Results 24,281-24,300 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (18 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 129 and 130 together. In June 1996, my Department approved grant assistance of 104,000 ECUs or about £83,000 under the EU-funded small business operational programme for a project proposed by the organisation concerned. In accordance with the normal procedures for the relevant measure, an initial grant of 50% of the total approved was made at that time,...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The sale of the Comerama facility in Castlecomer was a private matter and was the sole responsibility of the receiver appointed. There was a tender process but I had no involvement in that. I understand, however, that a number of bids were received and certain obstacles were then encountered. As far as I am aware, these obstacles have now been resolved and a company will acquire the former...

Written Answers — Professional Services: Professional Services (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The Competition Authority is currently studying the market for professional services. While the authority's study includes an analysis of professional fees and the manner in which they are set, that is only one element of the review. The study also covers barriers to entry into professions, restrictions on who may supply professional services and various other issues. There are eight separate...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: In June 1996, my Department approved grant assistance of 104,000 ECUs, or approximately £83,000, under the EU-funded small business operational programme for a project proposed by the organisation concerned. In accordance with the normal procedures for the relevant measure, an initial grant of 50% of the total approved was made at that time, while a further grant of 30% was issued in...

Written Answers — Carbon Tax: Carbon Tax (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The proposed introduction of carbon tax is in response to our international obligations under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The Minister for Finance signalled the introduction of a general carbon tax from the end of 2004 in his budget speech in December 2002. A consultation paper on proposals for a carbon energy tax in Ireland was published by the Department of...

Written Answers — Personal Injuries Assessment Board: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The Personal Injuries Assessment Board was established by ministerial order on 13 April 2004. From 1 June 2004, all personal injury claims arising from workplace accidents, where an employee is seeking compensation from his-her employer, must be referred to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board before legal proceedings are issued. The structure and staffing levels of the PIAB have been...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill is at final stages of drafting. I will be bringing it to Government shortly for approval to introduce it in the Oireachtas and to publish it. I have consulted the social partners and I have taken account of their comments in framing the Bill. In relation to penalties, I am proposing to Government two levels of prosecution for offences under the Bill...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 34 and 35 together. The challenges facing European industry including the concerns of many European leaders relating to trends in exports, jobs, lacklustre productivity performance and how Europe can address these problems formed the focus of discussions of an informal meeting of the EU Competitiveness Ministers and industry representatives in Dromoland...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The agenda for Dromoland and the paper prepared by my Department for the meeting were drawn up in the context of concerns within the Union about the issue of de-industrialisation, the extent to which it represents a threat to the EU's competitiveness and how the Union might respond to it. In addition to the Presidency paper entitled Forging Productivity Growth in Europe, the EU Commission...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 41 together. On the question of workers rights, all workers are treated equally under Irish law. The labour inspectorate of my Department is responsible for monitoring certain employment conditions for all categories of workers in Ireland, including immigrant workers. Inspectors pursue allegations of worker mistreatment and when evidence of...

Written Answers — Sunday Trading: Sunday Trading (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The law on trading hours is the Shops (Hours of Trading) Act 1938. This Act was introduced for the purpose of controlling competition in the retail sector through the making of regulations which controlled the closing time for shops in specific areas and for specific sectors. As regards Sunday trading, a statutory instrument made in 1938, S.I. No. 188 of 1938, exempts the whole country from...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The Law Reform Commission published a consultation paper on corporate killing in October last. The commission recommended that a new offence of corporate killing be established which would be prosecuted on indictment, without exclusion of any entity whether incorporated or not. The offence would apply to acts or omissions of a high managerial agent, which would be treated as those of the...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 32 and 44 together. The challenges facing European industry, including the concerns of many European leaders relating to trends in exports, jobs, lacklustre productivity performance and how Europe can address these problems, formed the focus of discussions of an informal meeting of the EU Competitiveness Ministers and industry representatives in Dromoland...

Written Answers — National Competitiveness Council: National Competitiveness Council (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: My Department recently chaired an interdepartmental meeting to discuss the implementation of the National Competitiveness Council's, NCC, recommendations with the relevant Departments concerned. My Department is preparing the first report to the Government arising from their decision of 25 November 2003, at which they agreed that Ireland's competitiveness status, including the implementation...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: As part of the decentralisation programme announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget 2004 speech, 250 staff of my Department are to decentralise to Carlow. Four agencies operating under the aegis of my Department — FÁS, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, the Health and Safety Authority and Enterprise Ireland — will also be relocating to a number of areas around the...

Written Answers — Consumer Affairs: Consumer Affairs (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: Since I established the consumer strategy group last March, the group has been provided with a secretariat by Forfás. The group has met on two occasions. To date, it has consulted with a number of interested parties including the Director of Consumer Affairs. It would not be appropriate at this stage to detail the matters it has discussed which are the subject of the deliberative processes...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The city and county enterprise boards, CEBs, can assist the establishment and-or development of eligible new and existing enterprises, from individuals-sole traders, companies and community groups, in the traded services, manufacturing and tourism sectors. In order to be eligible for such support projects must be in the commercial sphere, demonstrate a market for the product-service and, most...

Written Answers — Consumer Affairs: Consumer Affairs (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: Under section 9(5) of the Consumer Information Act 1978, the Director of Consumer Affairs "shall be independent in the performance of his functions". Within this context, both my officials and I meet and liaise regularly with the director and her officers. In so far as the Deputy is referring to current investigations into foreign exchange charges at Allied Irish Banks, under section 149 of...

Written Answers — Personal Injuries Assessment Board: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 92 together. Following enactment of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board legislation in December 2003, a significant amount of work has been carried out to put in place systems and resources to facilitate the operation of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. A number of these tasks could not be carried out until the legislation was passed. I am...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: At the European Council in Barcelona in 2002, the Heads of State agreed that overall spending on research and development in the EU should be increased from the current EU average of 1.9% to approximately 3% of GDP by 2010, and with two thirds of this new investment coming from the private sector. The target of 3% is for Europe as a whole, rather than each individual member state, reflecting...