Results 21-40 of 551 for speaker:Michael Ahern in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Grocery Industry: Grocery Industry (26 Apr 2007)

Michael Ahern: I am aware of the formal trade campaign with a very specific focus on raising consumer awareness which operates under the certification of the FAIRTRADE mark and to have fair trade products widely available and used. The objectives of the campaign are recognized as positive, as trade is increasingly recognized as an important and effective lever for development and hence the alleviation of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Apr 2007)

Michael Ahern: A wide variety of different trade activities is undertaken by Enterprise Ireland (EI) on behalf of my Department. This includes Outward Trade Missions, some of which are led by a Minister, usually either by myself or by Minister Martin; there have been 74 such Ministerial-led Missions since 2003. In addition, Inward Missions organised by EI are made of behalf of buyers and business...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (4 Apr 2007)

Michael Ahern: While I have no direct function in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy, I understand that the High Court appointed a provisional liquidator to the company concerned on the 23rd of March 2007. The liquidator is an officer of the Court and will report back to the Court. Under the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001, liquidators have certain duties to report to the Director of Corporate...

Written Answers — Economic Partnership Agreements: Economic Partnership Agreements (3 Apr 2007)

Michael Ahern: All 78 ACP countries come under the terms of the Cotonou Agreement, which includes provision for duty free access for most goods to the EU. Within the ACP group there are 41 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) that benefit from the European Council Regulation of 1st of March 2001. That Regulation amended the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences so as to extend duty and quota free access to...

Written Answers — Registration of Companies: Registration of Companies (3 Apr 2007)

Michael Ahern: I understand that in some jurisdictions it is possible to incorporate companies on-line and in a very short time frame. Under our current system most applications are submitted electronically and are dealt with within 3 to 5 days. This system is not yet fully on-line. To introduce a fully on-line facility will require changes in legislation. I understand that proposals in this regard are...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (3 Apr 2007)

Michael Ahern: As the matter is in the hands of a High Court appointed liquidator I have not met with the farmers or considered any proposals to ensure that creditors will be paid. A liquidator was appointed in January 2002 and in accordance with the obligations set out in section 56(1) of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001, the liquidator subsequently submitted a report to the Office of the Director of...

Written Answers — Overseas Trade Missions: Overseas Trade Missions (28 Mar 2007)

Michael Ahern: The Government's efforts to strengthen Irish exports to Ukraine are primarily channelled through Enterprise Ireland (EI). Since late 2004, following the "Orange Revolution" in that country, a number of initiatives have been undertaken by the EI office in Moscow (which also services the Ukraine), to increase and deepen trade ties between the two countries. Following a successful EI seminar on...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (8 Mar 2007)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. In common with most Member States of the United Nations, Ireland recognises the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. Taiwan's official status is that of a province of China. The Institute for Trade and Investment of Ireland (ITII) was established in 1989 and it undertakes a range of...

Written Answers — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (6 Mar 2007)

Michael Ahern: As part of Enterprise Ireland's mission to grow global export sales, the Moscow office of that agency is running a Market Study Visit to Kazakhstan from 12th to 16th. March. The visit is part of a number of initiatives designed to introduce Enterprise Ireland client companies to one of the world's fastest growing economies (average GDP growth of 9% p.a. since 2001) and to tap the many market...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (6 Mar 2007)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 369 and 370 together. While there has been some variation in our merchandise export performance during the course of this year, the latest expectations, based on figures from the CSO, are that the value of exports for 2006 will increase by 3% relative to 2005, when full year figures for last year are available later this month. This is a very creditable...

Written Answers — Export Data: Export Data (6 Mar 2007)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 168 together. The Control of Exports Bill 2007, which I am pleased to inform the House has passed all stages in the Seanad, contains provision for the publication of an Annual Report to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. This is in line with a key recommendation of the Forfás review on export licensing and responds to calls for greater...

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (28 Feb 2007)

Michael Ahern: On 12 April 2006 the EU Commission initiated an investigation into a complaint of dumping of imports of polyester staple fibres (PSF) from Malaysia and Taiwan. The Commission's initial investigation has concluded that dumping of PSF by the countries concerned has taken place and that the imposition of provisional anti-dumping measures is justified. Accordingly the Commission has imposed...

Written Answers — Company Registrations: Company Registrations (27 Feb 2007)

Michael Ahern: As the queries raised by the Deputy relate to day-to-day functions of the Registrar of Companies, I have referred them to the registrar for reply directly to Deputy.

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (21 Feb 2007)

Michael Ahern: Article 2.1 of the Common Position 2003/468/CFSP of 23 June 2003 on the control of arms brokering obliges EU Member States to take all necessary measures to control brokering activities taking place within their territory and also encourages them to consider controlling brokering activities outside of their territories when carried out by brokers of their nationality resident or established...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (21 Feb 2007)

Michael Ahern: IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) 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 Industrial Development Acts from giving...

Written Answers — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (21 Feb 2007)

Michael Ahern: From 14th to 19th January 2007, An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, led Enterprise Ireland's trade mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was accompanied by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin; Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan and Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin. The mission visited Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and...

Written Answers — Trade Policy: Trade Policy (20 Feb 2007)

Michael Ahern: Irish trade is regulated in accordance with the Common Commercial Policy rules of the European Union, which encourage an open market approach to trade. Accordingly, Ireland cannot impose restrictions that are outside the Common Commercial Policy rules. The EU has a long-standing commitment to the promotion of core labour standards and social development; the charter of fundamental rights of...

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (13 Feb 2007)

Michael Ahern: As the Deputy's question refers to the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), I am providing the information requested in relation to the seven of the eight Irish Aid programme countries which are taking part in the EPA negotiations, namely Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Timor-Leste. These seven Irish Aid programme countries are all Least Developed Countries...

Written Answers — Intellectual Property Rights: Intellectual Property Rights (31 Jan 2007)

Michael Ahern: Ireland has been party to the European Patent Convention since 1992 and our law reflects its Article 52 criteria on the patentability of inventions. The Convention makes it clear that computer programs "as such" cannot be patented but it is important to note that this does not extend to so-called 'computer implemented inventions'. These may be patentable under certain conditions and many...

Written Answers — Export Levels: Export Levels (31 Jan 2007)

Michael Ahern: The most recent full year trade figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that the value of Irish merchandise exports for 2005 increased by 5% compared to 2004 and this followed a 3% rise the previous year. This increase of 5% in 2005 continues the upward trend in the value of exports, which, with the exception of the global economic slowdown which occurred around 2002, has...