Results 341-360 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: The new arrangements for spouses are designed to give greater ease of access to employment for the spouses of non-EEA nationals working in the State under specified schemes and facilities. These arrangements are already in operation for some weeks now. Some 40 work permits have already been issued in respect of eligible spouses. A detailed set of guidelines, outlining the eligibility criteria...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: The current position in relation to the transposition of EU directives for which my Department is responsible indicates a total of 22 directives to be implemented, including six for which the deadline for implementation, in full or in part, has passed. Details of the directives, including, in as far as it has been decided, the proposed transposition instruments, are available on my...
- Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: The question of the immigration status of workers from overseas is primarily one for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. To the extent that work permits are an issue, experience has shown that each case must be considered on its own merits. Some employees have undoubtedly been misled by unscrupulous employers and my Department has generally been able to adapt a...
- Written Answers — Social Economy Programme: Social Economy Programme (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: The Social Economy Programme, SEP, was launched in September 2000 with a view to generating 2,500 jobs for the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged people. The number of people supported by the SEP for the years 2000 to 2004 inclusive are: Year Numbers 2000 0 2001 101 2002 1,889 2003 2,370 2004 2,374 (as at 7 May 2004) The programme is funded by FÃS from its...
- Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: The insurance reform programme that I announced on 25 October 2002 comprises a comprehensive set of inter-related measures designed to improve the functioning of the insurance market. I chair a ministerial committee established to drive the co-ordinated implementation of the reform programme across the relevant Departments and other bodies concerned. Substantial progress is being made on a...
- Written Answers — Consumer Strategy Group: Consumer Strategy Group (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: The role of the consumer strategy group, which I established this March, is to advise and make recommendations for the development of a national consumer policy strategy which will provide consumers with the knowledge, information and confidence to be demanding of quality, service and value; ensure consumers are well informed of their rights and have effective and speedy means of redress in...
- Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. In 2003, 32 greenfield and expansion job creation projects were announced by IDA Ireland with a projected total job content of nearly 5,600 jobs. This result was achieved against the backdrop of two consecutive years of falling global inflows of foreign direct...
- Written Answers — Ansbacher Report: Ansbacher Report (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: The inspectors appointed by the High Court to Ansbacher (Cayman) Limited investigated the affairs of the company, drew conclusions based on the evidence before them that named individuals and companies may have breached certain laws and reported back to the court. Action on the conclusions drawn by the inspectors is a matter for the ODCE, the DPP, the Revenue Commissioners and the Central...
- Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: The number of redundancies notified to my Department in the years specified were 13,316 in 2000, 19,997 in 2001, 25,358 in 2002, 27,702 in 2003 and 8,761 to the end of April 2004. The corresponding figure to the end of April 2003 was 8,115, which means an 8% increase in the number of redundancies notified to my Department so far this year. However, the quarterly national household survey...
- Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together. Champion Automotive, Naas, County Kildare, informed IDA Ireland of its intention to close on 7 May 2004. I understand from IDA Ireland that the facility will be closed in the next few months with the loss of approximately 50 jobs. The news of the intended closure is disappointing, particularly for the workers affected and their families....
- Written Answers — Price Increases: Price Increases (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together. The responsibility of Government in the matter of the prices of goods and services generally is mainly limited to ensuring that markets are working properly for the benefit of consumers and of the economy as a whole. Many people in the country share concerns over the price of goods and services and I emphasise that the Government is acutely...
- Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 to 86, inclusive, together. I am very concerned about the difficulties that are being caused by high insurance premiums. The insurance reform programme I announced on 25 October 2002 comprises a comprehensive set of inter-related measures designed to improve the functioning of the insurance market. I chair a ministerial committee established to drive the...
- Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: Data about work permits received in 2004 up to 30 April are as follows: Number Applications received 14,591 Work permits granted 13,090 Work permits refused 523 Applications pending 4,191 There is a carryover of work permit applications from 2003. Applications which were incomplete or ineligible for consideration are not included in these figures. Statistical information on...
- Written Answers — Commission on the Newspaper Industry: Commission on the Newspaper Industry (13 May 2004)
Mary Harney: I have no plans to review the report of the commission on the newspaper industry, which was published in June 1996.
- Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (18 May 2004)
Mary Harney: There are a number of issues in this case which the Department wishes to pursue with the employer and with other interested parties. When these inquiries are complete a decision on these applications will be made.
- Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (18 May 2004)
Mary Harney: The work permits section has indicated that a decision was made in this case on the 8 May 2004 and the employer had been notified.
- Written Answers — Patent Law: Patent Law (18 May 2004)
Mary Harney: The European Communities (Legal Protection of Biotechnological Inventions) Regulations 2000 implemented Directive 98/44/EC on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions. The purpose of the directive was to confirm, clarify and consolidate existing patent law with regard to biotechnological inventions throughout the European Union. The directive does not allow unlimited patentability...
- Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (18 May 2004)
Mary Harney: Insurance can be bought from an insurance company in another European economic area, EEA, country if the company's name is on the list of authorised insurance companies. Any insurer authorised to write business in the EEA may provide insurance into any other member state, including Ireland, on a freedom to provide services basis. However, the authorising member state must notify the host...
- Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (18 May 2004)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 129 and 130 together. In June 1996, my Department approved grant assistance of 104,000 ECUs or about £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,...
- Written Answers — Fógraíocht Ranna: Fógraíocht Ranna (25 May 2004)
Mary Harney: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 77, 78 agus 79 le cheile. Bronann Coimisinéirà na hOibreacha PoiblÃ, ar son na Roinne Rialtais go léir, an conradh fógraÃocht Stáit sna nuachtáin náisiúnta, tar éis comórtas. Faoi láthair, tá an conradh le comhlucht fógraà Brindleys. Le cinntiú an tuairisciú is fairsingeach, agus dár gcustaimeirà ar fud na tire go háirithe, is é an...