Results 11,281-11,300 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

FÁS: Motion (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: It would not have been possible to effect the necessary speedy change of director general, which was in the best interests of FÁS, its clients and the taxpayer. At all times during this process I acted in line with the advice of officials of my own Department and the Department of Finance. There had been considerable comment both inside and outside the House in regard to the issue of...

FÁS: Motion (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As I outlined at the outset of my remarks, I have today published the Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009.

FÁS: Motion (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: When enacted, this legislation will improve the effectiveness and governance of the board of FÁS and strengthen the accountability of its director general to the Oireachtas. The Bill takes account of the recommendations made by the Committee of Public Accounts in its fourth interim report and the work of the Comptroller and Auditor General. My main purpose in this Bill is to effect a...

FÁS: Motion (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: -----in a non-prescribed manner based on a person's particular talents and experience-----

FÁS: Motion (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: -----to include the director general as an ex officio member of the board; to introduce a rolling system of appointments to the board; to implement the recommendations of the Committee of Public Accounts relating to the accountability of the director general of FÁS and the fiduciary duties of directors appointed by the Minister; to introduce provisions relating to the disclosure of interests...

FÁS: Motion (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: It is not appropriate to say that if we do not have the facts. That is not factually correct. Deputy McCormack is a member of the Committee of Public Accounts and he would be aware of the facts.

FÁS: Motion (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: It was nothing to do with the Taoiseach.

Written Answers — EU Support Schemes: EU Support Schemes (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The decision of any eligible Irish undertaking, including financial institutions, to make an application under any particular EU scheme would be a commercial matter for the institution involved. Applications are between the undertaking involved and the relevant EU institution providing support. The Irish Authorities would not necessarily be made aware of individual applications made to EU...

Written Answers — Prompt Payment System: Prompt Payment System (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As on and from 15 June last all Government Departments are required to pay suppliers and contractors within 15 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Responsibility for implementing the terms of the Government Decision rests with each individual Department. Suppliers pursuing payments should contact the relevant Departmental section with which the contract was arranged. The Secretary General of...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Day to day import controls and related verification procedures in respect of imports from illegal Israeli settlements are undertaken by the Customs authorities and my Department is not involved in these procedures.

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As I advised in a previous reply on this matter to the House, insofar as consumer protection considerations are concerned, the Consumer Protection Act 2007 includes specific provisions in relation to the provision of information to consumers in the course of commercial transactions. Specifically the Act provides that the provision of false information in relation to the geographical or...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The information available to me to respond to the Deputy's question is limited by the level at which details are recorded on my Department's financial systems. There have also been changes to my Department's systems over the last ten years which further limits the level of detail available. It is not feasible, therefore, to provide details of the cost of each individual Ministerial overseas...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The National Employment Action Plan Preventive Strategy (NEAP) involves a systematic referral of certain cohorts of registered unemployed persons by the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) to FÁS for assistance. Department of Social & Family Affairs National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) referrals to FÁS Employment Services, Cork, in the third quarter of 2009 totalled,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Oct 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. The location of the 6 units in the Waterford Industrial Estate on which the Agency has long term lease agreements, and which are currently available for use, is set out in the attached tabular statement....

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together. As I informed the House in reply to a previous Question on 22 September last (No.32397), I propose to bring the Services Directive, 2006/123/EC, into effect by way of statutory instrument, under the European Communities Act 1972. This is the approach used for the majority of EU Directives and, in this case, will facilitate the...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is currently preparing an application seeking co-financing support from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) in relation to workers made redundant at SR Technics. This is being done in consultation with the relevant statutory bodies such as FÁS, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the Department of Education and Science, the Higher Education Authority and relevant...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 221 and 235 together. The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes Report has no recommendations to alter the eligibility criteria for participating on the mainstream Community Employment (CE) programme nor on the special status drug CE programmes. It does, however, recommend the removal of the dual-entitlement to certain social...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The average salary per grade grouping provided to me by FÁS is set out in the table in respect of the years 1998 to 2008. The figures are not available at individual grade level as it is not possible to extract this retrospectively from the computer payroll system. For the same reason figures in respect of 1997 can not be provided at this stage. For ease of comparison the figures for all...

Written Answers — Nutraceutical Sector: Nutraceutical Sector (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There is no universal definition of nutraceuticals as a sector and therefore, it is difficult to define the level of investment in the sector and the percentage of Gross Domestic Product attributed to it. The nutraceuticals market is frequently defined as encompassing functional foods, vitamins, minerals and supplements and it is evident that it can offer lucrative opportunities to the...

Written Answers — Competition Authority: Competition Authority (6 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Competition Authority is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition law in the State. Section 29 (3) of the Competition Act 2002 provides that the Competition Authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Under section 30 (1)(b) of that Act, the Competition Authority is responsible for investigating any breach of the Act. As investigations and...