Results 50,541-50,560 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Industrial Development. (3 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: We repeatedly pointed out to officials that we were not taking this from anywhere in Europe. Location within Ireland would not have made any difference. That is not the issue; the issue is definition of innovation. During the Irish presidency, as this framework was being negotiated and concluded, Ireland was successful in getting a footnote into the framework agreement which allows for...

Relocation of Institute. (3 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am glad the Deputy has given me the opportunity to outline, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, the proposals of her Department concerning the proposed relocation of the Tipperary institute. A Government decision of 26 July 1995 authorised the establishment of the Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute as a company limited by guarantee. The institute was duly...

Relocation of Institute. (3 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I always had a fondness for Clonmel. South Tipperary County Council purchased circa 300 acres — the Ballingarrane property — for the development of a large-scale technology park. The council has proposed that the TRBDI campus in Clonmel be relocated to the park. To facilitate the transfer, the council is amenable to providing a free site to the institute. The Minister, Deputy Hanafin,...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (3 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: My Department's records show the following payments to the person referred to by the Deputy. Fees amounting to €18,111.54 were paid to the person in the 1997-98 tax year and €2,632.21 in the 1998-99 tax year, in respect of service as a rights commissioner. A payment in the amount of €35,336.81 was made on 22 December 1999 in respect of work carried out in the course of an inquiry into...

Fisheries Protection. (3 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I apologise to the house for the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Gallagher, on whose behalf I am taking this debate. The Minister of State relies upon the advice of the National Salmon Commission and the national fisheries managers executive in determining the terms of the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme which sets out...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (2 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am informed that there is no record of a valid work permit application in this case. Applications which are incomplete or incorrect are returned to the employer for completion. In the aftermath of EU enlargement, it is the Government's 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...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (2 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I have received a copy of the report of the consumer strategy group within the past 24 hours. I have not yet had an opportunity to read the report or to consider its findings in detail. Neither do I propose to comment on the content of the report until such time as I have had an opportunity to discuss the matter with my colleagues in Government. I expect to publish the report in the coming...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (2 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. IDA Ireland is committed to regional development as a core part of its strategy and has set itself a high level performance target for the Objective One, Border-Midlands and West, BMW, area. This commits IDA Ireland to try to achieve a target of...

Leaders' Questions. (2 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: It is beyond Deputy Boyle's wildest dreams.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland, including its regions and areas. I am informed by the agency that an advance technology building of 16,000 sq. ft. with 100% expansion capability is under construction on the business park at Knockenrawley. Construction is expected to be completed in the next few months. This...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I plan to travel to Australia for the St. Patrick's celebrations. My itinerary for this visit has not yet been finalised so it is not possible to make a more detailed statement on the areas to be visited.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: The work permit section of my Department wrote to the above named employer on 21 February 2005 seeking additional information to process this application further. To date, the work permit section has not received a reply to this correspondence.

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together. I am aware of the jobs situation in County Limerick. My immediate concern is for the workers who are losing their jobs. The full services of FÁS, particularly in relation to re-training and upskilling, are made available to such workers if the workers wish to avail of those services. Most of the job losses are in the poultry sector. I...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: Shannon Development is the agency responsible for regional economic development in the mid-west region and plans for the factory site in question are an operational issue for the company and not one in which I have any direct function. I understand that the group concerned has met the chairman of Shannon Development recently to discuss the issue. In the circumstances, I have no plans to meet...

Written Answers — Job Initiative: Job Initiative (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: Following the recent review of FÁS employment schemes which comprise community employment, social economy and job initiative, JI, I announced that with effect from 10 November 2004, there would be no compulsory lay-offs on JI and; participants on JI would have their contracts renewed for a further term. People who leave JI voluntarily may be replaced by community employment participants....

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (1 Mar 2005)

Micheál Martin: In recent 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 from China and central and eastern Europe, together with upward pressure on costs and the strengthening of the euro against our key trading...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 43 and 74 together. Section 21 of the 1990 Act, as amended, prohibits the disclosure of information obtained under section 19 investigations except to certain specified "competent authorities" and for certain purposes. Accordingly, I am not in a position to disclose any details or findings of the investigations to date. Information and assistance has been...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 47 together. The report referred to is the Review of Enterprise Ireland Supported High Potential Start-ups 1989-2004, conducted by Enterprise Ireland. I should point out that the report is an internal report of Enterprise Ireland and as such is an operational issue for the agency and not one in which I have a direct function. Enterprise Ireland has...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: A Bill to put Ireland's existing employment permit system on a statutory basis is in the final stage of drafting. The intention is to have the Bill enacted before the summer recess. The preparatory stages of this Bill have taken longer than expected because of the change in labour market circumstances, due to the enlargement of the European Union. The proposed Employment Permits Bill 2005,...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (24 Feb 2005)

Micheál Martin: The implementation of Enterprise Ireland's regional development strategy is a day-to-day matter for the agency and not one in which I am directly involved. Enterprise Ireland informs me that it seeks to encourage a balanced spread of regional enterprise development in line with Government policy. Enterprise Ireland's strategy in this regard includes encouraging companies, where relevant, to...