Results 4,981-5,000 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: FÁS administration costs and general expenses are comprised of a pay element (staff salaries and pensions) and a non-pay element (administration costs and overheads). An increase of 0.24% in 2009 was granted to FÁS to cover increases in fixed costs in areas such as insurance, rent, rates, telecoms and security, which support the basic infrastructure needed to run the organisation. These...

Written Answers — Retail Sector: Retail Sector (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Section 5 of the Competition Act 2002 prohibits abuse of a dominant position. The creation or existence of a dominant position does not breach the Competition Acts, rather it is the abuse of that position that constitutes the breach. Should the Deputy have any evidence of undertakings in the retail sector engaging in the abuse of a dominant position, I would urge them to bring such evidence...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In the time available, it has not been possible to compile the information requested by the Deputy in relation to my Department and the Offices of my Department. This information is currently being compiled by my Department and I will be in touch with the Deputy shortly about the matter. However, ascertaining the information requested by the Deputy over the last 20 years would be...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Since my appointment as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in May 2008, neither my Department nor the Offices of my Department have contracted the company in question to undertake any work on behalf of the Department or the Offices of the Department. The additional information requested by the Deputy is, therefore, not relevant.

Written Answers — Fuel Costs: Fuel Costs (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, my concerns in relation to fuel and oil are based on consumer and competition aspects of their markets. From a consumer angle, the House will recall that during 2008, I requested the National Consumer Agency to undertake a survey into the underlying reasons as to why pump prices for petrol and diesel were appearing not to fall in line with...

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There is no need for further clarity. The Leader of the Opposition is requesting a date or timeframe but I am not in a position to give that. I indicated the process by which this matter would be dealt with.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: On the issue of the guillotine, it is a matter by which order is given to the legislative process. In many circumstances it is not necessary but I remind the Leader of the Opposition that his Government acted similarly in 1996.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Communications (Retention of Data) Bill was published today and as a consequence there are six remaining pieces of legislation, a number of which fall within my own remit. They are progressing and I hope to have them published this month. There are one or two other pieces of legislation with which some unforeseen complications have arisen but it is expected that these will be published...

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: No.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: That is a misinterpretation.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There are approximately 137 members of the press accredited to the House. We will, therefore, need many more eyes and certainly more chairs. In the event that there may be a misinterpretation or a misapprehension of what I said or did not say, it has not been decided whether the McCarthy report is to be published. It is appropriate that the Minister for Finance should have the opportunity...

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: -----the Government will come to a decision.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: It is clearly not the intention to keep from the public serious problems relating to the economy.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The public must be kept apprised of the difficult choices that must be made.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As the Taoiseach indicated, the legislation relating to NAMA will be published this month.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have already answered the two questions I was asked.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The animal health and welfare Bill relates to the health of animals, not that of farmers.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The animal health and welfare Bill is not yet ready for publication. As the Deputy is aware, the legislation in question will impose significant requirements on members of the farming community. That is why careful consideration is being given to it before we finalise a date for publication. Record numbers of people, some 62,000 - 17,000 of them since May - are on REPS. It is expected that...

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As indicated previously, the provisions of the Pharmacy Act 2007 have not yet been implemented in full. It has not, therefore, been decided whether it would be appropriate to introduce a second item of legislation. The legislation relating to soft information is currently being drafted by the relevant Minister.

Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I would hate to lose Deputy P. J. Sheehan in the forest. The heads of the legislation were approved in March. I will ask the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Killeen, to revert to the Deputy in respect of a timeframe for the Bill's publication.