Results 6,161-6,180 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (18 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, my Department prepares and administers legislation in areas such as commerce, employment rights, occupational safety, health and welfare, competition and consumer rights, chemicals and intellectual property, trade etc. Naturally, in that regard, my Department exercises many regulatory functions. In addition, a number of Offices of my Department,...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (17 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I visited a business that operate a Technical Training Centre, with particular focus on Automation including PLC's (Programmable Logic Controllers) and VSD's (Variable Speed Drives). These systems that they train on, are at the heart of every Industrial Business in Ireland and covers several Industries such as Pharmaceutical, Power, Electronics, Mining, Foods and Beverage etc. Electricians,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (17 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I intend to bring forward legislation during the course of this year to give effect to the amalgamation of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority as announced in the Budget speech last October. The legislation will encompass the outcome of the review of the operation and implementation of the Competition Act 2002, the amendments to section 4 of the Act subject to...

Written Answers — Smarter Travel Policy: Smarter Travel Policy (17 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Government's policy document "Smarter Travel — A Sustainable Transport Future", which was launched by the Minister for Transport on 5 February 2009, recognises the role that Workplace Travel Plans can play in reducing car dependency and encouraging employees to use alternative modes of transport to travel to work. At present, my Department operates a Travel Pass scheme which...

Written Answers — Croke Park Tickets: Croke Park Tickets (17 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that the Director General of FÁS has returned all ten-year premium tickets to Croke Park, requesting a refund on the unused portion of the term of the tickets.

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (17 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Since 5 January 2009, 5,597 apprentices have commenced their off-the-job training. The following is the breakdown by each of the three off-the-job phases: Phase 2 = 1,947 apprentices; Phase 4 = 2,008 apprentices; Phase 6 = 1,642 apprentices.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: It has not been possible in the time available to compile the information as requested by the Deputy. My officials are working on preparing the material and I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as the information is available.

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (17 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: FÁS has informed me that its Competency Development Programme is not suspended. However, for the last two weeks FÁS has not been making any new commitments pending its assessment of existing commitments for this year.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (17 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Costs incurred by my Department in respect of Ministerial programmes for St. Patrick's Day, 2008 are set out below. The then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, represented the Government at the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Rome and the Vatican City in 2008. The total cost of the visit, including the cost for the two officials who accompanied him, was...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (17 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: Funding is available from the European Globalisation Fund (EGF) for the retraining of workers in EU Member States made redundant as a result of changing global trade patterns. Currently, a minimum threshold of at least 1,000 redundancies applies for a given enterprise and its suppliers. This threshold must be reached within a four months period. If redundancies occur in a particular...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The severance package granted to the former Director General of FÁS was granted in accordance with Section 6(3) of the Labour Services Act 1987. The Labour Services Act provides that terms and conditions, including those in relation to remuneration and superannuation, of the Director General, may be determined by the Minister with the consent of the Minister of Finance. The severance...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (12 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: In the declaration issued by the G20 last November, there was a commitment to get an agreement on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) of trade talks at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). This commitment was to agree, before the end of 2008, on a framework for reducing tariffs on and supports for industrial goods and agricultural produce. If successful this commitment would have been an...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (12 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: There are eight separate prescribed bodies within my Department and its Offices subject to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Acts. In the following table, I have set out the total number of FOI requests received, and completed, by these bodies, for each month in 2007 and 2008. The table also outlines the decision taken. My Department takes a proactive approach to FOI and to openness and...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (12 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I recently announced the availability of 51,000 new training places under the FÁS Training Initiatives Strategy. These places are in addition to the 27,000 previously planned for 2009 under the Bridging Foundation Training, Specific Skills Training and Traineeships Programmes. These programmes will provide short training courses for those who are recently unemployed. The Training...

Order of Business (12 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: I agree with Deputy Kenny that this is a very serious matter. The motion refers specifically to Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks. It is not an expenditure but an investment with an 8% return.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The Minister has indicated that he will be meeting the chairman and the chief executive of Irish Life & Permanent this afternoon——

Order of Business (12 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: ——and it would be inappropriate to make any further comment arising from that. As everyone in the House knows, a legislative measure will be introduced next week to facilitate this. Further debate can take place in the context of those deliberations, which will take place after the Bill has been printed and circulated.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The legislation I referred to is to facilitate the recapitalisation of the Bank of Ireland and AIB. It is the National Pensions Reserve Fund (Amendment) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 and it is being drafted at present. It is expected to be finalised by the Government next Tuesday and printed thereafter.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: That has nothing to do with me.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2009)

Mary Coughlan: The legislation must be enacted for the moneys to be released. That will take a number of weeks.