Results 9,561-9,580 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Government policy remains firmly focused on growing competitiveness and building on the success that has already been achieved by both indigenous and foreign-owned firms competing on world markets. We are also committed to promoting competition, raising consumer awareness and tackling administrative burdens in order to drive competition for goods and services traded domestically. Enhancing...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In September this year, I requested the National Consumer Agency to undertake a survey into the underlying reasons as to why pump prices for petrol and diesel had not fallen in line with the drop in the wholesale price of oil. As part of its work, the Agency is benchmarking movements in prices in Ireland against those in other EU countries and it is examining the frequency and the timeliness...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: A consultancy review of the operation of the Wage Subsidy Scheme has recently been completed on behalf of my Department. Following this review, the Scheme has been placed on a permanent footing and a number of reforms are being made which are aimed at enhancing its operation and improving take-up by both employers and people with disabilities. The reforms comprise: removing the productivity...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The economic growth that Ireland has experienced for more than a decade was built on the co-operation, collaboration and hard work of businesses, citizens and government with the core objective of increased prosperity for all. In this time, Ireland faced a number of critical economic challenges and successfully overcame them while becoming one of the world's most open economies. The Irish...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department commenced a review of labour market programmes delivered by FÁS and Skillnets a number of months ago. The objective of this review is to examine these labour market programmes in terms of efficiency and effectiveness and to draw conclusions about the adequacy and balance of resources in the context of current and future labour market policy challenges, including the National...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Board of FÁS is appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Services Act, 1987. The Board comprises of a Chairman and 16 members. The members of the Board are four representatives each from employer and trade union interests, one each from education, social welfare and youth interests, two FÁS employee members, a...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Report of the High Level Group has identified over €20m in cost savings to business as a result of simplified administrative procedures in various parts of Government. The Government's commitment is to reduce the administrative burden on Irish business by 25% by 2012 and this demanding target is a key priority. The High Level Group is tasked with identifying where legislation has...

Written Answers — FÁS Investigation: FÁS Investigation (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Comptroller and Auditor General in his report on non-commercial Semi-State bodies, published in May 2008, reviewed the issues raised in one specific FÁS internal audit report. I discussed this matter with the then Director General of FÁS and have expressed my concerns about the issues raised by both the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Internal Audit report, and in particular,...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: For reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, IDA Ireland does not comment on discussions which it has with individual client companies. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Paragraph 13 of the Schedule to the Labour Services Act, 1987, provides that "Each ordinary member of An Foras shall be paid, out of moneys at the disposal of An Foras, such remuneration (if any) and allowances for expenses incurred by him (if any) as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may sanction." This provision is the statutory basis for the actions described...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Under the terms of the Labour Services Act, 1987, the Director General of FÁS is appointed by An Foras, with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Last week I approved a proposal by the Board of FÁS for the appointment of Mr. Eddie Sullivan to the post of Director General on an interim basis for a period of up to six months. Mr. Sullivan is a former Secretary...

Written Answers — FÁS Investigation: FÁS Investigation (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Comptroller and Auditor General in his report on non-commercial Semi-State bodies, published in May 2008, reviewed the issues raised in one specific FÁS internal audit report. I discussed this matter with the then Director General of FÁS and have expressed my concerns about the issues raised by both the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Internal Audit report, and in particular,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, the merging of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority was announced in the recent Budget. Since then my Department has being working in conjunction with both bodies and the Department of Finance 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...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The total FÁS budget specifically for programmes for people with disabilities in 2008 was € 77.3 million. The relevant budgets and expenditures for the Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Disability Awareness Grant and the Employee Retention Grant in 2008 are as follows: Budget Actual (end October) Wage Subsidy Scheme €10.5m €7.7m Disability Awareness Grant €468,000 €57,000 Employee...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In the period since the establishment of FÁS under the Labour Services Act, 1987 the Minister sanctioned, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, the pay and staffing arrangements for FAS and various other grade specific increases from time to time. Increases in remuneration for the staff of FÁS are normally set in the context of Social Partnership agreements. Under the...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Employment and unemployment are measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) and published by the Central Statistics Office. Statistics are available on a quarterly basis only. The latest quarterly data indicates that there were 2,120,800 in employment in Quarter 3 2008, a fall of 25,200 on the corresponding period in 2007. This release also indicates that unemployment had...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Government decided, in October 2006, to continue to require that nationals of Romania and Bulgaria apply for work permits in order to participate in the Irish labour market, but giving those nationals preference over non-European Economic Area nationals. The Government was informed in its decision by the very significant inflow of economic migrants Ireland had experienced since May 2004,...

Written Answers — Retail Sector Imports: Retail Sector Imports (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Cost and managing costs is an increasingly important consideration for all businesses in these difficult economic times, particularly in a competitive sector such as the retail sector. Given the recent downturn in retail sales, retailers are reviewing all aspects of their cost base including their distribution costs. However, the sourcing of supplies is a day to day operational matter for...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The total number of people recorded on the Live Register for November 2008 is 268,586, showing an increase of about 106,864 in the 12 month period. It should be noted that the Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment benefit. Employment and unemployment are measured by the Quarterly National Household...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I met with the Chairman and some members of the Board of FÁS on 28 November and expressed my disquiet at the events that had taken place in the Public Affairs Division in FÁS. At the meeting the Board assured me that action has been taken to deal with these matters. It also assured me that more robust structures with enhanced controls are now in place. This will help accelerate the audit...