Results 6,401-6,420 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I know the recommendations are being considered, but I sincerely hope that one of them will be that we can get the Order of Business over in less than an hour.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It would be a great idea. We could get something done.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It is proposed to take No. 13, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the three interim economic partnership agreements, back from committee; No. 25a, statements on the recapitalisation of credit institutions; No. 26, Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 27, Gas (Amendment) Bill 2008 — Order for Report, Report and Final...

Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: First, we have had to listen in recent months to the Opposition criticising us for not having a plan or framework. Now we have to listen to the hypocrisy of the Opposition on the basis of having one.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Can I say——

Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Can I say——

Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Perhaps Members who have been in the House for a considerable number of years will recall that their national plan was launched in Dublin Castle.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There will be ample time on the return of the House to discuss the matter in due course.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The information below sets out details in relation to visits made by Ministers of this Department to FÁS events abroad since 2000. The exact dates in relation to a number of the trips made in 2000 and 2001 are not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. Minister Trip Date Minister Martin Science Challenge Florida 10–14 July 2005* Minister Killeen...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's records indicate that in the past 12 months one laptop has been reported stolen, one laptop reported missing and one BlackBerry device reported stolen. None has been recovered or found. There have been no other computers or data devices reported lost, missing or stolen during this period. It is my Department's policy to invoke the facility to remotely erase all data from a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As a general rule, staff of my Department who are necessarily detained away from home or headquarters on official business in Ireland on an overnight basis are responsible for the payment of their own accommodation expenses. In accordance with Department of Finance travel and subsistence regulations, staff are usually paid a flat rate allowance in such circumstances to cover their combined...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As a general rule, staff of my Department who are necessarily detained away from home or headquarters on official business on an overnight basis in Ireland are responsible for selecting their own accommodation. This arrangement also applies to myself and my Ministers of State. In accordance with Department of Finance travel and subsistence regulations, officials are usually paid a flat...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Server specifications for servers owned by the agencies under the aegis of this Department are day-to-day operational matters for the agencies involved and not ones in which I have any function. My Department's records include details of servers with relevant storage capacity, owned or leased by the Department or its Offices and which are on the Department's network. These details are set out...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department established five such groups in 2008. The specific details requested by the Deputy for each are as follows: Advisory Group on Media Mergers (a) Purpose of the Group — To review the legislative framework in relation to the public interest aspects of media mergers and to make recommendations as appropriate (b) Reason the Group was established — To assist in the overall review...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy insofar as my Department is concerned is set out in the tabular statement below. The figures provided relate to consultancies as defined in the Department of Finance December 2006 "Guidelines for the Engagement of Consultants and Other External Support by the Civil Service". My Department continues to seek greater efficiencies, effectiveness and value...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Unemployment is increasing across the country due to the downturn in the economy and this has impacted on Kildare also. This situation is unwelcome and is an indication of the challenges that are now facing the labour market and that are within the economy as a whole. The Government is taking specific measures to address this challenge and to ensure that job losses are minimised as much as...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas, including Kildare, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency, as part of the statutory responsibility assigned to it by the Oireachtas and it is not a matter in which the Minister of the day has any involvement. I am informed by IDA Ireland that, at present, the Agency has approximately 2.27 hectares remaining available in Monasterevin,...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The information covering the last nine years, requested by the Deputy in his earlier Parliamentary Question, took longer than I or my Department had anticipated to finalise. Nonetheless, the information has issued to the Deputy this week.

Written Answers — Pricing Policy: Pricing Policy (17 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I have previously advised the House of the Government's concerns in relation to the importance of retailers passing on to consumers the benefits of the Euro's appreciation in value against Sterling. Given widespread concerns that consumers were not enjoying these benefits in terms of the prices that they pay for goods, particularly goods sourced in the UK, I initiated an engagement with the...