Results 501-520 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: First Stage (12 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: No.

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: And Jim Power.

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: He does a good job and gets it right.

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: It is an independent body.

Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: He spoke a lot but did not speak for very long on the Bill.

Written Answers — Trade Licences: Trade Licences (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: The number of import and export licences issued by my Department in each year from 2002 to 2006 is set in the table. It should be noted that import licences are required only in respect of certain goods that are subject to EU restrictions while export licences apply only to dual use and military goods. A total of six staff are directly involved in the issuing of import and export licences....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Oct 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. The proposed Bill will update the provisions of the existing Control of Exports Act, which dates from 1983, and will bring Ireland into line with best international practice....

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 64 together. I am disappointed that efforts, in Geneva, to advance the WTO Doha Trade negotiations were not successful and that the talks were suspended. I remain hopeful that the negotiations will be resumed in an effort to achieve a worthwhile and balanced agreement. The European Union made very substantial offers on all of the issues under...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 88 and 166 together. The Business Regulation Forum was established by me in November 2005 and has met nine times to date. Its Terms of Reference are to advise the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on any changes necessary to ensure that existing or proposed regulations, impacting on business, meet the criteria set out in the White Paper...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I understand that a report under the provisions of section 56 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 has been provided by the liquidator of the company concerned to the Director of Corporate Enforcement. The issue of what further action arising from the report is a matter for the Director. With regard to the matter of monies owed to the employees of this company, the Employment Rights...

Written Answers — Trade Agreements: Trade Agreements (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: As Minister for Trade and Commerce, I fully support the basic thrust of an approach to Economic Partnership Agreements which ensures that the needs and concerns of developing countries and in particular least developed countries are taken adequately into consideration during the substantive phase of EPA negotiations. As regards the formal review, based on Article 37.4 of the Cotonou...

Written Answers — Export Trade: Export Trade (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 81 together. While there has been some deterioration recently in export performance, most notably in April and June of this year, the pattern has been that exports have tended to rebound in subsequent months, and I would not therefore regard the present situation as one of crisis or slowdown. In fact, when you look at the longer term, it can be seen...

Written Answers — Export Trade: Export Trade (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: While I am unclear of the source of the Deputy's data, I would point out that the value of Ireland's merchandise exports to the European Union has remained broadly the same in 2001 and 2005 – at some €57b (CSO data). This is notwithstanding the fact that Ireland's export levels reached record levels in 2001/2002. The exceptional figures in 2000-2002 were also distorted by what is referred...

Written Answers — Export Trade: Export Trade (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 172 and 173 together. While there has been some deterioration in export performance recently, most notably in April and June of this year, the pattern has been that exports have tended to rebound in subsequent months, and have remained competitive in a difficult global trading environment. Looking at the situation over the longer term, it can be seen that...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Internal Market Section is part of the Market Access Unit of my Department. Its staff complement is an Assistant Principal Officer, a Higher Executive Officer, an Executive Officer and a Clerical Officer. The cost of the Section is met from within the administrative budget of the Department. The role of the Section is to co-ordinate and negotiate Ireland's approach to certain aspects of...

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: Ireland opposed the proposal by the European Commission for a Council Regulation imposing definitive anti-dumping duties on footwear from China and Vietnam. Ireland was of the view that the imposition of measures was not in the Community interest. In particular Ireland expressed concerns that the action proposed would result in price increases in footwear, particularly in children's shoes....

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I am aware that the Irish merchandise exports decreased by 12% in value terms in April of this year, relative to March. The decrease was mainly due to a fall in exports of goods, for example, chemicals, medical and pharmaceuticals, manufactured goods and computers, to some of our main trading partners such as Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, the US and Japan. While any decrease in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Companies Consolidation and Reform Bill will introduce a greatly simplified legal framework for corporate activity. The twelve existing Companies Acts, from 1963 to 2005, will be consolidated into a single statute. The new Bill is also a modernizing Bill, in that it will give primacy to the 'private company limited by shares' as the preferred corporate entity in the State, representing as...

Equal Opportunities Employment. (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: Official statistics are not available in respect of the gender of persons who are directors of registered companies. I am aware that recently introduced legislation in Norway imposes gender balance requirements for State-owned companies and publicly quoted companies but that private limited companies are not covered by these requirements. I have no proposals at present to introduce a gender...

Equal Opportunities Employment. (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Government has committed in the programme for Government and Sustaining Progress to achieving a minimum of 40% representation of women on State boards. In July 2002, all Ministers were asked to review the gender balance composition of the State boards and committees under the aegis of their Departments and to take measures to redress gender balances. On 26 January 2005, the Government...