Results 721-740 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (15 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." On behalf of my colleague the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Killeen, I am pleased to introduce the Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005. The Minister of State has asked me to convey his apologies for not being present today. The Bill has passed all Stages in the...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage (resumed). (10 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: I apologise on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Fahey, who is away on Government business and was detained. On his behalf I thank Deputies from all sides of the House who contributed to an interesting and wide-ranging debate not alone on the Bill but also on child care. These issues are inextricably linked. The Government is acutely...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage (resumed). (10 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: Several Deputies have called for the introduction of paid parental leave which the Bill does not provide for. Those of us who are parents would be instinctively inclined towards maximising the amount of parental leave available and having it paid at the highest possible rate. In reality, a balance must be struck when enhancing employment rights which have a consequent impact on the cost of...

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights, in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Business of Dáil. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: I move: "That the sitting be suspended from 2.45 p.m. until 3.30 p.m."

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed]. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: People from the new EU member states in central and eastern Europe do not need work permits to come to work here. The Deputy is trying to confuse the issue.

Employment Permits Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed]. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: The Deputy is trying to muddy the waters.

Leaders' Questions. (9 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: To which Labour Party does Deputy Rabbitte refer?

Leaders' Questions. (9 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: It is a photocopy.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (3 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: In July 2005, the Government approved the drafting of legislation in the form of an intellectual property (miscellaneous provisions) Bill to transpose several European directives in the intellectual property field, including Directive 2001/84/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on droit de suite, the resale right for the benefit of the author of an original...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (2 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: Ireland has not entered into any trade agreements with any new countries in the past five years. That is because international trade policy matters are a Community, and not solely a national, competence. As such, the European Union negotiates as a single entity on the basis of proposals made by the European Commission, which are developed and agreed by the EU Council of Ministers. However,...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (2 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: While considerable effort is devoted to developing and enhancing Ireland's traditional existing markets for exports, with Northern Europe remaining our biggest market, there have been considerable achievements in opening up new markets in recent years. Last year, Asia, a relatively new export market for Irish companies showed the largest growth in exports for Enterprise Ireland client...

Seanad: Quarterly National Household Survey: Statements. (2 Nov 2005)

Michael Ahern: I apologise for being late. I mixed up the times. I welcome this opportunity to address the House on the quarterly national household survey results. It is important sometimes to reflect on our achievements and to pause for a moment to understand what is happening in our economy. The figures published by the CSO last month tell a compelling story of transformation in our economy. The figures...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Oct 2005)

Michael Ahern: My Department continues to accord a high priority to the transposition of directives and endeavours as far as possible to transpose directives in time to meet the deadline given for transposition. There are currently seven directives awaiting transposition between now and the end of October 2005, of which six are overdue for transposition. In addition, a further 15 directives require to be...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (25 Oct 2005)

Michael Ahern: Since the re-launch of the Doha development agenda in July 2004, with the adoption of the framework agreement by WTO members, DDA negotiations have been on-going in Geneva across the full range of trade-related issues, including agriculture, industrial goods, services, and the issue of development. Negotiations have been slow but have increased in intensity in recent weeks in the lead-in to...

Written Answers — Export Controls: Export Controls (20 Oct 2005)

Michael Ahern: My Department is engaged in the preparation of new export control legislation, in line with the recommendations of the 2004 Forfás report, and I hope to have a Bill published toward the end of this year. The proposed legislation will update the existing Control of Exports Act 1983 and ensure that Ireland's export controls are in line with best international practice. In this regard, the new...

Quarterly National Household Survey: Statements. (19 Oct 2005)

Michael Ahern: Hear, hear.

Quarterly National Household Survey: Statements. (19 Oct 2005)

Michael Ahern: Well done.

Quarterly National Household Survey: Statements. (19 Oct 2005)

Michael Ahern: That is true. The Deputy is dead right.

Quarterly National Household Survey: Statements. (19 Oct 2005)

Michael Ahern: That is not true. It was prior to 1977.