Results 4,341-4,360 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council Framework Decision on accreditation of forensic service providers carrying out laboratory activities, back from committee; No. 13, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council Framework Decision on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, and protecting victims, repealing...

Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: With regard to the report on the Dublin diocese, victims are being advised of, and will be given, the report prior to its publication at 2.15 p.m. An electronic copy will be made available to Members with a hard copy available later. It runs to 750 pages.

Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: They are being spoken to now in private.

Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: We are meeting them now.

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In the context of the commitment contained in Building Ireland's Smart Economy document to "publish a whole-of-government response to recommendations contained in Competition Authority reports within nine months of their publication", a prioritised list of Competition Authority recommendations, based on their impact on competitiveness, was drawn up by my Department earlier this year....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In response to the economic downturn and the resulting rapid rise in unemployment, FÁS has, within its existing staff allocation, increased the number of staff in front line Employment Services. The totality of people interviewed has expanded considerably and it was essential that FÁS provided enough front-line staff in the National Employment Service to provide for a major increase in...

Written Answers — Skill Shortages: Skill Shortages (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The National Training Fund is used as a dedicated fund to support the training and upskilling of those in employment and those who wish to take up employment. It is also used as a fund for research to provide information on existing and likely future skills requirements of the economy. In 2009 the National Training Fund is investing a total of €381.4 million in training and upskilling....

Written Answers — Trade Links: Trade Links (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is currently working with the relevant Departments and key agencies on the preparation of an action plan for improving trade, investment and tourism links with new fast developing markets as mandated in the report on Building Ireland's Smart Economy. The action plan will be a focused, practical and strategic plan that builds on and, most importantly, integrates all of the...

Written Answers — Trade Links: Trade Links (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Details of Ireland's trade with Cuba for the period 2004 to 2008 and also for the first seven months of this year, are set out in the following table. During this period, the main category of exports was 'Particle Board, MDF and other Wood Manufactures', followed by 'Spirits/Whiskey, Beer/Cider & other Beverages'. For January – July 2009, exports of 'Medical and Pharmaceutical products'...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department does not provide direct funding or grants to businesses but provides funding to a number of State Agencies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards, Enterprise Ireland and FÁS, through whom assistance is delivered directly to businesses. The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) provide support for small businesses with 10 employees or fewer (micro-enterprises) in...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Courses: FÁS Training Courses (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The following tables set out the information requested by the Deputy that is readily available. FÁS pay for training for people with disability on a per capita fee basis. The current fee payable is €16,256 per capita per annum. Overall Amount Granted to Roslyn Park on a Per Capita Fee Basis Year Amount € 2008 4,072,919 2007 3,869,340 2006 3,282,697 2005 3,263,984 2004 3,014,794...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: With the exception of a building in Shannon occupied by the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), none of the buildings and premises occupied by my Department and the 8 Offices of my Department are rented or leased by the Department. In general, all buildings and premises occupied by my Department and its Offices are provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) without any cost to the...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: A key issue in respect of selection for redundancy is that the selection process must be seen to be fair and non-discriminatory. Should an individual feel that they have been unfairly dismissed by reason of unfair selection for redundancy, it is open to that individual to take a case to the Rights Commissioners or to the Employment Appeals Tribunal under the Unfair Dismissals Acts. The...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: An application for co-funded assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) towards the costs of a personalized package of occupational guidance, training, employment, entrepreneurship and educational measures for workers made redundant at the DELL plant in Raheen, Co. Limerick, and in ancillary enterprises, was made by my Department on 19 June 2009. The EGF application has...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Funding is allocated to groups, organizations or businesses, in respect of the provision of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes by my Department through a number of our enterprise and labour force development Agencies. However, in the time available since this Question was tabled my Department has not been able to collate all the information requested by the Deputy. I will...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that the last five follow-up surveys on a representative sample of former participants on FÁS training and employment programmes carried out by the ESRI on behalf of FÁS, are all available for downloading via the FÁS website. The details of each survey are indicated below: Publication Date Dates of Survey Period of Data Surveyed November 2007 November 2006 – April 2007...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 to 124, inclusive, together. I understand that during the ten-year period referred to by the Deputy, 75% of the increase in management grades within FÁS occurred as a result of a one step increase from a senior staff grade to assistant manager as part of a major restructuring within the organisation. FÁS management grades currently account for 12.8% of...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The European Globalisation Fund application has been approved by the European Commission but has not yet received the required approval from the EU Council and the European Parliament. While such approval is imminent, the setting up of additional promotional and information services is not opportune at this point. However, all eligible redundant workers will be contacted directly as to the...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have received a number of pre-budget submissions from various business organisations and representative groups, including the Restaurants Association of Ireland. I have noted the contents of all of these submissions and will give consideration to the proposals in the context of the pre-budget deliberations with my Government colleagues.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (24 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Work is underway on the legislation required to implement the merger of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency and I hope to publish this legislation during the course of 2010. Whilst it is expected that the synergies arising from the merger of the two bodies will result in savings to the exchequer, particularly in areas such as shared services, it is not possible to...