Results 5,841-5,860 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Foreign Direct Investment: Foreign Direct Investment (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The relationship between Ireland and the United States is unique in terms of our political, economic and cultural links. The Government and I attach the highest importance to strengthening that relationship and in consolidating and growing the economic partnership between our two countries. That partnership has contributed enormously to the very significant trade and investment ties with the...

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

Mary Coughlan: The number of people in employment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey or QNHS and published by the Central Statistics Office. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the most recent quarter for which data is available, employment increased by 155,600 in the five-year period, while unemployment increased by 84,800 over the same period. The most recent data on employment levels in...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Government is anxious that as many jobs as possible are secured at Dublin Airport. We would like to see the SR Technics Group do what it can to facilitate this, such as helping to promote the capabilities and skills available at the Dublin facility, agreeing to an orderly wind down of the facility to give IDA Ireland an opportunity to promote the location to interested parties, and...

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

Mary Coughlan: I welcome the report of the Public Accounts Committee on FÁS and commend the Committee for the work carried out in this matter. I note that while the report in general concentrates on the things that went wrong, the Committee is of the view that the good work being done by the employees of FÁS should not be overlooked and that this examination is no reflection on their role and the valuable...

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, budgets committed to all Departments are currently under review. The outcome will be reflected in the announcement of the Minister for Finance on 7 April next. Any adjustments announced then will reflect the funding priorities agreed by the Government. Accordingly, I am not in a position to answer the specifics of the Deputy's question at this juncture.

Written Answers — Export Credit Insurance: Export Credit Insurance (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 69 and 75 together. It is recognised that there has been some withdrawal and reduction of export credit insurance cover for business, including companies in the food sector, by the commercial insurance companies, in recent months. In relation to the possible introduction of a State Export Credit Insurance scheme as a response to this situation, I recently...

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

Mary Coughlan: On 3 February 2009, the Government announced a range of savings measures that will be implemented this year in order to restore stability to the public finances. These savings measures include general administrative efficiencies which are expected to save €140 million across all public bodies on a full-year basis. As the Taoiseach indicated to the Dáil on 3 February, the savings will...

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

Mary Coughlan: The negotiation of commercial contracts is essentially a matter for the contracting parties themselves and I have no direct function in relation to such contracts. Nevertheless, the Competition Acts prohibit retailers from engaging in certain practices in their dealings with suppliers. Should the Deputy have any evidence of retailers engaging in prohibited practices, I would urge him to...

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

Mary Coughlan: I very much regret the most recent decision by Dell to seek a further reduction in staffing levels, which will impact on employees working at the Limerick and Dublin operations. I understand that the background to this decision was the announcement by Dell Corporate that they now wish to make annual savings of $4bn versus the originally forecast savings of $3bn by 2011. Dell Corporate plan...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Industrial Development agencies under the aegis of my Department and the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) are responsible for industrial development. In this regard, IDA Ireland is the agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment to this country. The agency provides a range of financial incentives to support capital, employment, training innovation and research...

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

Mary Coughlan: The current global economic situation continues to change rapidly adding a considerable degree of uncertainty to the accuracy of forecasts, nationally and internationally. There has, however, been a significant downturn in construction related activity since the beginning of 2008. The Quarterly National Household Survey or QNHS, which is published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The company in question currently employs a number of apprentice aircraft mechanics. In the event that it is not in a position to fulfil its obligations under the relevant apprenticeship contacts involved and that the apprentices are formally notified of redundancy, FÁS, the Dublin Institute of Technology and the Higher Education Authority will cooperatively explore options to deal with the...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Two Industrial Development agencies under the aegis of my Department – IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland – together with the local County Enterprise Board (CEB) are responsible for industrial development in Co. Kildare. Over the past five years, IDA Ireland's strategy has been to promote the area as part of an integrated East Region with access to a population base of 1.5 million...

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

Mary Coughlan: Employment/unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey (June-August 2008), published by the CSO. It does not provide data on particular counties but only on Regions. Employment in the Mid East Region, which includes Kildare, has dropped by 4,700 and unemployment has increased by 8,700 in the period Quarter 4 2006 to Quarter 4 2008 (September-November). The Forfás...

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department, in conjunction with the Training and Employment agency FÁS are working together to respond quickly and effectively to people who are becoming unemployed. Measures have been put in place which are designed to provide increased capacity for the rise in referrals from the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the increased number of unemployed seeking job search...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Industrial Development agencies and the City and County Enterprise Boards are making every effort to encourage job creation throughout the country. The agencies and the CEBs are very much aware that their clients are determined to reduce their costs in every way they can. In this regard, Enterprise Ireland has set up a specialized unit aimed at helping its clients identify and drive...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. IDA's main focus on securing investment from new and existing clients is in the areas of High End Manufacturing, Global Services (including Financial Services) and Research, Development and Innovation....

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Framework for Economic Renewal we are taking a number of measures across Government to address competitiveness objectives. A key element of the Government's current strategy to develop the enterprise sector is to encourage increased levels of investment in research, using more technology in product development and encouraging more innovation. "Building Ireland's Smart Economy"...

Media Mergers. (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Under the media provisions of the Competition Act 2002, my role as the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment involves consideration of media mergers in the context of the "relevant criteria" set out in section 23 (10) of the Act. These criteria essentially relate to diversity and plurality, the strength and competitiveness of the media businesses indigenous to the State and the...

Media Mergers. (1 Apr 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I should not care to answer that question.