Results 401-420 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Order of Business. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: That Bill is awaiting Committee Stage.

Order of Business. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: I would like to congratulate Fine Gael on its success in the elections.

Order of Business. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: I will not take any lectures from a party that lost 100% of its MEPs. The Bill will be ready in 2005.

Order of Business. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's party intends to align itself with the communists.

Insurance Industry. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: The establishment of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board is a significant milestone in the Government's insurance reform programme, which I am confident will lead to reduced insurance premia to the benefit of both consumers and business alike. By eliminating the need for litigation costs where legal issues are not in dispute, the PIAB will significantly reduce the cost of delivering...

Insurance Industry. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy is aware, the Bill establishing the board was passed towards the end of last year. It was signed into law on 28 December by the President. I signed the ministerial order on 13 April, which was just under four months from the start of the year. We wish we could have done that sooner, but the board had to have the necessary expertise and personnel in place before it could open for...

Insurance Industry. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: It is the market and competition that will drive down the costs. Given my recent estimate on figures in advance of the local elections, the Deputy will understand that I am hesitant to give any more estimates.

Insurance Industry. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: Yes. We could see the same levels of reductions again. That is what most experts in the field believe is likely when the courts and civil liability Bill takes effect to deal with exaggerated and false claims. I am meeting lawyers throughout the country who have informed me that their salaries will fall by 40% or 50%, if we can factor that into the costs of insurance.

Insurance Industry. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: I think the Deputy can take it that we will see further substantial reductions. Employer's liability and public liability insurance premia are only beginning to reduce. I understand it is expected that by the autumn the reduction will be fairly significant.

Semi-State Bodies. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: As the House is aware, a number of recent developments will impact on the mid-west region and the State agencies located there. First, under decentralisation policy, some 1,210 staff from Departments and State agencies will transfer from Dublin to the mid-west region and the headquarters of Enterprise Ireland involving 300 of the agency's Dublin based staff will be moved to Shannon. Second,...

Semi-State Bodies. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: Change is often resisted. The reality is that since the early 1990s Shannon Development only helped indigenous companies on an agency basis for Enterprise Ireland. That role was removed from it in the reforms put in place after the Culliton report. On an agency basis, it was given the role of supporting indigenous companies. Obviously, when Enterprise Ireland was moving to Shannon, it did not...

Semi-State Bodies. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: No, it is not the only reason. Shannon Development will have no role to help indigenous companies. That role is reverting to Enterprise Ireland which will operate from the region, so Shannon Development will not be dealing with companies. Both Cork and Dublin airports have industrial development parks, which is not unusual. Aer Rianta has serious problems and even if it were to remain intact,...

Semi-State Bodies. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: It has been extraordinarily successful.

Semi-State Bodies. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: As it goes forward, however, it must have a clear remit as regards what it is supposed to do and what its targets are so that we can measure the outcome. I am working with the company to achieve that and I believe we will achieve it.

Regional Development. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: Much of the area referred to in this question falls outside my remit as it is part of the remit of Údarás na Gaeltachta. However, in so far as my area of responsibility is concerned, the State development agencies under the aegis of my Department — IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Mayo County Enterprise Board — continue to promote the establishment and expansion of enterprises in...

Regional Development. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: According to last year's census, there were 12,184 more people working in County Mayo than when the 1996 census was published. The population of Mayo has risen by 5.3% to 117,466. Last year alone, I issued 788 work permits to companies in Mayo because they could not find local employees. Some 1,431 new houses were built in Mayo over the past year, which represents an increase of 41%. For...

Regional Development. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: I referred to the ten enterprise centres, some of which are in north-west Mayo, as the Deputy knows. There is also an institute of technology in Castlebar which is helping to get companies interested in investing in the area. However, the investment will be in the larger towns because that is where we have acquired the land and have installed technology facilities. We could put bricks and...

Consumer Issues. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: The consumer strategy group launched its new website, www.irishconsumer.ie, earlier this month. The group has also announced its public consultation on consumer issues and invited individual consumers, representative organisations, businesses and any other interested parties to contact it with views and submissions by 9 July next. The group has produced a consultation paper, Components of...

Consumer Issues. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: Let us put matters in perspective. At the Estimates meeting this morning, I stated that we pay ourselves the second highest wage rates in the European Union. If we think we can continue to do so and have the cheapest prices, we need to get real. This is a question of supply and demand and the economic development which has taken place in Ireland has fuelled increased prices for housing and...

Consumer Issues. (17 Jun 2004)

Mary Harney: Perhaps the Deputy could send it to the consumer advisory group to see what it thinks of it.