Results 48,561-48,580 of 51,299 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Departmental Offices. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: It is wrong to use the term "outsourcing" in respect of the establishment of State agencies to carry out specific functions designated thereto by the Executive and Oireachtas. It is improper to use the term in respect of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and FÁS, for example. On the question of there being a lack of political accountability, we must be careful at all times to ensure there is...

Departmental Offices. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The big push currently is to get stronger synergy among the major agencies — IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and FÁS — in terms of the skills issues as they affect multinational and indigenous companies. The consumer strategy group is gone; it was in operation for a short period. We must distinguish between agencies and groups that are established for a specific research policy purpose....

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The figure referred to by the Deputy relates to the NCB purchasing managers services index. It indicates impressive growth in the services sector and healthy demand. The May data from this report signalled the sharpest expansion of new business placed at Irish services firms since September 2000. This report provides further evidence that expansion in the services sector continues to be an...

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: It is important to point out, as the Deputy has indicated, that the recent increases in inflation are largely due to external factors, namely, higher oil prices and higher interest rates. If we excluded higher interest rates and oil prices, the CPI would have gone up by approximately 2.25% to 2.5%, but I accept we cannot do that. In terms of our position on inflation, the rationale behind our...

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: We constantly do everything we possibly can not just to monitor but to determine the steps we can take to ease the conditions that give rise to higher prices and higher pressures.

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: Of course we monitor them. There is a range of monitors.

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: No.

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has a habit of interjecting. I was hardly out of the traps and he was in straight away.

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I reject the Deputy's first point which uniquely tried to side-step the issue. The cause of most recent inflation is external. That is not my spin or that of the Government. Those are the facts from the CPI index——

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: ——which indicate oil and interest rates as the causes.

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The future challenges will be in respect of those two areas. Domestically, it is about creating greater competition within the economy.

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: That is very important. The one time I decided to do something about it, the Deputy's party took an ambivalent approach to it——

Price Inflation. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: ——and played both sides of the House on the groceries order. I know he would have had a different view from that of the party's spokesman on enterprise because he always favoured the abolition of the groceries order, yet Fine Gael tried to undermine that for political reasons. Every time we try to move on the domestic economy the vested interests come out of the traps and politicians from...

Economic Competitiveness. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: The joint European resources for micro to medium enterprise is a joint initiative by the European Commission, European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund, which is intended to improve the access of SMEs to finance within the framework of the European regions. The initiative, which is known by the acronym, JEREMIE, is voluntary and is designed to enable European member states and...

Economic Competitiveness. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I certainly will come back to the Deputy as regards this initiative. It is worth pointing out that the county and city enterprise boards were already co-funded by the ERDF and to a certain extent have been doing some of this type of activity. Some 40% of grants from county enterprise boards, I believe, were on a refundable basis. This is an increasing phenomenon and it helps them in terms of...

Economic Competitiveness. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: That is a fair point. However, let us not overstate the impact into the future of ERDF on our business support measures, as the bulk of this will be Exchequer financed. Entrepreneurship in Ireland has gone from strength to strength. The most recent global economic monitor rates Ireland as No. 1 in terms of entrepreneurial activity within the entire European Union. Some 80% of Irish people now...

Economic Competitiveness. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I do not accept that. The role of Enterprise Ireland and——

Economic Competitiveness. (21 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: ——the support we have been giving Enterprise Ireland has been very strong. Venture capital initiatives have been particularly effective and the most recent round I have announced will be even more effective. The results from Enterprise Ireland more or less confirm that. The county enterprise boards have had good success across the country in terms of micro business. That is not to say we...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (20 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 292 together. I am informed by the Work Permit section that the above named individual entered the State on receipt of a Holiday Working Visa. The purpose of this Exchange Programme is to allow persons into the state for a Working Holiday for a specified period at the end of which they must return home. This person could be the subject of a work permit...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (20 Jun 2006)

Micheál Martin: At present there are 37 vacant properties on which IDA Ireland has long-term lease agreements. These leases, which are 35 year leases, were entered into between 1983 and 1989. The outstanding balance of these leases ranges from 12 to 18 years. The outstanding amount due on the balance of the leases is €41,211,735. It is hoped that a number of these properties might be occupied or...