Results 4,581-4,600 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: An Amount of €9,384,059.25 – the maximum allowable under Regulation – has been drawn down from the European Social Fund to date in 2009 in the form of an advance payment from the European Commission. This drawdown is not claim-based according to beneficiary. In accordance with normal practice in Ireland, the claim to drawdown from the European Social Fund according to beneficiary is...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has no direct responsibility for the compilation of statistics associated with the market penetration of own brand goods in the Irish grocery sector. I understand such data would typically be available from market research companies and I would direct the deputy to these for detailed information. I am aware that the Competition Authority has produced a number of recent reports...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware of the issue to which the Deputy refers and my Department has written to the Director General of FÁS to seek a full report on the matter.

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I understand from FÁS that it requested City and Guilds to review the assessment material on courses run by the contractor in question. While the review of the material was taking place City and Guilds temporarily suspended certification of the courses at the centre of the controversy. This is standard procedure and was applied before any certificates were issued to the participants...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Forfás Annual Employment Survey shows that 8,837 new jobs were created in IDA supported companies in 2008. As part of the Forfás Annual Employment Survey, the overall cost per job is calculated each year by reference to the cost of jobs created during and sustained to the end of a seven-year period. All IDA expenditure on all firms in the period of calculation is included. For the...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The nature of the relationships between grocery goods businesses and, in particular, the relationships between suppliers and retailers of grocery goods has been the subject of debate for some time. During the course of that debate I have met with a variety of stakeholders in the grocery goods sector including a considerable number of retailers, suppliers and their representatives to discuss...

Written Answers — Tariff Codes: Tariff Codes (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together. Changes to tariff codes and the nomenclature are decided internationally and within the EU at committees serviced by the Revenue Commissioners. Consequently my Department is not responsible for deciding changes to the international tariff nomenclature and I have no involvement in the matters raised by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In 2008, Enterprise Ireland supported the establishment of 71 new high potential start–up companies in sectors as diverse as life sciences, medical devices, software, services and food. The Government through Enterprise Ireland is investing €21.5 million in developing the businesses of these high potential start–up companies, which in turn will leverage a total investment of over...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware that Taro Pharmaceuticals has announced its intention to make 20 of its 71 staff redundant at its Roscrea facility, by 1 December 2009. The redundancies were announced in response to continuing substantial losses at the Roscrea operation, due in part to the termination of contract business in Canada and the completion of an unprofitable tender contract in the UK. Proposals are...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The 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 Deputy may be aware that I launched a public consultation process seeking the views of...

Written Answers — Employment Subsidy Scheme: Employment Subsidy Scheme (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The purpose of the Employment Subsidy Scheme is to support the maintenance of vulnerable jobs, help the economy retain its productive capacity and employers retain the labour, knowledge and skills of the workforce thereby supporting a faster return to sustainable growth. The Scheme provides a subsidy of €9,100 per employee over fifteen months to qualifying enterprises. During this period...

Written Answers — Export Credit Insurance: Export Credit Insurance (3 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 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. It should be appreciated that any intervention by the State...

Written Answers — Registrar of Friendly Societies: Registrar of Friendly Societies (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The number of trade unions registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies in each of the past three years is set out below. There were no new registrations in any of the three years. This information is included in the report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies which is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas annually. The main obligation of trade unions with regard to their...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have been informed that FÁS expects the fieldwork of the 2008 Customer Survey to be completed by the end of November and the data tables to be compiled by the end of the year. A Report will then be written and, after internal review, the results will be published. Based on past experience, the report should be available in the second quarter of 2010. A copy will be made available to the...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Employment/unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey, published by the CSO. It does not provide data on particular counties but only on Regions. Employment in the Midlands Region, which includes County Westmeath, has dropped by 19,600 and unemployment has increased by 12,700 in the last 10 years from Quarter 2 (April-June) 2000 to Quarter 2 2009. Live register...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 to 223, inclusive, together. Employment and unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey, published by the CSO. It does not provide data on particular counties but only on Regions. Employment in the Midlands Region, which includes County Longford, has dropped by 19,600 and unemployment has increased by 12,700 in the last 10 years...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together. Enterprise Ireland is the lead government agency responsible for the development of indigenous enterprise. The Agency assesses applications for financial assistance according to a number of criteria, including cost benefit modelling, commercial evaluation and technical assessment in order to ensure value for money to the exchequer. At...

Written Answers — Company Supports: Company Supports (3 Nov 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Since the announcement by the company of its intention to make 77 staff redundant, I have met with worker representatives to hear their concerns and proposals. I have asked IDA Ireland to ensure that it offers its full range of supports to the company. I understand that the company and the unions have agreed to participate in talks with the Labour Relations Commission in the near future.

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together. The Central Statistics Office publishes official data on total merchandise and services exports and the relevant details are shown in the first table. That Office does not differentiate between the exports generated by Foreign-owned and by Irish- owned companies. Total Exports (€ billion) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Oct 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Membership of bodies such as the Irish Business and Employers Confederation and payments to such bodies are a day to day operational matter for an agency and not a matter for the Minister. I have asked the agencies to respond directly to the Deputy.