Results 4,461-4,480 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Mid-West Task Force, which I established under the Chairmanship of Mr Denis Brosnan, completed an interim Report and presented it to me on the 2nd of July. The wide range of recommendations in the report cover both local and national issues. In that respect, the Government has been responding to the economic downturn generally and has taken numerous initiatives, for example in relation...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos.76 and 79 together. The Work Placement Programme is a labour market activation initiative that provides 2,000 six-month work experience places to individuals who are unemployed, including graduates. The programme is broken down into Stream 1, which is for graduates and Stream 2, which is for other individuals. Participants on the scheme will retain their...

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

Mary Coughlan: Ireland is currently experiencing, as is the rest of Europe, high unemployment, with latest figures indicating our unemployment rate at 11.6%. According to the Live Register there were 412,400 people claiming unemployment benefits at the end of October 2009. This is 7,440 (1.8%) less than September 2009. The Live Register is 161,700 (64.5%) higher than this time last year. Positively, the...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Government approved an amount of €100m in total for the Enterprise Stabilisation Fund for the years 2009 and 2010. €50m 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 economic...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In its report on Ireland published in June, the IMF acknowledged Ireland's transformation from a location for low cost manufacturing to a centre of high value-added production and services. In this context, it noted that, with the possible exception of Luxembourg, Ireland had become the most expensive location in the Eurozone in recent years. However, the IMF also noted the "incipient"...

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

Mary Coughlan: The High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise was launched on 21 May 2009 and the Group continued to meet until 21 September 2009. The Group also held a number of consultation sessions with interested parties over the Summer. The Report was finalised in October 2009 and submitted to Government on 3 November 2009. The Secretariat is in the process of having the Report printed and it will...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Government has and will continue to formulate and implement new innovative, active labour market polices that have been designed with the aim of maintaining the unemployed, skilled or unskilled, close to the labour market, while crucially providing them with the necessary skills set and experience to ensure they are better equipped to return to employment as soon as possible. The Work...

Written Answers — Prompt Payment System: Prompt Payment System (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: 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 Decision of 19 May included a requirement for Departments to report...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Government is determined and committed to keeping the unemployed as close to the labour market as possible during these challenging times. It is widely accepted that keeping people close to the labour market is important to improve their future employability. That is why the Government introduced the Work Placement Programme. This Programme is providing an initial 2,000, 6 month, work...

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

Mary Coughlan: The downturn in retail sales is an inevitable consequence of the current difficult economic climate. The Government fully recognises the difficulties currently being faced by retailers and the importance of ensuring that we continue to have a viable and successful retail sector. It is all the more important in these difficult times that businesses, particularly those with a direct presence...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 100 and 113 together. The Industrial Development agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland as well as the City and County Enterprise Boards are extremely active in the drive towards job creation and job protection. IDA Ireland is working to keep its client companies operating in Ireland, to maximise employment and minimise job losses in those...

Written Answers — Export Credit Insurance: Export Credit Insurance (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As a result of the difficulties being experienced by some companies seeking Export Credit Insurance, I arranged that a forensic examination of the Export Credit Insurance market in Ireland should be carried out to establish what assistance the State could provide in enabling exporters and to assist recovery in the credit insurance market. This Assessment, by international consultants KPMG,...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware that in September 2009 Teva Pharmaceuticals announced they were closing down their solid dosage generics plant in Waterford over the next year, with the loss of 350 jobs. The company currently employs approximately 690 permanent and 74 temporary people. The company informed IDA that the closure was due to competitive reasons and that the solid dosage part of the business was moving...

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

Mary Coughlan: On 1 January 2006 responsibility for the Social Economy Programme transferred to the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs and it has been re-named as the Community Services Programme. FÁS as an agency of my Department operates Job Initiative (JI). The Job Initiative Programme (JI) was launched in July 1996 and provides full time employment for people who are 35 years of age or...

Written Answers — Consumer Rights: Consumer Rights (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I established the Sales Law Review Group in November 2008 to report on several issues relating to consumer and commercial law, including the proposal for a Directive on Consumer Rights published in October 2008. The Review Group's report, which was published in June 2009, is a thorough, expert analysis of the provisions of the proposed Directive. The proposed Directive will have a major...

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

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, 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....

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: On 12 February 2009, SR Technics Group (SRT) announced that it planned to exit its business at Dublin Airport and layoff 1135 employees. Following the decision, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland formed a project team to promote the operation through the IDA Ireland overseas network and to meet with and assess expressions of interest in the operation. As part of the decision to close their...

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

Mary Coughlan: 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 instance and, for those which are most capable, into areas such as the Gulf, Brazil, India and China, where economies...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (12 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: A broadly representative working group is considering the most appropriate mechanisms for the deployment of the anticipated support from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for workers made redundant at the DELL computer manufacturing plant in Raheen and associated enterprises. The probability is that EGF interventions and supports will be largely delivered through State agencies and...

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

Mary Coughlan: I have been informed that FÁS does not pay remuneration for members of any committees, sub-committees, monitoring groups and advisory groups below Board level. I understand that the Independent Chairman of the FÁS/Enterprise Ireland National Register of Trainers receives an honorarium in the order of €6,000 per annum dependent on the number of Committee meetings held.