Results 4,501-4,520 of 6,437 for speaker:Gerald Nash

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Zero-Hour Contracts: Discussion (19 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: I do not have those cost figures. As the Deputy knows, they are matters for the Departments of Education and Skills and Health, which have engaged in the open consultation process. Following my request, I met employers before we started the formal consultation process - I also met trade unions and other groups - to assess their early views in response to the report's publication. I recall...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Zero-Hour Contracts: Discussion (19 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: I realise Senator Cullinane has been raising these issues for some time. I raised them myself as a backbencher. I am pleased that I have had the opportunity to try to advance this agenda during the past year and a half. Senator Cullinane has always spoken eloquently and passionately about his interest in this area. We have many things in common in terms of how we would like to see these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Zero-Hour Contracts: Discussion (19 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to appear today to discuss the University of Limerick report, A Study on the Prevalence of Zero-Hour Contracts Among Irish Employers and their Impact on Employees, which was published in November 2015. I am anxious to hear the views of the committee because, following public consultation with stakeholder bodies, we are currently in the process of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Zero-hour Contracts (19 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: The Deputy is referring to recommendations made by the University of Limerick (UL) in its study on the prevalence of zero hour contracts and low hour contracts among Irish employers. It is important to point out that this is an independent study and the conclusions drawn and the recommendations made in the study are those of UL. Therefore, it was essential that the various stakeholders who...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Zero-hour Contracts (19 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: The Statement of Government Priorities, July 2014 committed to conduct a study on the prevalence of zero hour contracts among Irish employers and their impact on employees and make policy recommendations to Government on foot of this. The University of Limerick was appointed in February 2015, following a competitive tendering process, to carry out a study into the prevalence of zero hour...

Hospital Emergency Departments: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (14 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: That is a significant reform, whether Deputy Kelleher likes it or not. The Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, has mentioned the need for accountability. The Government does not support the privatisation of hospitals, but it recognises that if hospital groups are to have more autonomy, they and their constituent hospitals must be held to account. Action will be taken if improvements are...

Hospital Emergency Departments: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (14 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: I thank Deputies for their contributions. We are all aware of people's concerns and frustrations regarding the number of patients on trolleys, the overcrowded conditions in which they wait for treatment and the difficulties in moving patients from acute care to long-term, community or home care. My colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, has spoken in detail on this issue...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Safety (13 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: I thank Senator Moloney for raising the matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys. Wild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. It should be noted that while the National Parks & Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht licenses hunting of deer, the Department does...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Safety (13 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: I understand the point being made by my party colleague, Senator Moloney, and it is important that the Department and the Minister respond directly to her concerns. If it is the case that there was a wall there, perhaps some form of secure fencing could be erected in the area to protect motorists. It is terrible to hear that deer may have been responsible for accidents in the area.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Safety (13 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: That is deeply regrettable and unfortunate and, of course, action should be taken to protect the population and to protect road users. This is not within my remit, as the Senator has accepted, but it is important that officials in the Department would contact her to clarify some of the points she has made. I will ask the Minister to ensure the issues she has raised are addressed in the...

Seanad: Irish Water: Motion (13 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: A Freudian slip.

Seanad: Irish Water: Motion (13 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: I was there too.

Seanad: Irish Water: Motion (13 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: Shakespeare also wrote "hell is empty and all the devils are here." I mean that in a respectful way, of course. I am pleased to have this opportunity to participate in this debate and to propose the Government's amendment to the motion in response to what I believe is an ill-conceived Fianna Fáil motion. This debate presents an opportunity to outline the real improvements that Irish...

Seanad: Irish Water: Motion (13 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: That is not the case anymore because of this national utility with a long-term investment plan which is required for the success of our economy and society.

Seanad: Irish Water: Motion (13 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: Fianna Fáil, as it outlined in its motion, would remove Irish Water from the playing field and thereby delay or discontinue this important work to address these legacy issues and provide for future needs. It would jeopardise our ultimate goals of secure and reliable drinking water supplies and comprehensive wastewater treatment for all parts of the country. This would be at a time of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (13 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: I take it that the Deputy is referring to one of the recommendations made by the University of Limerick (UL) in its study on the prevalence of zero hour contracts and low hour contracts among Irish employers. It is important to point out that this is an independent study and the conclusions drawn and the recommendations made in the study are those of UL. Therefore, I considered it essential...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Expenditure (13 Jan 2016)

Gerald Nash: The Low Pay Commission was launched on 26 of February 2015 with a budget of €500,000 (per calendar year). This is broken down on a pay (€270,000) and a non-pay basis (€230,000). Expenditure in 2015, the first year of operation of the Commission, was €155,500 (pay) and €95,100 (non-pay).

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (17 Dec 2015)

Gerald Nash: As the Deputy is referring to a national of another EU Member State moving to work in Ireland the principle of free movement of workers between EU member States applies. Any discrimination based on nationality against EU workers as regards employment, remuneration, or working conditions is not permitted. The Deputy will understand that I am not in a position to comment or advise in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (17 Dec 2015)

Gerald Nash: Given the lack of uniformity around the definition of zero hour contracts and low hour contracts and the limitations of the data that exists in relation to such contracts, as highlighted in the recently published University of Limerick (UL) study, it is not possible to put a figure on the cost of prohibiting zero hour and low hour contracts in the existing regulatory regime. I am...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care Education (16 Dec 2015)

Gerald Nash: I thank Senator Higgins for putting down this matter for discussion and for her kind remarks at the outset. I look forward very much to continuing to work with her next year.