Results 441-460 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Written Answers — Hazardous Substances: Hazardous Substances (28 May 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations 2007 [S.I. No. 288 of 2007] include the rules for the training of drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods and the obligation on such drivers to hold valid driver training certificates. The rules are based on the United Nations' European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road ("the ADR Agreement"),...

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (28 May 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The National Minimum Wage Act, 2000 and the Industrial Relations Acts, 1946 to 2004 provide for complaint and redress procedures in the case of allegations of non-payment of statutory minimum rates of pay. The National Minimum Wage Act, 2000 provides that an employee who alleges that his or her employer has failed to pay the National Minimum Wage may request an inspector of the National...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (28 May 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I can confirm that NERA Inspection Services (Labour Inspectorate) has undertaken an investigation into the complaint referred to by the Deputy. There has been correspondence with the parties and this investigation is continuing.

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (4 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: This is essentially an operational matter for the Health and Safety Authority. However, I am advised that the total numbers of inspections by the Authority of schools in 2006, both as educational establishments per se and in relation to construction, maintenance and allied work, are set out in the following table. I have been advised that the corresponding data for 2007 could not be collated...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (4 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I confirm that I have no function in relation to the decision making process of the Labour Court under the Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 2004 as regards the registration or variation or cancellation of Registered Employment Agreements. The Labour Court is a separate statutory body which acts independently of the Minister in carrying out its functions. Accordingly , it is a matter for...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (17 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I am advised by the National Employment Rights Authority that there have been no developments in the case since the date of the previous Parliamentary Question (No. 247 of 28th May 2008). NERA have been in further correspondence with the parties in an attempt to progress matters.

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (17 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: This is essentially an operational matter for the Health and Safety Authority. However, I am advised that 62 inspections were carried out in education establishments in 2006 and 28 inspections were carried out in 2007. I am given to understand that the Health and Safety Authority will shortly be forwarding the additional information promised regarding Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 4 June...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (17 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Period 2003 to 2004 shows the notifications of proposed redundancies received on a county basis for those years. Period 2005 to end of May 2008 shows the actual number of redundancies received on a county basis for those years. The data contained in the following table does not reflect those who lost their jobs with less than two years service in an employment. Proposed/Actual Redundancies...

Dáil Sittings: Motion (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this motion as it provides the Government with an opportunity to set the record straight. There is no doubt we are in challenging times and the period ahead will be difficult. I will leave it to others to recite the rhetoric of doom and gloom used by commentators, mainly outside the House. We all know we are in choppy waters internationally,...

Job Losses. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together. The most recent figures published by the Department of Social and Family Affairs show that there were 201,756 persons on the live register in May. However, it is important to remember that the live register is not a measure of unemployment as it includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers who might be signing on from time to time....

Job Losses. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The answer was not blasé. One must look at the matter in the context of what we have achieved in recent years, particularly in view of the fact that there are more than 2.1 million persons working in the Republic. Certainly, the forecast is that there will be change, particularly in the construction industry. FÁS has been very involved in early intervention in assessing skill shortages...

Job Losses. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: On a point of order, to whom is Deputy Varadkar referring? Is he referring to me as the old actress?

Job Losses. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: It is always important to remind people what we have achieved, especially the Opposition which might sometimes be in denial in that regard. We are concerned about the situation in which we find ourselves. There is an international credit crisis which is causing pressures in housing and elsewhere. That reflects on the construction industry. There have been increases in fuel and commodity...

Job Losses. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Deputy. The Government values any progressive ideas. When the Minister for Finance is framing his budget, he will take into account the economic realities facing us. I refer to the projections in regard to unemployment. Everybody knows the world economy is going through a state of flux. The weak dollar and sterling are causing our exporters grave difficulties. We will...

Job Losses. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I remind the Deputy that the Irish unemployment rate is well below the EU average.

Job Losses. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: We are in the euro zone and we know there are challenges. The Government is committed to ensuring that we remain competitive, that we have key policies in place, that we fund the national skills strategy and that the IDA actively markets the country. It is important we state that there are international challenges and that this is not because of failed policies. This is an open exporting...

FÁS Training Programmes. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Given the significant reduction in construction-related activity and the subsequent increase in the numbers of construction workers who have been made redundant, I am very conscious of the need to try to accommodate apprentices in the completion of their apprenticeships. To achieve this, both my Department and FÁS have been actively examining this issue and we propose a series of actions to...

FÁS Training Programmes. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Redundancies have occurred and approximately 950 apprentices have presented themselves to FÁS in recent months. FÁS is very conscious of this issue and we want to retain the skills net. There is not much point investing a great deal of time, effort and money in training people to trade level and have them fail in the final few months prior to obtaining their accreditation. FÁS is...

FÁS Training Programmes. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I get nervous when I have to answer the Deputy's questions.

FÁS Training Programmes. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The issue has been raised in correspondence by a number of Deputies and I will follow up on it. As the Deputy said, these people are fully trained and they have an entire set of skills but they fall foul in the academic area. The director general of FÁS is examining this issue. I will contact him to let him know the Deputy raised this in the House.