Results 50,461-50,480 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Newspaper Industry: Newspaper Industry (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Competition Act 2002 contains special provisions for mergers and acquisitions involving media businesses. In this context the term "media" includes newspapers, periodicals, broadcasting services and broadcasting services platforms. This special regime for media mergers is considered necessary to ensure that the public interest is served by a diverse and strong media sector. The media...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The amount paid by my Department for car mileage expenses in 2004 was €717,135. In addition, a total of €54,920 was paid in respect other modes of transport such as taxis, bus or rail.

Written Answers — Local Employment Service: Local Employment Service (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: Following the closure of the Clare LES, FÁS undertook a review of the labour market needs of the Clare region. On foot of this review discussions took place between FÁS and the board of management of Eire Corca Baiscinn, an ADM funded group, regarding the establishment of a new service. I am informed by FÁS that Eiri Corca Baiscinn announced recently that it did not intend to proceed with...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The 35 City and County Enterprise Boards, CEBs, which were established nationally in 1993, provide a source of support for small businesses with ten or fewer employees. The function of the boards is to develop indigenous enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity at regional level. The boards provide a single point of contact at local level for new and established small...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: My Department has incurred no costs to date in this matter. The estimated cost to my Department for a notice under Section 13 of the Official Languages Act 2003 is €6,500.

Written Answers — Unsolicited Goods: Unsolicited Goods (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The practice referred to was brought to my attention recently. However, I understand that it relates to "business to business" transactions rather than dealings between businesses and consumers. Accordingly, the Director of Consumer Affairs would have no role in the matter. It would appear, however, that the issues referred to may be matters of contract law. Aggrieved retailers might,...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am informed by FÁS that they provide funding directly to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions centre for the unemployed in Kildare through the Community Employment Programme. This enables the centre to provide places for persons who are unemployed and disadvantaged in order to assist them in re-entry to the labour market. The County Kildare centre for the unemployed has two community...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The position on the return of grant aid is unchanged from the information provided to the Deputy on 16 December, 2004. To date, no grant aid has been returned to Enterprise Ireland. Discussions between Enterprise Ireland and the company in question about grant aid are still continuing. The issues are complex and are being considered in conjunction with other investment plans by the company....

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the situation referred to in the Deputy's question relates to instances where individual consumers agree to pay certain sums to attend lifestyle seminars in domestic and foreign locations. While I am advised that the fees charged for these seminars can sometimes be as high as €60,000, I am not aware that in charging such fees the organisation is breaching any specific...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The information sought is as follows: National Standards Authority of Ireland Persons Appointed (15) Salary Details 13 Board Members â'¬6,348.69 (3 No Fee) 2 Staff Rep â'¬6,348.69 FÁS Persons Appointed (1) Salary Details 1 Board Member â'¬10,157.90 Shannon Development Persons Appointed (7) Salary Details 1 Chairperson...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: There is no record of a work permit application in this case. Applications, which are incomplete or incorrect, are returned to the employer for completion. I should add that, in the aftermath of EU enlargement, it is Government policy that employers should be able to source nearly all of their workforce needs from within the EU. Accordingly, only in cases where exceptional levels of skill and...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: Employment permits to work in the State take a number of forms including work permits, work authorisation, work visas and inter-company transfers. These permits are in respect of non-nationals of the European Economic Area, which comprises the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Work permits, which are granted to the employer, may be in respect of would be...

Written Answers — Enterprise Centre Occupancy: Enterprise Centre Occupancy (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I assume the question refers to Community Enterprise Centres, CECs, under Enterprise Ireland's CEC schemes. Under the schemes Enterprise Ireland, along with local authorities, city and county enterprise boards and other regional players part fund community groups for the purpose of construction, expansion and development of Community Enterprise Centres. The construction and day-to-day...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Public Service Management Act 1997 provides that I, a Minister of the Government having charge of a Department, shall be responsible for the performance of functions assigned to the Department pursuant to the Ministers and Secretaries Acts 1924 to 1995.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland, including its regions and areas. Through its overseas offices and project divisions, IDA Ireland actively promotes property solutions provided in the mid-western region, which includes west Limerick, by its sister agency Shannon Development. A central goal for IDA Ireland is the...

Written Answers — : (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: Small and medium enterprises are generally recognised as firms which employ between ten and 250 employees. Enterprise Ireland is the national development agency with primary responsibility for assisting the development of indigenous SMEs in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector. Both Shannon Development and Údarás na Gaeltachta carry out EI's functions in their...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The total amount paid by my Department in 2004 for car mileage expenses was €717,135. Figures in respect of the total mileage registered, are not immediately available from the Department's systems. I will furnish this information to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Late Payments Legislation: Late Payments Legislation (22 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The issue of late payments in the private sector is already addressed by the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2002, SI 388 of 2002. These regulations, which came into operation on 7 August 2002, apply to all commercial transactions with the following exceptions: · Contracts made before 7 August 2002 · Claims for payment of late interest of less than...

Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Motion. (10 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: Within days of the High Court — I would not have been aware of the details of that legal case or the fact that we had made a settlement which in essence conceded the principle that was before the court at that time — I immediately abolished the pharmacy regulations which Deputy Rabbitte's Government introduced and which were clearly ultra vires because I do not think they were even...

Report on Long-Stay Care Charges: Motion. (10 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: It was not brought to my attention in that manner, that is the point.