Results 561-580 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (24 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Employment Permits Section of my Department has informed me that they have requested some additional information from the employer in this case. On receipt of that information this application will be considered further.

Written Answers — Unfair Dismissals: Unfair Dismissals (24 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977 to 2007 protect employees from being unfairly dismissed from their jobs by laying down criteria by which dismissals are to be judged unfair and by providing an adjudication system and redress for an employee whose dismissal has been found to be unfair. To qualify under the Unfair Dismissals Acts, an employee is normally expected to have at least one year's...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (24 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: It is current Government policy to issue new employment permits for highly skilled, highly paid positions or to non-EEA nationals already legally resident in the State on existing valid employment permits. There are some exception categories under this policy, including ethnic restaurants, where a limited number of applications for fully trained head chefs are being considered. However, it...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (25 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The following table sets out the number of permits sought and issued on a monthly basis during each of the past five years: Year Month New Permits Renewals Group Issued Refused 2008 6,822 4,342 0 11,164 1,846 Jan 1,076 1,096 0 2,172 245 Feb 785 821 0 1,606 197 Mar 618 504 0 1,122 188 Apr 763 444 0 1,207 207 May 705 385 0 1090 223 Jun 764 324 0 1,088 232 Jul 964 269 0 1,233...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (25 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: An application was received in respect of the person in question on the 23 January 2008. This application was refused on the grounds that it is current Government policy to issue new employment permits for highly skilled, highly paid positions or to non-EEA nationals already legally resident in the State on existing valid employment permits. Furthermore the position on offer was one of the...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (30 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Employment Permits Section has no record of an application for a work permit in respect of the above named.

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (30 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Employment Permits Section has no record of an application for a work permit in this case. However, if the employer or proposed employee wishes to submit an application it will be considered on its merits.

Written Answers — Work Life Balance: Work Life Balance (7 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: A value for money review of the 2008 work life balance campaign has not yet been conducted by my Department as part of the Value for Money and Policy Review Initiative which is intended to prioritise significant areas of expenditure within the context of my Department's overall Vote. The National Framework Committee for Work Life Balance Policies organised the 8th annual Work Life Balance Day...

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. While the motion makes some proposals, it is also interspersed with some negative ideas. Obviously the situation of rising unemployment in which we find ourselves is of concern. Reference was made to people queuing outside social welfare offices. We do not want to go back to the days when people were in long-term unemployment in some cases...

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: It goes to show how flippant the Labour Party Deputies can be at times. Many people put their homes on the line, borrowed money, bought sites and provided apartments and houses, and considerable employment.

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: While I do not want to get argumentative——

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: ——on this matter, it is important to point out that many of these people are ordinary carpenters, masons and chippies who made some money, bought a site and developed it.

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I am quite sure that Deputy Stagg is now referring to those people, which is somewhat flippant. The bailout is not a €400 million guarantee as if the money was handed over. It was done to create stability and provide liquidity so that banks could operate in an economy where credit is available to people who want to invest in their small businesses, for house extensions or the purchase of...

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: We want to ensure that we have a healthy banking system.

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: It proves one thing. If the Labour Party were in Government we would still be talking about this issue, the banks would have gone to the wall and the economy would be suffering greatly because they would not have been able to make a decision.

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Labour Party referred to what the Government is not doing. I wish to talk about the serious issue of redundant apprentices. It is a major challenge for everybody concerned to try to ensure that those who have almost finished their apprenticeship courses can complete them. We are looking at that issue.

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: A much-maligned — by other Deputies — organisation, FÁS, has looked at this issue actively——

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: If the Deputy wants me to outline the proposals I will.

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I only have five minutes and would like to go through that in particular.

Unemployment: Motion (Resumed) (8 Oct 2008)

Billy Kelleher: In one particular area we have reduced the course to ensure they can go onto their next off-work placement, back into the institutes, back into their apprenticeships and can train themselves up. In the meantime, FÁS has also expanded the whole area of insulation of houses, installation of solar panels and those schemes——