Results 49,801-49,820 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand from IDA Ireland that the company in question has confirmed that there have been no recent job losses, nor are any job losses planned, at its facility in County Kildare where over 2,500 people are employed. The company, which employs over 150,000 people worldwide, has recently announced a global workforce reduction of 15,000, but this is not expected to impact on the Leixlip...

Written Answers — Anti-competitive Practices: Anti-competitive Practices (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: As I have advised the House previously, I am aware of the high market share held by certain companies engaged in the promotion and sale of concert and theatre tickets. The Competition Act 2002 prohibits the abuse of a dominant position and other anti-competitive activities. The Act is enforced by the Competition Authority, which operates independently of my Department. Accordingly, if there...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The issue regarding the cost of creating IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs is a day-to-day matter for the agencies themselves and not one in which I am directly involved. Data indicating the average cost of creating IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs is compiled from an annual employment survey carried out by Forfás — see following table. The cost per job is...

Written Answers — Consumer Affairs: Consumer Affairs (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The final report of the consumer strategy group, entitled Make Consumers Count — A New Direction for Irish Consumers, was published on 18 May 2005. It has as its core recommendation that a new national consumer agency be established. This recommendation has been accepted in principle by the Government. The establishment of the new agency will require primary legislation and my Department...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The position regarding current vacancies on the boards of statutory or State bodies under the remit of my Department is set out in the following paragraph. There is one vacancy at present on the board of the National Standards Authority of Ireland. The reason for the vacancy is retirement by rotation, as required under the National Standards Authority of Ireland Act 1996. The decision on the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The position regarding vacancies expected to arise before 31 December 2005, on the boards of statutory or State bodies under the remit of my Department is set out in the following paragraphs. There is currently one vacancy on the board of the National Standards Authority of Ireland. No further vacancies are expected this year. Subject to paragraph 1(3) of the Second Schedule of the National...

Order of Business. (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: We built Naas Hospital.

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The parliamentary question refers to the decision of the High Court of 6 March 2002 and the Supreme Court decision of 16 July 2003, and while the name of the case was not included in the question it would appear that the question is referring to the decision of Vincent Browne v. the Attorney General. The Supreme Court in this case decided that an EU regulation can only be transposed by...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is at an advanced stage of negotiations with the OPW regarding the sale of approximately nine acres of land at Mountrath Road, Portlaoise, to facilitate the Government's proposed decentralisation programme, in respect of decentralising the headquarters of the Department of Agriculture and Food to the town. This proposal will be submitted for approval by IDA Ireland property...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: There have been two IDA Ireland site visits to the advance technology building in Enniscorthy, in February and May 2003. Unfortunately, neither of these site visits resulted in a tenant being found for the building. IDA Ireland's strategy for County Wexford, for the medium to long term, is to concentrate resources on the NSS hub and county town of Wexford as the location with the greatest...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 261 together. IDA Ireland is the national agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland and its regions, while Shannon Development has responsibility for Irish industry in the Shannon region and the promotion of the Shannon free zone. IDA Ireland and Shannon Development are both committed to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The core recommendation in the report of the Consumer Strategy Group, which was published on 18 May 2005, is that a new national consumer agency be established. This recommendation has been accepted in principle by the Government. The establishment of the new agency will require primary legislation and my Department has already commenced preparatory work on this matter. In order to maintain...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the State agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment into Ireland. On Tipperary town, IDA Ireland, in conjunction with South Tipperary County Council, is currently in the process of upgrading the business park at Knockenrawley. This includes a new access road to the site, extensive landscaping, services, utilities and public lighting. Additional works are...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The average annual direct costs per participant, which comprise wages, training, materials and supervision provision, for community employment, CE, and job initiative, JI, schemes from 1997 to date are outlined in the following table. Training costs are shown separately. With the exception of the 2005 figure, all amounts are based on year end figures. Average annual direct costs for...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: Shannon Development estimates the cost of maintenance of vacant industrial premises by reference to the amount of annual service charges forgone. As the system of service charges was only introduced in 2001, the agency is unable to provide figures for 2000. The agency has also informed me that systems in place for recording the costs in respect of industrial property only facilitate a...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: I recently met the board of Shannon Development to discuss proposals it has made on a future mandate for the company. I have also received the views of a number of other stakeholders on the future of the company. I expect to be in a position to communicate formally with the company regarding a revised mandate shortly.

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: Many businesses throughout the country are keen to ensure that they are not disproportionately hammered in terms of either the commercial rate or other charges, which can be seen as a soft options by members of local authorities. As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I have travelled the country to meet various interested parties. I am aware that there are strong views. If...

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: How small was it?

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: Was that a charge to get in?

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: Can the Senator clarify that?