Results 6,721-6,740 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

FÁS Investigation. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I am sorry.

FÁS Investigation. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Unfortunately, a very serious accusation has been made on the floor of the House. My agenda is the following. I want to ensure that those people who have unfortunately lost their jobs as a consequence of the economic difficulties, those who wish to obtain training and those with disabilities will be afforded opportunities. That is the role of FÁS and I want it to remain centre-stage in...

FÁS Investigation. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: If the Deputy mentions Tallaght, he will get in.

FÁS Investigation. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It is not my intention to have an overall investigation of FÁS, as I indicated in my reply. We are looking at labour market policy challenges and it is in that context that a review of the workings of FÁS is taking place. The Comptroller and Auditor General is still anxious to have a conclusion to the deliberations of the Committee of Public Accounts. I am sure that Deputy Varadkar, as...

Credit Availability. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The proper functioning of the banking system is key to our ability to address the current economic crisis and to our capacity to respond to recovery in the future. The continuing availability of credit to enterprises, especially SMEs, is a central responsibility of the banking system. Ministerial responsibility for the banking system rests with my colleague, the Minister for Finance. The...

Credit Availability. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The inferences are wrong from across the House. I have——

Credit Availability. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I have been in constant discussions and negotiation. I have met and spoken to the chief executives of the major banks, as has the Minister for Finance on my behalf. On the issue of access to the EIB, four banks from Ireland have been in discussions with it regarding access to funding specifically for enterprises. On the issue of the proposals by the Small Firms Association, which I met...

Credit Availability. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I will support any initiative that will help the SMEs and I have met many of them on the specific issues they want addressed.

Credit Availability. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: We did not nationalise our banking system, it must be emphasised. I reflect on the time when we did have State-owned banks and there were reasons why we decided they should not continue, on the basis that Governments did not run the banks.

Credit Availability. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is on the mantra of the Fine Gael spokesman on this issue and making an assumption.

Credit Availability. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I cannot answer that because I do not engage in speculation of that kind. We have impressed the position on the banks in the context of the bank guarantee. We have not capitalised the banks. The view is that at this time that is not necessarily where we need to be and that other initiatives are available. We are working with the banks and, as the Deputy knows, the Minister for Finance is...

Credit Availability. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: One cannot have views on this issue. The situation is that we have not capitalised the banks. Therefore that question does not arise.

Credit Availability. (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: That was the question, and there is the Deputy's answer. The matter does not arise, as we have not capitalised the banks.

Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It is proposed to take No. 3, the Arbitration Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed); No. 28, Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed); No. 24, statements on the report of the joint committee's contribution to the European Commission on its White Paper on Integration of EU Mortgage Credit Markets, COM (2007) 807; and No. 23, statements on the special report on new EU...

Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I believe the Whips have agreed that there will be a monthly debate that will address the issues raised.

Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There was a considerable number of questions.

Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: On the financial issues, the Finance Bill will be available at 3 p.m. today.

Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Those matters can be discussed in the context of the debate. The health legislation will be ready within the next two weeks.

Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It has been cleared by the Government so, within the next two weeks——

Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It will take some considerable time for the risk equalisation legislation to be brought forward.