Results 49,921-49,940 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment 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. IDA Ireland, the agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland is committed to achieving a more equal distribution of job opportunities and investment...

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

Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment 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. 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. IDA Ireland,...

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

Micheál Martin: I am very aware of the situation in Ballinasloe. The State development agencies are promoting industrial and business development in the town and are making every effort to ensure the creation of further employment. Specifically, IDA Ireland is developing a world class business and technology park in Ballinasloe. The goal is to ensure that the town has the appropriate property solutions to...

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

Micheál Martin: The work permit section of my Department took a decision to refuse this application on the basis that it fell outside the scope of the spousal work permit scheme. The scheme only covers persons working here on working visas-work authorisations, certain intra company transferees and certain academics, researchers on work permits and certain registered medical professionals on work permits. The...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: 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 disadvantaged groups and thereby enable participants to advance successfully to employment in the open labour market. FÁS employment programmes, which comprise community employment, CE, social economy and job initiative, will provide a total of 25,000 places in...

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

Micheál Martin: The issue of job creation is a day-to-day operational matter for the industrial development agencies and relevant county enterprise boards and not one in which I have a direct role. IDA Ireland informs me that it continues to market the south east region as a potential location for new foreign direct investment, FDI, through its network of local and overseas offices, in order to secure new...

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

Micheál Martin: I am aware that the company in question decided to close a chicken processing plant in March 2005, with the loss of 138 jobs and that the employees were offered an opportunity to take up alternative positions elsewhere. A group of local community representatives was established and, with advice from Shannon Development and the Limerick County Enterprise Board, the group entered into...

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

Micheál Martin: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day to day operational matter for the agency as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas. While I may give general policy directives to IDA Ireland, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings. All IDA Ireland lands are sold on the basis of commercial...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Through Enterprise Ireland, the Government supports the growth of Irish exports by working with individual companies in identifying new product and market opportunities and devising and implementing appropriate strategies to capitalise on them. Enterprise Ireland client companies delivered a good export performance in 2004, following the global economic growth revival that began in the latter...

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

Micheál Martin: Where a non-EEA national is legally employed and legally resident in the State, my Department is prepared to consider applications from prospective new employers in respect of that employer. My Department has no record of a valid application in respect of person about whom the Deputy inquires.

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 688 to 691, inclusive, 694 and 697 together. Ireland is undergoing a positive transformation in how we earn our living from international trade and investment, which is affecting all sectors of the economy. We can no longer be seen as a low cost location for investment but to compensate have developed other strong competitive strengths and advantages....

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: In a small open economy it is not the role of Government to have direct control of all industrial costs. Ideally, market forces should determine the vast majority of these. The priority for Government has been to provide the framework conditions for the creation of competitive markets including a benign business environment in which businesses can prosper and create sustained employment....

Written Answers — Trade Statistics: Trade Statistics (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: According to figures published by the Central Statistics Office, Ireland imports goods and services from over 200 country locations. The latest import figures, for which 12 monthly figures are available, are in respect of the year ended 31 December 2004. The information requested has been forwarded to the Deputy. The table provides a list of the top 12 countries from which Ireland has...

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

Micheál Martin: Supervision of insurance undertakings is the responsibility of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, the financial regulator, which is under the aegis of the Department of Finance. Since the end of 2004, the Department of Transport has responsibility for motor insurance, including follow up on the remaining recommendations of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board reports, which are...

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

Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment is a day-to-day operational matter for the industrial development agencies. The agencies seek to attract new greenfield investments as well as working with existing clients with a view to helping them expand their activities. They also work with other publicly funded bodies to enhance the attractiveness of individual areas and regions within the context...

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

Micheál Martin: Overseas companies in Ireland that are clients of IDA, submit investment proposals to the agency for consideration for State support. Typically, these proposals include fixed asset — capital, labour and technology/research and development components. The proposals set out indicative targets with regard to achievement of the investment using criteria such as sales, profitability, exports and...

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

Micheál Martin: In the past few years, conditions in the global economy have been difficult, and Irish firms have had to win business against a backdrop of difficult external demand conditions, pricing pressures, and an increasingly competitive international environment. These have affected employment trends in companies assisted by the enterprise development agencies. While the net increase in employment in...

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

Micheál Martin: In pursuit of the objectives of the national spatial strategy, the efforts of IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the city and county enterprise boards are directed towards the promotion of employment and investment in all areas of the country. As regards helping those who are unemployed to enter the labour market, under the national employment action plan, FÁS engages intensively those who...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland's economy is undergoing fundamental change, which is affecting all sectors of our economy. Ireland can no longer be seen as a low cost location for investment as our strengths and competitive advantages have inexorably changed. High output and productivity together with high returns to labour in the form of wages, salaries and better living standards now typify Ireland's economy....

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 702 and 704 together. The number of people in the labour force has reached an all time high as indicated by the latest quarterly national household survey recently released. There are now over 2 million people in the labour force, giving an annual increase of 94,500. Over the past ten years the labour force has grown by over 38%. The growth in the labour force...