Results 6,941-6,960 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I am not in a position to supply this information to the Deputy. Any information available to the Enterprise Development Agencies is maintained on a confidential basis.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The year to year costs of incremental pay increases are normally offset by corresponding reductions in costs associated with retirements and other movements by staff on higher points on the incremental scales and their replacement by staff on lower points. Incremental increases are not therefore individually costed and there is no separate provision for incremental increases in my...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: On the basis of my Department's 2008 Estimates provision, the cost of the 2.5% pay increase payable from 1 September 2008 is estimated at €464,000 gross in 2008, or €1.392 million gross on a full year basis for my Department and its offices. While no specific additional provision has been included in my Department's 2009 Estimate for the payment of the 3.5% pay increase which would become...

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: On the medical cards, to give effect to Government policy it will be necessary to provide in legislation for both the repeal of section 1 of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001 and the withdrawal of eligibility from those currently in possession of medical cards under the Act whose income is above the threshold announced by the Government on Tuesday. This issue was raised by our...

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Not on specific cost of living increases. One cannot legislate for those, but they can be facilitated.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: We will repeal one item of legislation and introduce another.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Government has given an undertaking to review the thresholds annually to take cost of living increases into account during the Government's lifetime. This is the Government's comment on the matter.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As I indicated, we will amalgamate the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency, NCA. Legislation covers the work of both. As the Deputy knows, I have requested that the NCA carry out work regarding the prices of diesel and petrol, an issue that has not only been expressed in the House, but by many consumers.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The work is ongoing and I hope to make further announcements in the near future. I am conducting work on the Competition Authority and its legislation in the context of overall competition legislation.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I must make a determination as to how the issue will be addressed in the amalgamation of the Competition Authority and the NCA. I also gave an undertaking to change the legislation, given the Government's decision on medical cards. I am addressing the issue and I hope to have a firm decision on the required legislative proposals shortly.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: To provide absolute clarity, I will read our position into the record again so that Deputies can get the blacks for next week. To give effect to Government policy, it will be necessary to provide in legislation for both the repeal of section 1 of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001 and the withdrawal of eligibility from those currently in possession of medical cards under the Act...

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: When I stood in the Chamber yesterday, I was adamant when I stated that it is currently the intention——

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: ——to facilitate the legislation as quickly as possible. To do so, the legislation to be put before the House at the beginning of November will be the social welfare Bill. As everyone knows, two Ministers cannot introduce one Bill. One Minister will take Second Stage——

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: ——and, when the debate turns to the issues appertaining to different Ministers, the Minister for Health and Children has indicated that she would be prepared——

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: ——to introduce and address the specific health aspects.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: So that everyone is clear, the——

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: ——thresholds announced in respect of the medical card for those over 70 years of age will be reviewed annually to take cost of living increases into account over the Government's lifetime. This is Government policy.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: People will have plenty of time to discuss these issues in the context of the forthcoming legislation.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There is no legislation proposed on the final matter.

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Finance Bill will be published on 20 November.