Results 3,461-3,480 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Departmental Structure. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The issue is that the opposition is not in this House-----
- Departmental Structure. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: -----and the political charges are ones which I may take from the Deputy but not from others.
- Grocery Industry. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Competition law prohibits retailers from compelling suppliers to make payments for the advertising or display of grocery goods. Anyone who has evidence of traders engaging in such practices should bring this evidence to the attention of the Competition Authority in order that it can be fully investigated. The renewed programme for Government contains a specific commitment to "implement a...
- Grocery Industry. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is Chairman of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment and I appreciate what he said, as well as what was said by representatives from agriculture. I have met many of the companies involved who, unfortunately, are not in a position to make a formal complaint. However, today I have asked an independent, eminent person to consider bringing to finalisation a code of...
- Grocery Industry. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Competition Authority will investigate issues which are anti-competitive. We have banned below-cost selling and "Hello" money. However, as I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, I want to introduce the code immediately. It will take some time to introduce it, from a legislative point of view, which is why it will be voluntary. The authorities in the United Kingdom have returned to...
- Grocery Industry. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: -----of the members of the committee. Enforcement will be the matrix by which we will be judged. It is very difficult to do, but I will include a specific designated person in the new merged authority to deal specifically with the enforcement issues which arise from the code. Although it is difficult, it is clearly my intention to deal with this matter quickly.
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The central objective for Government is the provision of normal credit on fair commercial terms in our economy to all viable large, medium and small businesses. It is critical that our banking system is again fully fit for purpose, whether in providing working capital, new loans or other credit facilities to businesses. The relationship between banks and businesses needs to be fully...
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It is not the intention to do so. On the issue of access to credit, it is important to make several points. First, the Minister of State, Deputy Billy Kelleher, on my behalf travelled the entire country listening to businesses, particularly small businesses, to find the particular issues. Second, we set up a review group comprising all of the key stakeholders and all of the banks. The...
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It really helps to bring people together to ensure that they appreciate the other sides of the argument and how they can work together instead of being adversaries. Third, Enterprise Ireland facilitated the transfer of some personnel between the banks to ensure the experience and expertise on business and business decisions would be made available. That has happened and is ongoing. Fourth,...
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: As was said to the Deputy's party leader on several occasions by the Taoiseach, if the Deputy's party was on this side of the House, we would not have any banking facilities because we would have no banks.
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The differences between Fine Gael and the Labour Party are striking. The one thing we have is a plan, that plan is NAMA, we are working on its development and working out that system to ensure we have access to credit and that we deal with the viability of the banking system. We are working towards examining the potential of a loan guarantee scheme.
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: It is easy to sit over there.
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Let us hear all about the Fine Gael magic bank, that monument to Deputy Enda Kenny-----
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: -----where we will bring all of the organisations together, create one huge monolithic God knows what, to ensure-----
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I have.
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: Exactly. At least to be fair to him, he realised it is not workable and will not create any more jobs.
- Banking Policy. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is the very one who came to this House to discuss quangos. He wants to create the biggest quango that was ever created in the history of this State through the development of what he wanted to do on the creation of jobs.
- Departmental Review. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: The organisational review programme â or ORP - report was based on examination of my Department's capacity to deliver for our stakeholders and was published in November 2008. As part of the ORP process, and in response to the ORP team's findings, my Department drew up an action plan aimed at addressing the specific findings of the report and that action plan was published in conjunction...
- Departmental Review. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: I do not know why I should answer the question. The Deputy is going around in circles. The question is-----
- Departmental Review. (9 Mar 2010)
Mary Coughlan: That is the question. The Deputy raised the issue of the competitiveness agenda, which is key to the work that has been ongoing in the Cabinet sub-committee dealing with economic recovery, where my Department, as the lead Department, has ensured we have reduced our electricity and gas costs, which are a major issue, and reduced the regulatory burden on businesses. All of that work has been...