Results 1,061-1,080 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes (31 Jan 2008)

Michael Ahern: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The FÁS community employment, CE, scheme 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. Community employment helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes (31 Jan 2008)

Michael Ahern: I will bring the Senator's comments to the attention of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment who has responsibility for FÁS schemes.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (31 Jan 2008)

Michael Ahern: On behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, I thank Senator Buttimer for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the position regarding St. Angela's secondary school in Cork city. Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not...

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: I question the Deputy on that statement.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: The figure is less than 3% in Cobh.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: We must get the facts.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: From when?

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: They have good reason for it.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: Was it a Mayo man?

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: We do not blame anybody.

Order of Business (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: Another speech.

Legislative Review. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: The Minister, Deputy Martin, announced a public consultation on the operation and implementation of the Competition Act 2002 last October. A number of submissions have been received and are currently being examined. During a Dáil debate on the Private Members' Competition (Amendment) Bill in December, the Minister indicated that he would welcome submissions from interested parties. I...

Legislative Review. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: I do not have answers to those specific questions but I will obtain the details sought by the Deputy concerning the number of reports. I will pass on to the Minister the Deputy's suggestion about replying to recommendations contained in such reports.

Legislative Review. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: The Minister has said that there will be a thorough analysis of all the submissions and that consideration will be given on how best to proceed when that review process has been completed. It is too early at this stage to speculate on any possible legislative changes.

Live Register. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together. The total number of people recorded on the live register for January 2008 is 181,449. The live register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment benefit. Unemployment is measured by the quarterly national household survey, collated and published by the Central...

Live Register. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: I do not agree with the Deputy's contention that we have been smug and unaware of what was coming down the tracks. The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance stated in his budget speech that estimated economic growth in 2007 would be approximately 4.7% and it would average 3.25% between 2008 and 2010. He also stated the economy had reached a turning point and was entering a phase of much lower...

Live Register. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: He is attending the North-South Ministerial Council in Dundalk.

Live Register. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: For the past ten years I have listened to predictions of doom and gloom by Opposition colleagues, even though more than 2 million people are at work, the highest number in the history of the State. I acknowledge there will be a downturn, mainly due to the correction in the house building industry. However, 80,000 were employed in this industry and approximately 6,000 have been laid off....

Live Register. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: I agree with Deputy Penrose's suggestion regarding the inclusion of county managers and other development officers on trade missions, having been on many such trips in the past five years, and I will convey it to the Minister. The roll-out of broadband has not been quick enough and it has been held up for reasons we all know. However, moves have been afoot since before the Minister for...

Live Register. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: Unemployment is increasing mainly in the construction industry.