Results 49,681-49,700 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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. As I have indicated in response to previous similar parliamentary questions, there have been a number of recent developments that impact on the future role of Shannon Development, the most significant of...

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

Micheál Martin: The consumer strategy group's report, Make Consumers Count, was published on 18 May of this year. The Government have already approved the report's core recommendation namely that a new statutory body, the National Consumer Agency, be established to advocate on behalf of consumers. Given that this will require primary legislation, a board has been appointed to the NCA to act in an interim...

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. While it may take some more time to finalise all outstanding matters, I understand that the liquidator hopes to be in a position to make at least an interim payment to creditors before the end of the year. The liquidator was appointed to...

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

Micheál Martin: The total Oireachtas grants to the industrial development agencies under my remit amount to over €560 million in 2005. Enterprise Ireland delivers a wide range of supports to Irish companies, targeted at the specific requirements of clients throughout all regions to ensure that they develop to their full potential in terms of employment, innovation and exports. Enterprise Ireland's...

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

Micheál Martin: The work permits section of my Department has no record of a valid application made by an employer in respect of the individual about whom the Deputy inquires.

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

Micheál Martin: The most recent quarterly national household survey, published by the Central Statistics Office earlier this month, shows that 495,500 people were in employment in the Border, midland and western, BMW, region in the period from March to May 2005, an increase of 26,600 people since the same period in 2004. In addition, the level of unemployment fell to 4.3% in the period from March to May 2005...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 and 650 together. The number of IDA supported jobs created in County Kerry in each of the years from 2000 to 2004, inclusive, is set out in the attached tabular statement. These data are compiled from the annual Forfás employment survey. County data for 2005 will not be available until mid-2006. IDA Ireland's strategy for Kerry is to win high value...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The social economy programme, SEP, was launched in September 2000 with the objective of providing services to communities and employment opportunities for the unemployed. By 2003, there were 336 social economy enterprises in operation employing a total of 2,381, including projects previously operating under community employment. A review of the social economy programme was undertaken by WRC...

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

Micheál Martin: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tables which show the amount paid in each of the last five years — 2001 to 2004, inclusive, and 2005 to date — for contracts where the aggregate amount involved exceeds €100,000. A number of the contracts, for example in the fields of IT maintenance, are ongoing into future years and further payments will arise depending...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: A lack of clear communication and of understanding in any workplace could potentially pose a risk to the health and safety of the workers therein. It is clear that the construction sector has many workers who do not have English as a first language and, accordingly, it is appropriate that employers and those who are in control of workplaces in this country put in place clear systems of...

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

Micheál Martin: The Employment Permits Bill 2005, published on 29 June, contains provisions which will empower me to introduce a green card type system for skilled labour immigration. Extensive research and consultations have been undertaken by Forfás and the expert group on future skill needs on the development of a skills based migration policy. This work will inform the formulation of an economic...

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

Micheál Martin: The work permit section of my Department returned the application in this case on the basis that a suitable employee could have been sourced from within the enlarged EU to fill the position. The employer was notified of this decision in writing and of the reason for it.

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (28 Sep 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. However, I am informed that the primary purpose of the rural social scheme, under the aegis of the Department of Community, Rural...

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

Micheál Martin: A work permit issued to the employer on 15 September.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Under the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998, in so far as Enterprise Ireland is concerned, section 18, staff of agency and subsidiaries of agency; section 19, staff of Forfás seconded to agency; and section 20, superannuation, have not been commenced. Similarly, in so far as IDA Ireland is concerned, section 36, staff of agency and subsidiaries of agency; section 37, staff...

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

Micheál Martin: Enterprise Ireland, the State agency with responsibility for the food sector, has not provided any financial support to the company in question to carry out its restructuring activities. I understand that Glanbia intends to produce the Kilmeaden cheddar output of 14,000 metric tonnes at its larger Ballyragget facility and also at Dairygold, where it has a milk processing agreement in place....

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

Micheál Martin: Enterprise Ireland has national responsibility for the promotion of indigenous industrial development in the internationally traded services and manufacturing sectors. Its responsibility for the mid-west region is delegated to Shannon Development. It is therefore not possible to compare the respective performances of the agencies on a regional basis. Enterprise Ireland implements and...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Enterprise Ireland prepared and submitted an implementation plan setting out the agency's approach to implementing the Government's decision on decentralisation to the decentralisation implementation group. Enterprise Ireland has also identified the posts to be transferred and these are advertised as part of the central applications facility, CAF. The most immediate implementation step for...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 664 and 667 together. In recent years and across a range of economic indicators, the south-east region has registered significant economic growth. For example, the quarterly national household survey of September 2005 shows that both the labour force and employment increased in the south-east region by 6.5% over the two year period to May 2005. Furthermore,...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 665, 666 and 678 together. Support for job creation and investment projects in individual counties and regions is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies as part of their responsibility under the Industrial Development Acts. The development agencies, in turn, operate within the context of the national spatial strategy. A key objective for...