scenario with those from outside the EU. Over 200,000 people have come in since May 2004. The Senator also raised the issue of...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: Senator Norris asked why employers should apply, but why should they not? There are many decent and honourable employers out there who will need to fill their skill needs. They may need to do it urgently, and there can be specialist niche areas. There should be a balanced approach, and this is provided for in the Bill. Senator O'Rourke's points are important, particularly those regarding...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: Some are moving on to the social welfare system also, as recent employment figures would show. People are now moving from the justice system into the social welfare and employment system. Those foreign nationals, in particular, who have been granted leave to stay in Ireland have the one-parent policy.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: Those with humanitarian needs are slightly different. Irish-born children have, in essence, residency and are here for good. Therefore, they can work and draw social welfare. It is only in the context of drawing social welfare that the idea sprang to mind in the specific case raised by the Senator. There may be room with regard to the back to education allowance.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I am not sure of the entitlements with regard to fees.

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: I will take the point on board and discuss it with the Minister, Deputy Hanafin. Part of our agenda in that respect will be to move people into the labour force. It would not be a good experience if people had to move out of the justice system — the accommodation centres, for example — on to social welfare. That is the case at the moment but we are anxious to act on this fairly quickly....

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage. (24 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: This Bill passed all Stages in the Dáil following a constructive and wide-ranging debate. We were happy to take on board a number of Opposition amendments where we felt they made genuine improvements to the Bill. In overall terms, the Bill provides a framework within which there is the flexibility to adapt and use different migration policy instruments to respond to changes in the economy...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (23 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland. Under the Industrial Development Acts I am precluded from giving directives to the Agency regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. I understand from IDA Ireland that since January 2005 the agency has brought five companies on site...

Written Answers — Official Hospitality: Official Hospitality (23 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not have a wine cellar. A review carried out on foot of the Deputy's question identified only six bottles of wine. Four bottles are a 2002 Italian Cabernet Sauvignon. They were bought in Mitchell & Son's Wine Merchants in 2004 and the cost was 9.05 euro per bottle. In addition, there are two bottles of a 2003 Australian Shiraz. It is not clear where these were acquired....

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (23 May 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Competition Act 2002 prohibits anti-competitive arrangements between "undertakings" and the abuse of a dominant position by undertakings. From the information provided, it appears that this issue may relate to an alleged restriction on competition. The Competition Authority is an independent statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition law in the State. Any evidence of an...