Results 48,541-48,560 of 51,299 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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....

Unemployment Levels. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Unemployment is measured through the quarterly national household survey as published by the Central Statistics Office. The survey provides a breakdown of data on a regional basis only, and not on specific towns. The most recent survey data published at the end of May shows the national unemployment rate is 4.2%. The equivalent rate for the western region, which includes Ballina, is 4.3%....

Unemployment Levels. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Where did the Deputy acquire that figure?

Unemployment Levels. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Unemployment has been reduced in Ballina from 1,437 to 1,308 in the past year. Members should be careful in respect of the language they use.

Unemployment Levels. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I was in Mayo recently and to describe either conditions or indigenous business there as abysmal is ridiculous and should not be done. County Mayo has a good indigenous sector, with some excellent local companies which create good employment. While challenges certainly exist in respect of infrastructure, there is a significant number of positive factors in County Mayo, not least the number of...

Unemployment Levels. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I understand IDA Ireland does not want to sell short the county council which invested significantly in that site as part of an agreement. I accept people have different ideas and members of my party articulated to me that perhaps a different site should have been selected a number of years ago. I cannot retrospectively resolve that. This is a major challenge. Ideally, securing that site...

Unemployment Levels. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: From where did the Deputy get that figure?

Unemployment Levels. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I do not know from where Deputy Cowley got the figure of 11%. The live register is not the unemployment register and the unemployment rate is reducing in Ballina. I met the chamber of commerce in Ballina and people there are anxious to bring in foreign direct investment as well as developing their own. That is the issue. Regarding the site development works, the most pressing challenge is...

Job Creation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Job creation measures in the Ennis Information Age Park, IAPE, and elsewhere are a matter for the relevant industrial development agencies and not one in which I have any direct involvement. As I indicated in response to previous similar parliamentary questions, Shannon Development's 30-acre information age park in Ennis, which opened on 9 June 2005, is in the early stages of a long-term...

Job Creation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Shannon Development is responsible for the development of Ennis Information Age Park. It always made clear that it is a 15 to 20-year development. I understand all local Deputies supported that initiative by Shannon Development and continue to do so. To be fair to Shannon Development, it almost manages within its own resources. The manner in which it developed its property portfolio generated...

Job Creation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Clare has been and Ennis is——

Job Creation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: With respect, Deputy Pat Breen mentioned other places in County Clare.

Job Creation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Towns will always have ongoing issues. We must include——

Job Creation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I want people to examine matters with a regional focus. If we cannot even consider matters with a county focus, our industrial policy will go nowhere fast strategically. County Clare has strong quality companies such as Roche, Olympus and Essidev which provide high quality jobs and are expanding. Deputy Pat Breen might be interested to know the employment in IDA Ireland companies had strong...

Job Creation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Stage one involves an investment of €11 million and all the infrastructural work. I would like to see more jobs but, having said that, Shannon Development has always made it clear that it is a long-term, 15-year project. We will give any support we can to Shannon Development to support companies to base themselves at the location in question, be they indigenous or foreign direct investors.

Departmental Offices. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: There are currently ten agencies and 12 offices operating under the aegis of my Department. Their functions and budgetary allocations for 2006 are as outlined in the following tables. Agencies Name of Organisation Functions Budgetary Allocation 2006 € Forfás Forfás is the national policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation....

Departmental Offices. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: In what way?