Results 101-120 of 551 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Michael Ahern

Written Answers — Export Licensing: Export Licensing (23 Mar 2006)

Michael Ahern: My Department is fully seized of the need for oversight and public transparency in the area of export licensing of military and dual use goods. This issue was addressed in the 2004 Forfás review of Ireland's export controls, which recommended that an annual report be laid before the Oireachtas on the licensing and export of military and dual use goods. The new export control legislation...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Mar 2006)

Michael Ahern: Work on drafting the heads of the export control Bill has been completed and consultations with other relevant Departments and agencies are under way. I expect this process to be completed within the next few weeks at which point I will bring it to Government for approval. Allowing for the formalities of drafting the legal texts, I hope to bring the legislation before the House in the autumn.

Written Answers — Direct Selling Agencies: Direct Selling Agencies (28 Mar 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together. There is already legislation in the area of self-employed commercial agents. In 1986 the European Community adopted Council Directive 86/653 EEC of 18/12/86 obliging member states to give legal protection to self-employed commercial agents. This directive was transposed into Irish law by two statutory instruments, SI No. 33 of 1994 and SI...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: Most of the specific measures required to implement Directive 2004/48/EC on the enforcement of intellectual property rights already exist in Irish law but a small number require primary legislation. The proposed Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is intended to transpose several EU directives, will include the further provisions needed to complete legal transposition...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: Due to the novelty of an artists' resale right in Irish law and the directive containing various options on how several key provisions are implemented by individual member states, the transposition of EU Directive 2001/84/EC into Irish law requires primary legislation. The proposed Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is intended to transpose several EU directives,...

Written Answers — Company Law: Company Law (4 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: Under section 381 (1) of the Companies Act 1963, as substituted by section 98 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001, it is an offence for any person or persons to trade or carry on business under a name or title which includes the word "limited" or "teoranta" as the last word of the name unless incorporated with limited liability. Such person or persons shall be guilty of an offence under...

Written Answers — Trade Negotiations: Trade Negotiations (5 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: Any trade missions led by myself or the Minister, Deputy Martin, are generally organised by Enterprise Ireland. In such cases, that agency contacts its client companies in selected sectors to invite attendance, the type of companies being determined by the focus of the event in question. Enterprise Ireland then arranges a schedule of events for those companies who have decided to participate....

Written Answers — Trade Links with Cuba: Trade Links with Cuba (6 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: Irish trade with Cuba is marginal and tends to fluctuate considerably. Exports to Cuba in 2005 amounted to €678,000. The principal exports were cork and wood products, and beverages. Imports from Cuba in 2004 amounted to €308,000. The principal imports were fruit and vegetables, tobacco, coffee, tea and cocoa. The table below shows the value of exports and imports between Ireland and Cuba...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (25 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: I previously responded to the Deputy about this matter on 21 February 2006. As previously stated, the company went into creditors voluntary liquidation on 15 December 2005. The circumstances of the liquidation will be addressed by the liquidator in his report to the Director of Corporate Enforcement in accordance with section 56 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001. The timeframe for this...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: Work on drafting the heads of the Export Control Bill has been completed within my Department and consultations with other Government Departments are under way. I expect this process to conclude within the next few weeks at which point I will bring it to Government for approval. Allowing for the formalities of drafting the legal texts, I hope to bring the new legislation before the Houses of...

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (25 Apr 2006)

Michael Ahern: The export licensing pages of my Department's website are updated on a regular basis, for example, to reflect changes to the lists of goods currently subject to control. The latest control lists for both military and dual use goods are available for download from the website. The list of controlled military goods is contained in the schedule to the Control of Exports Order 2005, SI 884 of 22...

Written Answers — Foreign Trade: Foreign Trade (3 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: As Minister of State with responsibility for trade and commerce, I am available for discussions with foreign government representatives and other interested parties, with a view to increasing trade between Ireland and her international trading partners. As far as trade with Cuba is concerned, the level is quite marginal and tends to fluctuate considerably. I would be happy to meet the Cuban...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (16 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: I am aware of the incident to which the Deputy refers. Work is now underway in my Department to bring in a system of regulation for the trade of arms and items of the nature described. The Heads of the new Export Control Bill is now complete and consultations with other Government Departments are currently taking place. I expect this process to conclude shortly at which point I will be...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (16 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: I have neither received nor initiated any communication with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement in the context of management companies or managements agents of housing units. The Deputy will be aware that the Director of Corporate Enforcement is a statutory independent officer charged with the duty of encouraging compliance with and securing enforcement of the Companies Acts....

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: There are currently a total of twenty-nine Directives due to be transposed by this Department. Of these, as at end April 2006, 13 are overdue for transposition and are detailed in the table below. From May 2006 to December 2006 another six Directives require to be transposed. A further ten Directives require to be transposed in 2007 and subsequent years. It is expected that of the Directives...

Written Answers — Trade Regulations: Trade Regulations (17 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: Statutory Instrument number 130 of 2006, European Communities Trade with Iraq Regulations 2006, provides for penalties for infringements of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1210/2003 which prohibits the import, export and dealing in any item of illegally removed Iraqi cultural property. The Order also revoked European Communities (Trade with Iraq) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 370 of 1997) which...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (17 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Deputy's question refers to income continuance plans which are insurance products offered by insurance companies. Since the establishment of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (IFSRA) under the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act, 2003, insurance companies and their products are regulated by IFSRA. The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (17 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 208 and 214 together. All developed economies face rising costs at some point in their supply chain and Ireland is no exception. While the costs faced by business in some areas here may be relatively higher than other economies, the challenge is to maintain our competitiveness in areas such as skills, education, knowledge infrastructure and the quality...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (17 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: Ireland's raised standard of living over the past decade, with its associated rise in consumer purchasing power has meant that the economy can not always compete with low wage economies like China in the manufacture of many low value added, basic goods. Improving our standard of living and competitiveness requires a focus on contemporary economic strengths, moving up the value-chain and...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (17 May 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together. The table below gives details of Irish merchandise exports and imports over recent years. Trade volumes reached a peak in the 2001/2002 period and were then negatively impacted by the world economic slowdown, which particularly affected the US and European markets. Despite this setback, the volume of Ireland's trade has risen in the two...