Results 161-180 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Flexible Work Practices. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The question of the introduction of flexible working hours is a matter for negotiation between employees, or a trade union acting on their behalf, and employers. I have no plans to introduce flexible working hours on a statutory basis for all employees. Current legislation provides for statutory entitlement to maternity leave, adoptive leave, carers' leave and parental leave. Further...

Flexible Work Practices. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: One of the great advantages of the current system is that the voluntary approach has been very successful. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, considerable numbers of workers are employed part-time, and very successfully. If at this stage we were to introduce a statutory right for all workers——

Flexible Work Practices. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: ——along the lines outlined by the Deputy, many more problems would be created, instead of being sorted out. This is a matter which may be adequately addressed within the partnership approach and most successfully at the level of the individual enterprise where there is a willingness for this.

Flexible Work Practices. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: In the instances which the Deputy mentions where there is demand for such flexibility I have no doubt that it will be provided.

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: Following my recent announcement on 12 April, there are now 31 labour inspector posts. Immediate steps have been taken to source the new inspectors initially from within the existing staff complement of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Accordingly, I expect early appointments. There are currently 17.5 labour inspectors, whole-time equivalents, in the inspectorate. One...

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The issue was raised at the mid-term review of Sustaining Progress and I was not a Minister of State at that stage. At the first meeting I had with SIPTU, that was one of the issues raised. We have been seeking resources to announce the additional inspector since then. The announcement on 12 April addresses the immediate concerns.

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: This issue was raised by the unions in the mid-term review. A recommendation was made at that stage. Ultimately, the recommended number of inspectors was 21. Clearly, the unions were extremely dissatisfied with that outcome. However, since Deputy Martin and I were appointed to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, this matter has been raised frequently with us. It is fair to say...

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: I am not in the business of adjudicating on the strength of brass neck on this issue. A number of people have raised this need for an increase in the number of inspectors, Deputy Howlin among them. This issue was raised long before I was in the Department——

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: ——and I would not have been answering parliamentary questions at that stage. In October or November 2004, I felt that additional inspectors were required. I discussed the matter with the Minister, Deputy Martin, who was of the same view. The necessary financial provision was not there for them. In view of those circumstances, the additional appointments represented a very quick response.

Job Creation. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: I thank Deputy Cooper-Flynn for raising this matter. I was disappointed to hear of the recent decision announced on 18 April by Contact Partners Communications Limited to close its Castlebar operation. That decision was undoubtedly a setback to the area. The parent company decided that keeping the Castlebar operation open is not a viable option. It has decided to close Castlebar and...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: Traditionally, the upper age limit for eligibility for redundancy payment was the same as the pensionable age within the meaning of the Social Welfare Acts. In 1971 the upper age limit was 70, in line with the then old age pension age of 70. This was revised downwards by the Redundancy Payments Act 1979 to 66 years, which was the new pensionable age set out in the Social Welfare Act. The...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: Ireland's immigration policy is one of the most liberal in Europe. Accordingly, Ireland continues to be an attractive destination for workers from both within and without the European Economic Area, EEA. The EEA consists of the 25 EU member states, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein and, for this purpose, Switzerland. Section 20 of the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 provides...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, the National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health, known as the Health and Safety Authority, is the State body charged with overall responsibility for administration, enforcement and promotion of workplace safety and health. Matters arising from this responsibility are, therefore, a day-to-day function of the authority. Overall...

Written Answers — Employment Regulation: Employment Regulation (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: As part of the Government's commitments under Sustaining Progress, a review of the Employment Agency Act 1971 is being carried out by my Department. As part of this review, my Department published in May 2004, a discussion paper on the 1971 Act and requested submissions from the various interests in the sector, including the social partners. A total of nine submissions were received and were...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: As the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment stated recently in the Seanad, the experience most migrant workers have to their employment in Ireland is a good one. This is borne out by a high level of renewals of work permits and the steady flow of people from the new member states. I am satisfied that exploitation does not take place on a wide scale but that, where it does, it needs to...

Written Answers — Workplace Inspections: Workplace Inspections (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The number of workplace inspections-visits undertaken by the labour inspectorate — during and after normal business hours — and prosecutions initiated in respect of the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and to date in 2005 is set out in the following tabular statement. Immediately on the announcement on 12 April 2005 of the additional staff, steps were taken to source staff initially from within...

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The parties to the mid-term review of part two of Sustaining Progress — pay and the workplace "agreed to request the Labour Court to review the National Minimum Wage and to make a recommendation to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in accordance with the National Minimum Wage Act 2000, to apply with effect from 1 May, 2005". In February last the Labour Court recommended that...

Written Answers — Trade Union Recognition: Trade Union Recognition (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The system of industrial relations in Ireland is essentially voluntary in nature. For situations, however, where it is not the practice of an employer to engage in collective bargaining negotiations and where the internal procedures normally used by the parties have failed to resolve a dispute, the parties may avail of procedures set out in the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2001, as...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 136 and 234 together. The labour inspectorate of my Department is responsible for monitoring certain employment conditions for all categories of workers in Ireland, including immigrant workers. The inspectorate operates without any differentiation with regard to worker nationality as statutory employment rights and protections apply to immigrant workers...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The total number of participants in FÁS training schemes is 32,296.