Results 10,141-10,160 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy has answered the question himself. I have prioritised legislation within my own Department. One Bill, the Industrial Development Bill 2008, will come before the House today. We also have the compliance Bill, where I have asked all Members of the House to give of their views. There is also legislation on agency, which must be passed. I have prioritised those as the three most...

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There was a considerable amount of public consultation on the health information Bill. The Department is working towards finalising the heads of the Bill and it is expected in April. On the criminal justice legislation, there are three amendment Bills and I am not sure to which one the Deputy is referring.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The legislative programme includes the criminal law (insanity) (amendment) Bill and various Bills relating to criminal justice matters.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The criminal justice (amendment) Bill will be published later this year.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The heads of that Bill were agreed in January.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: That will be done this year. The regulations will be informed under the mental capacity Bill.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The legislation will be brought forward later this year.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: That legislation will be debated in the House later today. I assume the Deputy will put forward the points he has raised and ask the Minister to consider them for Committee Stage.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The answer to the second question is "Yes". On the first point, the mental capacity Bill will be brought forward later this year.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: No.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I said "No".

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: No legislation is promised.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I tried to answer the Deputy's question twice. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is in consultation with the Attorney General on the preparation of further amendments to that legislation. He hopes to have dealt with it as quickly as possible so that it can proceed to Committee Stage. There is no legislation promised on the second matter.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Yes.

Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The harbours legislation was passed by the Seanad and is awaiting Second Stage in the House. It will be a matter for discussion among the Whips. The other issue has been discussed on a number of occasions and I have briefed members of both my own party and the Opposition. There is still much ongoing work and the premise of the discussion is to secure as many jobs as possible.

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Sustaining Ireland's competitiveness continues to be a key priority for this Government. It is monitored in particular through the work and advice of the National Competitiveness Council. Their work is a very important part of regular short and medium term analysis of what our economy requires to stay competitive. The National Development Plan 2006-2013 underpins competitiveness by improving...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Framework for Economic Renewal we are taking a number of measures across Government to address competitiveness objectives. A key element of the Government's current strategy to develop the enterprise sector is to encourage increased levels of investment in research, using more technology in product development and encouraging more innovation. "Building Ireland's Smart Economy" sets...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department and FÁS have been continually monitoring the trends in apprenticeship. A number of measures are being put in place to assist apprentices who have become redundant in completing their apprenticeship. These measures are providing assistance to over 2,600 redundant apprentices. These include the following. FÁS Employment Services Division is focusing on assisting redundant...

Written Answers — Training Programmes: Training Programmes (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The State makes a significant investment in training measures for both employed and unemployed. The amount of funding invested in those in employment has increased significantly over recent years and has been used to facilitate a broad range of upskilling programmes, ranging from basic literacy and numeracy to specific skills or support to build the management capabilities and skills within...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (26 Mar 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. The programme helps unemployed people to progress to the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work...