Results 4,881-4,900 of 6,315 for speaker:Gerald Nash

Other Questions: Pension Provisions (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: Deputy Daly raised a couple of fundamental points on the industrial relations machinery of the State. Access to the industrial relations machinery of the State is governed by the definition of “worker” in section 23 of the Industrial Relations Act 1990, which provides,inter alia, that a “worker” means any person aged 15 years or more who has entered into or works...

Other Questions: Pension Provisions (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: I thank Deputy Clare Daly for tabling this important question. I fully appreciate the concerns of retired and deferred members of pension schemes whose schemes are being restructured, particularly where such restructuring may have an impact on existing or potential pension benefits. In this regard, the question of pensioner groups having access to the State’s industrial relations...

Other Questions: Pension Provisions (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: The Tánaiste and I are anxious to seek to address this issue, and she and I are familiar with the circumstances Deputy Clare Daly has outlined. It was felt that the appropriate way to address concerns in the future would be through the Pensions Authority, where people would be provided with the opportunity to make submissions to the authority in the type of circumstances outlined by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: We always need to be very conscious of areas such as this. I am aware of developments in the particular firm in question and its engagement, or lack thereof, with the trade union representing its workers. It would be unwise of me to comment any further as the situation is evolving. From the Government’s perspective, we would always encourage Labour Court recommendations to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: The Government is taking a number of initiatives to ensure that the economic recovery that is under way is benefiting all citizens and that the jobs we are helping to create are decent jobs with decent pay. The setting up of a low pay commission is one of the key commitments in the statement of Government priorities agreed last July. The principal function of the low pay commission will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: We know from the Office for National Statistics in the UK and work carried out annually by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development that there are about 32,000 zero-hours contracts in Northern Ireland. Those figures are very worrying. We have a different system here where the protections of the Organisation of Working Time Act are applied to people in certain circumstances....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: This is an area that concerns me and the Tánaiste. The establishment of Intreo offices has been very positive. The Department of Social Protection has moved from what might be termed a passive payment model to an activation model. Staff in Intreo offices are very linked in with local enterprise offices and other agencies to ensure that people who have business ideas get the support...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: A customer service review is being undertaken with LEOs. The Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, and I are determined to ensure that those metrics are very strong. We have come from a position of massively high unemployment and our aim is to get unemployment under 10% by the end of the year with a view to moving towards full employment. As such, there is an understanding across the agencies...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Provision (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: Under the Action Plan for Jobs, the Government has published an array of actions designed to ensure full employment by 2018. The plan also contains a suite of actions to promote entrepreneurship, to encourage people to start their own businesses and to help individuals with a viable business idea to access crucial start-up funding. These supports are of course available to all individuals...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Investigations (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: I understand that there are approximately 100 registered domestic waste collection companies operating in Ireland and they employ 8,000 workers directly. The indirect labour figure (agency/contract) is less clear. Given the number of companies competing for business, the cost of service delivery is a deciding factor in winning customers and forms part of the differentiation in terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: In accordance with the Statement of Government priorities, I have commissioned a study into the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts and the impact of such contracts on employees. Earlier this week, I announced the appointment of the University of Limerick (UL) to carry out the study. The appointment of UL follows a competitive tendering process. The key objectives of the study...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Superannuation Schemes (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: Officials from my Department, including the Secretary General, have attended a number of meetings involving officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, IBEC and ICTU as part of the review process of the Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme (IASS) undertaken by the Expert Panel. The involvement of officials from my Department in the meetings was in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Appointments to State Boards (12 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: There is a commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 to establish a Low Pay Commission (LPC) on a statutory basis as an independent body to make annual recommendations to the Government about the appropriate level of the minimum wage and related matters. The Low Pay Commission will consist of: - An independent chairperson - Three people with a deep understanding of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (5 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: Under the provisions of Section 8 of the Payment of Wages Act 1991 a Rights Commissioner’s decision may be enforced as if it were an order of the Circuit Court. A formal request for such an order may be filed in the County Registrar’s office by the person seeking the order. Where a person’s former employer was a limited company and the company is in liquidation or...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: We have had a very interesting and informative debate on what can sometimes be quite a complex area. This is not about changing anyone's rights or entitlements. It is about ensuring we have a streamlined system. It in no way impacts on the suite of employment legislation that we have or on any of the hard-won rights garnered through that process over the years in this sphere or the...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Gerald Nash: I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce this Bill to the Seanad. The Bill, which has passed all Stages in the Dáil, has been recognised as progressive legislation which will provide for a fundamental reform of the State's existing employment rights and industrial relations structures and deliver an independent world class workplace relations service which is easy to use,...

Topical Issue Debate: Company Closures (29 Jan 2015)

Gerald Nash: It was devastating news indeed. I am in the happy position of knowing quite a number of Bose workers from my constituency of Louth, especially people in the Ardee and Dundalk areas. They enjoyed their experiences and were very committed to the company. Like me, they were very disappointed at the sudden turn of events. The IDA and Enterprise Ireland are extremely annoyed at the turn of...

Topical Issue Debate: Company Closures (29 Jan 2015)

Gerald Nash: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. I am concerned about this closure announcement for Carrickmacross. Not only is it confirming a large number of job losses, but it was totally unexpected, and the manner in which the news was broken to long-serving staff was a poor reflection on the company. The way in which this devastating news was given to Bose staff was uncaring, cold and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Farm Safety (14 Jan 2015)

Gerald Nash: Table of Expenditure on Farm Safety Initiatives 2011 to 2014. Year Expenditure * 2011 €264,481 2012 €589,870 2013 €449,669 2014 €327,953 Total €1,631,973*The annual figures for expenditure include some cross sectoral initiatives. As some of the advertising initiatives span more than one year, the figure given is an estimate of the expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Farm Safety (14 Jan 2015)

Gerald Nash: I am particularly concerned at the high level of farm fatalities and it goes without saying that safety in agriculture will continue to be a high priority for the HSA and for the Government in 2015. As the HSA and the Department of Agriculture and Food have a common interest in promoting safe working in the agriculture sector opportunities for collaborative action are proactively sought...