Results 6,481-6,500 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: For reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, IDA Ireland does not comment on discussions which it has with individual client companies. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Paragraph 13 of the Schedule to the Labour Services Act, 1987, provides that "Each ordinary member of An Foras shall be paid, out of moneys at the disposal of An Foras, such remuneration (if any) and allowances for expenses incurred by him (if any) as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may sanction." This provision is the statutory basis for the actions described...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Under the terms of the Labour Services Act, 1987, the Director General of FÁS is appointed by An Foras, with the consent of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Last week I approved a proposal by the Board of FÁS for the appointment of Mr. Eddie Sullivan to the post of Director General on an interim basis for a period of up to six months. Mr. Sullivan is a former Secretary...

Written Answers — FÁS Investigation: FÁS Investigation (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Comptroller and Auditor General in his report on non-commercial Semi-State bodies, published in May 2008, reviewed the issues raised in one specific FÁS internal audit report. I discussed this matter with the then Director General of FÁS and have expressed my concerns about the issues raised by both the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Internal Audit report, and in particular,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, the merging of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority was announced in the recent Budget. Since then my Department has being working in conjunction with both bodies and the Department of Finance to bring about a smooth transition to a unified single body to oversee the area of competition and consumer protection. As both the National Consumer...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The total FÁS budget specifically for programmes for people with disabilities in 2008 was € 77.3 million. The relevant budgets and expenditures for the Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Disability Awareness Grant and the Employee Retention Grant in 2008 are as follows: Budget Actual (end October) Wage Subsidy Scheme €10.5m €7.7m Disability Awareness Grant €468,000 €57,000 Employee...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In the period since the establishment of FÁS under the Labour Services Act, 1987 the Minister sanctioned, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, the pay and staffing arrangements for FAS and various other grade specific increases from time to time. Increases in remuneration for the staff of FÁS are normally set in the context of Social Partnership agreements. Under the...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Employment and unemployment are measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) and published by the Central Statistics Office. Statistics are available on a quarterly basis only. The latest quarterly data indicates that there were 2,120,800 in employment in Quarter 3 2008, a fall of 25,200 on the corresponding period in 2007. This release also indicates that unemployment had...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Government decided, in October 2006, to continue to require that nationals of Romania and Bulgaria apply for work permits in order to participate in the Irish labour market, but giving those nationals preference over non-European Economic Area nationals. The Government was informed in its decision by the very significant inflow of economic migrants Ireland had experienced since May 2004,...

Written Answers — Retail Sector Imports: Retail Sector Imports (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Cost and managing costs is an increasingly important consideration for all businesses in these difficult economic times, particularly in a competitive sector such as the retail sector. Given the recent downturn in retail sales, retailers are reviewing all aspects of their cost base including their distribution costs. However, the sourcing of supplies is a day to day operational matter for...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The total number of people recorded on the Live Register for November 2008 is 268,586, showing an increase of about 106,864 in the 12 month period. It should be noted that the Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers entitled to unemployment benefit. Employment and unemployment are measured by the Quarterly National Household...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I met with the Chairman and some members of the Board of FÁS on 28 November and expressed my disquiet at the events that had taken place in the Public Affairs Division in FÁS. At the meeting the Board assured me that action has been taken to deal with these matters. It also assured me that more robust structures with enhanced controls are now in place. This will help accelerate the audit...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The current Chairman and Board of FÁS were appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in 2006 in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Services Act, 1987. I met with the Chairman and some members of the Board of FÁS on 28 November and expressed my disquiet at the events that had taken place in the Public Affairs Division in FÁS. At the meeting the Board assured...

Written Answers — Fuel Prices: Fuel Prices (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I assume the Deputy is referring to the recent Consumer Petroleum Price Products Survey, which was published by the Energy and Transport Directorate General of the European Commission. The latest survey, which relates to retail prices on 1 December, states that retail prices are higher in Ireland than in most other EU member states. However, concerns have been raised about the methods used...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. It is the practice for the Minister to request FÁS to adjust its spending on specified services or activities in line with Government labour market policy and available resources. This is normally done in the context of the annual Estimates process. Earlier this year, FÁS was directed to reduce spending in a number of areas including...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The mission to the United Arab Emirates, which took place between 24 and 28 November last, was organised by Enterprise Ireland. The mission was undertaken because the UAE represents an exciting market for Irish companies. With its oil reserves and, crucially, significant non-oil economic activities, it offers significant market opportunities to Irish companies. The country is the dominant...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Forecasting employment figures is a perilous business at the best of times, and never more so than in the current economic climate we now find ourselves subject to. As one of the most globalised economies in the world, the uncertainty created by the ongoing international financial crisis and the consequent fall in demand for goods and services both domestically and worldwide has had a...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There are currently a total of eight Directives due to be transposed by my Department up to 2012. Three of these Directives are currently overdue. The first of these, Directive 2007/45/EC on pre-packaged goods, is expected to be transposed by 19 December 2008. It is intended to transpose the second and third overdue Directives, Directive 2006/46/EC on company reporting and Directive...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department and the 8 Offices which come under the auspices of my Department do not rent, lease or occupy any office accommodation in Galway City either directly or indirectly through the Office of Public Works. I am not in a position to provide information about office accommodation which may be rented or leased in Galway City in respect of the State Agencies under the aegis of my...

Industrial Relations. (10 Dec 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Aer Lingus has, in line with standard procedure under the Protection of Employment Act 1977, written to my Department with notification of its intentions with regard to collective redundancies in the company. My Department is examining the correspondence and it will be dealt with in the normal way if and when a redundancy situationarises. Should the company proceed to file claims for...