Results 741-760 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (9 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: FÁS and Skillnets are tailoring their provision to respond to the present economic environment. FÁS is responsible for providing training to people seeking employment and to people already in employment. FÁS training provision can be divided into three main areas: training under FÁS Community Services Division, training provided by FÁS Training Services and training to people in...

Order of Business (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: It has not concluded in the Seanad.

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I am conscious of the need for vigilance against the exploitation of vulnerable workers, including migrant workers. It is important to bear in mind that migrant workers can, and do, obtain the full benefits and protection of Irish labour law. Naturally, unscrupulous employers may try to take advantage of those in a vulnerable position. However, the Government will not stand aside while...

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Deputy is correct that when there is a change in the economic environment, pressures are on. We do not anticipate the labour inspectors taking it any easier. They have been enforcing employment legislation and have taken several prosecutions. The Chief State Solicitor's office has been brought in to ensure prosecutions are taken. In the context of the recent media coverage of the...

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: In my first reply I failed to refer to the employment law compliance Bill. It will be published in the early stages of the next parliamentary session. Labour inspectors can go about their business because they are set up on an interim basis and have all the statutory supports in terms of enforcing employment rights legislation. They are out and about in an effective manner. Last June,...

Industrial Relations. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I acted upon Deputy Penrose's promptings.

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 93 together. The number of employment rights inspections, visits or calls undertaken by the inspection services of the National Employment Rights Authority in the year to the end of November 2008 was 26,787. During the same period in 2007 some 12,369 inspections, visits or calls were undertaken. Of the 26,787 inspections, visits or calls to the end...

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: A procedure is in place for striking the minimum rate. The transitional agreement under Towards 2016 was not agreed. ICTU has been in contact with the Labour Court requesting that it set up the procedure of striking a rate. The court has contacted the social partners and asked them for their observations, which must be submitted prior to Christmas week. The court will then adjudicate on...

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The "Prime Time Investigates" programme highlighted two issues — exploitation in the context of pay and conditions and breaches of the Road Traffic Acts. The national minimum wage regulates payment in the transport sector because there are no collective agreements, joint industrial councils or joint labour committees in the sector and, therefore, NERA is focused on that. I do not instruct...

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Deputy has raised the issue repeatedly for the past year. We are living up to our commitments under Towards 2016. A total of 81 labour inspectors are in place and no Deputy can deny they have been on the ground enforcing pay and conditions under the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996, the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 and the...

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: No, this is happening

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: NERA has been established on an interim basis.

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: It can enforce all employment rights legislation and it does so effectively.

Employment Rights. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The authority has taken prosecutions and it has the full support of legislative provisions. Officials are working with their counterparts in Revenue, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the RSA to make sure sectors are targeted where there is profiling of vulnerability.

Departmental Bodies. (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: We are more flexible over here.

Economic Competitiveness (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Deputy McHugh will have to table a parliamentary question on that.

Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I wish to respond to a few issues raised by various Deputies during the course of the debate. With regard to consumers and competition, recently the Tánaiste met a cross-section of retailers and had a good exchange of views with them on the preliminary findings of a Forfás study on the relative cost of doing business North and South. There is a misunderstanding with regard to the...

Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The increase in the VAT rate was 0.5% and many of the products——

Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: It is important to highlight the facts. Many of the products, such as food, are not subject to VAT in the Republic. This argument does not always stand up to scrutiny. We will continue to implement the consumer strategy report. Its main recommendation, the establishment of the National Consumer Agency, NCA, is driving other recommendations. For instance, the NCA will produce guidelines...

Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Originally, both the ESB and Bord Gáis had been seeking significant increases to offset fluctuating energy prices.