Results 61-80 of 551 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Michael Ahern

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 64 together. I am disappointed that efforts, in Geneva, to advance the WTO Doha Trade negotiations were not successful and that the talks were suspended. I remain hopeful that the negotiations will be resumed in an effort to achieve a worthwhile and balanced agreement. The European Union made very substantial offers on all of the issues under...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 88 and 166 together. The Business Regulation Forum was established by me in November 2005 and has met nine times to date. Its Terms of Reference are to advise the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on any changes necessary to ensure that existing or proposed regulations, impacting on business, meet the criteria set out in the White Paper...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I understand that a report under the provisions of section 56 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 has been provided by the liquidator of the company concerned to the Director of Corporate Enforcement. The issue of what further action arising from the report is a matter for the Director. With regard to the matter of monies owed to the employees of this company, the Employment Rights...

Written Answers — Trade Agreements: Trade Agreements (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: As Minister for Trade and Commerce, I fully support the basic thrust of an approach to Economic Partnership Agreements which ensures that the needs and concerns of developing countries and in particular least developed countries are taken adequately into consideration during the substantive phase of EPA negotiations. As regards the formal review, based on Article 37.4 of the Cotonou...

Written Answers — Export Trade: Export Trade (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 81 together. While there has been some deterioration recently in export performance, most notably in April and June of this year, the pattern has been that exports have tended to rebound in subsequent months, and I would not therefore regard the present situation as one of crisis or slowdown. In fact, when you look at the longer term, it can be seen...

Written Answers — Export Trade: Export Trade (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: While I am unclear of the source of the Deputy's data, I would point out that the value of Ireland's merchandise exports to the European Union has remained broadly the same in 2001 and 2005 – at some €57b (CSO data). This is notwithstanding the fact that Ireland's export levels reached record levels in 2001/2002. The exceptional figures in 2000-2002 were also distorted by what is referred...

Written Answers — Export Trade: Export Trade (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 172 and 173 together. While there has been some deterioration in export performance recently, most notably in April and June of this year, the pattern has been that exports have tended to rebound in subsequent months, and have remained competitive in a difficult global trading environment. Looking at the situation over the longer term, it can be seen that...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Internal Market Section is part of the Market Access Unit of my Department. Its staff complement is an Assistant Principal Officer, a Higher Executive Officer, an Executive Officer and a Clerical Officer. The cost of the Section is met from within the administrative budget of the Department. The role of the Section is to co-ordinate and negotiate Ireland's approach to certain aspects of...

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: Ireland opposed the proposal by the European Commission for a Council Regulation imposing definitive anti-dumping duties on footwear from China and Vietnam. Ireland was of the view that the imposition of measures was not in the Community interest. In particular Ireland expressed concerns that the action proposed would result in price increases in footwear, particularly in children's shoes....

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: I am aware that the Irish merchandise exports decreased by 12% in value terms in April of this year, relative to March. The decrease was mainly due to a fall in exports of goods, for example, chemicals, medical and pharmaceuticals, manufactured goods and computers, to some of our main trading partners such as Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, the US and Japan. While any decrease in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Companies Consolidation and Reform Bill will introduce a greatly simplified legal framework for corporate activity. The twelve existing Companies Acts, from 1963 to 2005, will be consolidated into a single statute. The new Bill is also a modernizing Bill, in that it will give primacy to the 'private company limited by shares' as the preferred corporate entity in the State, representing as...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (10 Oct 2006)

Michael Ahern: Further to my reply to the Deputy's previous questions on this matter on 28 March 2006, representations were made to my Office enquiring about the Commercial Agents Directive — EC Council Directive 86/653 EEC of 18/12/86 as transposed into national law by Statutory Instruments No. 33 of 1994 and No. 31 of 1997. I understand from these representations that a number of this company's Area...

Written Answers — Corporate Enforcement: Corporate Enforcement (27 Sep 2006)

Michael Ahern: Section 3A of the Companies (Amendment) Act 1982 (as inserted by section 101 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001) provides that a person who is disqualified in another jurisdiction must notify the Registrar of Companies of the disqualification, if that person wishes to be appointed as a director of an Irish registered company. Where a disqualified person makes this disclosure, it is...

Written Answers — Foreign Trade Links: Foreign Trade Links (6 Jul 2006)

Michael Ahern: Currently, the level of Irish trade with Ukraine is relatively small. Irish exports to Ukraine were only €23.7m in 2005, however this was an increase of 49% on 2004 figures. At the same time, Ukrainian exports to Ireland increased by 161% to €8.6m between 2004 and 2005. Despite the low level of trade, Enterprise Ireland has, on average, personnel "in-market" in Ukraine every five to six...

Written Answers — Trade Issues: Trade Issues (4 Jul 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 392 together. In 2005, Ireland's exports to Serbia and Montenegro were €5,470,000 (down from €14,831,000 in 2004) and our imports from that country were €593,000 (down from €1,477,000 in 2004). As Montenegro did not exist as a separate country then, a breakdown of this trade between the two parts of the former State is not available. At...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) submitted its Work Programme for 2006 — 2008 and its Programme of Expenditure for 2006 as provided for under the Section 13(1) of the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act, 2003 (the 2003 Act). Under section 13(4) of the 2003 Act I approved, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, and, after considering the views of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 54 together. I met with the Director recently to discuss his request for additional staff resources. I indicated to him that I was generally disposed to his case. I outlined the very tight parameters that exist under the Public Service staffing reduction programme. I have raised the matter with the Minister for Finance and my officials will be engaging...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 124 together. In the context of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations on non- agricultural market access, Ireland and EU Member States are asking that all participants contribute according to their means with due regard to their level of development. The EU approach is that developing countries should do less than developed and that the poorest...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: The Deputy appears to be referring to a recent speech by Commissioner Mandelson, at Renmin University in Beijing, at which he encouraged China to meet its World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations or risk a backlash from Europe. I have noted the Commissioner's comments in which he pointed to the need for effective action by China on several WTO fronts including, in respect of Intellectual...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 166 together. Ireland's success as an open market economy depends on its export performance. The seasonally adjusted NCB Purchasing Mangers' Index for May shows the best figures for Irish manufacturing since July 2004 with strong growth in new orders and output, particularly for exports. Indeed, May saw the highest rate of export orders growth in...