Results 4,261-4,280 of 4,720 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I do not know that is what this amendment necessarily does, but to be quite clear, I am more than comfortable with the timing. We are talking about a matter of weeks. The second working group will be meeting before the end of this month. We are already at 14 February - as we all probably woke up realising today - we have a European Council meeting in three weeks' time and the Belgian...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: That is what the Belgians have very much stated. My Belgian counterpart has stated that. He said it to me on 10 January, which was the last time we spoke about it.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I appreciate the sentiments but Deputy O'Reilly's amendment goes a bit further than that intent. I refer to the Deputy's comments in relation to collective redundancies. It must be noted that all eligible employees are entitled to a statutory redundancy payment and where an employer is unable to pay, the State steps in to ensure that this is honoured as is. In an insolvency situation,...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I am more than happy to facilitate that engagement, perhaps in the context of company law. I think that is what I was at, and where it is more appropriate, whereas this is when it comes into the area of statutory versus voluntary. The Deputy and I are both unionised workers. We do so on a voluntary basis. That is an option open to us. Inserting this amendment, while well-intentioned,...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: To address the first point about what is happening at European level, the last European Council meeting I attended was just last month and I will be going again in two weeks' time for the EPSCO meeting. It is my understanding the Belgian Presidency has already convened a working party on this matter and a second working party meeting is scheduled at the end of this month to lead into the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Directives (22 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I appreciate Senator Gavan raising this issue, and it is one I have done quite a bit of work on both in the EU Council and through meeting stakeholders from the trade union movement and employers. It is my duty, as a Minister of State, to meet all sectors and all sides. I am more than happy to engage with Senator Gavan, as I have done with his party colleague in the other House. To address...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Directives (22 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: When it comes to looking at the high streets, we need to be more subjective and objective. Platform work is a good thing if done right. We should be able to agree on that, but it needs full and robust protections. I believe we have the mechanisms in place but there is unfortunately exploitation going on in this sector. I fundamentally agree with the Senator on that point. I will not...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: EU Directives (22 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I undertake to take a closer look at that. To be honest, I am more familiar with the Spanish one.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (20 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I would recommend that anyone looking to start their own business first speak with their Local Enterprise Office (LEO). The LEOs are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance, and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business. In the first instance the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service for all government...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (20 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Government fully understands the importance of progressing policy proposals on reproductive health leave. However, this is a complex policy area and one which requires detailed assessment and sufficient consideration in advance of introducing legislation. A qualitative research study commissioned by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (20 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that the renewal employment permit applications concerned in the details supplied were refused as the positions on offer were for roles which are on the Ineligible List of Occupations - occupations for which employment for which a General Employment Permit cannot be granted. It also appears from the information received that the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (22 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that all Psychotherapists are required to be accredited by the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. The occupation of Psychotherapists is eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit which is the employment permit type used to attract highly skilled professionals into the State to reside and take up employment....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (22 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: IDA’s regional property programme ensures the continued supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients of IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. The timely provision of appropriate, cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions to meet the needs of Multi-National Companies (MNCs) remains...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (22 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: Ireland is currently accommodating more than 101,000 people seeking safety and shelter, between people fleeing war in Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. Over 200 properties are being used to accommodate people across every county. Despite the efforts of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth, there are not enough beds available to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (22 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I would recommend that anyone looking to start their own business first speak with their Local Enterprise Office (LEO). The LEO best placed to assist in this matter, is the LEO Dublin City , located at Block 4, Floor 1, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, D08 RF3F and can be contacted by phone on 01-222 5611 or by e-mail at info@leo.dublincity.ie. The LEOS are the...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I am very pleased to have the opportunity to discuss the Employment Permits Bill 2022 in the Seanad today. The purpose of this Bill is to consolidate and update the legislative provisions that regulate the employment permits system, namely the Employment Permits Acts of 2003 and 2006, as amended in 2014. The conclusions of the 2018 review of economic migration policy endorsed the robust...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank all the Senators for their contributions and the general welcome in the House for the legislation. I would like to address a few points that have been raised. I fundamentally believe this Bill represents the biggest reform to the employment permits legislation since the Act of 2006 and will result in many positive changes to Ireland's economic migration policy. It is positive for...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: It is something that can be improved and will be improved. We will be able to do that with co-operation from employer groups as well as employee groups. I take up a point made by Senator McGahon about the fact that we have more Irish people coming home to work than we have emigrating. A certain representative made a contribution in the Dáil today. I will not name them or their party,...

Protection of Employees (Trade Union Subscriptions) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: My office was represented there.

Protection of Employees (Trade Union Subscriptions) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: In fairness, my party had a number of people there, including staff from my office. To be clear, I have a detailed note of the meeting. I was attending to ministerial business. I think that is an unfair charge.