Results 41-60 of 495 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Frank Fahey

Written Answers — Trade Union Recognition: Trade Union Recognition (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 53 together. The system of industrial relations in Ireland is essentially voluntary in nature. In line with this voluntarist approach, a high level group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, comprising representatives from IBEC, the ICTU, and various Departments and semi-State agencies, was established under Partnership 2000 to consider...

Written Answers — Organisation of Working Time Act: Organisation of Working Time Act (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 came fully into effect on 1 March 1998. If an employee considers that his or her employer has contravened the provisions in this Act governing holidays, rest breaks, rest periods and maximum average weekly working hours he or she may refer the matter to a rights commissioner for adjudication. The labour inspectorate of my Department has a limited role...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 90 and 91 together. In accordance with the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure community employment schemes, participation levels have gradually been reduced in line with a strategic shift in policy in favour of training and other more appropriate supports. The number of community employment projects reduced from 2,274 in January 2000 to 1,368 in...

Written Answers — Older Workers: Older Workers (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: The National Economic and Social Forum report — whose project team included representatives from my Department — examined labour market participation issues for older workers. Changing demographics have resulted in ageing populations in many EU countries and this poses threats for their labour markets. For each pensioner in Europe there are on average 3.5 workers who contribute to the...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: I would not agree that the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 1995 and their replacement regulations in 2001 have had no impact on preventing accidents occurring on construction sites. The significant resources dedicated to inspecting construction sites by the Health and Safety Authority and the co-operation of the major players in the industry in the construction...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: Day-to-day responsibility for the administration and enforcement of occupational safety and health legislation, including the Safety, Health and Welfare (Offshore Installations) Act 1987 and the Safety, Health and Welfare (Offshore Installations) (Emergency Procedures) Regulations 1991, made under that Act, is a matter for the Health and Safety Authority. The regulations provide for the...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: The quarterly national household survey released by the CSO in December 2003 shows that 86,500 persons or 4.6% of the workforce were unemployed. The long-term unemployment rate was 1.4%. Employment growth continued in the third quarter of the year to bring the total number of persons in employment to 1.82 million. In view of the slowdown in global economic growth over the last two to three...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: It is my intention to publish the Bill in question before the summer recess. A number of significant legal questions are being addressed and it is hoped to resolve these issues shortly.

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: From inquiries made in this Department we have found that on 27 April 2004, the company concerned wrote to the Tánaiste giving her full notification of the proposed collective redundancies under section 12 of the Protection of Employment Act 1977. The company also stated that the employee representatives had been consulted, as set out in sections 9 and 10 of that Act. I understand that it is...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: Data about work permits granted in each of the past three years is as follows: Year Number of permits issued 2001 36,436 2002 40,321 2003 47,551 Statistical information on work permits is available on the work permits web page of my Department's website, www.entemp.ie.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: A total of €837 million has been provided by my Department to FÁS in 2004. Of this, €366 million is allocated to employment programmes, €307 million to training and integration supports and €22.7 million for capital expenditure. The allocation to employment programmes includes an amount of €351 million, which will support up to 25,000 places across the three major employment...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (18 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: I am aware of the report referred to by the Deputy. The thrust of the recommendations in the report are generally in line with measures already being promoted in Ireland in the area of noise in the workplace. The Health and Safety Authority, HSA, is the State body charged with responsibility for the administration, enforcement and promotion of occupational health and safety legislation and...

Written Answers — Jobs Initiative: Jobs Initiative (18 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: The jobs initiative, JI, programme is a work experience programme for persons 35 years of age or older who have been unemployed for five years or longer. Participants are offered temporary full-time employment for a period of three years. Eligible persons are employed by managing agents, with the support of a grant from FÁS for this purpose. The rates of payment for persons in receipt of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (25 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: A total allocation of €351 million is being provided in 2004 to support up to 25,000 places across the three employment schemes — community employment, CE, Jobs initiative, JI, and the social economy programme, SEP. Of this, more than €40 million is being allocated to the social economy programme. The breakdown of the funding between regions and schemes is a day-to-day matter for FÁS,...

Written Answers — Sunday Trading: Sunday Trading (25 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: The Industrial Relations Acts 1946 — 2004 provide the basis for the establishment of the joint labour committees, JLCs, that are charged with the task of setting the minimum terms and conditions, including pay rates, for employees in various sectors of the economy. The joint labour committees are comprised of representatives of relevant employee and employer bodies with an explicit interest...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (25 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: The main FÁS programmes in operation are community employment, job initiative and social economy. The participation rates and costs in respect of each programme are as follows: Community Employment Participant / Places Year Average Year-End Costs € '000 1998 39,483 39,520 376,754 1999 37,904 36,579 375,553 2000 35,249 33,549 367,690 2001 33,034 30,809...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (1 Jun 2004)

Frank Fahey: As part of the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure community employment, CE, future participation in CE by an individual was capped at three years, effective from April 2000. Offshore island residents are exempt from this change. Aughinish is not an offshore island and participants in projects such as the one at Aughinish are subject to the general CE eligibility criteria. The three...

Written Answers — Employment Schemes: Employment Schemes (1 Jun 2004)

Frank Fahey: Persons in receipt of the deserted wife's benefit for one year or longer, and who are 25 years of age or older, are currently eligible to participate in community employment, CE. Eligibility for job initiative, JI, is confined to unemployed persons 35 years of age or older, in receipt of an unemployment payment or one parent family payment for a minimum of five years. Spouses of unemployed...

Written Answers — Radon Gas Levels: Radon Gas Levels (17 Jun 2004)

Frank Fahey: The exposure of workers to radon gas in workplaces here is controlled by the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Order 2000 (S.I. No. 125 of 2000) and is enforced by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. Therefore, enforcement is primarily a matter for the institute. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, employers are required to identify hazards...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (17 Jun 2004)

Frank Fahey: The day-to-day responsibility for the administration and enforcement of occupational safety and health legislation is a matter for the Health and Safety Authority. The legislation includes the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 and a range of regulations, including the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 1993 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work...