Results 24,421-24,440 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: Long-term unemployment has been reduced dramatically during the past seven years. In 1998 long-term unemployment amounted to 63,500, which represented 3.9% of the labour force. By 2002 the numbers had fallen by over 40,000 to 21,600, 1.2% of the labour force. There was a small increase to 26,900 in 2003, a rate of 1.4%. The EU average rate, by contrast, is 3%. In support of the NAPS strategy,...

Written Answers — Carbon Taxes: Carbon Taxes (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: I have received representations on the possible introduction of carbon taxation from a number of interested parties, including industrial and commercial concerns. In general, the representations from the industry and commercial interests were expressing concern at possible adverse competitiveness implications of the introduction of a carbon tax. In addition, a number of organisations which...

Written Answers — Stem-Cell Research: Stem-Cell Research (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: No agreement was reached at the Competitiveness Council on December 3 on the Commission's amended proposal for guidelines to govern human embryonic stem cell research within the Sixth Framework Programme, or on the alternative proposal put forward by the Italian Presidency. It was apparent from the Council's consideration of these options that there was little, if any, hope of arriving at a...

Written Answers — Groceries Order: Groceries Order (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: I am continuing my review of the groceries order and hope to conclude my consideration in the near future.

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: I very much welcome the survey by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, which is to be carried out on a three monthly basis. Provision of this survey implements recommendation No. 7 of the Motor Insurance Advisory Board's recommendations, which are central to the Government's insurance reform programme. This survey will help engender price competition and educate the public on...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: Both the National Competitiveness Council and the Competition Authority undertake on a continuous basis investigations into the competitiveness of the Irish economy and the level of competition within in it. These investigations highlight the key areas that require attention to enhance Ireland's competitiveness and economic performance. The National Competitiveness Council in its annual...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: The number of redundancies notified to my Department in the years specified, were 13,316 in 2000, 19,977 in 2001, 25,358 in 2002, and 27,702 in 2003. The increasing level of redundancies reflects slower economic activity in Ireland in line with difficult economic conditions worldwide. The quarterly national household survey prepared by the Central Statistics Office last December, shows that...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: Official responsibility for matters relating to the establishment of a press council or press ombudsman is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform. I understand that the Minister concerned has recently set out the position in some detail in a reply to a question by Deputy Sherlock, Parliamentary Question No. 48 on 29 January 2004.

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: I have published a priorities paper for the Competitiveness Council of Ministers, which I will chair during the Presidency. The programme for the Competitiveness Council is firmly rooted in the ten year strategy for growth, economic reform and job creation agreed by the Lisbon European Council in 2000. A separate programme and priorities paper for the Employment Social Policy Health and...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: The following table sets out the trend in job creation and employment loss in indigenous companies, supported by the main development agencies. The data is based on data collected by Forfás and updated by the relevant agencies in the light of new information available to them. Year Job Gains Job Losses 1999 16,569 10,692 2000 20,197 11,251 2001 15,071 14,235 2002 15,485...

Written Answers — Ansbacher Accounts: Ansbacher Accounts (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: The application made to the High Court to recover the costs of the Ansbacher investigation carried out by the High Court-appointed inspectors was made by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who had defrayed the costs of the investigation. The application made was for the sum of €3,453,577.93, being the total costs of the investigation met by the Minister for Justice, Equality...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: While I regret the decision of the company in question to relocate some of their activities from Ireland, I also appreciate that it retains its commitment to the country, as evidenced by a large material investment at one of its Irish facilities recently. The company plans to maintain its other existing operations here and the 320 staff employed in those operations. The company has indicated...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: I have been advised by IDA Ireland that, since the Square D closure announcement in January 2003, there have now been nine site visits to Ballinasloe. IDA and other State agencies have actively participated in locally generated marketing initiatives and are involved in ongoing meetings with the Ballinasloe Town Council and Chamber of Commerce. Construction of a second advance technology...

Written Answers — Migrant Workers: Migrant Workers (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: The Garda Síochána is responsible for investigating complaints of illegal employment of migrant workers and the details supplied have been referred to the Garda National Immigration Bureau for investigation. Migrant workers could be permitted to work without work permits in any of the following circumstances: persons who are EEA citizens — the EEA consists of the EU together with Norway,...

Written Answers — Migrant Workers: Migrant Workers (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: The specific information supplied by the Deputy will be investigated by my Department as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: The investigation in question is being conducted by an authorised officer appointed by me under section 19 of the Companies Act 1990, which provides that the Minister or an authorised officer appointed by the Minister may require the production of books or documents of a company or other body corporate carrying on business in the State, if the Minister is of the opinion that there are...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: In recent months, I have met with delegations from IBEC north-west and from the Donegal County Development Board to discuss employment and related issues in the northwest. As a result, I have arranged for the expert skills group in Forfas to carry out research on the labour market needs of the region. The Government and the State development agencies are committed to ensuring balanced...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: The numbers of work permits issued in the 12 months up to the end of January 2004 are 21,585 new permits, 560 group permits and 25,327 renewals. Detailed statistics on work permits are available on the work permits page of my Department's website. www.entemp.ie

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with information on public liability insurance costs. The CSO, however, publishes monthly indices of costs for motor insurance. These statistics show that there was an increase of 36.7 index points, or 52.8%, in motor insurance between December 1998 and December 2002. I am pleased that there was a reduction of 11.7 index points, or 11%, in motor...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: Following the announcement in September last of closure of the Schneider plant, IDA Ireland circulated a profile of the facility to its network of overseas offices to market the facility but has not been successful in attracting a replacement project. It is understood that interest has been expressed in acquiring the facility for non-manufacturing purposes but agreement has not yet been reached.