Results 521-540 of 14,554 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: I wish to endorse Senator Ryan and Senator Phelan's remarks relating to the ordering of today's business. We too were left in the dark until quite late.

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: We oppose the amendment on the grounds that, as we have discussed at committee level, it is a matter for the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance to determine the terms and conditions of the director general of FÁS and to determine the mechanism for determining the remuneration of FÁS employees. The Minister is responsible to the Oireachtas in this matter. The issue of...

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: There is a far broader issue at stake here rather than just FÁS. With regard to Senator Phelan's comments, I direct him to the hearings of the Committee of Public Accounts last Thursday, which provided some clarity on the position of the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the issue.

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: This is a standard provision in all legislation with regard to State bodies. There are plenty of roles in which any CEO of a State body can express an opinion on Government policy. The provision proposed to be deleted here is standard in all legislation and we cannot accept the amendment.

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: We are not in a position to accept the amendment as a Government decision of 7 March 2006 has formalised a sectoral approach to addressing the issue of whistleblowing. That decision requires Ministers to include, where appropriate, whistleblowing provisions in draft legislation relating to specific sectors. The inclusion of this overall provision in the Bill is consistent with a sectoral...

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: My understanding is that approaches to whistleblowing are being included in every piece of relevant legislation. There is a sectoral approach and this legislation is consistent with that approach.

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: Yes but it is an issue that the Government is committed to and it is kept under review.

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: I will surprise the Senator some day. This is an amendment Bill which relates to a Bill published prior to 1993. For all legislation enacted after 1993, the convention for amendment Bills to Acts originally written with the masculine form is to maintain that form. There is an understanding that it refers to both male and female chairpersons. It is not proposed to accept the amendment....

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: I endorse Senator Phelan's remarks on the workforce of FÁS generally. The workers are outstanding, apart from the small minority whose activities have been revealed. Senator Phelan spoke about the quality of the apprenticeship system. That quality extends throughout the organisation. Our decision not to have a worker director on the board is no reflection on that. The Department has...

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: There is no major science to it. We are moving towards a different method of board selection and the agencies are directly within our remit. There are different restrictions around the commercial semi-State bodies. I would point out that the director general will be around the board table and will, as happens currently, have a direct role in the input of the board activities. He can and...

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: I appreciate the sentiments of both Senators. I would also point out that advertisements were placed in the national newspapers some weeks ago to invite expressions of interest from people interested in serving on the board of FÁS. I have not seen the final list of applicants but there is potentially a provision there for members of staff to apply. When this Bill was being considered on...

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: I thank both Senators. The purpose of the Bill is to fundamentally change the structure and culture of the board of FÁS. Throughout the passage of the legislation, I have repeatedly stated we are seeking people with an interest in, or experience of, the functions of FÁS, including those with a background in finance, corporate governance and public administration. I am glad Senator Phelan...

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: It should not be a barrier if people are qualified. With regard to the construction of the new board, we have examined a different approach. The Department placed advertisements in the newspapers to which it received in excess of 150 responses which are being assessed. I also made it clear at the select committee and in the Dáil that, having served on the joint committee, I would give...

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: Despite the background music, I am not in a charitable humour and I cannot accept any of the amendments.

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: It is not appropriate for a Minister to have any function in the day-to-day human resource management of any organisation. Senator Phelan is correct to state that what took place in FÁS was wrong. I will reflect on this matter at the conclusion of the process. There were checks and balances outside FÁS but it was the supervision of FÁS that floundered. A properly structured and...

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: I thank all Senators for their time and input to this process in recent weeks. I thank the officials of both Houses, including the Clerk of the Seanad and the Clerk of the Dáil, the clerk to the Select Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment and officials in our Department who have worked very hard on the legislation at a time when their attention has been diverted to other issues in...

Written Answers — Graduate Support Schemes: Graduate Support Schemes (3 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: It is widely accepted that keeping people close to the labour market is important to improve their future employability. That is why the Government introduced the Work Placement Programme. This Programme is providing 2,000, 9 month, work experience places to unemployed individuals. Participants on the programme will retain their existing social welfare entitlements. There are two streams...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (3 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: A total of 540 Employment Permits which included 214 renewed permits issued to the meat industry in 2008.

Seanad: Rail Services (3 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: The Minister for Transport could not be here this evening as there are a number of Cabinet meetings taking place today. He asked me to respond on his behalf and to update the House on the most recent discussions relating to the Dublin-Belfast rail link which happened on 4 November at the North-South Ministerial Council. The council was briefed on the collapse of the Malahide viaduct, to...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Dec 2009)

Dara Calleary: Since March 2006, Government policy has been to address the issues of whistleblower protection legislation on a sectoral basis, rather than adopt a "one size fits all" approach. Ministers in the course of preparation of Bills are required to include whistleblowing provisions, as appropriate, having regard to the nature, purpose and scope of the proposed legislation in question. In recent...