Results 49,141-49,160 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 122, 129, 138, 147, 151, 291, and 292 together. On 4 December 2005 the National Implementation Body made a series of recommendations to the social partners and the Government regarding the maintenance and protection of employment standards in the Irish labour market. The National Implementation Body also made recommendations in respect of the dispute at...

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

Micheál Martin: My Department has a specific policy unit, comprising three staff members dedicated to dealing with environmental policy issues affecting business. The unit is currently engaged on a range of environmental policies, including: climate changes issues such as preparations for the second national allocation plan under the EU emissions trading scheme; the EU environmental technologies action...

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. Following a review of FÁS employment schemes — community employment, job initiative and social economy programmes — on 10...

Written Answers — National Consumer Agency: National Consumer Agency (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I advised the House in previous replies to parliamentary questions on this matter, the core recommendation of the Consumer Strategy Group is that a new statutory body, the National Consumer Agency, be established to be an advocate on behalf of consumers. The Government fully approved this recommendation and has agreed to establish the new agency as soon as practicable. The establishment of...

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

Micheál Martin: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer to this question where I pointed out that I can only comment on that part of the question relating to my remit. The Government facilitates the creation of an environment attractive to businesses and business creation. Government policies in this regard have helped propel economic growth and employment expansion and these have encouraged...

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

Micheál Martin: The Competition Authority carried out a full competition assessment of this case and on 4 November 2005 determined that the acquisition would not substantially lessen competition provided the parties comply with the conditions set out in its determination. As regards cable TV, the authority found no significant overlap between the merging parties' businesses as both Chorus and NTL serve...

Written Answers — National Consumer Agency: National Consumer Agency (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Consumer Strategy Group in its report, Make Consumers Count, which was published earlier this year, concluded that the consumer voice should be represented at the social partnership table. In this regard one of its specific recommendations is that social partnership should be expanded to include consumer representation on both the Government and voluntary sides. My Department, given its...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: My Department's recent report on the groceries order did not estimate the precise extent of savings that will accrue to the average family's weekly shopping bill following the Government's decision to abolish the groceries order. What my Department has said in essence is that, since 1987, the price of the average weekly shopping basket has been maintained at an artificially high level...

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

Micheál Martin: The main purpose of the community employment programme is to provide work experience and training for the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups to enable participants to advance successfully to employment in the open labour market. FÁS also endeavours to ensure that local communities are supported in the delivery of services particularly in the health, child care and the drugs...

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

Micheál Martin: Three members of the authority have resigned in the past 15 months; Mr. Terry Calvani, Dr. John Fingleton and Mr. Edward Henneberry. There are currently two vacancies on the authority. The Public Appointments Service has commenced a recruitment process in order to fill these vacancies as soon as possible. However, given that they are highly specialised and senior posts, this process involves...

Written Answers — Regulatory Reform: Regulatory Reform (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Government decided, in June of this year, to mainstream an updated model of regulatory impact analysis, RIA, across all Departments and offices to be applied to (1) all proposals for primary legislation involving changes to the regulatory framework, (2) significant statutory instruments, and (3) draft EU directives and significant EU regulations when they are published. Prior to that...

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

Micheál Martin: Since the enactment of the Competition Act 2002, the resources of the Competition Authority have virtually doubled. Earlier this year the authority set up a second mergers division following the Government agreeing to increase its 2005 budget by €500,000. The Government has since committed to increasing the authority's resources further in 2006 and funding has been secured for the doubling...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: Arising from audits by the European Commission in 2000, the Commission took a decision in February 2003 to reduce ESF aid to Ireland by €15.614 million in respect of three operational programmes from the 1994 to 1999 period, namely, the human resources development operational programme, the tourism operational programme and the industrial development operational programme. The sum involved...

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: The European Parliament and the Council are in the final stages of a proposal for the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals, REACH. The Parliament agreed its first reading opinion on REACH on 17 November 2005. On registration, the Parliament agreed a compromise package of amendments which aims to target resources at the substances of highest concern. These...

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (6 Dec 2005)

Micheál Martin: Green consumerism is about supporting sustainable consumer choices through ensuring the provision of accurate and credible social and environmental information on products and services, and is one of the objectives of my Department's sustainable development strategy. To date in 2005, my Department has been considering the issue of green consumerism in the context of the EU environmental...

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

Micheál Martin: I have not been in correspondence with local authorities concerning this matter. My Department has referred any specific issues regarding this topic to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, who has overall responsibility for local authority funding.

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

Micheál Martin: I have decided in consultation with the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, that responsibility for the social economy programme, which is operated by FÁS under the aegis my Department, should be transferred to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, where it will be administered by Pobal, formerly ADM.

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

Micheál Martin: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is structured in a way which recognises that enterprise and employment are not competing but, in fact, complementary factors. Calls for alternative configurations appear to stem from a flawed concept that places jobs and welfare at work in competition with enterprise. We have a different and more positive view — one that seeks to grow the...

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

Micheál Martin: Economic migration policy is formulated within a context where the focus on meeting our skills needs is, first, on upskilling our resident workforce, second, on maximising the potential of European Economic Area nationals to fill our skills deficits and, third, with a new green card and revised work permit system, to meet those skill needs which cannot otherwise be addressed. The Central...

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

Micheál Martin: The recently established interdepartmental group on County Donegal, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has met on two occasions to date and further meetings are planned. The group's terms of reference are to identify the various local issues representing barriers to the establishment and operation of enterprises, to take stock of relevant...