Results 3,481-3,500 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Departmental Review. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: We have seen a reduction in energy costs and labour cost inputs.

Departmental Review. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The issue of competitiveness is being dealt with. We will continue to drive the competitiveness agenda, particularly in the more sheltered sectors, arising from the Competition Authority proposals dealing with the non-traded sectors in particular, although I appreciate the Deputy is not always enamoured with Competition Authority proposals. These are the challenges associated with the issue...

Departmental Review. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The reorganisation of the Department is clearly focused in establishing much better, well-supported, clearly focused, policy driven initiatives in particular with regard to the issue of competitiveness.

Departmental Review. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy knows nothing about the running of any Department-----

Departmental Review. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The question is about the ORP, the organisational review programme, which is dealing with the structures, the frameworks and the policy initiatives involved in running the Department. I and the team in my Department are fully addressing the competitiveness issue. We are working with a number of colleagues to ensure that from an over-arching perspective the competitiveness and the innovation...

Departmental Review. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: -----been achieved. If the Deputy had bothered to read the work of IDA Ireland, he would clearly see that there is a new narrative in encouraging FDI, foreign direct investment into the country, based on greater competitiveness, a reduction in our energy costs and a reduction in the labour unit costs. That is the reality and we are much more competitive-----

Departmental Review. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: -----but it will continue to be an issue we will continue to support.

Job Creation. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My most recent contacts with Ryanair were a meeting I had with its chief executive officer, Mr. Michael O'Leary, on Tuesday 16 February, followed by a letter I wrote to Mr. O'Leary on 18 February and letters I received from him on 19 February and 25 February. Mr. O'Leary also responded on 19 February to a letter of 18 February from Shannon Development, one of the agencies under the aegis of...

Job Creation. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I refute that remark. The work of the committee last week indicated that Aer Lingus required hangar 6 and that Mr. O'Leary was only interested in hangar 6 in the provision of these jobs. It is also important to say that Ryanair received legal advice well before SRT decided to move from here, indicating that hangar 6 would be hugely complicated. When Aer Rianta established TEAM Aer Lingus,...

Job Creation. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It was almost two years ago that SRT management came to me indicating grave concerns about the viability of the company. Through Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, I supported the organisation but unfortunately the new CEO and the board decided not to continue in Dublin. We then worked with all interested people to ensure replacement jobs were created. I personally worked closely with Dublin...

Job Creation. (9 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The timeframe would be similar to the timeframe the Scottish Government was in a position to give. I indicated that Fingal County Council was more than helpful when facilitating others that came to the airport and I expected the same for Ryanair. In the interim, to allow for immediate start-up, we offered the existing hangars as a short or long-term measure.

Written Answers — Professional Standards: Professional Standards (4 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The obligations of those operating under the title of architect are governed by the provisions of the Building Control Act 2007, which is the policy responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Building Control Act 2007 requires those who use the title architect when providing services to be registered. The Royal Institute of Architects of...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (4 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The compilation of statistics in relation to the value of retail sales, including sales of grocery goods, is the responsibility of the Central Statistics Office, which operates under the remit of the Department of the Taoiseach. Insofar as matters relating to VAT and VAT returns to the Exchequer are concerned, these are the policy responsibility of the Minister for Finance and I have no...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I have asked the relevant State Agencies operating under the auspices of my Department to offer their services to the workers concerned.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together. Following the publication of an advertisement in the national press the Department received 127 expressions of interest in relation to membership of the restructured Board of FÁS. The advertisement set out the criteria required for suitable applicants. Specifically, to qualify for appointment, a person must not have had any conflicts...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Schedule 1 of the Labour Services Act, 1987, as amended, provides for the appointment of the Board of FÁS including its Chairperson. Each appointment to the Office of Chairperson has been based on the view that the person appointed possessed the right qualities to oversee the work and future strategy of the Agency.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In the time available it has not been possible to gather all the information requested.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Regulations to bring the Services Directive [Directive 2006/123/EC] into law are well advanced. My Department is working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel with a view to completing the legislation as soon as possible. The regulation of casual trading by local authorities under the Casual Trading Act, 1995 is an "authorisation scheme" under the terms of the Directive....

Written Answers — Globalisation Adjustment Fund: Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 143 together. I refer the Deputy to the reply given to Parliamentary Question, Reference No. 8809/10, of 23 February 2010. As stated therein, the further progression of any interventions to be funded specifically by the European Globalisation Fund (EGF) must await the completion of the EGF application process. Matters relating to social welfare...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (2 Mar 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together. In March 2008 the Government set a 25% target to reduce administrative burdens on business arising from regulations by 2012. My Department is charged with leading the cross-Government drive to reduce administrative burdens. This is being done in a prioritised way, drawing from the experience of other Member States involved in...