Results 9,181-9,200 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (6 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Section 1 of the Hallmarking Act, 1981 defines articles of precious metals as articles consisting of or containing gold, silver or platinum. Irish hallmarking legislation requires all articles of precious metals to be assayed (that is to say tested for fineness) and hallmarked in Ireland. Statutory Instrument No. 579 of 2001 which was made under the European Communities Act, 1972 provides...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (6 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that FÁS does not maintain a list of contractors for engagement in any region. The selection of candidates is based on pre-set criteria and rules for selection, which are made available in advance to interested parties.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Staff of my Department are entitled to be absent, subject to prior approval, for a number of reasons (e.g. Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Adoptive Leave, Carer's Leave etc.). Clear procedures are in place in my Department for the approval and recording of such absences. Staff of my Department are also entitled to be absent from work when they are ill, in accordance with the terms of the...

Written Answers — National Disability Strategy: National Disability Strategy (6 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The total allocation in 2009 for the advancement of the National Disability Strategy by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and its agencies is €78.642million of which €77.7million is ring-fenced within the FÁS allocation for specific employment and training programmes for people with disabilities.

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The fact that Dell is undertaking a fundamental review of its manufacturing operations and global business model has been in the public domain for some time. It is standard IDA Ireland practice, where any of its client companies is undertaking reviews of this type, to engage with the company with a view to mitigating the impact on the company's Irish operations. I can confirm that IDA has...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Private Security Authority (PSA), established under the Private Security Services Act 2004 and operating under the remit of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is the regulatory body for the private security industry. I understand that under the Act it is compulsory for private security contractors to be licensed by the PSA. In order to obtain a licence from the PSA the...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Many sectors, including the motor trade, are being affected by the downturn in the economy. The Government is taking decisive action in this regard. FÁS and the Department of Social and Family Affairs are working together to respond quickly to the rising Live Register numbers, for example: FÁS is, with the Local Employment Services provided by Area-Based Partnerships, currently gearing up...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I am very conscious of the need to try to accommodate apprentices who have been made redundant in advance of the completion of their apprenticeships. Last month's Budget announcement provided an additional €9.5 million to FÁS to enable them to provide employment support services to those who have lost their jobs, including redundant apprentices. This additional allocation will allow FÁS...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Section 4 of the Competition Act 2002 prohibits and makes void all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition in trade in any goods or services in the State or in any part of the State. This reflects the provisions of EC Treaty Article 81 which...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy in so far as my Department is concerned is set out in the following table: Year 2007 Name of Company Purpose Cost to the State € Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) Reimbursement of Legal costs in relation to an action against the PIAB at High and Supreme Courts 75,021 Mairéad Carey B.L. Legal Services in connection with functions of...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: FÁS expenditure on the apprenticeship system since 2006 is as follows: Year €m 2006 (full year) 113 2007 (full year) 129 2008 (To Sept.) 91 2008 (Oct-Dec)* 38 * Budgeted The FÁS budget by programme for 2009 has not yet been agreed.

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The number of apprentices newly registered with FÁS since 2006 broken down by sector and projected registrations during the balance of this year and in 2009 is as follows: Trades 2006 2007 2008 Nov-Dec Total 2009 Construction Brick & Stonelaying 473 247 55 8 63 50 Cabinetmaking 207 154 68 10 78 50 Carpentry & Joinery 1,907 1,354 446 70 516 450 Floor & Wall Tiling 32 43 10 2 12...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Since the announcement in the budget by my colleague the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan TD, of the merging of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, my Department has being working in conjunction with both bodies to bring about a smooth transition to a unified single body to oversee the area of competition and consumer protection. As both the National Consumer Agency...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The apprenticeship programme is a training and development programme, which provides apprentices with the skills, knowledge and competencies leading to the award of an advanced craft certificate. The programme involves the development of practical skills and related theoretical knowledge over a seven-phase programme — three off-the-job phases and four on-the-job with an employer....

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together. IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Capital funding allocated to my Department is expended through various agencies under the remit of my Department, including IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, FAS, Shannon Development, InterTradeIreland, the National Standards Authority of Ireland and the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards. The funding is use by the agencies to operate programmes which provide a...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In 2006, 24 members of staff retired from my Department with a pension and lump sum. Pensions in respect of the 24 staff totalled €542,595 per annum, and lump sum payments totalled €1,674,371. In 2007, 27 staff members retired with an annual pension and lump sum. Pensions in respect of the 27 staff totalled €783,897 per annum, with lump sum payments of €2,355,742 being paid. So far...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Total expenditure in 2007 on the Community Employment (CE) Scheme amounted to €357.5 million. As at 26 September 2008 expenditure totalled €273.1 million. Current estimates indicate that total expenditure at the end of 2008 will be around €374 million. Discussions on the detail of the FÁS budget for 2009 are currently ongoing.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (11 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: No development works have been undertaken by my Department under Section 181(2)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 which provides inter alia that a Minister of the Government may by order provide that the Planning and Development Act 2000 shall not apply to a proposed development being carried out, by the Minister or on behalf of the Minister, where the Minister is satisfied that the...