Results 7,961-7,980 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Regulatory Reform: Regulatory Reform (14 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There are number of commitments in the Programme for Government relating to regulatory reform. Insofar as my Department is concerned, the Government has agreed that I should lead the effort across Government to reduce the administrative burden (or 'red tape' factor) on business, including small and medium sized firms arising from regulations. In July 2007 year, I established the High-level...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (14 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The numbers of actual redundancies notified to my Department for the years 2004-2007 for Waterford City and County are as follows: Actual Redundancies 2004-2007 Year 2004 2005 2006 2007 Actual 957 998 675 631 These figures show the number of employees on whose behalf claims were submitted for statutory redundancy lump sum payments. They do not reflect those who lost their jobs with less...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The organisation of the decentralisation of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny is primarily an operational matter for the Authority itself. The Authority already has temporary offices in Kilkenny City with an advance party of staff partly drawn from the 48 staff recruited on the basis that they would be employed in Thomastown. This figure includes all new...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: FÁS provides funding for the employment of a number of staff on a Community Employment Scheme in a centre (details supplied) which, inter alia, provides child contact facilities. Funding supplied for the 12 months to February this year amounted to just over €280,000 and approximately €290,000 has been allocated for 2008.

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Unemployment has increased by only 15,200 in the three-year period since 2004 and must be seen in the context of the substantial increase in employment by 242,500 in the same period. The number of people currently in employment is 2,138,900. It is generally accepted that the strong rate of growth experienced over the past few years could not continue and the economy is now entering a period...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I am committed to working with my counterparts in Northern Ireland to implement North/South initiatives where there is mutual economic benefit. The North/South Ministerial Council provides the opportunity to work with my counterparts in Northern Ireland to advance initiatives for the North West and the all-island economy. There is well-established co-operation between my Department and its...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that they have checked out the application form in this case and that the duration of the permit applied for was one year. Accordingly, if the above named requires a permit for another 12 months a renewal application will have to be submitted with the appropriate fee.

Written Answers — Compliance Costs: Compliance Costs (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In March 2008, the Government decided to reduce the administrative burden of domestic regulation on business by 25% by 2012. Administrative burdens include the cost of e.g. form filling, returns, applications, retaining records etc as required on foot of regulations. This target was set in response to the invitation to Member States by the European Council to set national targets in line with...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that it is current Government policy to only issue new employment permits either for highly skilled, highly paid positions or for non-EEA nationals already legally resident in the State on valid employment permits. However, if the above named wishes to submit an application it will be considered on its merits.

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Department of Social and Family Affairs maintains the Live Register. The total number of people recorded on the Live Register for April 2008 is 195,598. The number of people signing on the live register in Portlaoise in April 2007 was 935 while the number signing on had increased to 1,593 in April 2008, a year-on-year increase of 70.4%. The Live Register is not designed to measure...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together. Under the Programme for Government, A Blueprint for Ireland's Future 2007-2012, my Department is committed to putting in place a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities which will help people into work in all sectors. This strategy is a key component of the sectoral plan for my Department, which was published in...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Wage Subsidy Scheme provides financial incentives to employers outside the public sector to compensate the employer for any deficit in productivity occasioned by an employee's disability. The FÁS budget for the Wage Subsidy Scheme in 2007 was €10.5m and the actual spend was €7.6m. Just under €7m was spent in 2006. There are currently 522 people with disabilities in open...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I do not believe that an investigation along the lines suggested by the Deputy is necessary. There are two Registered Employment Agreements (REAs) in place for the construction industry; one of which deals specifically with the issues raised by the Deputy, namely pension, assurance and sick pay. Separately, there is also a Registered Employment Agreement in place for the electrical...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (13 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The focus of occupational safety and health legislation concerning asbestos in the workplace is on the prevention of exposure. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 386 of 2006), which is enforced by the Health and Safety Authority, places obligations on employers and employees to ensure that the risk of exposure to asbestos is eliminated or...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (8 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007-2013) contains a financial instrument, the SME Guarantee Facility that aims to improve the financial environment for SMEs by facilitating their access to debt and equity finance. The European Commission published a Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union on 26 September 2007 addressed to financial intermediaries for...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (8 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: On 6th May 2008 new Regulations to amend the remit of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) to include sustainable energy and energy-efficient technologies were signed into law. The Regulations (SI No 134 /2008) are in fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government 2007-2012 to amend the remit of SFI to include a third research pillar in these areas. The Regulations prescribe...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (8 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that the trade union in question has not made a complaint to the Labour Court regarding a possible breach of the Construction REA regarding this construction site. As the Deputy knows, enforcement of the provisions of a Registered Employment Agreement (REA) may be effected by direct complaint to the Labour Court. A trade union may complain to the Labour Court that a particular...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (8 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that this application was refused on the grounds that it is current Government policy to issue new employment permits for highly skilled highly paid positions or for non-EEA nationals already legally resident in the State on valid employment permits. Furthermore, the proposed employee is currently resident in the State on a Student...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (8 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Irish employment law applies to all workers including agency workers. Accordingly, I understand that agency workers who enter into or work under a contract of employment can, under the terms of the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005, qualify for minimum notice in respect of termination of employment. Its application will depend on individual circumstances. Given the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 May 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Sections 48 and 49 are the relevant sections of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 which seek to restrict the manner in which traders impose additional charges on consumers solely by reason of the method of payment chosen by the consumer. The Deputy will be aware that on the commencement of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 in May last year, sections 48 and 49 were not commenced. A public...