Results 49,101-49,120 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The report said that the groceries order put a floor under grocery prices — it did predict lower prices — but refused to be drawn on their extent or the speed at which they would occur. In my own press releases and statements I have said that I have not been drawn, and will not be lured into the trap of giving a sum and — in the style perhaps of Eddie Hobbs, or the Competition Authority...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I have met so many such people in my lifetime and I take Senator O'Toole's comments on board. That is probably why he was such a good negotiator for the INTO through the years. He always seemed to know what the market would bear in that respect too.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: Senators O'Toole and Norris were bemoaning the demise of the French bakery throughout rural France.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: Yes. Clearly there is a legislative predisposition there to the French lifestyle. It is interesting that France has a groceries order, or a similar below-cost selling provision, yet that has not prevented the demise of the French boulangerie or bakery. Perhaps we need to do more analysis of the status of the French bakery in rural France. However, just around the corner from me in my own...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand there were a small number of complaints to the authority. These were investigated and found not to be examples of predatory pricing in the marketplace. Senator O'Toole contended that the removal of the groceries order is a bottle of smoke, a populist measure that will make no difference. This is not a question of populist politics. I understand the Senator believes the order...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: It is our job, through the various agencies and through good legislation, to protect the consumer. In regard to the Eddie Hobbs phenomenon and the associated discussion of the level of profits enjoyed by business, I am somewhat amused by the freedom with which Senators O'Toole and Norris can pour scorn on Mr. Hobbs. When one backbencher and one Senator from the Government side made reference...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: That is why the Senator was such a good wage negotiator on behalf of the INTO.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: It was Senator Coghlan but we will discuss it later. It was not UCD.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The garage forecourts have grown with the groceries order. That is the point.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am particularly pleased to have the opportunity to bring this Bill before the Seanad at this time. On 8 November last, I announced that the Government had decided to revoke the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order in its entirety. This decision can only be implemented by means of an Act of the Oireachtas. Thus, the revocation of the groceries order is one of the principal purposes of...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (8 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland and its regions. While I may give general policy directives to IDA Ireland, I am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. A total of four new greenfield projects by...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I warmly welcome the budget for 2006 presented to this House yesterday by my colleague, the Minister for Finance. I am confident the budget is good for business, work and the economy. It puts in place the essential strategies that will ensure Ireland's competitiveness in future. In the space of less than 15 years we have built a new, robust and...

Job Losses. (8 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy McGuinness for raising this matter on the Adjournment. He has been very sincere in tenaciously pursuing this issue in recent years. I recognise that other Deputies have done likewise and discussed it with me. The matter has been raised in this House on a number of occasions. From the outset, I wish to state that neither I nor my predecessor have ever given any commitment to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The requested details, which I outlined in my response to the identical question, Question No. 389 tabled by the Deputy on 22 November 2005, are as follows: Staffing of Private Office. Grade Staff Higher Executive Officer (Private Secretary) 1 Executive Officers 2 Clerical Officers 5.8 Total 8.8 The staff in the table above are civil servants. Constituency Office. Grade...

Written Answers — Fuel Prices: Fuel Prices (7 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment does not track the movement of fuel prices. The policy of the Government as regards oil products generally is to promote competition and consumer choice. There is no price control on these products and in common with most other goods and services price differences are an ongoing feature of the market economy. It is a matter for retailers to...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (7 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day to day operational matter for the agency as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas for the attraction of foreign direct investment to the State and its regions. While I may give general policy directives to IDA Ireland, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I believe the Deputy is quoting from a table in The Competitiveness Challenge 2005 produced by the NCC. That table comprises some 13 measures of Ireland's innovation performance relative to the EU 25. We do well on some of the suite of indicators and less well on the others. In five areas, Ireland is above the EU average, in some cases such as hi-tech manufacturing output and science and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The reduced Exchequer allocation to Enterprise Ireland under grants to industry does not represent a reduction in the agency's activities. The reduction was sought by my Department in light of various factors, in particular the agency's funding needs and its ability to generate its own income. It should be noted that Enterprise Ireland expects to generate significant own resources in 2006...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Government, at its meeting this morning, approved the text of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005. I plan to publish the text as soon as practicable allowing for the fact that the Bill must now be printed. The purpose of the Bill is to repeal the groceries order and to amend the Competition Act to prohibit resale price maintenance, unfair discrimination and "hello money" in the grocery...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: In 2006, under the aegis of Discover Science and Engineering, my Department's integrated awareness programme, it is intended to provide funding to develop a new post-primary pilot programme related closely to the new junior certificate science curriculum and complementing the discover primary science initiative. It is also proposed in 2006 to develop and pilot both subject and career focused...