Results 49,981-50,000 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Research Funding. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 153 and 198 together. The Government is fully conscious of the importance of research and development capacity to our international economic competitiveness and the ongoing well-being of the economy. To this end, significant investment of €2.5 billion has already been committed by this Administration in the context of the current national development...

Research Funding. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I disagree fundamentally with the Deputy. Many indigenous companies engage in the research and development agenda.

Research Funding. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: We have a greater number of researchers per 1,000 people than the European average. The bottom line is that since the establishment of the PRTLI programme during my time as Minister for Education and Science and the establishment of Science Foundation Ireland under the aegis of the Tánaiste during her tenure in my Department, there has been a dramatic transformation of the research landscape...

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The National Competitiveness Council's annual competitiveness report for 2005, benchmarks Ireland's competitiveness relative to our 15 main trading partners and competitors using a compendium of 170 indicators. The indicators contained in the report are published by a wide variety of international sources. The NCC's annual competitiveness report is published separately this year while the...

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: First, it is not the same reply.

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: No. The Deputy would not have been in a position to get the last paragraph because it shows a change.

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be only too glad to hear this one.

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The latest competitiveness rankings compiled by the World Economic Forum, which were published today, show that Ireland has moved up four places — from 30th to 26th out of 117 countries. The higher ranking suggests, perhaps, that we have turned an important corner in rebuilding national competitiveness. As regards the Deputy's second point concerning better regulation, things have happened.

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: One example is the regulation pertaining to directors' compliance. We have referred that to the company law review body and have listened to industry.

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Recommendations are coming forward which suggest that a significant and substantial amendment is required. So we are listening to industry as well as consulting business on key issues and will take action in future. The Deputy asked what the constraints are. Issues such as the groceries order constitute a constraint. In dealing with such issues we can create a greater competitive environment...

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: One area identified by the National Competitiveness Council concerned competition within the domestic economy, be it in the retail, construction or other sectors. Last year, my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government made changes to the planning regulations to facilitate greater competition by permitting certain stores to come into the country.

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: That was a response to a recommendation by the National Competitiveness Council, so action is being taken on foot of such recommendations. Last year, we had the highest number of small business start-ups within the European Union. I have established a small business forum to prepare for the next decade on issues that we must address to maintain competitiveness. According to the report by the...

Economic Competitiveness. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: We intend to go up to a further level of research and development input because it is inextricably linked to competitiveness and economic performance.

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the concerns expressed in several quarters about the price of certain goods and services and, in particular, the belief among many consumers that they are not getting a fair deal. The Deputy will be aware that in March 2004 the Tánaiste appointed the consumer strategy group to advise and make recommendations for the development of a national consumer policy strategy. In its...

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am obviously aware of everything that is published in the Irish Examiner and will continue to be so in future.

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: In addition, we appointed the national consumer agency to go after consumer issues.

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Government does not and will not set prices or act as a price-controlling agency, which is a fundamental principle to which we adhere. However, we can empower the consumer to an extent that has not been done historically. It is somewhat difficult to take the Deputy sincerely having read the deliberations of the Oireachtas joint committee on an issue such as the retail sector. When a...

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: I certainly did.

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: In many ways it highlighted a degree of hypocrisy. While the Deputy rails loudly and strongly articulates the issues, when it comes to concrete actions as to how we should address the issues, he comes up very short. The mechanisms we have put in place and the resources we will allocate will address the matter. The Competition Act introduced by my predecessor, the Tánaiste, is quite...

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: We are not pretending we have a low tax economy. As I said in reply to a previous question, Ireland comes first out of 15 countries, and does well in any international comparison, in terms of low income tax.