Results 5,561-5,580 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Science and Technology Sectors: Science and Technology Sectors (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Government has made a major commitment, through the substantial investment set out in the Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation (SSTI) 2006-2013 and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013, to making the transition to a knowledge-economy. The ambition is that "Ireland by 2013 will be internationally renowned for the excellence of its research, and will be to the forefront in...

Written Answers — Science and Technology Sectors: Science and Technology Sectors (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together. The Discover Science and Engineering Programme was established in late 2003 to promote an awareness and understanding of the importance of science and engineering in a modern knowledge-based economy. The Programme is administered by Forfás on behalf of my Department. Discover Science and Engineering (DSE) aims (i) to raise the general...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Office of Science, Technology and Innovation (OSTI) forms part of the Science, Technology and Intellectual Property Division of my Department which also includes the Intellectual Property Unit and the Patents Office. An Assistant Secretary General has overall responsibility for the Division. The role of the OSTI is to develop, promote and co-ordinate Ireland's Science, Technology and...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Redundancy Payments Section of my Department and the Labour Relations Commission has checked to see if a redundancy payments issue has been referred for the individual in question but there is no record of a submission from this person. In the circumstances, and given the fact that two previous questions have been asked in the case of the individual in question, should the Deputy wish to...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Since the company announced its plans to close its Dublin operations, IDA Ireland and I have had numerous meetings with the company to express my concern regarding the effect the closure will have on the economy of North Dublin and the effect of the loss of 1135 highly skilled jobs on the Irish aviation sector. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland established a team to market the operation...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Enterprise Ireland is the government agency responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous business sector. Its mission is to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in global markets resulting in increased national and regional prosperity. Enterprise Ireland's key focus, for companies headquartered in Ireland, is covered under...

Written Answers — Export Services: Export Services (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Smart Economy Document commits Enterprise Ireland to providing a construction sector export service to assist companies and professionals to market their products and services abroad. The agency is devoting considerable resources to meeting this commitment. Enterprise Ireland has reorganised its Department Structure to put the required emphasis on Construction. Expert appointments have...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is charged with leading the cross-Government drive to reduce red tape costs for business. We are doing this in a prioritised way, drawing on the experiences of other Member States who are also involved in this international effort. Departments are currently identifying the "Information Obligations", contained in their legislation, likely to be causing the biggest burdens for...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: FÁS is involved in the funding and provision of a number of programmes to retrain construction workers in the requisite skills pertaining to the green economy in line with the document 'Building Ireland's Smart Economy A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal 2009 to 2014'. Relevant programmes include: - Gas safety and installation courses: G.I.S. Gas Installer – Safety' to upgrade...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: IDA Ireland provides a range of financial incentives to support capital, employment, training, environmental and RD&I activity as well as advice, facilitation and property services to prospective and existing clients in order to maintain and grow FDI output and employment in Ireland. IDA is particularly focused on both encouraging and assisting its client companies to move up the value chain...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The development of a "smart" or knowledge based economy is a critical opportunity to enable Ireland to negotiate the present economic difficulties and to sustain a national recovery. Since the Government strategy document was published in December 2008, there has been a constant focus on achievement of the targets set out by the strategy and progress, in the specific areas identified, has...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Minister for Finance, in his 7 April 2009 budget speech, announced that a "scheme of tax relief for the acquisition of intangible assets, including Intellectual Property" will be included in the legislation giving effect to the budget. The Finance Bill will be published this month.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Manufacturing Forum has not yet been formed but I expect to appoint its members very shortly.

Written Answers — Science and Technology Sectors: Science and Technology Sectors (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Among the functions of the Department's enterprise development agency, Enterprise Ireland, is the provision of a range of supports aimed at realising the commercial potential of Ireland's research community. These supports include the Commercialisation Fund, the Campus incubator Programme and the Technology Transfer Strengthening Fund. (1) The Commercialisation Fund: Over recent years, there...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department, in conjunction with Forfás and the other Industrial Development agencies, has commenced a review to see if there can be further improvement in collaboration between the agencies and to identify any gaps in their support programmes and their implementation. A project Steering Group has been established, chaired by my Department and also including representatives from Forfás,...

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: My Department, through FÁS, continues to prioritise the need to assist and up-skill those who have become unemployed as a result of the current downturn in the economy. In 2009 FÁS estimates that it will be in a position to deliver over 6,000 training courses under the Training Services, Community Services and Services to Business categories. In conjunction with FÁS, my Department has...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have not as yet established the Advisory Council of Business Leaders. However, I am in receipt of ongoing advice from the heads of the enterprise development agencies that report to my Department, as well as from business leaders and representative groups around the country. This has assisted in framing the Government's response to the economic situation and difficulties, which are being...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: FÁS Job Clubs were introduced in 1999 to assist people who were actively seeking employment by providing support for the job search process and an environment in which it could be carried out. Independent Sponsor Groups are contracted by FÁS on a year to year basis to run the programme. In order to ensure that programmes respond appropriately to local needs FÁS carries out an annual...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together. My Department, in conjunction with the relevant State agencies, is currently preparing an application for EGF support in respect of the redundancies announced at DELL's Raheen plant and directly related redundancies in the Mid-West Region. In order to ensure that a reasoned and detailed case satisfying the stringent EGF eligibility...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 May 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The detailed information being sought by the Deputy, going back to 2004, is currently being compiled across my Department. However, in the short time available to me since the Deputy tabled this Question, I am not in a position to provide those details at present. A full response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.