Results 341-360 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Written Answers — Corporate Investigations: Corporate Investigations (17 Jun 2004)

Michael Ahern: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the director of corporate enforcement's annual report for 2003. Some of its highlights include the following: there were just under 1,500 reports made to his office of the by auditors suggesting the commission of indictable company law offences by companies and directors, in particular, a four-fold increase over the number of such reports made in...

Written Answers — WTO Negotiations: WTO Negotiations (17 Jun 2004)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 63 together. The operation of the EU's common trade policy lies within the competence of the European Commission. In recent months the Commission has been to the forefront of efforts to re-launch the Doha development agenda negotiations. Last September they stalled following the failure of the WTO ministerial meeting in Cancún. The most recent major...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (17 Jun 2004)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 58 together. Sixteen investigations into company law matters have been initiated by me since I first came into office as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. In three cases, the High Court appointed, on an application by me, inspectors under section 8 of the Companies Act 1990. The inspectors appointed to Ansbacher (Cayman) Limited presented...

Seanad: International Development Association (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (7 Jul 2004)

Michael Ahern: This is a short but important Bill which provides for this country's contribution to the most recent round of funding for the International Development Association, IDA, which is the concessionary lending arm of the World Bank. The IDA provides grants or long-term loans at zero interest rates to the poorest developing countries. These are countries where per capita income is less than US$875...

Seanad: International Development Association (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (7 Jul 2004)

Michael Ahern: I thank Senators for their wide ranging and interesting comments on the Bill. The Members of this House have shown a consistent and genuine concern for the less well-off countries of the world and this is acknowledged. Senator Brian Hayes asked does the IDA contribution form part of the overseas development assistance budget. The ODA budget is principally funded through the Vote of the...

Seanad: International Development Association (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Michael Ahern: I thank all parties in the House for the debate on the Bill and their support for the IDA. By supporting this Bill, we address hardships faced by the poorest and most vulnerable in IDA countries. I was in Maputo recently and saw the work being done in one of the poorest countries in the world. It is important that we contribute our share and more to help people in those ravaged countries and...

Written Answers — Export Controls: Export Controls (19 Oct 2004)

Michael Ahern: Unfortunately, due to an administrative error within my Department, incorrect information was given in the reply to the Deputy's question on this issue on 5 October last. The full position regarding the issue was outlined by me in a reply to a question on the same matter on 6 October — reference 23741/04. Also on 6 October, a reply was issued to Amnesty International on the same lines.

Seanad: Poultry Industry. (21 Oct 2004)

Michael Ahern: On behalf of the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, I thank Senator Finucane for raising this matter. The dispute between Castlemahon Food Products Limited and some of its poultry suppliers concerns the price paid by the company to the growers of the birds. The practice in the poultry industry is that the processor supplies day-old chicks and feed to the producer and also...

Seanad: Poultry Industry. (21 Oct 2004)

Michael Ahern: The statement by the Minister for Agriculture and Food makes clear there is no question of involvement by the Department or by EU institutions in the fixing of prices.

Seanad: Poultry Industry. (21 Oct 2004)

Michael Ahern: I will seek a comment from the Minister on this point and report back to the Senator.

Written Answers — Patents Applications: Patents Applications (2 Nov 2004)

Michael Ahern: In common with legislation in most other countries, Irish law, section 28 of the Patents Act 1992, provides that a pending patent application shall be published, that is, made open to public inspection and therefore disclosed, as soon as practicable after the expiry of a period of 18 months from the filing date, or if the priority of an earlier application for the same invention is being...

Seanad: Competitiveness and Consumer Protection Policy: Statements. (10 Nov 2004)

Michael Ahern: Services employment has increased.

Written Answers — Export Licensing: Export Licensing (16 Nov 2004)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 95 together. The independent review of our export control system was published in July 2004. The review proposes a number of areas, both legislative and non-legislative in which the Irish export licensing system can be modernised and strengthened. Consideration and implementation of the report's recommendations is being addressed within the framework of...

Written Answers — Currency Fluctuations: Currency Fluctuations (16 Nov 2004)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 111 together. The euro has appreciated by almost 4% against the pound sterling since August up to date this year. Over the longer term however, it has been relatively stable. The euro-sterling rate has averaged £0.68 so far this year, compared to an average of £0.69 for 2003 as a whole. The euro has also appreciated by almost 5.5% against the dollar...

Written Answers — Accounting Standards: Accounting Standards (16 Nov 2004)

Michael Ahern: The accounting standard in question is international accounting standard 39, IAS 39, which relates to the measurement and recognition of financial instruments. IAS 39 is one of a suite of accounting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, IASB, an independent accounting standards making body, proposed for adoption under Regulation EC No. 1606/2002 of 19 July 2002....

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (16 Nov 2004)

Michael Ahern: Ireland exports across the globe. The Government's strategy is to create further market opportunities by assisting companies to deepen market penetration where they are established and to establish new markets where export opportunities exist. Through Enterprise Ireland, the Government supports the growth of Irish exports by working with individual companies in identifying new product and...

Job Losses. (23 Nov 2004)

Michael Ahern: I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am aware that you, a Cheann Comhairle, have a personal interest in the matter, as has the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith. I believe all the Deputies from Cavan-Monaghan have an interest in the matter. The company was formed in 1984 to produce fresh and frozen meat products. It encountered difficulties during the...

Job Losses. (2 Feb 2005)

Michael Ahern: I learned with grave disappointment of the recent decision by Saehan Media Ireland Limited that it intends to make 70 people redundant at its Sligo facility. The company has decided to cease production of large reels of videotape and to concentrate on production of video cassette tapes. The decision to cut production lines, according to the company, was as a result of increased competition...

Seanad: Job Losses. (2 Feb 2005)

Michael Ahern: I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment. It was disappointing to hear of the recent decision by Saehan Media Ireland Limited to make 70 workers redundant in Sligo. The company has decided to cease production of large reels of video tape and to concentrate on production of video cassette tapes. The decision to cut production lines, according to the company, was as a...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Feb 2005)

Michael Ahern: Has the Deputy any evidence of that?