Results 7,661-7,680 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The Enterprise Development Agencies under the aegis of my Department, Enterprise Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development are responsible for growing indigenous enterprises and attracting and growing foreign direct investment. Strong, balanced regional development and a thriving culture of entrepreneurship in all parts of Ireland are key strategic objectives...
- Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I am very much aware of the announcement made by the company in question. Both myself and the Chief Executive of Enterprise Ireland met with the company prior to the announcement. Since the announcement, I have met with Union Representatives and I have been in correspondence with the company in Dublin. In my press release of 9 May, 2008, I welcomed the company's major investment plans to...
- Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: There are currently no plans or discussions between my Department and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to establish a training scheme for people specifically in the oil and gas exploration industry.
- Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Donegal is a target location for the IDA with the County now competing for a different type of business to labour intensive manufacturing, which IDA so successfully won over the past four decades. The overseas investor is now seeking locations for more advanced manufacturing or office based solutions, to a great extent depending on high skill and high value work. While this has required a...
- Written Answers — Price Display: Price Display (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Price display law is covered by Orders made under Section 19 of the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 and under the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002, Statutory Instrument No. 639 of 2002. The various Price Display Orders made under the Prices Acts 1958 to 1972 cover Drinks Display in Licensed Premises, Hairdressing Services, Petrol and Diesel and...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I am fully aware of the concerns expressed by the Chief Executive of the National Consumer Agency in relation to the logistical challenges arising from the Agency's relocation to Cork. The proposed location of the Agency in Cork is as part of the overall decentralisation programme, which provides that staff of public bodies, such as the National Consumer Agency, transfer to decentralised...
- Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I would like to express my disappointment at the decision of the company to close its Cork operations and I have asked the State development agencies under the aegis of my Department to make every effort to assist the workers being made redundant in securing alternative employment. Freescale is a large global company that regularly makes adjustments to resources as a normal course of...
- Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The role of FÃS in relation to the National Drugs Strategy is to facilitate the rehabilitation of stabilised drug users and to prepare them to re-enter the active labour market through focused training which will enable them to re-integrate into working life. This is being achieved through participation in a range of FÃS programmes, including Community Employment (CE), and also integration...
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The "Small Business Act for Europe" (SBA) was announced in the European Commission Discussion Paper for EU Heads of State and Government at the Lisbon informal summit on 18-19 October 2007 and in the Commission's Mid-term Review on Modern SME Policy adopted on 4 October 2007. It is one of the priorities in the Commission's Legislative Work Programme 2008. Following a public consultation...
- Written Answers — Companies Registration Office: Companies Registration Office (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: In general, the Companies Registration Office (CRO) is in a position to accept an annual return in respect of a limited company in advance of that company's statutory annual return date. An exception is in respect of a new company filing its first annual return, as the first return is required under the Companies Acts to be made up to the date which is six months after the company's date of...
- Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: As a small open economy many of the factors which determine inflation are beyond our control. We have no control over issues such as rising oil prices and the decline in the value of the dollar against the euro. However, it is important to ensure that our domestic cost base does not undermine competitiveness. The Government is actively seeking to restrain inflationary pressures, promote...
- Written Answers — Food Prices: Food Prices (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Though data on increases in food and other prices are compiled on an ongoing basis by statistical bodies in Ireland and other member states, surveys comparing food prices here and in other euro area and EU countries are not routinely undertaken by these bodies. Foodstuffs, food brands, VAT rates and excise duties can differ significantly between member states and this makes the process of...
- Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The table below sets out the numbers in employment and unemployment in the years 2004 to 2008. 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Employment 1,833,000 1,910,800 2,004,800 2,081,300 2,135,100 Unemployment 83,500 82,600 89,500 93,400 102,100 Source: CSO, QNHS Quarter 1 Dec-Feb 2008. Employment has increased by 302,100 in the five-year period while unemployment has increased by 18,600 over the same...
- Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: There are various reasons why firms decide to relocate. Firms adjust their plant location and utilisation strategies to address matters such as accessing new markets, moving production nearer to customers, meeting firm or market specific customer relationship issues, accessing technology or other competitive considerations. We are equipped to manage this process successfully and enterprise...
- Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The following table details the total numbers of employment permits processed by my Department under the Employment Permits Acts, 2003 and 2006 in the past five years, as well as in 2008 to date: Year New Permits Permits Renewed Total Issued Refused 2008 4,464 3,478 7,942 1,324 2007 10,094 13,412 23,506 2,130 2006 7,296 16,569 23,865 1,122 2005 7,618 19,505 27,123 1,332 2004 10,408...
- FÁS Training Programmes. (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: On the ring road.
- Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: In the year to May 2008, the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages, as measured by consumer price index data compiled by the CSO, increased by 7.8%. The main cause of this increase in food prices has been the global rise in commodity and energy prices. Food prices have increased sharply in virtually all parts of the world and this has affected some developing countries particularly...
- Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I am aware of it. A number of issues arise, including that of price tracking. The Competition Authority has been requested to examine a number of issues. It has already produced two reports on competitiveness and is currently preparing another one. There is no indication of anti-competitive practices within the market. It is important to state â this issue was discussed in committee â...
- Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I do not have any evidence of anti-competitive practices within the retail sector. If other people have such information, I would be more than happy to bring it to the attention of the Competition Authority. I do not have evidence to that effect at this moment.
- Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: One cannot act on suspicions or innuendo; one must have the facts. There are no indications of anti-competitive practices in the retail sector. The Competition Authority has examined the matter and has stated there is no evidence of anti-competitive practices in the sector. That is not to suggest people are not disgruntled and unhappy in regard to prices in the overall retail sector. It...