Results 49,661-49,680 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The National Competitiveness Council's, NCC, annual report gives an opportunity to benchmark our competitiveness against 15 important trading partners and competitors for mobile investment. The NCC's latest annual report was published last month and shows that earlier increases in prices and costs have stabilised and are no longer increasing at a rate faster than elsewhere in the EU. The...

Written Answers — Consumer Strategy Group: Consumer Strategy Group (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159, 170 and 677 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 three recommendations mentioned in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Inquiries: Departmental Inquiries (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The current position in relation to these investigations is that following the completion of the review to which I referred in response to a previous parliamentary question on 31 May 2005, I directed the authorised officer to place at the disposal of relevant public authorities, including tribunals, whatever information arising from his investigative work was required for the purpose of the...

Written Answers — Shannon Development: Shannon Development (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: On 28 July last, following detailed consultations with the board of the company, other stakeholders and regional interests, I announced a decision on a future mandate for Shannon Development. The terms of that decision are quite clear and involve neither the abolition of Shannon Development nor its merger with Enterprise Ireland. As I have indicated in response to previous similar...

Written Answers — Departmental Inquiries: Departmental Inquiries (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 183 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 — Job Creation: Job Creation (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Regional development is a significant focus of Government policy and its importance has been confirmed in the national development plan and the national spatial strategy. Operational responsibility for job creation and investment on a regional or local basis is a matter for the industrial development agencies; IDA Ireland which is actively marketing individual areas as a location for foreign...

Written Answers — Ticket Sales: Ticket Sales (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I have previously advised the House, I am aware of the concerns expressed by the public about the sale of concert and theatre tickets. I understand, however, that the Competition Authority's investigation into the market is not yet complete. Therefore, given the authority's independent status and the confidential nature of its investigation, it would not be appropriate for me to comment...

Written Answers — North-South Co-operation: North-South Co-operation (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I acknowledge the very important role that all the enterprise development agencies, North and South, play in developing a strong all-island economy. In relation to the work of InterTradeIreland, the all-island trade and business development body, it should be noted that all of the body's programmes are all-island in nature and are open equally to business from across the island. Under its...

Written Answers — Company Liquidation: Company Liquidation (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the liquidator has made considerable progress in realising the assets of the company and establishing the full extent of its liabilities and that he hopes to complete the liquidation process later this year. At this stage, the production sites at Arklow and Cork remain the principal assets yet to be realised. It is understood that contracts have been signed for the sale of...

Written Answers — Skill Shortages: Skill Shortages (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Government's action plan to implement the recommendations of the Enterprise Strategy Group will move our economy to one that is knowledge-based and innovation-driven. The action plan includes measures to address skills shortages. Skills shortages are identified by the expert group on future skill needs, which is convened under the auspices of Forfás. My Department has recently asked that...

Written Answers — Manufacturing Industry: Manufacturing Industry (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 685 together. Job losses in the manufacturing sector are of ongoing concern and the Government is doing all in its power to create structures through its enterprise development and training agencies, which will facilitate those who have lost jobs to gain new ones, particularly ones that offer more opportunity both in terms of skills and permanence....

Written Answers — Consumer Awareness: Consumer Awareness (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Consumer Strategy Group in its recently published report, Make Consumers Count, estimated the loss or damage experienced by consumers when purchasing goods or services that do not meet their requirements, are faulty, over-priced or sub-optimal to be in the order of approximately, €810 million per annum or €204 per person per year. In compiling this figure for consumer detriment, the...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The work permits section of my Department granted 1,559 work permits under the special arrangements for spouses of certain non-EEA nationals since these arrangements were introduced in 18 February 2004. The categories in the scheme cover persons working here on working visas-work authorisations, certain intra company transferees and certain academics, researchers and registered medical...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (28 Sep 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, that is, the human resources development operational programme, the tourism operational programme and the industrial development operational programme. The sum involved...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Competitiveness is an issue of national importance that deserves careful monitoring and corrective policy intervention where necessary, but it must be pointed out that competitiveness does not affect the manufacturing sector alone. An uncompetitive economy will never be able to consistently create employment and increase its citizens' standard of living, as we have done over the past decade....

Written Answers — Enterprise Strategy Group Report: Enterprise Strategy Group Report (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Government has 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, 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 modifications, most of...

Written Answers — Shannon Development: Shannon Development (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: On 28 July last, following detailed consultations with the board of the company, other stakeholders and regional interests, I announced a decision on a future mandate for Shannon Development. The terms of that decision are quite clear and take account of the Enterprise Strategy Group's recommendations. As I have indicated in response to previous similar parliamentary questions, there have...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I have no plans at present to review the eligibility criteria for funding from the city and county enterprise boards, CEBs. Within the last 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Enterprise Ireland has primary responsibility for the development of indigenous small and medium enterprises, SMEs, in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. I should point out that the decision whether or not to provide funding to a company is a day-to-day matter for the agency itself, and is not one in which I have a direct function. Enterprise Ireland offers a range...

Written Answers — Enterprise Development: Enterprise Development (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The county and city enterprise boards, CEBs, exist alongside a number of other nationally and locally delivered supports for micro-enterprises, including Enterprise Ireland and local Leader groups, which support small enterprise. The CEBs can assist in the establishment and-or development of eligible new and existing enterprises from individuals-sole traders, companies and community groups,...