Results 1,341-1,360 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The human tissue Bill is a considerable legislative undertaking and I understand it is proposed to have 87 heads in the Bill. It is not possible to indicate when the legislation will be brought forward. The legislation pertaining to Science Foundation Ireland will be introduced next year.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I do not have a specific date but it will be published in this session. I will try to get more information for the Deputy.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The situation in regard to the Croke Park agreement is that there are ongoing discussions and negotiations taking place with the unions. Action plans were requested and have been forwarded. I cannot say for definite whether every Department has brought them forward, but I am led to believe the majority of them have been provided. I do not anticipate that these documents will be made public...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: I am not sure if legislation would be necessary for that matter. I will make inquiries on behalf of the Deputy and revert to him directly.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It is proposed to take No. 18, statements re Minister for Finance's announcement on banking of 30 September 2010 (resumed) and No. 4, Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 - Second Stage (resumed).

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: On the issue of the loan guarantee scheme, work was done by my former Department and continued by the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, with Forfás and the Department of Finance to examine the feasibility of having a loan guarantee scheme. Work has been ongoing on that and the matter is being considered by the Cabinet sub-committee on Economic Renewal. Whether legislation will be required...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The legislation will be published next year.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: On the legislation, as the Deputy correctly stated, it is proposed that the Bill will be published in this session. The details will be a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. On the briefing to be made available to the Opposition leaders, I welcome the public announcement by both leaders of their acceptance of the invitation to participate in the...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Government is in discussions with regard to the spending Estimates and the preparation of the four year plan. As to the involvement of the Opposition in the context of that four year plan and the overarching framework, if we can work within the broad parameters of the four year plan, all of the matters will have to be discussed. What I indicated to the Deputy was that we are working on...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: On the licensing of health facilities Bill, it has not been determined whether there is a necessity for public consultation and on that basis I am not in a position to indicate when the legislation will be published.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: That is a matter for the Whips.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Yes, that matter can be considered.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: It has not been decided when that legislation will be brought forward.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: My information is that the signing of contracts for the cystic fibrosis facility at St. Vincent's Hospital is expected within the next 24 hours. As for the eligibility for health and personal social services Bill, the review has taken much longer than anticipated for a number of reasons. However, I have been advised by the Minister that she proposes to bring proposals to the Cabinet...

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Sílim go raibh plé inné ag na Whips ar gnó díospóireachta. Táimid ag súil le ócáid a thabhairt le haghaidh díospóireacht sa Dáil. Is ceist fé leith í don Seanad, ach tá mé dóchasach go mbeidh muid ábalta é a dhéanamh.

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The first two items of legislation will be published next year. On the health information Bill-----

Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: Yes, the Deputy raised two legislative items, one pertaining to the environment and the other to health and both are due next year. As for the health information Bill, although it was to be published towards the middle of next year, the Government expects that this legislation can be brought forward.

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (13 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes considered that the number of VECs should be reduced to 22 and be aligned with the functional areas of the local authorities. I am satisfied that a greater reduction than suggested by the Group is desirable in order to deal with the issues of scale and taking into account the current and prospective requirements of the...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains information relating to class size ranges for each mainstream primary school. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is also published annually on my Department's website. While the staffing schedule allocates on the basis of an average number of pupils each individual school decides on how to arrange its classes.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 Oct 2010)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that the 2007 Programme for Government committed to the long-term funding for the centres in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism. Agreement on transitional arrangements for the pilot centres was reached following a long process of discussions and...