Results 201-220 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Live Register. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: I agree with Deputy Penrose's suggestion regarding the inclusion of county managers and other development officers on trade missions, having been on many such trips in the past five years, and I will convey it to the Minister. The roll-out of broadband has not been quick enough and it has been held up for reasons we all know. However, moves have been afoot since before the Minister for...

Live Register. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: Unemployment is increasing mainly in the construction industry.

Live Register. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: The numbers employed in the manufacturing and services industries are increasing exponentially.

Industrial Development. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: The strategy for science, technology and innovation, SSTI, which was published by the Government in July 2006 noted that, for a country whose performance is dominated by high technology industry, there is a disjuncture between an impressive performance overall and the level of research and development conducted by indigenous and multinational firms in Ireland. The principal objective of the...

Industrial Development. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: As the take-up by indigenous companies has not been as high as we hoped over the past several years, new programmes have been introduced to increase the level of participation. Enterprise Ireland has a number of programmes of particular relevance to research and development. The programmes are aimed at stimulating research and innovation among companies which are new to product, process and...

Industrial Development. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: I have total confidence in the expertise and skills available from Enterprise Ireland through my experience of working with the agency over the years. It has now been given other tools to ensure indigenous firms have the chance to grow and develop.

Alcohol Advisory Group. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: I welcome the establishment of the Government's alcohol advisory group by my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan. I understand this group invited public submissions on the following matters: the increase in the number of supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations with off-licences and the manner and conditions of sale of alcohol...

Alcohol Advisory Group. (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: Reports in the media have suggested that the abolition of the groceries order has resulted in the wide availability of low-cost alcohol and an associated increase in consumption. The order was abolished primarily because it allowed wholesalers and suppliers to determine minimum retail prices for consumers, thereby constraining price competition in the grocery trade. It was not designed to...

Order of Business (7 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: Another speech.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: They have good reason for it.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: Was it a Mayo man?

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: We do not blame anybody.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: I question the Deputy on that statement.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: The figure is less than 3% in Cobh.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: We must get the facts.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Michael Ahern: From when?

Seanad: Olympic Games (31 Jan 2008)

Michael Ahern: On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Séamus Brennan, I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this matter. I am grateful for the opportunity to outline the current position regarding the work being carried out by the London 2012 Olympics task force. The choice of London as host for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games is probably the closest Ireland...

Seanad: Olympic Games (31 Jan 2008)

Michael Ahern: Our similar climate, proximity and good transport links, common language and strong business and tourism links with the UK present many opportunities for Ireland to benefit from the London games. Sport has the capacity to unite and excite the whole country like nothing else and the Olympics remain the biggest sporting event of them all. London 2012 is a once in a lifetime opportunity for...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes (31 Jan 2008)

Michael Ahern: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. The FÁS community employment, CE, scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. Community employment helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes (31 Jan 2008)

Michael Ahern: I will bring the Senator's comments to the attention of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment who has responsibility for FÁS schemes.