Results 5,821-5,840 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There is no date for that.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: No, but I am sure it could be arranged with the Whips.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The matter of a debate on agriculture could be discussed by the Whips. The health information Bill will be later this year.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The position on the consumer and competition Bill is that my Department intends to amalgamate the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority and also reform and amend the Competition Act. The Deputy's point has nothing to do with this but I do not disagree that it is very important. In all our consultation with the banks, and with reference to all our portfolios, these issues...

Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: That subject is not part of the health (miscellaneous provisions) no. 2 Bill. That Bill will be introduced later this year.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Bill will be introduced later this year.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: It is a question of public procurement.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The multi-unit developments legislation will be published next session.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: That will be introduced later on this year.

Written Answers — National Skills Strategy: National Skills Strategy (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Upskilling Coordination Group was established in early 2007 to facilitate a more co-ordinated strategic approach to labour force upskilling and training policy and to enhance co-operation, exchange information and avoid duplication between relevant Government Departments and State and other agencies on relevant policy and operational issues. Central to the work of the Group is the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: On 3 February 2009, the Government decided that it would introduce a general reduction of the order of 8% in professional fees as part of a range of measures to restore stability to the public finances. On the basis of instructions provided by the Department of Finance, my Department issued guidelines for implementing the Government decision across the Department, its Offices and its...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Staff in my Department or its agencies are not paid for periods of unauthorised absence or work stoppages due to industrial action.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There are currently a total of eight Directives due to be transposed by my Department up to 2012. Two of these Directives are currently overdue, namely Directive 2006/46/EC on company reporting and Directive 2006/43/EC on statutory audits of annual and consolidated accounts. My Department aims to transpose these Directives by 30 April and 31 May 2009 respectively. Full details on the state...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The FÁS Annual Labour Market Review for 2008, which was published in March 2009, presents an overall assessment of labour market developments in Ireland. The report highlights changes in the labour market including the rise in unemployment due to the economic downturn and also contains a number of proposals for dealing with the current unemployment situation. The Government has already put...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 52, 54, 76 and 91 to 94, inclusive, together. The House will be aware that the issue of the differentials in prices between this jurisdiction and Northern Ireland and the UK has been a matter of concern for some time. These concerns stem from the widespread belief, particularly amongst consumers, that the benefits of the Euro's appreciation in value...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I am keenly aware of the impact on Ericsson's employees and their families following the company's decision to reduce its workforce in Ireland by 300. This is due to begin in June on a phased basis over an 18 months period. The State development agencies under the remit of my Department have adopted a co-ordinated approach in response to the announced job losses, which includes relevant...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Price display law is covered by Orders made under the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 and under the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002, Statutory Instrument No. 639 of 2002. The various Price Display Orders made under the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 cover Drinks Display in Licensed Premises, Hairdressing Services, Petrol and Diesel and Restaurants. The...

Written Answers — Small and Medium Enterprises: Small and Medium Enterprises (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I have met with both ISME and the SFA to discuss issues impacting on the SME sector, including access to bank credit. I have also met with representatives of the recapitalised banks to discuss the provision of bank credit to the sector. In addition, within my own Department, I have established a Roundtable on Access to Bank Credit which includes representatives of ISME and SFA, the Irish...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 60 and 79 together. The Forfás report referred to was prepared for my Department in advance of the decision and announcement by Dell in January to reduce its Limerick workforce by 1,900. The report was prepared on a basis of a "what if/worst case" scenario with all jobs being lost at Dell in Limerick which of course is not what subsequently transpired....

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 59 together. Earlier this year in the context of unfolding developments in the market, I asked the Director of Corporate Enforcement to let me know whether any improvements to the legislation under which he operates were necessary. In response the Director identified a number of provisions that he considered required modification to improve their...