Results 11,081-11,100 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Mid-West Task Force is the first such task force in the last five years. For some years a range of co-ordinated structures have been in place at regional level, through arrangements such as those for the National Spatial Strategy, County Development Boards and enterprise agency co-ordination, and recent regional industrial development issues have more often been addressed through these...

Written Answers — IDA Properties: IDA Properties (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency, as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas. I have been informed that the IDA building portfolio currently consists of 139 units, of which 65 are owned by IDA and 74 are leased from private landlords (known as Private Finance). Because of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: CORD (Commercialisation Of Research and Development) The aim of the Campus Enterprise Programme is to support the development of third level campus-based companies and support towards assessing the commercial viability of innovative technologies. The programme also provides specifically designed business development and mentor facilities under the Enterprise Platform Programme. Those...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Department's Advertising and Information Resources budget for 2009 is €351,000 which may be broken down into the following elements: Elements of Department's Advertising and Information Resources Budget Approximate Breakdown Advertising by the Department in newspapers for statutory and non- statutory purposes.Subscriptions to magazines, journals etc. for official purposes for...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In 2008, my predecessor, Deputy Micheál Martin, initiated a review of the legislative provisions applying to media mergers. This was aimed at examining the criteria and arrangements for considering and assessing how a proposed merger might affect the diversity of views and the concentration of ownership within and across media businesses. The Media Merger Advisory Group was established to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 to 98, inclusive, together. The 2009 Revised Estimates for Public Services, which were published by the Department of Finance on 23 April 2009, include details of estimated pay costs and staff numbers for 2009 for my Department, its Offices and agencies. The published Estimates also show the provisional outturn figures for 2008. The allocation for my...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: FÁS administration costs and general expenses are comprised of a pay element (staff salaries and pensions) and a non-pay element (administration costs and overheads). An increase of 0.24% in 2009 was granted to FÁS to cover increases in fixed costs in areas such as insurance, rent, rates, telecoms and security, which support the basic infrastructure needed to run the organisation. These...

Written Answers — Retail Sector: Retail Sector (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Section 5 of the Competition Act 2002 prohibits abuse of a dominant position. The creation or existence of a dominant position does not breach the Competition Acts, rather it is the abuse of that position that constitutes the breach. Should the Deputy have any evidence of undertakings in the retail sector engaging in the abuse of a dominant position, I would urge them to bring such evidence...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In the time available, it has not been possible to compile the information requested by the Deputy in relation to my Department and the Offices of my Department. This information is currently being compiled by my Department and I will be in touch with the Deputy shortly about the matter. However, ascertaining the information requested by the Deputy over the last 20 years would be...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Since my appointment as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in May 2008, neither my Department nor the Offices of my Department have contracted the company in question to undertake any work on behalf of the Department or the Offices of the Department. The additional information requested by the Deputy is, therefore, not relevant.

Written Answers — Fuel Costs: Fuel Costs (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, my concerns in relation to fuel and oil are based on consumer and competition aspects of their markets. From a consumer angle, the House will recall that during 2008, I requested the National Consumer Agency to undertake a survey into the underlying reasons as to why pump prices for petrol and diesel were appearing not to fall in line with...

Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Order of Business is No. b11, motion re: Mandela day, No. c11, motion re membership of committees; No. 23, Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 - Committee and Remaining Stages (resumed); No. 5, Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2009 - Order for Second Stage, Second and Remaining Stages; and No. 1a, Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad] - Second and Remaining...

Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As an exception to the exception.

Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I reiterate the welcome to the ambassador. I am delighted to see we are d'aon ghuth mar gheall ar seo. We are of one voice in taking the global call, which is to inspire people from every corner of the earth to embrace Nelson Mandela's values as they seek to improve their lives through service to their communities. They are values to which we would aspire and we are delighted to be in a...

Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There has been considered debate on the legislation. More than 11 hours have been provided for the consideration of the legislation and it will be given further consideration in the Upper House. Recently, I read through the transcripts covering a situation where we considered the immediacy and necessity of introducing legislation such as this. It would be a dereliction of our duty if, for...

Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Reading through the main provisions of the Bill, it refers specifically to the issue of retailers. Sections 3 and 5, to which the Leader of the Opposition has referred, contain the judicial discretion aspect. The provision in the Bill is for a 90 day removal from the retail register of advertising.

Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There will be three and a half hours of discussion on this matter.

Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Exactly.

Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As the Ceann Comhairle is aware, on the issue of reform it is sometimes difficult to let go. On the issue of the guillotine, there will be more than three and a half hours to discuss the legislation. This is an amendment to the Public Health (Tobacco) Bill following consultation and a lot of deliberation involving many Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas as well as people outside, who...

Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I put my case. Molaim an rúin.