Results 3,821-3,840 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (2 Feb 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. In relation to the banking sector, I would refer the Deputy to previous parliamentary question 44958/09 of 2nd December last in which the Minister for Finance, inter alia, refers to proposals aimed at developing new statutory rules for...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Work on the Heads of a Bill to provide for, inter alia, the merger of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency is at an advanced stage. I expect that the Bill will be published during 2010.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes included recommendations for the rationalisation of some services provided by my Department's agencies, and for reductions in certain programme and staffing costs. I have already accepted a number of these recommendations in whole or in part and the resultant financial savings have been incorporated in my...

Written Answers — Foreign Direct Investment: Foreign Direct Investment (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In the period 2002 to 2009, there were a total of 916 foreign investments won by IDA for this country. The number of investments in each of those years is shown in the following tabular statement. International investment will continue to be a key driver of employment, exports and growth. Ireland's corporate tax rate of 12.5%, our multilingual skilled workforce and our strategic location to...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (2 Feb 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". It is my intention to give effect to this commitment by including a specific...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act, 2009, made provision for the reduction of the remuneration of certain persons in the public service. The pay reductions provided for in the Act have been applied across my Department and its agencies with effect from 1 January 2010. The 2010 Estimate for my Department which was published on 9 December 2009 included an...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I recently appointed a new board of FÁS under the terms of the Labour Services (Amendment) Act 2009. The Board has not yet had its first meeting. I have however already met with the Chair of the Board and will meet with the full Board as required during the course of the year.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The CLRG published its General Scheme of the Companies Consolidation and Reform Bill in July 2007. The Government subsequently approved the drafting of a Bill along the lines of the General Scheme. The proposed Bill will consolidate the existing Irish Companies Acts, dating from 1963 to 2009, as well as other regulations and common law provisions relating to the incorporation and operation...

Written Answers — Enterprise Stabilisation Fund: Enterprise Stabilisation Fund (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The provision of grant assistance to individual companies is a matter for the development agency or body concerned, and not one in which I have any function. However, I have been informed by Enterprise Ireland, that 5 applications have been received to date in 2010 of which 3 companies have been approved for funding under the Enterprise Stabilisation Fund. To date, no monies for 2010...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: In selecting the new Board of FÁS, I drew on a wide range of experience from both the private and public sector. Members were chosen on the basis of relevant experience and competencies in areas such as the functions of FÁS, finance, corporate governance and public administration, as provided for in the Labour Services (Amendment) Act 2009.

Written Answers — Venture Capital Programmes: Venture Capital Programmes (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am fully aware that a dynamic and healthy venture capital market is a prerequisite for the growth and development of high potential start-up companies in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland provides financial support to high potential Irish companies. This financial support, based on an approved business plan, includes the areas of business feasibility study, product development and new company...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the industrial development agencies. Data is compiled on an annualized basis and is aggregated at county level. The survey shows that in the 10-year period, 2000 to 2009, a total of 8,970 new jobs were created in IDA supported companies in Counties Wicklow, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and...

Written Answers — Company Takeovers: Company Takeovers (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Enterprise Ireland is in constant contact with the Ireland management team of the company that is the subject of the proposed takeover and continues to advise my Department on developments as they occur. Once the takeover is confirmed, and as soon as it is appropriate to do so, Enterprise Ireland plans to develop a strategy as regards working with the company and initiating discussions with...

Written Answers — Loan Guarantees: Loan Guarantees (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Work is underway within my Department on the examination of a possible scheme of loan guarantees for the SME sector. This is in line with one of the recommendations contained in the Mazars report on credit availability. There are significant issues to consider and weigh up before any final decision can be made. For example, we need to be certain of the extent to which any scheme would assist...

Written Answers — Aviation Industry: Aviation Industry (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: On September 2nd 2009, I announced the establishment of Dublin Aerospace Ltd, a new aviation maintenance provider supported by Government through Enterprise Ireland. Dublin Aerospace aims to establish a best-in-class Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Dublin Airport, servicing APUs, Landing Gear, Base Maintenance and Training. The company has commenced operations with 70...

Written Answers — Product Labelling: Product Labelling (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together. The issue raised by the Deputy involves a number of different policy considerations. In so far as my own area of direct policy responsibility is concerned, the Consumer Protection Act 2007 includes specific provisions in relation to the provision of information to consumers in the course of commercial transactions. Specifically the Act...

Written Answers — Aviation Industry: Aviation Industry (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: On September 2nd 2009, I announced the establishment of Dublin Aerospace Ltd, a new aviation maintenance provider supported by Government through Enterprise Ireland. Dublin Aerospace aims to establish a best-in-class Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Dublin Airport, servicing APUs, Landing Gear, Base Maintenance and Training. The company has commenced operations with 70...

Written Answers — Work Placement Programme: Work Placement Programme (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Work Placement Programme is a joint labour market activation initiative between my Department and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. It provides the unemployed with the opportunity to secure work experience for up to nine months. Participation on the programme is voluntary and unpaid. Unemployed individuals participating on the programme are being kept close to the labour market...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Courses: FÁS Training Courses (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: FÁS training allowances are generally aligned to a person's entitlement to supports for jobseekers and Department of Social and Family Affairs' rules. In consequence, where a trainee is entitled to a benefit from the Department of Social and Family Affairs at course commencement, he/she will receive a FÁS training allowance for the duration of the training course.

Written Answers — Company Takeovers: Company Takeovers (2 Feb 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Enterprise Ireland is in constant contact with the Ireland management team of the company that is the subject of the proposed takeover and continues to advise my Department on developments as they occur. Once the takeover is confirmed, and as soon as it is appropriate to do so, Enterprise Ireland plans to develop a strategy as regards working with the company and initiating discussions with...