Results 301-320 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Price Increases. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: When there is much business and demand, that is what people do and I do not believe any law can get around that. Many pubs in Dublin did not increase their prices. Tourists will go wherever they most enjoy being. We all know that when we are tourists, we often go to more expensive places because they are more convenient. I hope locals are more discerning. If they are regulars, I hope they...

Price Increases. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The director has the power to name and shame, as the Deputy said, and to bring whatever information she collects as a result of investigations into the public domain in whatever ways she believes appropriate. She did so effectively on this occasion and it got extensive publicity. Before Christmas, the director of consumer affairs at the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Mary...

Price Increases. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: As regards Deputy Howlin's question, I said that I would not introduce a maximum prices order because the experience in the past was that everybody goes to the maximum and feels that is the allowable threshold or acceptable rate. I made the point that hotels charge more for busy weekends and airlines charge more for tickets at such times. Generally, businesses tend to scale their activities...

Price Increases. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I do not know how many staff she would need to operate a system of that kind. One would have to constantly inspect a few hundred thousand businesses throughout the country.

Price Increases. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: To have a State agency deciding what is good value is not the way to go about it.

Price Increases. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The approach the director has taken in this case is the appropriate way to go. Hardly any country in the world has price control legislation because it is impossible to enforce. It is not a way of reducing prices for consumers or of delivering better value for money.

Industrial Development. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The decision whether to provide funding to a company is a day-to-day matter for the State agencies. Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland operate in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Development Acts and within the policy framework established by my Department. Enterprise Ireland is the agency that has primary responsibility for the development of indigenous sector. A small or...

Industrial Development. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: Import substitution clearly has a role to play, but it depends from where the imports come. We cannot support import substitution from taxpayers' money if the competitor is another European company from within the enlarged EU. If the company was Chinese or American, import substitution might have a role to play. This market is very small with a population of less than four million. Companies...

Safety on Farms. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, the Health and Safety Authority is the State body charged with overall responsibility for the administration, enforcement and promotion of workplace safety and health. The breakdown of the number of deaths from the use of tractors and farm machinery is as follows: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 (provisional) Machinery-related 4 6 ...

Safety on Farms. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: As someone who grew up on a farm, I know farmers take enormous risks with young children. Part of the problem arises because the residence and the workplace are together and children are close by. Inspections and enforcement are crucial roles for the State, but education and awareness are also vital. Often people take chances with children that they do not think about and, as a result, we...

Safety on Farms. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The separation of building controls is worthy of consideration for new dwellings on farms. Many of the accidents occur on existing farms and many farmers are earning low levels of remuneration for their activities and we do not want to involve them in increased expenses. If people are cautious and aware of the dangers, it will go a long way towards minimising the risk. I agree with Deputy...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The sale of the Comerama facility in Castlecomer was a private matter and was the sole responsibility of the receiver appointed. There was a tender process but I had no involvement in that. I understand, however, that a number of bids were received and certain obstacles were then encountered. As far as I am aware, these obstacles have now been resolved and a company will acquire the former...

Written Answers — Professional Services: Professional Services (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The Competition Authority is currently studying the market for professional services. While the authority's study includes an analysis of professional fees and the manner in which they are set, that is only one element of the review. The study also covers barriers to entry into professions, restrictions on who may supply professional services and various other issues. There are eight separate...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: In June 1996, my Department approved grant assistance of 104,000 ECUs, or approximately £83,000, under the EU-funded small business operational programme for a project proposed by the organisation concerned. In accordance with the normal procedures for the relevant measure, an initial grant of 50% of the total approved was made at that time, while a further grant of 30% was issued in...

Written Answers — Carbon Tax: Carbon Tax (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The proposed introduction of carbon tax is in response to our international obligations under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The Minister for Finance signalled the introduction of a general carbon tax from the end of 2004 in his budget speech in December 2002. A consultation paper on proposals for a carbon energy tax in Ireland was published by the Department of...

Written Answers — Personal Injuries Assessment Board: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: 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. The structure and staffing levels of the PIAB have been...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill is at final stages of drafting. I will be bringing it to Government shortly for approval to introduce it in the Oireachtas and to publish it. I have consulted the social partners and I have taken account of their comments in framing the Bill. In relation to penalties, I am proposing to Government two levels of prosecution for offences under the Bill...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 34 and 35 together. The challenges facing European industry including the concerns of many European leaders relating to trends in exports, jobs, lacklustre productivity performance and how Europe can address these problems formed the focus of discussions of an informal meeting of the EU Competitiveness Ministers and industry representatives in Dromoland...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The agenda for Dromoland and the paper prepared by my Department for the meeting were drawn up in the context of concerns within the Union about the issue of de-industrialisation, the extent to which it represents a threat to the EU's competitiveness and how the Union might respond to it. In addition to the Presidency paper entitled Forging Productivity Growth in Europe, the EU Commission...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 41 together. On the question of workers rights, all workers are treated equally under Irish law. The labour inspectorate of my Department is responsible for monitoring certain employment conditions for all categories of workers in Ireland, including immigrant workers. Inspectors pursue allegations of worker mistreatment and when evidence of...