Results 7,641-7,660 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Department Decentralisation. 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); Work Permits;...

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 41 together. The Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 was revoked by the Competition (Amendment) Act 2006 with effect from 20th March 2006. During the debate that surrounded the removal of the Order my predecessor, Mr. Micheál Martin, indicated that increased competition in the market should lead to prices being cheaper than they would be if...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Consumer Protection Act 2007, which commenced in May last year, empowers the National Consumer Agency to prepare and publish Guidelines to traders in relation to matters of consumer welfare and protection and matters related to commercial practices. The Act also empowers the Agency to review or approve Codes of Practice submitted to it by traders or their trade associations where the...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) were set up in 1993 to provide support for micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role and they can provide both financial and...

Written Answers — Company Law: Company Law (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The issue of whether or not there should be provisions for "whistleblowing" (and related protection of the whistleblower from penalisation), specifically in the context of breaches of company law, was considered by the Company Law Review Group (CLRG), as part of its 2007 Work Programme. The CLRG is the statutory body appointed to advise the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 119 and 121 together. I share Deputies' concerns about recent increases in the price of goods and services. The greater part of those increases have resulted from global factors over which Government here has little or no influence. Approximately 60 per cent of the rise in the Consumer Price Index in the year to May 2008 was attributable to rises in...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Last year my Department responded to the Director's request for additional staffing resources by increasing the approved Departmental staff complement from 30 to 38. In addition, approved Garda staff numbers were also increased by one in 2007 bringing the total approved staffing complement of the ODCE to 46 posts. Four of the additional 8 Departmental staff were provided to the ODCE in 2007...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 72 together. Unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey, collated and published by the CSO. The latest release on 5th June for Quarter 1 2008 (Dec-Feb 2008) shows that there are now 102,100 people unemployed, an increase of 8,700 in the year. The current rate of unemployment is 4.6%. Employment has grown by 2.6% or 53,800 in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Company Law Review Group (CLRG) was asked, as part of its Work Programme for 2007, to examine the issue of "Limited Liability Partnerships" (LLPs). This follows from concerns, particularly of the legal profession, about the consequences of unlimited liability on partners in a firm. The Report of the CLRG on its 2007 Work Programme has been presented to me and laid before the Houses of...

Written Answers — National Consumer Agency: National Consumer Agency (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The National Consumer Agency was established on a statutory basis on the commencement of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 on the 1st May 2007. The Act gave the Agency a significantly expanded remit with specific functions in areas such as consumer advocacy, research, information, education and awareness and enforcement. In the 12 months since its establishment, the Agency has been very active...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The criticisms referred to by the Deputy relate to a report dealing with a number of issues which arose in recent audits of Non-Commercial Semi-State Bodies, including FÁS. I have discussed the matter with the Director General of FÁS and the issue has also been raised at a recent meeting of the FÁS Board. The issues referred to by the Comptroller and Auditor General had been previously...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: A fundamental review of the role and functions of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) in the development of micro-enterprises, including the level of financial assistance which they have available to them, was conducted during 2004 on behalf of the Department by Fitzpatricks and Associates, Economic Consultants. The Review recommended that, in providing assistance to...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 71 together. Management of Waterford Wedgwood plc requested support to assist in the implementation of its restructuring plan at Waterford Crystal. Detailed discussions were held with the company with a view to identifying possible interventions that would assist them to successfully complete the planned restructuring in Waterford, while not...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The role of the thirty-five County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to provide a source of support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEBs provide a single point of contact at local level for new and established small businesses....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Section 4 of the Competition Act 2002 prohibits anti-competitive practices, such as price fixing, by "undertakings". An "undertaking" is defined in the Act as "a person being an individual, a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons engaged for gain in the production, supply, or distribution of goods or the provision of a service". This definition has been in use in Irish...

Written Answers — County Enterprise Boards: County Enterprise Boards (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I have, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, approved the introduction of Superannuation Schemes and associated Spouses' and Children's Superannuation Scheme by each County and City Enterprise Board (CEB) with a commencement date of 2 April 2008. The Schemes will, subject to the offer document, be based on the Public Service Model Employee Scheme and standard provisions for public...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 55, 118 and 126 together. The retail price of all carbon fuels, including diesel, has increased significantly in recent months. This essentially reflects the considerable increase in the global wholesale price of oil. As the Deputies are aware the Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated. There is free entry into the market, and...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Enterprise Development agencies under the aegis of my Department are responsible for growing indigenous enterprises and attracting and growing foreign direct investment. Balanced regional development and a thriving culture of entrepreneurship in all parts of Ireland are key strategic objectives for my Department and the Development agencies under its remit. Enterprise Ireland's current...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There are currently a total of twelve Directives due to be transposed by my Department up to 2012. Two of these Directives are overdue. The first of these, Directive 2007/13EC on measuring instruments, is expected to be transposed by 30 June. It is intended to transpose the second overdue Directive, Directive 2006/121/EC on dangerous substances, by 31 July. Full details of all current and...

Written Answers — National Consumer Agency: National Consumer Agency (19 Jun 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Consumer Protection (Fixed Payment Notice) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 689 of 2007) came into effect on 13 October 2007. Responsibility for enforcement of these Regulations is a matter for the National Consumer Agency and I have no direct function in the matter. I am informed that to date payments have been paid in fourteen cases in response to fixed payment notices served by Authorised...