Results 461-480 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Seanad: Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Apr 2005)

Michael Ahern: This is to substitute an increased maximum fine. The original intention was that the maximum would be €50,000 and not €5,000, as it appears in the Bill. I commend the amendment to the House.

Seanad: Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Apr 2005)

Michael Ahern: My briefing states that section 68 amends section 26 of the Prices Act 1958 to increase the maximum penalties, on conviction, under the prices Acts. It goes on to state the maximum penalty for a summary conviction is from €127 to €3,000. For a conviction on indictment, the penalty is increased from €635 to €50,000.

Seanad: Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Apr 2005)

Michael Ahern: I presume that is outlined in the Prices Act 1958.

Seanad: Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Apr 2005)

Michael Ahern: As I mentioned earlier, and this has been confirmed to me, the offences are outlined in the original legislation. In effect, we are just increasing the level of fines.

Seanad: Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Apr 2005)

Michael Ahern: Senators will be aware that the Restrictive Prices (Groceries) Order 1987 was one of the issues considered by the consumer strategy group and was the subject of recent deliberations before the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, as to the merits or otherwise of the order in managing grocery prices. In any event, all arguments as regards the groceries order will be considered by...

Seanad: Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (26 Apr 2005)

Michael Ahern: We have had a very useful debate in this House for the past week on this technical and complicated Bill and I appreciate the input of Senators to the debate. Part 2 introduces a new contract fund structure, called the common contractual fund, or CCF. A CCF is a contractual arrangement established under a deed which provides that the investors participate as co-owners of the assets of the...

Seanad: Competitiveness and Consumer Protection Policy: Statements (Resumed). (26 Apr 2005)

Michael Ahern: I thank Senators Terry, Cox and Hanafin for their contributions this evening. I also thank the other Senators who spoke earlier in this debate. I am glad the Seanad has given time to and focused attention on important subjects like competitiveness and consumer protection. We need to increase our understanding of the various factors which contribute to competitiveness, which is a broad...

Seanad: Child Care Services. (28 Apr 2005)

Michael Ahern: I thank Senator Bannon for raising this matter. It gives me a welcome opportunity to update the Seanad on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the important issue of child care, which is a priority for the Government. The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 is a key element of the national development plan. It is a seven year development programme which...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (28 Apr 2005)

Michael Ahern: I thank Senator Browne for raising this matter as they provide me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, the extensive work being undertaken by the Department of Education and Science under the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2005-2009 and to outline the current position on the proposed building projects for scoil náisiúnta...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (28 Apr 2005)

Michael Ahern: I will find out for the Senator.

Written Answers — Economic Partnership Agreements: Economic Partnership Agreements (4 May 2005)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 274, inclusive, together. EPAs are, first and foremost, instruments for development that will foster the smooth and gradual integration of ACP States into the world economy. Substantive negotiations are currently underway between the EU and ACP states in this regard. As trade is a Union competence, it is the European Commission which conducts the...

Written Answers — Economic Partnership Agreements: Economic Partnership Agreements (11 May 2005)

Michael Ahern: I have read with interest the recent position paper that sets out the UK view on how best the commitment to put development at the heart of the EPA negotiations can be best delivered. I would agree with the basic thrust of an approach to the EPAs which ensures that the needs and concerns of developing countries are taken adequately into consideration during the substantive phase of these...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 May 2005)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 to 123, inclusive, together. The heads of the Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005 were drafted by officials of my Department. A diverse group of persons and bodies contributed to the drafting of the heads of the Bill. These include the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, IFSRA, the Dublin Funds Industry...

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (18 May 2005)

Michael Ahern: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring the Bill before the House. It was initiated in the Seanad on 29 March and completed all Stages on 26 April. A number of amendments were made on Committee Stage in the Seanad and I will refer to the principal amendments later. Since the International Financial Services Centre was launched in 1987, the Government has made...

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (18 May 2005)

Michael Ahern: I should have the Deputy's job so.

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (18 May 2005)

Michael Ahern: It copied ours.

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (18 May 2005)

Michael Ahern: We were leading and it followed.

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (18 May 2005)

Michael Ahern: The individuals in question will have nothing to explain if they were not in the tax net.

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (18 May 2005)

Michael Ahern: The Deputy is simply twisting the facts.

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (18 May 2005)

Michael Ahern: Everything will be depressed in the west with all this negativity.