Results 5,021-5,040 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The amount of grants awarded by the Industrial Development Authority to enterprises for research and development purposes from 2005 to date in 2009 are shown on the following tabular statement. It is important to note that grants paid in a particular year do not necessarily refer to approvals in the same year. The global business community now sees Ireland as a prime location for Research...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Government is very much aware that supporting enterprise, innovation and research and development is of critical importance to our economy. The way forward is to stay competitive and maintain an edge over our competition by developing new products and processes. In this regard, funding is provided to the Enterprise Development agencies as part of the Government's Estimates process....

Written Answers — Forfás Report: Forfás Report (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Forfás compiles a report "Overview of Main Infrastructure Issues for Enterprise". The latest publication of this report was in May 2008. This report acknowledged that significant progress had been made in addressing Ireland's infrastructure deficits, but also indicated that there were still a number of areas requiring continued investment to ensure the availability of cost competitive...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Eltex of Sweden AB was a private family owned company established in Sweden in 1964, manufacturing electronic yarn control equipment for textile machines. Over the years the company added many products to its portfolio to include temperature control systems. The Irish operation was established in Templemore, County. Tipperary in 1976 to manufacture stop control systems for textile looms....

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department works closely with many other Government Departments and State Agencies in ensuring the provision of appropriate courses and training which match, the known and future, needs of employers and of students. My Department, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and FÁS are co-operating in relation to the Work Placement Programme which was jointly launched by the Minister for...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 136 together. The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are clients of the industrial development agencies. Information is collected on an annualised basis and is aggregated at county level. Figures for 2009 will not be available until early 2010. As at the end of 2008, there were 129 persons in permanent...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 137 together. The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are clients of the industrial development agencies. Information is collected on an annualised basis and is aggregated at county level. Figures for 2009 will not be available until early 2010. As at the end of 2008, there were 1,109 persons in...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 138 together. The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are clients of the industrial development agencies. Information is collected on an annualised basis and is aggregated at county level. Figures for 2009 will not be available until early 2010. The numbers of new jobs created by EI supported companies...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 139 together. The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are clients of the industrial development agencies. Information is collected on an annualised basis and is aggregated at county level. Figures for 2009 will not be available until early 2010. The numbers of new jobs created by EI supported companies...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In the time available, it has not been possible to compile the information requested by the Deputy. This information is currently being compiled in relation to my Department and the Offices of my Department and I will be in touch with the Deputy shortly about the matter. I would, however, point out that the information in respect of the State Agencies falls within the day-to-day...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of annual expenditure on legal fees paid directly by my Department to lawyers for the years in question is set out below. However, my Department does not have access to complete data on fees paid through the State Solicitor's Office as the CSSO is independent of my Department. Year Costs 2006 €803,753 2007 €1,189,773 2008 €812,811

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (8 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Office of Public Works (OPW) does not come under the remit of my Department and it would not be appropriate for me to respond to the Parliamentary Question on behalf of the OPW. I note that the Deputy has put down an identical question to the Minister for Finance who would be the appropriate Minister to respond on behalf of the OPW.

National Minimum Wage. (7 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In November 2008, ICTU requested the Labour Court to review the national minimum wage and to make a recommendation to me concerning its adjustment. The court is required under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 to consult with representatives of employers and employees in the private sector and the public sector of the economy. In this regard, I understand that the court invited submissions...

National Minimum Wage. (7 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Labour Court would be very cognisant of ongoing discussions within the social partnership process and on that basis, I expect that the Labour Court would not be making a recommendation to the Minister of State. I have heard both sides of the argument. I had the opportunity to meet Commissioner Spidla and he indicated that the labour relations issues we have - the minimum wage, the EROs...

National Minimum Wage. (7 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have much more to be doing than reading The Irish Times, and from what I can see, the Deputy spends 99.9% of his time on the Internet and the computer. I do not have the time to read The Irish Times and what it has to say. It is my responsibility not to make any public pronouncement on the basis that we must adjudicate within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As we all...

National Minimum Wage. (7 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I am precluded from expressing a view on the matter. However, it is important to say that there is an opinion among many companies which are struggling that the level at which national minimum wage is set is causing them difficulties. It is not necessarily that people are in receipt of the national minimum wage but these companies are of the view what is over and above that wage is causing...

Employment Support Services. (7 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Government is working on the detail of a temporary employment subsidy scheme, the purpose of which will be to help the economy retain its productive capacity and help employers to retain the labour, knowledge and skills of the workforce, thereby supporting a faster return to sustainable growth; help employees to retain their jobs; and ensure that economic and fiscal stability is promoted...

Employment Support Services. (7 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I will not be in a position to publish the draft proposals as I must first bring them to my Government colleagues. They will then be made available to the public. It is proposed that the scheme will be administered by Enterprise Ireland, which has considerable experience of the stabilisation fund and the criteria set down for it, which are deemed appropriate. Those criteria will deal with...

Employment Support Services. (7 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I am disappointed to hear the Deputy, once again, oppose many of the Government's proposals.

Employment Support Services. (7 Jul 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The proposals deal with the sustainability of the many enterprises we have and where we will have opportunities to sustain and grow employment. The targeted group consists of approximately 3,600 agency listed clients involving almost 300,000 people. It includes ICT, food, chemicals, medical devices and many others. It is important that we target these industries where there are specific...