Results 30,161-30,180 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: -----as per the commitment I have read from the CEO and managing director, Mr. Kavanagh, to a policy which has always been in place in Aer Lingus and which was successfully negotiated between management and unions in the company of no compulsory redundancies and on the extension of registered employment agreements to groups of staff not already covered. The registered employment agreement...

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: As has been sought in Ireland for, probably, about 30 years, it will give greater protection to workers. Therefore, workers in Aer Lingus will enjoy greater protection in their employment.

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: There have been, as referred to by Deputy Timmy Dooley, structured redundancies on a voluntary basis in Aer Lingus on a very extensive scale in the time since Fianna Fáil privatised the company. The share held is significant.

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: As I said, the deal offers the State a veto through the B share to block any disposal of the Heathrow Airport slots for an unlimited amount of time.

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: To be realistic, the 25% shareholding does not offer any veto in relation to the Heathrow Airport slots.

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: We heard from Deputy Timmy Dooley how people in Shannon felt when they lost some services to Heathrow Airport to Belfast airport. That was not covered by Fianna Fáil's 25% so-called "golden share". It will be covered by the "B" share arrangement and Sinn Féin should be aware of that.

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: What was lost in Shannon will not now be able to be lost, due to the pertinence of the "B" share.

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: Why so?

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: First, I am delighted to say that the Government is introducing something the trade union movement has sought for more than three decades, namely registered employment agreements. Deputies many scoff at this, but it is important to put into law assurances and frameworks for workers in regard to their terms and conditions of work. If people here who consider themselves left wing want to...

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I think their position is absurd. Second, there is a strong tradition in Aer Lingus of trade union and management negotiating deals on behalf of workers. This has been the case over a long period, since around the time the company was formed. We will bring legislation before the House in regard to the protection of workers' rights, conditions and terms of employment. An undertaking has...

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: In regard to the Deputy's second question, and the Chair allowed her extensive time-----

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: In regard to the pension fund, unfortunately, during the previous Government's term, the pension fund was allowed to build up a deficit of approximately €750 million. Fianna Fáil changed pensions legislation in 2009 and this significantly disimproved the position for pensioners and deferred members in various companies, including Aer Lingus. In the context of the negotiation...

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I thank the Deputy for his remarks on the work carers do. All of us at one stage or another have been carers. It is vitally important work, particularly in some cases where people have lifelong disabilities. I refer to children in particular but also in other cases when people we know and love are coming to the end of their lives or getting through a serious illness. I am happy to say...

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: This is why I, as Minister for Social Protection, place so much significance on the carer's allowance and benefit, which allow significant numbers of people to get an income from the Department of Social Protection in the context of their being carers. Although they are for the most part full-time carers, some time ago we introduced the half-rate carer's allowance so that people who are...

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: In prioritising the budget, people stressed to me over and over again that the previous Government cut the weekly carer's payment by €16.40. We have not reached the point at which it is possible to fund a full restoration of it.

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: We made a start with the Christmas bonus and there is partial restoration this year. We hope, as the economic recovery progresses, to be able to do more.

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: Following my discussions, I will examine particularly the social protection areas.

Leaders' Questions (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: I take into account the issue of providing home help hours, which is a major worry for families. It is the subject of part of the national carers strategy and an inspection system is being established to ensure that, in so far as possible, the service is of good quality, which it is. My Department is also focusing on helping to train and gain FETAC level qualifications in caring in such...

Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Order of Business shall be as follows: No. c13, motion re modification of referral to select sub-committee of the proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA; No. 13, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Companies Act 2014 (Section 1313) regulations 2015 (back from committee); No. a13,...

Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Joan Burton: The Deputy has proposed that the Government spend €1 billion, money which would be taken from health, education and the care services to which Deputy Sean Fleming referred earlier. That may be the policy of a democratic socialist party, but I do not think at a time of scarce resources when families need more investment in education services, particularly in Dublin West, we should...