Results 4,421-4,440 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Pre-budget Outlook: Statements (Resumed) (17 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Deputy Coveney complained about the time. I know how he feels, having only two minutes to discuss very important issues. Competitiveness continues to be a major issue. I do not disagree with Deputy Coveney on the issue of energy costs.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Nov 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 — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Enterprise Ireland is the lead government agency responsible for the development of Irish enterprise. Its mission is to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in world markets resulting in increased national and regional prosperity. While Enterprise Ireland does not have a specific mandate in relation to addressing unemployment, the agency is...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Trade: Cross-Border Trade (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: InterTradeIreland commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute to undertake the Report "A Gravity Model Approach to estimating the expected volume of North/South Trade". The Report aims to assess whether aggregate and sectoral cross-border trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland is at, above or below the expected level. The deviations of actual trade from the expected level...

Written Answers — Enterprise Development: Enterprise Development (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Forfás provide policy advice to my Department on a range of issues including infrastructure priorities for enterprise. Their most recent Statement on Infrastructure Priorities was published in January 2009. This Report identified priorities in the areas of transport, energy, telecommunications, waste and water infrastructure. The views and advice in the Forfás Report are taken into...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: According to the QNHS at the end of Quarter 2 the unemployment rate for the age group 20-24 years of age stood at 23% (51,700 unemployed) an increase of 12.6% (25,400) from 2008. While the percentage and the number of people in this cohort has increased, there has been a fall in the participation rate by 2.4%. The recent October Live Register statistics show that 84,948 under 25s are signing...

Written Answers — Export Sector: Export Sector (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Notwithstanding the challenging trading environment, global opportunities for Irish businesses remain significant. My Department, through Enterprise Ireland, is active both in assisting Irish indigenous companies to find new markets for their products and services and to increase their existing level of market share. Encouraging companies to re-orientate towards the Eurozone in the first...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) is carrying out an investigation into certain matters within FÁS. A copy of the report that deals with the examination of advertising and promotion in FÁS, which forms part of the investigation, was laid before the House on 9 September. I understand that a further report from the C&AG will be issued in the coming months. This report will focus...

Written Answers — Small and Medium Enterprises: Small and Medium Enterprises (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As previously outlined to the House, in supporting small and medium enterprises, Government 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 the enterprise development agencies. Developments in the financial sector and wider economy during the last year have...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 39 together. Earlier this year my Department completed a review of employment permit arrangements, the purpose of which was to ensure that such arrangements continued to be appropriate to the needs of our changing labour market. Following the outcome of consultations with the Social Partners and other interest groups, a number of changes were...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I am directly accountable to the Oireachtas for the activities of my Department and my Department's own expenditure decisions. In that regard, together with the Ministers of State assigned to the Department, I answer parliamentary questions, adjournment debates, etc, on our departmental policies and strategies. I also present my Department's...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 44 together. Four of the 14 agencies in my Department have pension funds. Based on returns from the bodies in question, the following tabular statement below lists the assets and liabilities of the relevant pension funds at 31 December 2008. Agency 2008 Assets 2008 Liabilities FÁS 328,193,000 631,428,000 IDA (Forfás) 182,800,000 209,340,000...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The report "Issues and Challenges in the Recruitment and Selection of Immigrant Workers in Ireland", published in July 2009, was prepared by the WRC, Social and Economic Consultants, for the Employers' Diversity Network of the Public Appointments Service. Part-funded by the Office of the Minister for Integration, the research report recounted the experiences of job seekers from different...

Written Answers — Export Sector: Export Sector (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 49 together. Notwithstanding the challenging trading environment, global opportunities for Irish businesses remain significant. My Department, through Enterprise Ireland, is active both in assisting Irish indigenous companies to find new markets for their products and services and to increase their existing level of market share. Encouraging companies...

Written Answers — Small and Medium Enterprises: Small and Medium Enterprises (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley and I have met with the county managers, to discuss local authority charges in the context of easing cost pressures on business at local level and promoting economic activity. We have made the concerns of businesses very clear to the county managers and I would like to assure the Deputy that local authorities are...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I last met with the Director of Corporate Enforcement on 19 of February this year. Among the matters discussed were a general outline of the director's functions and powers, a general briefing in relation to the ongoing work of his office and current resources.

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 59 together. 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". The House will be aware that...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The valuation figures for the FÁS Closed Superannuation Scheme, which solely covers former AnCO staff, as at 31 December 2008 are the following: the market value of pension fund assets is €328 million; the present value of pension liabilities is €631million. This leaves a deficit in the FÁS pension fund of €303 million. The valuation has been prepared by a qualified independent...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have been informed by IDA Ireland that to date in 2009 the agency hosted 29 itineraries by potential investors to Louth and three to Donegal. The agency has also informed me that in the same period there have been no such site visits to Monaghan, Cavan or Leitrim. While IDA Ireland can and does encourage clients to visit particular locations, the final decision on where to visit or locate...

Written Answers — Smart Economy: Smart Economy (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I receive ongoing advice from my Department and the heads of the enterprise development agencies that report to my Department, as well as from business leaders and representative groups around the country. This has assisted in framing the Government's response to the current economic situation. I should also acknowledge the public spirited response from many individuals and groups who have...