Results 401-420 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (29 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: The FÁS-VEC return to education programme was put in place to address the literacy needs of participants on the community employment programme. It has been running for a number of years and is delivered on a regional basis by the VECs. There have been no cutbacks in the FÁS budget for literacy training over 2004. There has been an increase in expenditure on literacy to date this year when...

Written Answers — Farm Safety: Farm Safety (29 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: The funding available to the Health and Safety Authority is not broken down into amounts spent or allocated to the various sectors under the authority's statutory enforcement and advisory remit. I am, therefore, unable to provide the Deputy with figures on the funding for farm safety awareness campaigns. The Health and Safety Authority, in its programme of work for 2005, is, as in 2004,...

Written Answers — Labour Force Development: Labour Force Development (29 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: I assume the Deputy is referring to the public funding allocated to my Department for labour force development and training. This funding has been allocated by the Exchequer since 1997 to the labour force development subheads of my Department's Vote and by the national training fund, NTF, since its launch in 2001. Combined Exchequer and NTF expenditure in this area was as follows: Year ...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (30 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: My Department has received no communication of the nature referred to in the Deputy's question. My Department does not have overall responsibility for public transport matters or public transport safety matters specifically, except to the extent that occupational safety, health and welfare legislation, which is administered and enforced by the Health and Safety Authority, applies to employees...

Written Answers — Migrant Workers: Migrant Workers (30 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: I am aware of the findings of the report to which the Deputy refers. I would add that these findings coincide with Ireland's experience of economic migration. Research undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute has found that as a result of inward migration, economic growth in Ireland was 3.7% higher in the period 1999 to 2003, than it otherwise would have been without any loss...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (30 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: There are no plans at present to review or change the legislation governing this particular area of employment law. However, the Government has recently established the employment rights review group, comprising representatives of this Department, the employment rights bodies — Labour Court, Employment Appeals Tribunal and Labour Relations Commission — Rights Commissioner Service — and...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (30 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: In August 2004, my predecessor, Deputy Frank Fahey, then Minister with responsibility for labour affairs, established the expert advisory group on workplace bullying. I have received the report of the group and it is intended that the group's report will be submitted to Government in July 2005. I would hope to publish the report quite soon thereafter. On the issue of a definition of the term...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (30 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: My Department does not have a function in regard to the regulation of child care, including baby-sitting. With regard to employment rights generally, the position is that, where there is an employer-employee relationship through a contract of employment — whether express or implied, oral or in writing — the provisions of a wide range of Employment Rights Acts apply. There are however, no...

Seanad: Pension Provisions. (30 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The local government modernisation programme has seen major improvements in the range and extent of the financial and other supports available to local elected members. These include a representational payment scheme and gratuity arrangements for retiring councillors. Both were introduced following extensive consultations with the three local...

Seanad: Pension Provisions. (30 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: I will draw the matter to the Minister's attention.

Seanad: Pension Provisions. (30 Jun 2005)

Tony Killeen: I will.

Employment Conditions. (28 Sep 2005)

Tony Killeen: I understand that the first vessel referred to by the Deputy is not registered in Ireland, and that a ship management agency recruits, employs and manages the ship's staff on this service. Where the terms and conditions of employees are concerned, the flag state, that is the state where the ship is registered, has the exclusive rights to exercise legislative and enforcement jurisdiction over...

Employment Conditions. (28 Sep 2005)

Tony Killeen: As I explained, the issue of seafarers aboard Irish registered ships is one that can be dealt with in this jurisdiction. Unfortunately, when ships are registered in other jurisdictions we do not have that power. I am taken by the Deputy's suggestion that this be dealt with at European level. I pay tribute to the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural...

Employment Conditions. (28 Sep 2005)

Tony Killeen: I am as angry as the Deputy in respect of this matter. The reality is that shipping companies are entitled to operate under flags of convenience. In those circumstances it is clear to all of us that little can be done within this jurisdiction.

Employment Conditions. (28 Sep 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has examined various options, including the one the Deputy mentioned. Unfortunately any resolution arising on foot of these discussions would be long-term and would not address the current difficulty. The company is quite profitable and in the present circumstances it is difficult to justify the action proposed.

Written Answers — Disabled Workers: Disabled Workers (28 Sep 2005)

Tony Killeen: This Government is committed to addressing the needs of those with disabilities. In particular, we are committed to removing the obstacles which make it difficult for people with disabilities to participate in the labour market. We have already done a lot in this area. Under the Government's mainstreaming policy, my Department through FÁS is seeking to increase the participation of disabled...

Written Answers — Equality Legislation: Equality Legislation (28 Sep 2005)

Tony Killeen: My Department has had no involvement with this issue. I understand that the Departments of Transport and Justice, Equality and Law Reform were in contact in relation to this issue. Both Departments have refused to take the parliamentary question.

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (28 Sep 2005)

Tony Killeen: In response to the recommendations of the employment rights review group and following a process of extensive consultations with interested parties, a programme of action was agreed by Government, in May of this year, which will facilitate the simplification of procedures and provide ease of access for all users of the services of the employment rights bodies. In the course of the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 Sep 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Whistleblowers Protection Bill 1999 is still retained on the Government legislative programme. However, as previously stated in this House on a number of occasions, it is now considered, on reflection, that the provision of statutory protection for whistleblowers on a sectoral basis might provide a better and more focused approach to dealing with this issue. Recent legislative initiatives...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (28 Sep 2005)

Tony Killeen: I have met ICTU and heard its concerns in relation to the employment of domestic workers. ICTU has suggested to me that a joint labour committee could be established for these workers. Joint labour committees, JLCs, are established by the Labour Court and determine minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment for workers in their respective sectors. JLCs operate in areas where collective...