Results 49,741-49,760 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Industrial Disputes. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I will not outline specifics. We are working on proposals. We want to recruit the additional ten inspectors and the recruitment and training process is almost complete. The intention is to concentrate on the issue of migrant labour.

Industrial Disputes. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: We could not be described as weak regarding how we tackled the Gama issue. I do not say I subscribe to the Deputy's terminology regarding the companies as I do not want to be found in breach of a court order.

Industrial Disputes. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: When the Gama issue was presented to us, we acted resolutely. Up to €25 million was returned to the bank accounts of workers, which is a substantial amount by any benchmark. The recognised rate increased significantly and the blockage regarding the recognised agreed rate of pay in the construction sector caused by one union objecting to the modus operandi was substantially addressed. We...

Industrial Disputes. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Joe Higgins and others deserve credit for that.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The past decade saw the most rapid and sustained economic growth in the history of the State. In a short period, this has provided levels of prosperity in every region that would have been considered by earlier policymakers as impossible. As a small open economy we have few defences against the powerful changes taking place in international trade and business. Nationally we have an enthusiasm...

Departmental Bodies. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy must not read the newspapers. We launched the one step up initiative last week and I allocated the additional funds in last year's Estimates for this year to implement the enterprise strategy group's recommendations immediately. The one step up initiative aims to upskill the workforce. I am totally committed to this plan and have already taken action on it. The changes in...

Departmental Bodies. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Enterprise Ireland's response to this report has been very agile. It was ready and had the blueprint, a strategic vision for the future, and was in a position to launch it, which I did several months ago.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Yes it will.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: That will not cause any difficulties in terms of the broad agenda.

Company Closures. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The determination of any payments due to creditors of Irish Fertiliser Industries is a matter solely for the liquidator. The position of unsecured creditors can be determined only by the liquidator when all the assets of the company have been realised and all liabilities established. The liquidator has made considerable progress in realising the assets of the company and establishing the full...

Company Closures. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: About what?

Company Closures. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy's remarks are unacceptable and untenable.

Company Closures. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: No. The Government has not treated workers in an outrageous manner. Through statutory redundancy entitlements and payments from the fund quite substantial sums have been made available by the two shareholders. Employees will have received an average payment of up to €50,000. Whether one agrees with the rate or not, one cannot describe it as outrageous. Equally, one must accept the reality...

Company Closures. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I would love such complex processes involving liquidators to be expedited, but there are key legal issues to be determined. The Government is not the liquidator in this case. For whatever political agenda, people may try to ignore the liquidator, remove him from the process and replace him with the "Government", which they would like to blame for everything. That too is neither tenable nor...

Company Closures. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: We were asked to bring the Deputy up to date regarding the situation of unsecured creditors. I have done that in——

Company Closures. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: ——the reply. We are not the liquidator and do not get involved in the process, to which a range of legal issues relates. The Deputy knows that as well as I do.

Community Employment Schemes. (28 Sep 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 drugs...

Community Employment Schemes. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am somewhat surprised by the question, since the CE scheme is primarily a labour market intervention.

Community Employment Schemes. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Yes, and it still should be. I do not agree with the Deputy that we should detract from it.

Community Employment Schemes. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: In 2002, the progression to employment for CE participants was 41%, and in 2003 it was 46%. That means almost half of those on CE schemes progressed to full employment, the original and continuing motivation behind the CE programme itself. On the jobs initiative, there has been a progression of approximately 40%. My preference is to transfer the social economy scheme to the Department of...