Results 461-480 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 27 together. I consider that the appropriate mechanism for the consumer perspective to be channelled into the partnership process is via the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with the support of the National Consumer Agency, NCA. Towards 2016 recognises the importance of competition and providing a fair deal for consumers. In this regard,...

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The broad spectrum of society is represented at partnership talks. Regarding the NCA, that comes through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which is directly represented at the table in the context of partnership discussions. IBEC, trade unions and the voluntary and community sector advocate lower prices for consumers in their various guises in the social and community...

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Obviously, any organisation can make representations and submissions to partnership. There is a broad spectrum of representatives around the table already. Anything that contributes to a positive outcome and decisions by social partnership is welcome. Regarding ISME, this Department is very conscious of its role in ensuring the removal of regulatory burdens. We have a commitment to reduce...

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Any organisation or individual body wishing to join partnership can make an application to the Department of the Taoiseach.

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: On the broader issues——

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Partnership has served this country very well. I do not wish to hear a historical lesson again——

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: ——because, as I previously pointed out, we only talk about the past with the Deputy opposite. He seems to forget that the fundamentals of partnership are about consensus and decisions. The Government is the lead player in social partnership talks. There is a broad spectrum of representation, from business, trade unions and farmers to the social and voluntary pillar, which collectively...

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I remind the Deputy——

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Government is at the table as well. Its performance over the past ten years has produced major reductions in income and other taxes. That is because we now have consensus to go forward instead of the confrontational type of industrial relations of previous times. I view the Deputy's continued assertions that partnership should be abandoned as something clearly——

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Most of the Deputy's commentary outside this House suggests that he has no faith in partnership to ensure that we have cohesive policies that serve all sectors of society, not only big business but at individual level. At the end of the day, the Government is present at the table and it will protect everybody's interests.

Written Answers — Workplace Fatalities: Workplace Fatalities (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The number of recorded fatalities in Ireland as a result of work-related accidents over the past 4 years was as follows: 2004 — 50; 2005 — 74; 2006 — 51; 2007 — 67. In 2007, Construction, Fishing and Agriculture recorded the highest number of fatalities. The increase in fatalities in the Fishing sector resulted from a number of well-publicised drowning tragedies. This year, to date,...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 59 together. The Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008 was initiated in Dáil Eireann on 13th March 2008. Since its publication, work has been continuing with regard to clarification of certain legal points, operational arrangements after the enactment of legislation — including in relation to employment permits — and the extent to which particular...

Written Answers — Workplace Inspections: Workplace Inspections (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The number of employment rights inspections/visits/calls undertaken by the Inspection Services of the National Employment Rights Authority in 2008 to date is 9,852. During the same period in 2007 some 4,587 inspections/visits/calls were undertaken. Of the 9,852 inspections/visits/calls to date in 2008, breaches were detected in 1572 cases. In 2007 breaches were detected in 795 cases. In...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: On 7 February the High Court quashed an Employment Regulation Order made by the Labour Court relating to minimum remuneration of workers in the Hotels Sector and ordered that the matter be remitted to the Hotels Joint Labour Committee. The Hotels Joint Labour Committee met in March 2008 and a new Employment Regulation Order was subsequently made for the sector with effect from 23 May 2008....

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 53 and 58 together. "The Irish Constitution guarantees the right to form and join trade unions. The Courts have upheld the right to take strike action subject only to regard for the legal and constitutional rights of the parties affected. Trade unions, their officials and members who are engaged in industrial action are granted immunity from criminal...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 44 and 48 together. The number of deaths recorded in workplace accidents during 2007 was 67 compared to 51 in 2006. Of these, 18 occurred in the construction sector in 2007, an increase of 5 on the 2006 figures. In terms of injuries, there were over 7,000 non-fatal work injuries overall reported to the Health and Safety Authority (Authority) which has...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Ministers of twenty-seven EU Member States reached political agreement at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on 9/10 June 2008, on the longstanding issues of the Temporary Agency Work and the Working Time Directives. The Council Common Position on both these Directives will now be submitted to the European Parliament, as foreseen by the co-decision procedure....

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The number of calls/visits/inspections carried out in relation to the National Minimum Wage Act, 2000 during which breaches of the Act were detected and the number of prosecutions initiated is as follows:- in 2006: 2,002 calls/visits/inspections were undertaken; in 104 cases breaches were detected and in one case a prosecution was initiated. in 2007: 1,942 calls/visits/inspections were...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Actual Redundancies 2002-2008: Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Actual 24,432 25,769 25,041 23,156 23,684 25,459 13,564 These figures show the number of employees on whose behalf claims were submitted for statutory redundancy lump sum payments. They do not reflect those who lost their jobs with less than two years service in an employment. My Department carried out an analysis last...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jun 2008)

Billy Kelleher: In accordance with commitments given under Towards 2016, the Social Partnership Agreement, the number of Inspectors was scheduled to increase from 31 to 90 Inspectors by the end of 2007. Competitions were held in 2007 for the recruitment of the additional fifty-nine Inspectors provided for under the Social Partnership Agreement Towards 2016. Fifty- six inspectors have been assigned to NERA...