Results 50,761-50,780 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 106 together. As I advised the House on 7 October 2004, the advice of the Attorney General's office was sought during the most recent review of the groceries order. The advice stated that, should an amendment of the order be deemed appropriate, the safest method would be pursuant to primary legislation. The Competition Act 2002 was the culmination of a...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: As indicated in a previous reply, I understand that there is no immediate shortfall in air freight capacity out of Ireland. Other carriers have sufficient capacity to deal with the demand created as a result of Aer Lingus's decision. However, as the maintenance of adequate air cargo services is of considerable importance to our long-term economic development, I have requested the National...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 145 together. The announcement by Allergan of the proposed job losses in Westport is a major blow to the workers affected and their families. My thoughts are with the workers and the families of the workers who will lose their jobs. I am conscious too of the adverse affects of such a closure, socially and economically, on the surrounding area. I note...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: The Personal Injuries Assessment Board was established by ministerial order on 13 April 2004. From 1 June 2004 all personal injury claims arising from workplace accidents, where an employee is seeking compensation from his-her employer, must be referred to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board before legal proceedings are issued. From 22 July 2004, all motor liability and public liability...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 118 and 139 together. The State has already made a significant financial contribution to assist the former employees of Irish Fertiliser Industries. Following the decision by the board of IFI to put the company into liquidation, ICI and the State, the shareholders in IFI, while there was no legal obligation to do so, established a special fund with almost...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: I understand from the company in question that it intends to cease its Rosslare-France service no later than 30 November 2004. The company informed its staff on the MV Normandy on 20 October 2004. I understand that in making the announcement, the company proposed an enhanced voluntary redundancy-early retirement package or the opportunity to redeploy to ships on its three Ireland-UK routes. I...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: Senior officials from my Department are members of the tax strategy group, TSG, which is an interdepartmental committee chaired by the Department of Finance. The terms of reference of the TSG include the examination and development of proposals for measures in the areas of taxation, PRSI and levies, for the budget and Finance Bill. As the Deputy will be aware, much of the discussion prior to...

Written Answers — Consumer Issues: Consumer Issues (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: The work of the consumer strategy group is ongoing and has involved a number of initiatives. The website www.irishconsumer.ie has been established. A public consultation on consumer issues was held and individual consumers, representative organisations, businesses and any other interested parties were invited to contact the group with views and submissions by 9 July. The group produced a...

Written Answers — Enterprise Policy: Enterprise Policy (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 113, 114, 129, 142 and 147 together. As I previously advised the House, the Government considered the report of the enterprise strategy group in advance of its publication on 7 July last. In view of its extensive recommendations and their impact on a range of Departments other than my own, the Government decided to establish a high level committee to...

Written Answers — Enterprise Policy: Enterprise Policy (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: The small business operational programme, or SBOP, which ran from 1995 to 1999 was Ireland's response to the EU's SME initiative. The initiative was aimed to stimulate small and medium-sized industrial or service enterprises, especially in less developed regions such as Ireland, to adapt to the Single Market and to ensure they could become internationally competitive. The SME initiative was...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: As Deputies are aware, the Minister for Finance is responsible for tax policy and has made clear that the Government is fully committed to maintaining the 12.5% corporation tax rate which became effective for all trading income from 1 January 2003. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland's long-standing policy of low corporation tax has been a fundamentally important element in the attraction and...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: As the Minister responsible for the requirement for motor insurance and in the light of his broader responsibility for road safety, my colleague, the Minister for Transport, will take over from my Department the lead role in policy and legislation on the availability and cost of motor insurance and related interdepartmental co-ordination. This will involve developing and implementing any...

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 131 and 134 together. As the House will be aware from similar questions asked previously, there have been a number of developments which will impact on the mid-west region and the roles of the respective State agencies operating there. The most significant of these developments are the proposed relocation as part of the Government's decentralisation...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: Currently, I have no plans to restructure or reorganise FÁS. The structure, organisation and direction of FÁS was set out in its statement of strategy 2002-05. In broad terms, the statement provides for a shift in strategic focus away from dealing with the consequences of unemployment towards mobilising labour supply and providing training for both employed and unemployed alike. I recently...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: A total of 31 directives remain to be implemented, including ten for which the deadline for implementation in full or in part has passed. Details of the directives including, in so far as it has been decided, the proposed transposition instruments are available on my Department's website at www.entemp.ie/trade/eudirectives/index.htm. The website also contains information on directives in...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: The Forfás employment survey tracks employment levels in agency assisted companies on an annual basis. The life cycle of companies influences the ebb and flow of employment and relocation is just one factor in the many enterprise related issues that determines employment levels. It is not possible to determine the employment change arising from just one aspect affecting the enterprise...

Written Answers — Employment Action Plan: Employment Action Plan (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: I assume the Deputy is referring to the national employment action plan which is produced annually by my Department. The plan is Ireland's response to the European employment strategy, or EES. The strategy is the process used to implement the employment objectives of the Lisbon Agenda. The employment guidelines which flow from the EES have set three overarching objectives. These are full...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: My Department no longer regulates insurance companies as this responsibility has passed to the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, IFSRA, under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Finance, who has overall responsibility for policy and legislation on the provision of financial services in Ireland. The Minister for Transport has taken over the lead role in policy and...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 140 together. Support for job creation and investment on a regional or local basis is a day-to-day operational matter for the industrial development agencies. The agencies promote actively all areas for new investment and jobs on an ongoing basis. IDA Ireland markets individual areas as locations for additional foreign direct investment through its...

Written Answers — Construction Sector: Construction Sector (16 Nov 2004)

Micheál Martin: Employment in the construction sector, which includes the house-building sector, increased by 7.6%, or 14,600, in the 12-month period to end May 2004. In the period 1997-2003, employment in the sector increased by approximately 65%. A number of reports have been produced commenting on the future of the construction sector. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,...