Results 11,441-11,460 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department currently has 48 officers serving at Principal Officer or higher. This is 4.4% of current serving staff numbers of 1093. To date my Department has received 45 applications under the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement. Due to the small number of applications at the higher level I am not prepared to give a breakdown of grades, as it may be possible to identify individual...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In July this year, the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes was published. Among several recommendations contained within the Report was the proposed discontinuation of Shannon Development. As with all Group recommendations relevant to my Department, I am examining the recommendation in the context of Estimates for 2010 and evaluating its potential...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The issue of job creation and retention in enterprise agency supported companies are day-to-day matters for the agencies themselves and not one in which I am directly involved. However, Shannon Development informs me that three new jobs were created in the Information Age Park in Ennis between January and August 2009. Nine jobs were lost at this business park by August 2009, with six of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009. The Bill provides for, inter alia, the use of US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) in the preparation of the accounts of a specified category of companies for a limited period of time. Approval was given by Government for the drafting of this Bill on 13th October, 2009. The text of the...

Written Answers — Tariff Nomenclature: Tariff Nomenclature (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The main elements of tariff nomenclature, which are the first 6 digits of a possible 10, are set internationally, at the World Customs Organisation. The EU then agrees the final digits that it adds to allow for more specific identification. Under the existing international system, it is not possible to distinguish between goods that are wholly made in one country and those that are...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The arrangements in place in the agencies under my Department's remit for booking accommodation, making travel arrangements and hosting functions at home or abroad is a matter in the first instance for the agencies in question. However, Section 17 of the revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, published in May 2009, states that non-commercial State Bodies should adopt...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The relevant EU Regulation came into force on December 2006. The redundancies referred to took place before 2006 and hence the workers concerned would have been offered assistance under the training and upskilling arrangement in place under national rules.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio, including the acquisition and disposal of property is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency, as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas, and it is not a matter in which the Minister of the day has any involvement. I am informed that the sale of 0.4ha of land to Mr. Malachy Kearns of...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The issue of wind turbines generally is a matter for Sustainable Energy Ireland which is under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and not one in which I am directly involved. However, Enterprise Ireland inform me that they can support the establishment of a business to make wind turbines subject to the normal commercial requirements of Enterprise...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In June 2009 my Department made an application to the European Commission under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for assistance in co-financing supports for workers made redundant at the DELL computer manufacturing plant in Raheen and ancillary enterprises in the Mid West region. Subject to final approval from the European Council and European Parliament of the Irish...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (20 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: A sub-group of the Construction Industry Group (CIG) - an advisory group to the Board of FÁS, was established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Claritas Report on the safe pass and construction skills certification schemes. I understand that all but one of the recommendations accepted by the CIG have been fully implemented. The final recommendation relates...

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together. The Central Statistics Office publishes official data on total merchandise and services exports and the relevant details are shown in the first table. That Office does not differentiate between the exports generated by Foreign-owned and by Irish- owned companies. Total Exports (€ billion) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Membership of bodies such as the Irish Business and Employers Confederation and payments to such bodies are a day to day operational matter for an agency and not a matter for the Minister. I have asked the agencies to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Legislative Provisions: Legislative Provisions (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have no legislative responsibility in ensuring the payment of building subcontractors on public sector and private contracts. Payment terms in commercial transactions are determined by the parties concerned and the responsibility for the collection of those payments and general credit control rests with the selling enterprise, in the first instance. Legislation relating to prompt payments...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 to 132, inclusive, and 135 and 136 together. The table sets out the contracts awarded by FÁS North East to the company in question and the full amount paid in respect of each contract indicating the trainer fee and the trainee allowances paid. Details concerning contracts awarded to the company by other FÁS regions are being compiled and will be...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. Complaints are received by my Department relating to alleged wrongdoing in FÁS from time to time and when received are investigated thoroughly. It is not possible to compile the information requested in the time available. I will be in touch with the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible. Questions Nos. 135 and 136 answered with...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (21 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 (SST) 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 — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Every two years FÁS commissions a follow-up survey of a representative sample of former trainees who completed their training with FÁS eighteen months previously. The purpose of this study is to monitor the post programme experience of trainees in terms of their view of the training they received, their employment experience subsequent to their training, and the extent to which they have...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out. Names, backgrounds and positions of the chairpersons of AnCO and FÁS since 1968: The following is a list of Chairpersons of AnCo and of FÁS since 1967. It has not been possible to provide exact dates for all appointment terms, but, where known, these are indicated below: Chairpersons of AnCO: 15/05/1967 – early 1971 AnCO Mr. Michael...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In the current global economic climate, multinational companies are restructuring their global operations leading to global job cuts. Ireland therefore will inevitably be affected. On a daily basis, IDA Ireland is working with its client companies making every effort to keep their operations in Ireland and minimise job losses. Despite this, Ireland continues to be an attractive location for...