Results 781-800 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards: Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The insolvency payments scheme operates under the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) Acts 1984 to 2004, which give effect to EU Directive 80/987/EEC as amended by Directive 2002/74/EC. The scheme provides for the payment of certain unpaid entitlements due to an employee — including various Employment Appeals Tribunal awards — where an employer has become legally insolvent as...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards: Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The disqualification of a person from serving as a company director is a serious matter which can only be determined by a High Court judge on application by the Director of Corporate Enforcement or, in certain instances, other specified parties. It is a matter for the Director of Corporate Enforcement to determine which cases he pursues. The Deputy may wish to make a formal complaint to the...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Inspections: Health and Safety Inspections (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 420, 421 and 422 together. The incident in June 2005, to which the Deputy refers, was investigated by the Health and Safety Authority and on the evidence available, legal proceedings were not initiated. The circus owner and the owner of the animal confirmed in writing to the authority that they have engaged the services of a professional safety adviser to...

Written Answers — Trade Union Practices: Trade Union Practices (22 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: Article 40.6.1° of the Constitution guarantees liberty for the exercise, subject to public order and morality, of, inter alia, "the right of citizens to form associations and unions". However, an employer may decide not to recognise a trade union, or to recognise only one trade union and to deal exclusively with that union on issues concerning pay and conditions. Similarly, an employer may...

Written Answers — Factories Regulations: Factories Regulations (23 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Factories (Woodworking Machinery) Regulations 1972, SI 203 of 1972, continue in force unchanged and I have no immediate plans to replace them. However, significant work has already commenced on the rationalisation of occupational health and safety legislation generally. For example, the Health and Safety Authority is currently considering submissions received on foot of the public...

Written Answers — European Social Charter: European Social Charter (28 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Council of Europe's standard reporting procedures in respect of the revised Social Charter apply to all the contracting parties, which are the member states which have signed and ratified the charter. Ireland signed and ratified the revised Social Charter, which has 31 articles, on 4 November 2000. In preparing its reports, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has to consult...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, asked me to convey his regret that he cannot attend today's debate due to his involvement in a promotional tour. His regret at his inability to attend comes second only to mine in this matter.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: Not at all. He is undertaking an important promotional tour on behalf of the country from which we hope positive results will emerge. Although Deputy Howlin described the Committee Stage debate as somewhat tetchy, I found it quite entertaining to read.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: However, I do not intend that the remainder of the proceedings will be quite as entertaining. Amendment No. 1 in the name of Deputy Howlin is designed to criminalise behaviour that will be prohibited under the Bill but, as the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, explained on Committee Stage, the prohibitions contained in the Bill are not per se offences. In other...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: Three differences need to be taken into account. First, the operation of a cartel is quite separate from the unilateral situation described in amendment No. 1, which might include within its scope some pro-competitive activities that would also need to be provided for. Second, civil prohibition has the advantages I set out in that a contravention can be dealt with much more quickly and...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: Those who tabled the amendments made a particular case, which is contradictory. However, following the contributions of other Members, it is clear a concern is shared by all Members about the impact of predatory pricing, particularly where a firm might be in a dominant position. The political point was made about who is protecting big business and who is the saviour of small business and so...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: That is an entirely inappropriate example as it pulls the emotive strings. It is grossly dishonest in the context of this legislation.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: I refer to the example, not the Deputies or the Minister. Even those whose intent is to be the saviours of the small player must concede that the consumer is the smallest player in this equation. Ultimately, the judgment that must be made in the legislation and the amendments is how best that is done in the short term and the long term. Members are concerned more about what will be achieved...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: I do. I had the opportunity to be entertained by reading the Committee Stage debate. I had a discussion with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment yesterday and I was briefed by officials. Like every Member who represents a rural constituency, I have heard conflicting views from various people and I had the opportunity to go into detail with a number of them on the points they...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: I do not make that point.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: Inserting a specific percentage to represent dominance would be entirely unsatisfactory.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: The legislation contains a series of tests, which would be entirely destroyed by two of the amendments. It is impossible to deal with the two critical issues of dominance and predatory pricing without doing so in the context of the entire Bill. These issues also recur in later amendments but one cannot pick a sentence or two and make a fundamental change, which undermines not only the effect...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: I am trying to deal with a number of entirely contradictory statements.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: I have been trying to deal with three separate issues.