Results 961-980 of 1,279 for speaker:Michael Ahern

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (13 May 2004)

Michael Ahern: Minutes of the meetings of the Article 133 Services Committee, including that held recently in Dublin Castle, are internal to the work of the committee. The reports are based on discussions conducted in the context of international multilateral trade negotiations. Documents circulated for consideration at the Article 133 committee contain information communicated in confidence to officials...

Seanad: Disabilities Bill: Motion. (28 Apr 2004)

Michael Ahern: That is total and utter balderdash.

Seanad: Disabilities Bill: Motion. (28 Apr 2004)

Michael Ahern: I cannot allow her away with making statements like that. It is typical of the Labour Party.

Seanad: Disabilities Bill: Motion. (28 Apr 2004)

Michael Ahern: A heap of untruths and falsehoods.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael Ahern: Deputy Howlin should respect his colleague, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Apr 2004)

Michael Ahern: The Deputy is heckling the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Written Answers — Export Licences: Export Licences (30 Mar 2004)

Michael Ahern: Details of the quantity and value of export licences issued by my Department in respect of military goods and dual-use goods with stated military end uses or users is as follows:

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Mar 2004)

Michael Ahern: I am giving consideration to the implementation of the WTO decision of 30 August 2003 in the context of the need to update Irish intellectual property legislation to reflect continuing developments in this important area.

Seanad: Competition Authority Report: Statements. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: I thank all Senators who contributed to this debate. Many of them were reasoned and some were slightly excitable but it made for an interesting afternoon. In my closing remarks, I will highlight the pertinent points of my opening address. The Government welcomes the publication of the Competition Authority report on competition issues in the non-life insurance market, which is a preliminary...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, I thank Senators for their contributions to the debate on the Bill, which I am pleased to conclude. The Bill amends and enhances the provisions of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2001. That Act was groundbreaking legislation in that for the first time it provided a dispute resolution mechanism in situations where collective bargaining...

Seanad: Competition Authority Report: Statements. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: The Government welcomes the publication of the Competition Authority's preliminary report and consultation document on competition issues in the non-life insurance market. In the wider context, An Agreed Programme for Government includes tackling the high cost of insurance. It is the Government's firm intention to implement the measures in the agreed programme which relate to insurance. The...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: On behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Fahey, I am pleased to be in the Seanad to speak on the Second Stage of the Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. The Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, has asked me to express his gratitude to the House for facilitating him in taking this Bill and to pass on his...

Community Employment Schemes. (17 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: I thank Deputy McCormack for raising this matter on the Adjournment. Community employment provides unemployed people with temporary opportunities whereby they can develop their skills and obtain a recent track record of work experience. In accordance with the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure the programme, participation levels have gradually been reduced in line with reduced...

School Closures. (17 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in this House as it affords me the opportunity on behalf of the Department of Education and Science to outline to this House the current position regarding the proposed closure of St. Mary's secondary school, Haddington Road, Dublin 4. St. Mary's secondary school is an all-girls' post-primary school with a current enrolment of 149 pupils. The...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: The Commission proposal for a Council regulation concerning trade in certain equipment and products which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment was examined on a number of occasions by the Council working party on trade questions in Brussels during 2003. On the basis of this work, and in the light of positions taken by...

Written Answers — Companies Legislation: Companies Legislation (17 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: The main purpose of the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003, which was signed by the President on 23 December 2003, is to provide for the establishment and functions of a new supervisory body, the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority, but a number of other amendments and additions to company law are also provided for in the Act. These include the provisions of section...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (10 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 116 and 165 together. The agendas of all 133 meetings convened so far under the Irish Presidency are published on the website dedicated to the Irish Presidency. The agendas are added to the website immediately following the convocation of the individual 133 meetings and therefore in advance of each meeting. This advance notification will continue to be a...

Written Answers — Export Licensing: Export Licensing (10 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: I understand that the report of phase 2 of the review of the operation of Ireland's export controls system is nearing completion and I would hope to receive it shortly. It is my intention to make the report publicly available.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (10 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: The Commission proposal for a directive on cross-border mergers of companies with share capital, COM (2003)703, which was published on 18 November 2003 is aimed at facilitating cross-border mergers of commercial companies under favourable conditions in terms of cost and legal certainty. Under the chairmanship of an official of my Department, Ireland has initiated EU Council working group...

Written Answers — Export Statistics: Export Statistics (10 Feb 2004)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 185, 186 and 187 together Since the beginning of the 1990's Ireland has become a significant trading nation. On a per capita basis, Ireland ranks as one of the world's top three exporters when the oil economies are excluded. As a result, Ireland trades with virtually every country in the world. The Government encourages Irish firms to develop export...