Results 50,361-50,380 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my reply of 16 December 2004 to a question, reference no. 33743/04. As advised in that reply, the consumer strategy group, which is due to present its final report shortly, as part of its work examined price trends in this jurisdiction compared with prices in other parts of Europe for a variety of goods and services. I expect that the group's report will detail its...

Written Answers — Manufacturing Sector: Manufacturing Sector (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Enterprise policy is being actively refocused towards creating conditions that will make possible a sustained shift to higher skill, knowledge-intensive activities and in which advanced manufacturing expertise will be an important contributor to growth and employment. That new focus is essential if our enterprises are to capture sustainable competitive advantage in niche markets that are less...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: It was with regret that I learnt of the announcement by Donegal Parian China that it intends to close its plant in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, with the loss 54 jobs. I understand that the decision to close is due to a reduction in demand. However, I am also advised that the company is to consolidate its production in its existing Belleek facility and that some 15 of the 54 Donegal employees...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Economic migration policy in Ireland is predicated on economic needs, and it therefore addresses identified labour and skills shortages. As the economy grew in recent years, there was a consequential increase in the demand for labour. Where suitable workers were not available in Ireland or the wider European Economic Area, which consists of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and, for this...

Written Answers — Enterprise Ireland: Enterprise Ireland (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Issues relating to job creation and retention in Enterprise Ireland client companies are day-to-day matters for the agency itself, and not one in which I am directly involved. Enterprise Ireland informs me that the resurgence in the international economy was reflected in the increase in Enterprise Ireland client export sales during 2004. Irish companies delivered a solid performance during...

Written Answers — Consumer Price Index: Consumer Price Index (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: The analysis to which the Deputy refers resulted from an initiative whereby data for average prices in Dublin and outside Dublin in May 2004 was published by the Central Statistics Office last July — drawn from the national average prices published for the consumer price index. This initiative, which resulted from close co-operation between my Department, the CSO, the Office of the Director...

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Competition Authority published a report on the banking sector on 14 December 2004 which was prepared in conjunction with economic consultants LECG. The report contains 40 recommendations designed to enhance competition between banks for the benefit of personal banking customers and SMEs. Interested parties were invited to submit comments on the remedies to the competition issues outlined...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Relocation is just one factor in the many enterprise related issues that determine employment levels. Firms invest in different regions for a variety of reasons and while there is little doubt that some firms establish themselves primarily to take advantage of reduced costs in lower wage economies this is often not the only factor in deciding where to invest. It is not possible to monitor the...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: FÁS employment programmes, which comprise community employment, social economy and job initiative, will provide a total of 25,000 places in 2005. I am informed by FÁS that the number of participants on community employment was 24,991 in January, 2003, 19,848 in January 2004 and 22,194 in January 2005. On foot of a review of FÁS employment schemes, which included detailed consultations with...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: In the past few years Irish manufacturing firms, particularly in the more traditional sectors, have operated against a backdrop of significantly declining external demand, downward price pressure, and an increasingly competitive international environment — China, central and eastern Europe — together with upward pressure on costs and the strengthening of the euro against our key trading...

Written Answers — Personal Injuries Assessment Board: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand that at this point the judge's ruling does not affect the majority of the approximately 3,000 cases currently being handled by the PIAB. Many accident victims are already successfully dealing directly with PIAB and the first awards under the system are due within the promised nine months time frame, without recourse to litigation and litigation costs. I remain fully committed to...

Written Answers — Regulation System: Regulation System (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am concerned to ensure that our national system of regulation encourages and promotes competition within the economy and that individual regulators recognise such objectives as an important national priority. Indeed, in this regard I am aware that the Competition Authority has already co-operation agreements in place with many of the existing sectoral regulators. There is a danger that the...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the excellent work of the IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council in promoting economic co-operation on the island of Ireland over many years. At its meeting on 8 March next, the joint business council proposes to formally endorse an action plan for the period 2005-6. The action plan will comprise key actions drawn from more than 100 recommendations contained in a number of North-South...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Entrepreneurship in Ireland is supported and encouraged by the constant pursuit and promotion by the Government of an economic environment supportive of entrepreneurial activity combined with a wide range of targeted interventions by various State enterprise development agencies. Ireland's extraordinary success over the past decade has been built on key competitive strengths such as having...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Support for job creation and investment in individual counties is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies. IDA Ireland has responsibility for foreign direct investment. Enterprise Ireland concentrates on the indigenous sector and the county enterprise boards have primary responsibility for the promotion of indigenous industry in the micro-enterprise sector. While the...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Job creation and job losses are a feature of economic development in all countries as various sectors expand and contract in response to market demand for goods and services, competitive forces, restructuring and technological change. Despite the slowdown in the global economy the Irish labour market has been very resilient with employment continuing to grow and unemployment remaining stable....

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Since the establishment of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority on 1 May 2003, under the aegis of the Minister for Finance, I have no responsibility in the supervision and regulation of insurance undertakings. I am not in a position to supply the information requested as my Department does not collect the data in question. I am aware that the Irish Financial Services Regulatory...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: In 2004 the work permit section of my Department received 35,553 applications for work permits. Of this figure 34,067 permits were issued and 1,486 were refused. Of the 34,067 permits issued, 5,107 were issued to applicants from the new EU states who required a work permit up to 30 April 2004 and the remainder were issued to citizens of the non-EEA area.

Written Answers — Export Markets: Export Markets (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Ireland exports across the globe. As such, there are virtually no markets to which Irish companies do not export. The Government's strategy is to assist companies, through Enterprise Ireland, on an individual basis to deepen market penetration where they are already active and to identify opportunities in markets where they have not yet achieved significant penetration. In terms of export...

Written Answers — Export Markets: Export Markets (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: Between 17 and 25 January 2005, I accompanied the Taoiseach on an official visit and trade mission to China. The Ministers for Education and Science, Agriculture and Food and Communications, Marine and Natural Resources also participated. The trade mission was the largest in the history of the State, involving in total 121 Irish companies and educational institutions primarily involved in the...