Results 581-600 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 54 together. I met with the Director recently to discuss his request for additional staff resources. I indicated to him that I was generally disposed to his case. I outlined the very tight parameters that exist under the Public Service staffing reduction programme. I have raised the matter with the Minister for Finance and my officials will be engaging...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 124 together. In the context of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations on non- agricultural market access, Ireland and EU Member States are asking that all participants contribute according to their means with due regard to their level of development. The EU approach is that developing countries should do less than developed and that the poorest...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Deputy appears to be referring to a recent speech by Commissioner Mandelson, at Renmin University in Beijing, at which he encouraged China to meet its World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations or risk a backlash from Europe. I have noted the Commissioner's comments in which he pointed to the need for effective action by China on several WTO fronts including, in respect of Intellectual...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 166 together. Ireland's success as an open market economy depends on its export performance. The seasonally adjusted NCB Purchasing Mangers' Index for May shows the best figures for Irish manufacturing since July 2004 with strong growth in new orders and output, particularly for exports. Indeed, May saw the highest rate of export orders growth in...

Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: Withdraw that.

Employment of People with Disabilities. (14 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this matter. Responsibility for the policy in respect of the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service lies with the Minister for Finance. Responsibility for the policy in respect of employment of people with disabilities in the public service lies with the Ministers for Finance and Justice, Equality and Law Reform under the Disability Act...

Written Answers — Companies Registration Office: Companies Registration Office (14 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Companies Registration Office (CRO) does not retain a register, or copies, of lease agreements entered into by businesses under a business name or company name. However, the CRO does retain a register of business names in accordance with the Registration of Business Names Act 1963. The purpose of the registration of the business name is to make public the legal identity or identities of...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (30 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Deputy refers to the "Lisbon" agenda targets, aimed at making Europe more competitive and innovative on the world stage. The Government is highly conscious of the impact of R&D on international economic competitiveness and Ireland is playing its part in contributing significantly to European goals. Work by the EU Commission last year provided a timely review of progress towards achieving...

Written Answers — Trade Regulations: Trade Regulations (17 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: Statutory Instrument number 130 of 2006, European Communities Trade with Iraq Regulations 2006, provides for penalties for infringements of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1210/2003 which prohibits the import, export and dealing in any item of illegally removed Iraqi cultural property. The Order also revoked European Communities (Trade with Iraq) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 370 of 1997) which...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (17 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Deputy's question refers to income continuance plans which are insurance products offered by insurance companies. Since the establishment of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (IFSRA) under the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act, 2003, insurance companies and their products are regulated by IFSRA. The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (17 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 208 and 214 together. All developed economies face rising costs at some point in their supply chain and Ireland is no exception. While the costs faced by business in some areas here may be relatively higher than other economies, the challenge is to maintain our competitiveness in areas such as skills, education, knowledge infrastructure and the quality...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (17 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: Ireland's raised standard of living over the past decade, with its associated rise in consumer purchasing power has meant that the economy can not always compete with low wage economies like China in the manufacture of many low value added, basic goods. Improving our standard of living and competitiveness requires a focus on contemporary economic strengths, moving up the value-chain and...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (17 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together. The table below gives details of Irish merchandise exports and imports over recent years. Trade volumes reached a peak in the 2001/2002 period and were then negatively impacted by the world economic slowdown, which particularly affected the US and European markets. Despite this setback, the volume of Ireland's trade has risen in the two...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (16 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: I am aware of the incident to which the Deputy refers. Work is now underway in my Department to bring in a system of regulation for the trade of arms and items of the nature described. The Heads of the new Export Control Bill is now complete and consultations with other Government Departments are currently taking place. I expect this process to conclude shortly at which point I will be...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (16 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: I have neither received nor initiated any communication with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement in the context of management companies or managements agents of housing units. The Deputy will be aware that the Director of Corporate Enforcement is a statutory independent officer charged with the duty of encouraging compliance with and securing enforcement of the Companies Acts....

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: There are currently a total of twenty-nine Directives due to be transposed by this Department. Of these, as at end April 2006, 13 are overdue for transposition and are detailed in the table below. From May 2006 to December 2006 another six Directives require to be transposed. A further ten Directives require to be transposed in 2007 and subsequent years. It is expected that of the Directives...

Written Answers — Foreign Trade: Foreign Trade (3 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: As Minister of State with responsibility for trade and commerce, I am available for discussions with foreign government representatives and other interested parties, with a view to increasing trade between Ireland and her international trading partners. As far as trade with Cuba is concerned, the level is quite marginal and tends to fluctuate considerably. I would be happy to meet the Cuban...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (25 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: I previously responded to the Deputy about this matter on 21 February 2006. As previously stated, the company went into creditors voluntary liquidation on 15 December 2005. The circumstances of the liquidation will be addressed by the liquidator in his report to the Director of Corporate Enforcement in accordance with section 56 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001. The timeframe for this...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: Work on drafting the heads of the Export Control Bill has been completed within my Department and consultations with other Government Departments are under way. I expect this process to conclude within the next few weeks at which point I will bring it to Government for approval. Allowing for the formalities of drafting the legal texts, I hope to bring the new legislation before the Houses of...

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (25 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: The export licensing pages of my Department's website are updated on a regular basis, for example, to reflect changes to the lists of goods currently subject to control. The latest control lists for both military and dual use goods are available for download from the website. The list of controlled military goods is contained in the schedule to the Control of Exports Order 2005, SI 884 of 22...