Results 7,061-7,080 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I assure people that whatever is required to ensure that no more than 5% are outside the remit is the intention of the Government.

Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: All matters can be dealt with in the context of the legislation.

Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The legality of any legislation, changes to it and requirements within this House, are done with the best legal advice from the Attorney General. The Minister for Health and Children has been advised by the Attorney General in the context of the legislative framework in which she will introduce this new scheme.

Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There will be an opportunity to discuss these issues once the legislation has been brought before the House.

Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Deputy Reilly is not the man to be talking about that.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The details requested by the Deputy are outlined on the table below. Capital funding allocated to my Department is expended through various agencies under the remit of my Department, including IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, FÁS, Shannon Development, InterTradeIreland, the National Standards Authority of Ireland and the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards. My...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency and not one in which I have a function. I have been informed by IDA that this property was surrendered to its owner on the 11 September, 2006. For commercial reasons, and in order to protect IDA's negotiating position in relation to any similar properties, it is not appropriate for...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The primary providers of onshore training in the maritime industry are the National Maritime College of Ireland, the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. However, FÁS has in collaboration with the National Maritime College of Ireland, introduced a new Seafaring Safety Skills course at Ringaskiddy in County Cork. The aim of the course is...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has primary responsibility for the procurement of suitable accommodation for both the advance and permanent re-location of decentralising Departments, including my Department's staff to Carlow. Officials of my Department, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the OPW, as well as decentralising staff and Business Units, opened an advance office in...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has been making good progress in the relocation of the required 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. The following business units/Offices of my Department are earmarked for decentralisation: Companies Registration Office/Registry of Friendly Societies National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) Redundancy Payments Section Insolvency Payments...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together. In April 2005, the option of cost neutral early superannuation benefits was made available to serving staff who met the eligibility criteria and those who had resigned on or after 1 April 2004, with an entitlement to preserved superannuation benefits at the time of their resignation. There were no early retirements in 2004 In 2005 there...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is very conscious of its obligations under the Data Protection Acts, and adopts a proactive approach to ensuring that personal data stored by it is kept secure. Physical safeguards, a secure ICT infrastructure and staff awareness programmes all play a role in supporting data protection in my Department. Regarding ICT this is a continuous process, involving a combination of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department monitors sickness absence in order to ensure the proper application of the sick leave regulations. Sickness absence for this purpose is measured in "duration days" (span of sickness absence from date of first absence to date of return to work) rather than actual working days lost. Separately, my Department has begun detailed examination of sickness absence, applying...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The monitoring and measuring of levels of absenteeism within the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an administrative matter for the agencies themselves. I have no function in the day-to-day administrative matters carried out by each agency.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The option of Cost Neutral Early Retirement was introduced in April 2005 and is available to staff who meet the eligibility criteria and are aged 50 to 59 if a preserved pension age of 60 applies or aged 55 to 64 if a preserved pension age of 65 applies. The numbers availing of the Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme in my Department over the last three years are listed on the following...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Early retirement schemes in place within the agencies under the aegis of my Department are an administrative matter for the agencies themselves. I have no function in the day-to-day administrative matters carried out by each agency.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I understand from Enterprise Ireland that on 17 May 1998, the agency approved assistance to the company under its Research Technology & Innovation (RTI) Competitive Grants Initiative. The company drew down moneys over a four year period as outlined in the following table. The purpose of the RTI Initiative was to bring about a substantial increase in the level of high quality research and...

Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It is proposed to take No. 9, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the instruments as contemplated by Article 3(2) of the Agreements on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance between the European Union and the United States of America (back from committee); and No. 15, Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance, 2008, motion 15 (resumed). It is proposed,...

Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: On the first issue, which I would purport is as ord, ach is cuma——

Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Mary Coughlan: ——the process has been undertaken by Eddie Sullivan and submissions will be considered. A timeframe has been set for the former Secretary General of the Department of Finance to report to the Government next week. On the social welfare Bill, it will be brought forward this session but I do not have a precise date. I will ask the Minister and revert to the Deputy in due course.