Results 11,341-11,360 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The mental capacity Bill is due early next year.

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Although the legislation has been enacted by this House, the Minister has indicated publicly that he proposes to introduce further reform.

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There will be no delay. The Minister will introduce even more reform, over and above the legislation that has been enacted.

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: That matter-----

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: -----will be brought to the House if necessary.

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The alcohol legislation will be introduced next year. There has been consultation on the sunbed legislation and I believe the Minister is anxious to introduce it as quickly as possible.

Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There has been consultation on this issue. It is a large piece of legislation. As the Deputy knows, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food looks after farm animals. That matter will be brought to a conclusion in due course.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The State Development agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, and the Louth County Enterprise Board are responsible for job creation in County Louth. Since 2005 and up to 31st August 2009, Enterprise Ireland has paid almost €9 million in grants to its client companies in County Louth. In the period from 2004 to 2008, IDA Ireland paid a total of €2,921,960 in grants to its client...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 70 and 73 together. Officials from my Department sought and received written consent from the Department of Finance for the following severance arrangements for the former Director General of FÁS under Section 6 (3) of the Labour Services Act 1987: superannuation benefits (Pension and Lump Sum) based on 40 years service, including added notional service;...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: A draft note was prepared in my Department in order to convey a desire to ensure an orderly transition to the new Board structure as provided for in the recently published Labour Services Amendment Bill, 2009. It was not issued as a press statement.

Written Answers — Legal Advices: Legal Advices (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I believe it is neither feasible nor prudent to disclose, by way of a general listing unrelated to any specific issue, the issues on which I, or my Department, have sought legal advice. If, however, the Deputy has a particular case in mind, he might table a Question on the matter and I will see whether I can provide specific information to him without prejudicing the administration of law or...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The following tables outline the position on 1 October 2009 in relation to the number of vacant positions in my Department, the number of vacancies in all State bodies and organisations answerable to me; the grade and the average length of the vacancies in each case. Posts vacated as a result of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement and the special Incentivised Career Break Scheme do...

Written Answers — Small Business Forum: Small Business Forum (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Third Progress Report on the Implementation of the Small Business Forum's recommendations was published on my Department's Website on 10 December 2007. This Report sets out in detail the substantial progress made on implementing the key recommendations since the SBF Report's publication in May 2006. In the intervening period, Government has continued to implement outstanding elements of...

Written Answers — Business Regulation Forum: Business Regulation Forum (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In April 2007 the Business Regulation Forum made one recommendation: that an administrative burden reduction programme for business should be initiated in Ireland. The programme was to have the following characteristics: (a) a prioritised approach should be adopted i.e. the heaviest burdens should be reduced first; (b) the Standard Cost Model should be used to measure the prioritised...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The total 2009 allocation of €16.595m of Departmental funding of Skillnets Ltd. activity has been drawn down in full. Disbursement of grant aid and relevant communications with individual networks are operational matters for Skillnets Ltd. in which I have no function. All publicly funded training programmes for those in work are currently being reviewed in the context of the 2010 estimates...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The various activation measures announced in the Supplementary Budget include the provision of various training initiatives that are designed to provide portable and transferable skills in a range of areas that will increase participants' employability throughout all sectors of industry. The initiatives seek, where possible, to provide accredited training programmes that are recognized by the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: FÁS has increased the range of training options available to unemployed persons including those with a 3rd level qualification to assist their re-entry into the labour market. Courses, such as Specific Skills Training and Traineeships which lead to major awards on the National Framework of Qualifications continue to be offered. FÁS also offers a number of Short Courses (typically 2...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: It has not been possible in the time available to compile all the information requested in regard to the number and location of foreign visits and the composition of travelling parties. I have therefore arranged to have the information prepared and will communicate this to the Deputy. In relation to the costs, as I pointed out to the House, on 6 October, the information available is limited...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I understand from FÁS that an audit was initiated by its Internal Audit Department in 2008 in response to a request from local management regarding aspects of the assessment process carried out by an external contractor. FÁS is dealing with the findings of the Audit Report including a revision of the relevant procedures, the enhancement of the contract used when dealing with external...

Election of Ceann Comhairle (13 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Cuirim le ainm an Teachta Séamus Ó Coirc a ainmniú mar Ceann Comhairle.