Results 49,121-49,140 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 146 and 153 together. I welcome last month's publication of the National Competitiveness Council, NCC, Competitiveness Challenge 2005. The challenge, which builds on the analysis and benchmarking of the Annual Competitiveness Report 2005, is an important contribution to our policy making and thinking on strategic development issues. The purpose of the...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The success of the Irish labour market over the past decade has been unparalleled in the recent history of Europe. Since 1997 more than 522,000 jobs have been created, unemployment has more than halved and long-term unemployment has fallen to 1.4%. Over the same period, the number of young persons in employment has increased by approximately 20% while the number of unemployed youths has...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The main purpose of the community employment programme operated by FÁS is to provide work experience and training for the long-term unemployed and disadvantaged groups and thereby enable participants to advance successfully to employment in the open labour market. On 10 November 2004, following a review of FÁS employment schemes — community employment, job initiative and social economy...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The company in question has announced that it intends to close its Sligo operation by the end of 2006. I understand that the company has commenced an extended staff consultation process of 60 days and the outcome of this process is likely to be a phased transfer of the operation outside of Ireland next year. The company was acquired earlier this year and, I understand, the parent company...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that there have been significant job announcements in Donegal recently with more than 210 new jobs announced in September 2005 by Zeus Industrial Products, Letterkenny and PowerBoard, Burnfoot. These projects are being supported by the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland, respectively. This was in addition to 423 jobs I announced earlier this year for...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 290, 294 and 295 together. Maintaining Ireland's attractiveness as a competitive and profitable location from which to do business is a key priority of the Government. Ireland's economy is undergoing fundamental change and we are no longer in the business of competing as a low cost location for basic manufacturing investment. We are now a modern, advanced...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 113 together. Sixteen investigations into company law matters were initiated by my predecessor in the period since 1997. In three cases, the High Court appointed, on an application by the Minister, inspectors under section 8 of the Companies Act 1990. The inspectors appointed to Ansbacher (Cayman) Limited presented their report to the High Court on 10...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I stated publicly on 15 November, Mr. Barry McSweeney left his position as chief science adviser to the Government on that date and he is to take up a new position as research co-ordinator within the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Mr. Barry McSweeney left his position as CSA under the terms of his contract, which was with Forfás. I understand that no...

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

Micheál Martin: Mr. Henneberry formally informed me of his intention to resign from his post of member of the Competition Authority on 15 November 2005. His resignation, which is for personal reasons, will be effective from 30 January 2006. I take this opportunity to place on record my appreciation of the excellent contribution Mr. Henneberry has made to the work of the Competition Authority since his...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: In response to a similar question posed by the Deputy in November last, I indicated that I had visited Kerry on 21 July 2005 with officials from my Department and the State development agencies. During the course of this visit I met Kenmare Chamber of Commerce and representative organisations and businesses in Caherciveen, Killorglin and Killarney. Wide-ranging discussions were held...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 105 and 110 together. The purpose of competition law is to prohibit anti-competitive practices by "undertakings" such as price fixing and-or the abuse of a dominant position. The Competition Act 2002 applies to all sectors of the economy in the State. An "undertaking" is defined in the Act as "a person being an individual, a body corporate or an...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: National aviation policy, including the establishment of the new Shannon Airport Authority and changes to the Ireland-US bilateral air services arrangements fall within the policy remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport. My Department and the development agencies under its remit, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Shannon Development and the city and county enterprise boards, are...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: There are 13 county enterprise boards operating in the BMW region. These boards deliver the micro-enterprise measure under the Border, midlands and west, BMW, regional operational programme 2000-2006. The BMW region's Objective One status allows the use of comparatively better rates of incentives to business and assists the region in promoting and developing indigenous micro-enterprises. The...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I indicated in response to previous parliamentary questions, on 28 July last, following detailed consultations with the board of Shannon Development, other stakeholders and regional interests, I announced a decision on a future mandate for the company. This new mandate envisages an active, focused role for the company, complementary to that of national agencies in line with Government...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The recently established interdepartmental group on Donegal, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, has met on two occasions to date, with further meetings planned. The terms of reference of the group are to: identify the various local issues representing barriers to the establishment and operation of enterprises; take stock of relevant projects and actions already under way or...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The county and city enterprise boards, CEBs, continue to play an extremely important role in developing the small business sector in Ireland and, to support them in delivering their programmes, some €30 million in Exchequer funds was allocated to fund them in 2005. The CEBs have been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the current National Development Plan 2000-2006....

Written Answers — Mergers and Acquisitions: Mergers and Acquisitions (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The proposed acquisition by UPC Ireland BV — ultimately owned by Liberty Global Inc. which also owns Chorus — of MS Irish Cable Holdings Limited, trading as NTL, was notified to the Competition Authority on 24 May 2005. This proposal constituted a "media merger" under the Competition Act 2002. The Competition Authority carried out a full competition assessment of the case and on 4...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: Within the past two years my Department, through Forfás, commissioned a review of the role and functions of the CEBs in the development of micro-enterprises. The review represents the most comprehensive examination of the role and functions of the CEBs since their inception over ten years ago. It largely endorsed the activities and operations of the CEBs and concluded that there is...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has responsibility for policy on equality and the ESRI report to which the Deputy referred was commissioned by his Department. I have not received a copy of the report but I understand it has been received at official level in my Department. Consideration of all issues arising from the report is primarily the responsibility of the Department...

Written Answers — Labour Force: Labour Force (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The number of older workers in employment has increased by 33% over the past ten years and the employment rate now stands at close to 51%. This is above the EU target of 50% to be reached by 2010. This increase was mostly due to those outside the workforce returning to employment. In addition, the average exit age from the labour force is now the highest in the EU at 64.4 years. Government...