Results 49,421-49,440 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (3 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The numbers of full-time manufacturing jobs created in County Kildare in companies assisted by the enterprise development agencies were 875 in 2002, 846 in 2003 and 1,045 in 2004. Because the figures are compiled by each county on an annual basis, those for 2005 are not yet available. Overall permanent employment in agency-supported firms in County Kildare has increased from 8,847 in 1995 to...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: There are four offices associated with my Department on the north side of Dublin. These are the Companies Registration Office, Office of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and the Competition Authority. The Companies Registration Office and Office of Registrar of Friendly Societies have been selected as part of the decentralisation programme...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (3 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand that a task force was not set up at the particular time. However, the establishment of a financial services operation in Cavan town, which now employs almost 1,000 people, has been of particular benefit to the area as a whole. The industrial development agencies continue to promote the area for both overseas and indigenous industry. Cavan Business Park has received approximately...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (3 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment is a matter for the industrial development agencies. Under the Industrial Development Acts, I may give general policy directives to IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland but am precluded from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. Ultimately, decisions regarding where to locate, including what...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (3 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, that, based on currently identified resources, the mines in question are expected to operate until at least 2013. I further understand discussions are taking place for two additional State mining facilities for underground extensions to the mines, one to the north and one to the south west of...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (3 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: My Department has compiled a detailed report following the recent public consultation process on the future of the groceries order. I will consider its findings carefully before making any judgments in the matter or making any recommendations to Government. However, the prohibition contained in the order as it stands is a ban on selling at below net invoice price. Net invoice price is not a...

Written Answers — Science and Technology Facilities: Science and Technology Facilities (3 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The programme for Government includes a commitment to support the development of interactive science centres aimed at enhancing knowledge and interest in science. This commitment was underpinned by the report of the task force on the physical sciences and a comprehensive Forfás report on the subject which recommended the establishment of a science centre comprised of one major facility in...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (2 Nov 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 — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: In determining the allocations for individual city and county enterprise boards, CEBs, in 2005, my Department adopted a systematic approach to ensure the maximum degree of objectivity and equity of treatment. This approach involved the provision of funding calculated on the basis of a standard allocation to each board as well as an additional allocation that was determined mainly by...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: As a consequence of a Commission audit decision in the year 2000, €15.6 million of European Social Fund moneys were withheld from Ireland. The sum involved represents less than 1% of the amount allocated to the three operational programmes for the period 1994-99. The Commission decision was contested by my Department and this resulted in a hearing before the European Court of Justice this...

Written Answers — National Consumer Strategy: National Consumer Strategy (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 146 and 174 together. The Consumer Strategy Group was established in March 2004 to advise and make recommendations on the development of a national consumer strategy. The group's final report, Make Consumers Count, was published in May this year. The report contains over 30 separate recommendations, including the recommendations mentioned in the Deputies'...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Since 1997 over 450,000 new jobs have been created. There has also been a significant fall in unemployment from 10.4% to 4.2% at present. Long-term unemployment fell from 5.5% in 1997 to 1.6% in 2000 and this very low level has been maintained; it is now at 1.4%. This long-term unemployment rate compares very favourably with the EU average of 4% and ranks fourth lowest among the 25 EU member...

Written Answers — Departmental Inquiries: Departmental Inquiries (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 149 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 — Regulatory Amalgamation: Regulatory Amalgamation (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The enterprise strategy group recommended that the existing regulators for networked sectors, for example, electricity, gas, telecommunications and broadcasting, should be replaced by a new regulatory body covering all networked sectors. The Government considered this recommendation and decided not to implement it. In looking at international experience the Government remains to be convinced...

Written Answers — Small Business Forum: Small Business Forum (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Small Business Forum, which I have set up to consider the current environment for conducting small business in Ireland, has held two plenary sessions to date. In addition, the forum has held a number of thematic workshops covering various areas of interest identified by the initial plenary meetings. I should also mention that the forum has been very proactive in seeking to obtain the...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The National Competitiveness Council, NCC, in its annual competitiveness report 2005, found that of the 16 countries benchmarked, Irish expenditure on non-life insurance was the fourth highest. However, the NCC also found that the rate of growth in the cost of insurance has slowed down substantially in recent years. This can be attributed to the series of initiatives the Government has pushed...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I would point out to the Deputy that on the occasion of the publication of the final report of the Consumer Strategy Group in May of this year, I clearly stated that notwithstanding my desire to have the national consumer agency up and running on a statutory basis as soon as possible, the preparation of the legislation to establish the new agency would take some time. Given the importance of...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Earlier this year the Government considered and endorsed the report of the high level committee that was asked to look at the most appropriate implementation arrangements for the enterprise strategy group's, ESG, recommendations. The Government is broadly supportive of the policy directions recommended by the ESG as underlined by its intention to implement, either in full or with some...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The recommendations and policy options highlighted by the NCC each year inform Government policy across a range of areas and have been implemented by a number of Departments. For example, in line with previous NCC recommendations the Government has introduced two consecutive non-inflationary budgets, a 20% research and development tax credit and has extended the business expansion and seed...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132, 148, 159 and 163 together. I take it that these questions relate to a view expressed by the Competition Authority in a recent investigation into alleged price fixing involving the Equity trade union and the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland. The aim of the Competition Act is to prohibit anti-competitive practices by "undertakings" such as...