Results 50,001-50,020 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: With all due respect, the Deputy said I should stop pretending we have a low tax economy.

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: We have a low tax economy. That is so in respect of any international assessment of Ireland's tax position, be it with regard to corporation tax, which we reduced from 36% to 12.5% since this Government came to power, or with regard to income tax.

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: We brought in a regulation which deals with issues related to electricity, gas and so on. Setting the market price for any of the utilities does not fall within the ambit of a particular Minister.

Consumer Prices. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Equally, we cannot in some instances compare our position on energy prices with those of our counterparts, given our historic reliance on fossil fuels, 90% of which we import to meet our energy needs.

Unemployment Levels. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment is a matter for the industrial development agencies. Under the industrial development Acts I may give general policy directives to IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland but I am precluded from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. As the Deputy is aware, I met a delegation from...

Unemployment Levels. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: At the meeting in July, which the Deputy as well as Deputies Davern and Hayes and the councillors attended the overriding consideration was the training agenda. It was accepted that up-skilling and a proper skills foundation in the town was the key to future employment capacity and to securing jobs created in the region. It is unacceptable to do what the Deputy has done, which is to put a...

Unemployment Levels. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: That is the sensible way forward for the town and for south Tipperary. We must maximise the strengths the area can offer and then market them. That will have a ripple effect in towns such as Carrick-on-Suir and other towns in Clonmel's hinterland. That is what we are doing. It is a sensible strategy. If improvements can be made on the skills front, it will be possible to make inroads into...

Unemployment Levels. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: There is a county development board already in place on which——

Unemployment Levels. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: ——the industrial agencies are represented. There is no point re-inventing the wheel just for the optics and creating another task force. We do not propose to do so.

Grocery Industry. (28 Sep 2005)

Micheál Martin: The public consultation process which I initiated following the consumer strategy group's recommendation that the groceries order should be revoked generated in excess of 550 submissions. These were received from a wide range of parties, including trade groups, producers, retailers as well as a significant number from the public. All the submissions have been considered and a comprehensive...

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

Micheál Martin: The Forfás employment survey is the authoritative source measuring employment in companies supported by the enterprise development agencies. The employment survey is undertaken on an annual basis and as such, 2004 is the latest and most definitive information available. Enterprise Ireland, EI, and IDA Ireland report the following new jobs being created in County Wexford over the period 1992...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: In my reply to the Deputy's question relating to the number, name, cost, publication date and preparation time for reports published in my Department since 1997, I informed the Deputy that I would forward the requested information to him as soon as it was compiled by officials of my Department. There is a significant amount of work involved in compiling this information, which covers an...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not commissioned or evaluated such research and has no plans to do so.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The net Estimate for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for 2004 was €1,124,471,000. The amount surrendered to Department of Finance at year's end was €55,029,000. Some €34,237,000 of unspent capital expenditure was carried over into 2005 under the terms of the capital investment framework agreement which exists between both Departments.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: To date in 2005, it has been calculated that my Department has spent a sum of €20,783 on the implementation of the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003. It is estimated that €56,000 will be spent on the Act in 2005.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (30 Jun 2005)

Micheál Martin: The sectors of the economy in which work permits were issued for each of the past five years are appended for the Deputy's information. Statistics by skill level are not at present compiled.

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...