Results 11,641-11,660 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputies opposite must realise that the Irish people live in the here and now.

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The revisionist history lessons and the refrain of "we wouldn't start from here" are no longer credible with the public. The general public realise the scale of the challenge we face. They are facing it day in and day out as they search for employment and struggle to manage their finances. If the Deputies opposite are sincere about their desire to assist unemployed people find a job and...

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have many of them.

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: For our part, the path we have adopted to address the issue of budgetary sustainability has been backed by international organisations such as the Commission, the OECD and the International Monetary Fund. To take the apparently softer path of delaying actions as advocated by some would also mean that confidence would be lost both domestically and internationally in our ability to manage our...

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Through taking clear steps to arrest the deterioration in the public finances we will signal to international investors that the Irish Government possesses the ability to take necessary decisive action.

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Equally, at home, reducing budgetary uncertainty-----

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: -----would have a positive effect as individuals and companies will have the confidence to increase their spending or decide to expand their enterprises. The reality is that the forthcoming budget can most effectively contribute to economic recovery by way of support for the export-orientated enterprise sector. Ireland can only regain its ground lost through harnessing the skills base and...

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Deputy Coveney complained about the time. I know how he feels, having only two minutes to discuss very important issues. Competitiveness continues to be a major issue. I do not disagree with Deputy Coveney on the issue of energy costs.

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: On competitiveness, we have seen a reduction in energy costs although more remains to be done in that regard. There has been a reduction in labour costs. We are reducing the regulatory burden on business. We are looking at new innovative ways of supporting business. Competitiveness is a real issue and will continue to be a focus because our competitiveness is recovering. Prices, rents...

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement: Departmental Procurement (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Government Decision of 19 May 2009 regarding the reduction of payment periods by Government Departments to 15 days, included a requirement for Departments to report quarterly to my Department on their performance in meeting this target. These reports are to be submitted by the 15th day of the month following the end of the quarter. The first such reports covering the period 15 June 2009...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: This year the Government has doubled to over 130,000 the number of activation training and work experience places provided by FÁS in 2009. At the end of September 115,000 unemployed were currently participating (51,116) or had completed (64,171). The table attached shows the expenditure and the number of throughput recorded by FÁS 2007,2008 and the year to date 2009. Throughput is the...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 133 together. My Department is charged with leading the cross-Government drive to reduce administrative burdens on business. We are doing this in a prioritised way, drawing on the experiences of other Member States who are also involved in this international effort. Departments are currently identifying the "Information Obligations", contained in...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: â'¬15,034.25 was paid to the company in question in respect of an investigation into an allegation of bullying.

Written Answers — Fiontraíocht Éireann: Fiontraíocht Éireann (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Foilsíodh Tuarascáil an Ghrúpa Speisialta ar Uimhreacha sna Seirbhísí Poiblí agus Cláir Caiteachas i mí Iúil seo chaite. I measc na moltaí atá sa Tuarascáil moltar comhtlháthrú fheidhm fiontraíochta Udaras na Gaeltachta laistigh de Fhiontraíocht Éireann. Maraon le moltaí go léir an Ghrúpa, tá súil agam go ndéanfaidh an Rialtas scrúdú ar an moladh seo i gcomhthéacs...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The differential in the price of goods between this jurisdiction and Northern Ireland and the UK has been a matter of debate and concern for some time. The Government has been particularly concerned as to the impact these differentials are having on employment, business activity and consumer confidence. To this end I have been engaged with all elements of the grocery goods sector in an effort...

Written Answers — Trade Development: Trade Development (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is currently working with the relevant Departments and key agencies on the preparation of an action plan for improving trade, investment and tourism links with new fast developing markets as mandated in the Smart Economy Framework. The action plan will be a focused, practical and strategic plan that builds on and, most importantly, integrates all of the ongoing work currently...

Written Answers — Green Enterprise: Green Enterprise (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise was launched on 21 May 2009 and the Group continued to meet until 21 September 2009. The Group also held a number of consultation sessions with interested parties over the Summer. The Report was finalised in October 2009 and submitted to Government on 3 November 2009. The Secretariat is in the process of having the Report printed and it will be...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Competition Authority's 2008 Annual Report. That report does not contain recommendations per se, rather it refers to recommendations made by the Authority that are contained in various reports published by the Authority over the past few years. The Deputy may be aware of the commitment contained in Building Ireland's Smart Economy document to...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have been informed by IDA Ireland that in the period from 1st November 2008 to date in 2009 there has been one site visit by a potential investor to Ballina, Co. Mayo. There have been no such visits to Castlebar or Westport. I am also informed that there are no on-going discussions between IDA and this particular company consequent upon that visit. While IDA Ireland encourages clients to...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: On September 2nd 2009, I announced the establishment of Dublin Aerospace Ltd, a new aviation maintenance provider supported by Government through Enterprise Ireland. Dublin Aerospace aims to establish a best-in-class Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Dublin Airport, servicing APUs, Landing Gear, Base Maintenance and Training. The company has commenced operations with 32...