Results 2,781-2,800 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: In view of the Minister of State's commitment, I will withdraw the amendment.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: I move amendment No. 9: In page 10, to delete lines 26 to 31. This is related to earlier amendments and deals with the special definitions of "employee" and "employer".

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: We have debated this.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: I move amendment No. 13: In page 11, line 39, to delete "chairman" and substitute "chairperson". This is a simple amendment. My legal advice is that this is gender neutral language in line with modern drafting and, therefore, the wording should be amended. "Chairman" is no longer relevant to current circumstances and "chairperson" should be used. The Minister of State will surely throw us...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: I am disappointed with that. I had expected the Government to accept that the word "chairman" had become obsolete and that a person who chairs any board or organisation should be referred to as chairperson. I hope the Government will act in this regard.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: I move amendment No. 14: In page 11, line 40, to delete "10 ordinary members (including" and substitute the following: "8 ordinary members (including a worker director and". This is an important amendment. The smaller the board the more efficient it is. It has been reduced from 17 to ten, plus the director general. A small board is more efficient and effective in its operation and ensures...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: I am disappointed with the Minister of State's response, although I know he is trying to be as constructive as possible. This issue is fundamental and one about which we feel strongly enough to call a vote because it would strengthen the Bill. We are disappointed that a worker director will not be on the board as of right. The director general has a specific role which would reflect some...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: He could be shifted by Deputy Ring.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: We may as well discuss them all together. The scrutiny of possible appointments to the board of FÁS is important and this is a positive amendment before the House. I do not subscribe to the type of scrutiny that takes place in judicial appointments in America and that is not because I am a barrister. That involves delving too much into the past or into some things one may have done as a...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: I move amendment No. 30: In page 19, lines 1 and 2, to delete ", upon the commencement of section 11,". The Minister has indicated he will accept the amendment. One out of 20 is not bad. It is a drafting amendment and I prevailed. I am glad of this.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: This is an important Bill and we know the reasons it has been brought forward. Deputy Allen is in the Chamber and much of this material has emanated from the work of his committee, the Committee of Public Accounts. This emphasises the importance of the scrutiny work carried out by committees. Some of this work is done well away from the public view. People often wonder why this House is...

Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: On promised legislation, and in particular the Health Information Bill, is the Tánaiste or any member of the Government aware of how the bureaucratic monster, namely, the HSE is surreptitiously pursuing a campaign to downgrade the status of the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar? At 5 p.m. today 41 acute beds will be taken out of the most efficient hospitals in the country. No...

Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: We might as well not come in here. It is not the Ceann Comhairle's fault, but we would be better off closing this place because the media have a field day telling people we are only open 91 days. The 91 days we are here are a waste of time.

Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: Something has to be done. We have lost consultants.

Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: I know. I am 13 years here and I am fed up being orderly. I do not want to be disorderly.

Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: I do not want to be disorderly at all, but the HSE is not helping anyone.

Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: Deputy Bannon knows what the people——

Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: There are phantom notes.

Employment Levels. (12 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: Question 2: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the findings of the FÁS quarterly commentary, published on 4 November 2009, which warned of an increase in the pattern of youth unemployment; the steps she will take to combat this trend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41139/09]

Employment Levels. (12 Nov 2009)

Willie Penrose: I appeal to the Tánaiste not to write off our young people, who are seriously affected by having to bear the brunt of the downturn. There has been a 60% year-on-year increase in the number of graduates seeking employment or further training. It is clear from FÁS's commentary on today's quarterly returns that young men have been particularly affected by the downturn. Approximately 40% of...