Results 49,681-49,700 of 51,299 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The work permits section of my Department issued 29,532 work permits applications in the 12 months from 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005 of which 7,634 were new permits. This compares with 36,400 for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004 for which 12,398 were new work permits. Following is a detailed monthly breakdown. The Deputy may wish to note, for his convenience, that the...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The work permits section of my Department refused 1,429 work permits applications in the 12 months from 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005. Following is a detailed monthly breakdown. The Deputy may wish to note, for his convenience, that the information outlined is available from my Department's website, www.entemp.ie. Month Refused Oct 2004 116 Nov 173 Dec 193 Jan 2005 158 ...

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

Micheál Martin: According to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2005-2006, Ireland has moved up four places from 30th to 26th out of 117 countries. This improvement in Ireland's national competitiveness is further supported by the findings of the National Competitiveness Council's Annual Competitiveness Report 2005. This report highlights several encouraging statistics, which show that...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 and 375 together. It is not possible to determine the number of manufacturing or service jobs that have relocated to lower wage economies in the past five years. Relocation is just one factor in the many enterprise-related issues that determine employment levels. Firms invest in different regions for a variety of reasons and while there is little doubt...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 378 together. 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...

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

Micheál Martin: The allocation to all FÁS employment schemes in 2005 is €395 million, an increase of 8% over the 2004 budget. This level of funding will be adequate to meet requirements.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: My Department has completed a comprehensive risk assessment of the decentralisation programme. This assessment, which is included in the Department's most recent decentralisation plan submitted to the Decentralisation Implementation Group, identifies specific actions to deal with risks in the areas of HR-staffing, training, business continuity, IT, customer service and accommodation....

Departmental Bodies. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Given the importance of the national consumer agency, NCA, to the development of future consumer protection policy, it is vital that the legislation is framed to ensure the NCA has sufficient powers and functions to enable it to carry out its role as a forceful advocate on behalf of the consumer, as envisaged by the consumer strategy group. In addition to setting up the NCA, I will take the...

Departmental Bodies. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I reject the Deputy's assertions. We said on the publication of the consumer strategy group's report in May that it would take time to produce the legislative template for the new national consumer agency. That is why, almost immediately, we took steps to establish an interim board of the agency. It has already been forceful in articulating and advocating on behalf of the consumer, for...

Departmental Bodies. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: It has.

Departmental Bodies. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: It has made submissions and so forth.

Departmental Bodies. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: No, the consumer agency advocated in a vigorous fashion on behalf of the consumer in the groceries order debate. It has also been in discussions with the Department with regard to its plans for the coming months. The Estimates assessment will reflect that in due course. It is correct, therefore, with regard to the legislation to be put in place, that we do not simply deal with the...

Departmental Bodies. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Competition Authority has been an effective body. The chairperson has moved on to a new position——

Departmental Bodies. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: He was an exceptional performer.

Departmental Bodies. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: He retired from the post on 5 October. It is reasonable——

Departmental Bodies. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: One cannot do anything until the person actually leaves the position.

Departmental Bodies. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The search is under way for a replacement. Any analysis would indicate that the authority has been an effective and powerful body in terms of advocacy for competition in the economy generally.

EU Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Member states are obliged to notify for approval all projects which exceed the threshold provided for in the multisectoral framework for large investment projects. The aid in this case exceeded the threshold and accordingly had to be notified to the European Commission, and discussions are ongoing. The amount of Government funding already committed to the project is a confidential matter...

EU Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The issue is as follows. The European Commission and its officials must operate in the context of the regional aid guidelines and multisectoral framework that have been passed by the member states. Ireland entered a number of submissions on that, particularly for large projects. There was a footnote attached to the multisectoral framework which we argued should allow for innovation in terms...

EU Funding. (2 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: There are two stages to the ongoing engagement with the Commission. As a first stage, the Commission must make a decision as to whether to open the issue to full, formal investigation, in which submissions are received from others who may have an interest in the issue. This is a process that can take some time. We hope it will not be necessary in this case but I do not want to be seen to...