Results 4,241-4,260 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes presented its report to the Government in July of this year. In its report, the Group outlined options to achieve savings in public expenditure across all Departmental Vote groups. In relation to my own Department, the Group made proposals for the rationalisation of some services provided by my Department's agencies,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The agreed severance arrangements for the former Director General of FÁS were granted in accordance with Section 6(3) of the Labour Services Act, 1987, which states that "the Director General shall hold office on and subject to such terms and conditions (including terms and conditions relating to remuneration and superannuation) as may be determined by the Minister [for Enterprise, Trade and...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As I have previously outlined to the House on a number of occasions over recent months, in supporting small and medium enterprises, the Government's focus has been on actions to sustain a positive business environment, including the proper functioning of the banking system, allied with specific targeted supports for SMEs through my Department's enterprise development agencies. Developments in...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Ultimately it is the boards and chief executives of State agencies that are responsible for ensuring that effective systems of internal control are maintained and operated. Each of the agencies under the aegis of my Department have in the normal course confirmed compliance with the code of practice in place up to June 2009 and that arrangements are being made to implement the new code without...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009 is currently going through the Seanad and is expected to be enacted later this month. The appointments will be made as soon as practicable when the Act has come into force. The Labour Services (Amendment) Bill, 2009 provides for a stronger governance and accountability structure at the State's employment and training agency. It takes account of the...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The commitment to publish a whole of Government response to recommendations contained in Competition Authority reports is set out in the Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal document, Building Ireland's Smart Economy, published in December 2008 and reaffirmed in the October 2009 Review of the Programme for Government, Renewed Programme for Government. These reports by the Competition...

Written Answers — Enterprise Stabilisation Fund: Enterprise Stabilisation Fund (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Government approved an amount of €100 million in total for the Enterprise Stabilisation Fund for the years 2009 and 2010. €50 million has been included in the estimate of my Department for this purpose in 2009. Under the scheme, Enterprise Ireland may provide up to €500,000 to viable companies with robust business models that are facing difficulties as a result of the current...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The following provides a breakdown of the sectors involved in the 'first round' of the Work Placement Programme (WPP) in respect of the Graduate stream. Marketing / Sales 6 Administration 7 Science 6 Engineering 10 Education 6 Information Technology (IT) 20 Professional 9 HR 3 Production 4 Arts 3 Finance 9 Purchasing 1 Health / Social 3 WPP1 ( Graduate) on WPP as of 27 Nov 09...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 72 together. 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...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Government have adopted a co-ordinated, integrated and innovative approach to support the unemployed and to provide these individuals with the necessary skills needed to prepare them for a return to employment as soon as possible. This process is being co-ordinated by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Renewal, which contains Ministerial representatives of the key economic Government...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As is normal in the run-up to any budget I have interactions with the Minister for Finance and other Ministers on all areas of interest including VAT and PRSI rates. Policy responsibility for taxation matters, including PRSI and VAT rests with my colleague Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D., Minister for Finance. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on these matters.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have no plans to amend the existing eligibility requirements to qualify for agency assistance or the numbers employed by companies to benefit from the services of the particular agencies. The Enterprise Agencies (IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Forfás, Science Foundation Ireland, Shannon Development and Údarás na Gaeltachta) have been involved in a process over the past 12 months to...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Work is well advanced on the Heads of a Bill to provide for, inter alia, the merger of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency. I hope to publish this legislation during the course of 2010.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The new code of practice for the governance of state bodies circulated by Department of Finance in June this year, applies to the following agencies under the aegis of my Department: 1. Enterprise Ireland (EI) 2. Industrial Development Authority (IDA) 3. FAS 4. Health and Safety Authority (HSA) 5. Forfás 6. National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) 7. Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) 8....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Funding of FÁS Services to Business and Skillnets is a matter for the Estimates process for 2010. The outcome of that process will be released in Budget 2010, which will be released on 9th December 2009.

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Central Statistic Office released this morning the Live Register figures for November. According to the Live Register there were 413,500 people claiming unemployment benefits at the end of October 2009. This is 1,100 (0.3%) higher than October 2009. The Live Register is 146,300 (55%) higher than this time last year. Positively, the year-on-year increase for November is continuing to...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Industrial Development agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland as well as the South Cork County Enterprise Board are making every effort to develop and promote industry in the Youghal area. IDA Ireland is actively promoting the greater East Cork region, including Youghal, to prospective investors across the full range of IDA targeted sectors. The agency continues to target high...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Government approved special pension arrangements in the case concerned on 28 March 2000. Following discussions between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Finance on the appropriate vehicle to provide for these pension arrangements, a Statutory Instrument was drafted and signed by FÁS and the two Ministers concerned in September 2000.

Written Answers — Prompt Payment System: Prompt Payment System (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No: 85 on 12th November 2009. The Secretary General of my Department wrote to all Government Departments on 26th May, asking them to take the necessary steps to implement this commitment and to ensure that Department line staff and Finance Units are made aware of the need to prioritise payments to suppliers to meet the 15 day deadline. The Government...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (2 Dec 2009)

Mary Coughlan: On foot of the commitment in the Renewed Programme for Government of October 2009, the Government will consider the optimum legislative mechanisms to regulate in these areas in the light of the Financial Reporting Council reviews of the Combined Code of Corporate Governance and taking into account the views of the Company Law Review Group in the matter.