Results 3,421-3,440 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Enterprise Stabilisation Fund was established by Government in 2009 as a 2 year scheme to support viable but vulnerable exporting companies experiencing difficulties because of the current economic climate. Client companies of Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Údarás Na Gaeltachta and Shannon Development across all sectors within manufacturing and internationally traded services are eligible to...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In accordance with Section 70(1) of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001, the Company Law Review Group's (CLRG) Work Programme is assigned by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment every two years. I expect to receive the Report of the Group on its 2008-2009 Work Programme before the end of March. Following consideration by the Government, the Report will be laid before both Houses...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The remarks attributed to the Minister for Finance in the interview in question would, no doubt, have been made with the banking sector in particular in mind. Policy responsibility for the banking sector is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance. In the area of company law that falls within my responsibility, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is currently drafting the...

Written Answers — Banking Sector Regulation: Banking Sector Regulation (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Government has taken a range of actions to sustain the banks and facilitate the flow of credit to the wider economy. The Bank Guarantee Scheme, the Banks' Recapitalisation Scheme, the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank and the massive effort we have put into the entire NAMA process are all with the single purpose of getting our banking sector supporting the wider economy. NAMA is...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In February, 2010 Boston Scientific announced that 175 staff at their Galway plant on temporary contracts were being released from these contracts. These temporary positions are increased and reduced in line with business demands. The medical devices company confirmed that the site is not at risk and remains strongly committed to its operations in Ireland, which are making a significant...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A notice announcing the establishment of the Labour Market Activation Fund, 2010, was published by my Department on Friday 12th February 2010 in the national press. Details were also posted on the Government E-tenders website at www.e-tenders.gov.ie, and in the Official Journal of the European Union. Full information on tender requirements will be published at the time of the Call for...

Written Answers — Employment Action Plan: Employment Action Plan (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A total of 12,199 persons aged between 18 and 24 were interviewed and assessed by FÁS in 2009 following referral by the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) under the National Employment Action Plan (NEAP). Of these, 4817 persons remain on the Live Register. Following the offer of a training or educational course or employment a total of 7,382 persons left the Live Register. All...

Written Answers — Export Credit Insurance: Export Credit Insurance (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is considering the merits of introducing a State supported Medium-term Export Credit Insurance Scheme (where the risk period is over 2 years), as part of our ongoing work, with other relevant Government Departments and Agencies, to prepare an Action Plan for Trade, Investment and Tourism, as mandated in the Smart Economy framework. It should be appreciated that Medium-term...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The proposal for a Consumer Rights Directive was published in October 2008 and brings together in updated and consolidated form four existing Directives on doorstep selling, distance sales, consumer sales and guarantees, and unfair contract terms. Unlike the Directives it is intended to replace, the proposal has been drafted on a full harmonisation basis and, if adopted on this basis, would...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Consumer protection law obliges traders offering a product for sale to indicate the selling price and the unit price of that product and to ensure that the indication of the selling price and of the unit price is clearly visible. Complaints in relation to products being offered for sale where the price or unit price is not clearly visible should be brought to the attention of the National...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Government acknowledges that Ireland's economy is facing many difficulties none more pressing than our high levels of unemployment. In the last two years in response to rising unemployment levels the Government has introduced a wide range of measures to combat unemployment. In the past year, to prevent unemployment I introduced the €100 million Enterprise Stabilisation Fund and the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In the Review of Towards 2016 the Government committed itself to introducing amending legislation to exclude voice-over actors, freelance journalists and session musicians from the provisions of Section 4 of the Competition Act 2002. This commitment takes into account, inter alia, that there would be negligible negative impacts on the economy or on the level of competition, and, having...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In late 2008 a number of matters came to my attention with regard to the FÁS Science Challenge Initiative including that of high expenditure and I commissioned a review of this programme. The review concluded that the initiative was outside of the main remit of FÁS, did not represent best value for money on the basis of efficiency, effectiveness and economy and that there was no evidence...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In the time available it is not possible to provide the information requested.

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I refer to the answer to Question No. 7715 of 16 February 2010 in relation to the relevant Irish application for co-financing assistance under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund. In the interim State agencies such as FÁS and Enterprise Ireland have made, and continue to make, the full range of their employment, training, guidance and advisory services available to all workers made...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: A moratorium on recruitment and promotions, applying to all public and civil service bodies, has been in place since March 2009. Recruitments and promotions cannot be made without the sanction of the Minister for Finance. This affects both the National Consumer Agency (NCA) and the Competition Authority. However, in recognition of the short-term resource problems being faced by the NCA,...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I have given consideration to the correspondence submitted. The objective of the proposal is effectively to have the State assume the costs for non-performing property investments where business owners are paying back large mortgages for secondary properties. The suggestion is that normal repayments due in respect of these investments would be retained by the business person to spend on...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Renewed Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to "implement a Code of Practice for doing business in the Grocery Goods sector to develop a fair trading relationship between retailers and their suppliers" and "to review progress of the Code and if necessary to put in place a mandatory code". The Government will give effect to this commitment by including a specific...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated and will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Employment Service: Local Employment Service (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested is being collated and will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.