Results 461-480 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Industrial Development Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Dec 2006)

Michael Ahern: I thank all Deputies who contributed to the debate on the Bill. I also express my appreciation to the Ceann Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Acting Chairmen, committee members and staff of the Houses for assisting with the passage of the Bill through the Oireachtas. The Bill will facilitate the implementation of the new mandate for Shannon Development and will provide a statutory...

Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: From the Seanad (5 Dec 2006)

Michael Ahern: Seanad amendment No. 5 is a drafting point to facilitate Seanad amendment No. 6, which provides that a notice of the restoration of a patent application which had been withdrawn in error will be published in the Patents Office Journal.

Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: From the Seanad (5 Dec 2006)

Michael Ahern: Seanad amendment No. 6 provides that where the controller decides to restore an application that has been withdrawn in error under section 33 of the principal Act and where a notice of the request to restore the application had been published in the Patents Office Journal under the amended section 110, notice of the restoration of the application will also be published in the journal.

Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: From the Seanad (5 Dec 2006)

Michael Ahern: Seanad amendment No. 7 is designed to reflect Article 11 of the Patent Law Treaty, which requires that an extension of a time limit must be for not less than a specified minimum duration. The purpose of the amendment is to introduce a new subsection (3) into section 118A to reflect that Article 11 of the Patent Law Treaty requires that a certain minimum length of extension be allowed from...

Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: From the Seanad (5 Dec 2006)

Michael Ahern: I thank the Members of both Houses for their co-operation in the passage of this technical, though important, legislation.

Job Losses. (29 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: I thank Deputy Michael Smith for raising this matter. I concur with him in expressing my concern for the workers who have lost their jobs and for their families, as well as for the people in the local community and the surrounding area. This is very stressful news for those who will lose their jobs. I wish to assure the people concerned that the State agencies will provide every assistance...

Written Answers — EU Negotiations: EU Negotiations (29 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: The European Union (EU) has not submitted formal requests to any ACP country, in the context of EPA services negotiations, seeking market access commitments in relation to infrastructure services. Thus, there is no request in relation to water infrastructure. More recently, the EU has reiterated, in the context of the on-going EPA services negotiations, that it would not submit written...

Written Answers — Child Labour: Child Labour (22 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: Irish trade is regulated in accordance with the Common Commercial Policy rules of the European Union. The EU has a long-standing commitment to the promotion of core labour standards and social development; the charter of fundamental rights of the EU confirms the aim to fully integrate these standards in all its policies and actions. Cooperation agreements between the EU and other countries,...

Written Answers — Fair Trade Network: Fair Trade Network (22 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: Irish Aid provides financial assistance to the Irish Fair Trade Network to support its activities in Ireland. This will amount to a total of €410,000 over the period 2005 to 2007. Irish Aid also plays an important role in supporting capacity building for fair trade producers. Thus, for example, small coffee producers in Central America were provided with funding of €567,000 for the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Government approved the General Scheme of the Control of Exports Bill on 19 July. The Bill is currently with the Parliamentary Counsel's Office for drafting and I expect it to be published by the end of this year. I hope to bring the new legislation before the Houses of the Oireachtas in the first half of 2007. The proposed legislation will update the existing Control of Exports Act,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: I have no plans to introduce additional reporting requirements relating to gender or other demographic information concerning directors of registered companies. Responsibility for gender equality matters generally is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Further to the debate in the House on Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 11 October 2006, the Companies...

Written Answers — Export Markets: Export Markets (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to the reply I made to similar Questions put by him on 7th February, 2006. The ability of Irish companies to successfully market and sell overseas is critical for the success of the Irish economy, particularly in the rapidly evolving international marketplace. In this connection, there has been a very creditable performance recently on the part of Irish exporters in a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: The consultancies in question are being undertaken by the Business Regulation Forum as part of their examination of how regulations impact on the business sector. The cost to the State of the six case-studies of individual firms, on attitudes to regulations affecting them, will be €14,520, inclusive of VAT. The case studies involved single interviews with representatives of the companies...

Written Answers — Import Licences: Import Licences (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: The decision to impose a licensing requirement for imports is taken under the European Union Common Commercial Policy. EU Council Regulation (EC) No. 2200/2004 introduced a system of prior surveillance import licensing on imports of certain textiles and clothing originating in the Peoples Republic of China. This Regulation took effect on 1 January 2005 and ran until 31 December 2005. On 1...

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: The table provides details of the ten countries from whence most Irish imports have come in each of the past five years (i.e. between the years 2001 and 2005.) From the table, it can be seen that during the period 2001-2005, with the exception of Singapore which has dropped out of the list and the significant rise of China, the list of the top ten import markets has largely remained the...

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: The table provides details of the 10 main export markets for each of the past five years (i.e. between the years 2001 and 2005.) From the table, it can be seen that the 10 countries listed have consistently been our most reliable markets for exports over the past five years. Although there has been some slight shifting in the ranking order, the 10 largest export markets have remained the...

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: The population has increased too.

Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: They gave it wrong.

Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: They get the information from the local authorities.

Community Employment Schemes. (1 Nov 2006)

Michael Ahern: It is welcome to see Deputy Gay Mitchell back in the House. He has not lost any of his energy. I am delivering this reply on behalf of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, who has responsibility for community employment, CE, schemes. CE schemes are active labour market programmes designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged...