Results 7,741-7,760 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Given that the legislation was introduced in 1998, all Members are fully familiar with its implementation. A report on it has been carried out and laid before the House. It is the view of the Garda and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that, as the Act has been used regularly and has been one of the most important tools available to the Garda in the ongoing fight against...
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Deputies will have an opportunity to discuss the issue at Question Time this afternoon. The current position is not acceptable. I have had meetings with the National Consumer Agency, Retail Ireland and all the major people in the retail sector. While I am not considering changing any legislation at this point, further surveys have been carried out on my instruction and these will continue....
- Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (18 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: In March 2008, the Government decided to reduce the administrative burden of domestic regulation on business by 25% by 2012. Initially, all Government Departments will be required to list the Information Obligations which their regulations impose on business. From that listing, Departments will assess which requirements are the most burdensome and will then measure the actual cost to...
- Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analysis: Regulatory Impact Analysis (18 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement. The information below does not include Commencement Orders. Year 2006 Title of statutory instruments, bills and EU directives on which the Dept did not carry out any form of regulatory impact analysis on The reason for this decision Additional Information S.I No. 574 of 2006 European Communities...
- Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I thought he looked quite fetching in it.
- Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that the applicant concerned was refused a Green Card due to the fact that he has a current application for refugee/asylum status lodged with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which renders him ineligible to apply for an Employment Permit. Having examined the appeal made by the applicant, the Appeals Officer has...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Enterprise Ireland: Enterprise Ireland is responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous business sector and world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in global markets. Enterprise Ireland brings together key marketing, technology, enterprise development, business training and science and innovation initiatives through which the Government supports the growth of...
- Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Irish employers meet the majority of their labour needs from within the expanded EU labour market. For non-European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals, the granting of an employment permit is dependant on a job offer from a prospective Irish employer. Applications, which can be submitted by either the prospective employee or employer, are considered under the Employment Permits Acts, 2003 and...
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: My Department does not provide direct funding or grants to businesses but provides funding to a number of State Agencies, including the County and City Enterprise Boards, Enterprise Ireland and FÃS, through whom assistance is delivered directly to businesses. The 35 County and City Enterprise Boards provide a source of support to small businesses with 10 employees or fewer. Subject to...
- Written Answers — Knowledge Base: Knowledge Base (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Following on from the recommendation of the Small Business Forum, the development, launch and promotion of a first-stop "Knowledge Base" in the form of a comprehensive central resource of relevant, up-to-date, user-led business information for entrepreneurs, owner/ managers and their advisers is currently under consideration by my Department. In addressing this, the Department has been...
- Written Answers — Entrepreneurship Policy: Entrepreneurship Policy (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The Small Business Forum Report placed a particular importance on this topic and recommended that the Government should formally adopt a National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement focused on optimising the number of start-up businesses, and in particular, on maximising the number of start-ups aspiring to, and achieving high growth. In response to the recommendations of the Small Business...
- Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analysis: Regulatory Impact Analysis (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement. Year 2006 Title of Screening RIA carried out on SIs Bills, and EU Directives Reason a full RIA was not carried out Any Additional Information Consumer Protection (National Consumer Agency) Bill 2006 The purpose of this Bill was to establish the National Consumer Agency (NCA) on a statutory basis and...
- Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding...
- Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The total amount spent on the enterprise STI sub-programme in 2007 was â¬15.8m current and â¬111.6m capital. The enterprise STI spend for the period January to May 2008 inclusive is â¬5.1m current and â¬29.6m capital. The NDP allocation for the enterprise STI sub-programme for 2007 was â¬16.9m current and â¬106.7m capital. The outturn for 2007 represents a saving of â¬1.1m in current...
- Written Answers — Intellectual Property Fund: Intellectual Property Fund (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Two schemes are administered by Enterprise Ireland under its Intellectual Property Fund, one for companies and the other for the Higher Education Sector. The Intellectual Property Assistance Scheme (companies) received 93 applications in 2007 and 36 to end May 2008. Enterprise Ireland is currently providing funding to 43 indigenous companies under the scheme. The Higher Education Sector...
- Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The total spend in the Indigenous Industry Sub-Programme in 2007 was â¬221.7. The 2008 spend will not be available until next year. Interim reports are not requested and therefore are not available. The Government's objective is to deliver on all aspects of the National Development Plan, having due regard to the economic assumptions set out in Chapter 2 of the Plan.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The provision of grant assistance for individual companies is a matter for the development agency or body concerned, and not one in which I have a direct function. Enterprise Ireland (E.I.) has primary responsibility for Irish companies in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. It supports companies employing 10 or more people and start-up companies which have the...
- Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: A total of â¬210 million has been spent by IDA Ireland and Shannon Development on the foreign direct investment sub-programme of the NDP in 2007. Of this amount â¬125 million was provided from the Exchequer and the balance was generated from the agencies own resources. The 2008 spend will not be available until next year. Composite interim reports are not normally sought and, accordingly,...
- Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 518 together. The total amount spent on the Training and Skills Development Programme in 2007 was â¬1,087.2 million, of which â¬1,052.3 million was current expenditure and â¬34.9 million was capital expenditure. â¬412.2 million was spent on the Upskilling Programme of which â¬386 million was current expenditure and â¬26.2 million was capital...
- Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (17 Jun 2008)
Mary Coughlan: All prosecutions to date under the legislation have been initiated under the Employment Permits Act, 2003, by An Garda Siochána. There have been no proceedings commenced to date for offences under the Employment Permits Act, 2006, which came into force on 1st January, 2007. I understand from the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform that the numbers of proceedings commenced and...