Results 8,021-8,040 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (21 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Last year, I secured the agreement of Government to draft legislation to ease the regulatory burden on co-operative societies and to make it easier to start up and run a co-operative as an alternative form of enterprise organisation. I hope to publish this Draft Bill during 2012. I expect that the amendments I am proposing will make the co-operative model more attractive for those wishing to...

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (21 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Companies Acts contain provisions governing the activities of receivers and liquidators, including provisions in relation to fees. In a members voluntary winding up, the members in general meeting, appoint the liquidator and fix his or her remuneration. If the company does not fix the liquidator's remuneration, it may be fixed by the High Court. In a creditors' voluntary winding up,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I can advise the Deputy that the total cost of photography incurred by my Department since coming into office is €2,031. The list of occasions for which photographers were booked and the breakdown of invoiced costs to date associated with each occasion that a photographer was used are as follows: Small Business Advisory Group Launch - €409; Irish Ambassadors for Female Entrepreneurship -...

Written Answers — Trade Data: Trade Data (21 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Trade data for the full year 2011 is not yet available from the Central Statistics Office. The requested data in respect of 2010 is set out in the table with the top 40 countries ranked in order of our total trade (exports plus imports) and showing the relevant surplus (or deficit) in each case. For the calendar year 2010, Ireland's total exports (Merchandise and Services) were...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (21 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that I do not have the use of a State car but instead I use my private car for official business. This arrangement is in accordance with the Government Decision of the 15th March 2011 which in effect extended to Cabinet Ministers the arrangements which have been in place for Ministers of State with regard to the use of private cars in place of State cars. Under...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (21 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: An apprentice within the meaning of or under the Industrial Training Act 1967 or the Labour Services Act 1987 is paid by the employer during the on-the-job phase of apprenticeship training. Outside of those sectors covered by a Registered Employment Agreement, apprenticeship wage rates are not legally enforceable. The actual rate paid to such apprentices may vary depending on the occupation...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Order for Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy raised this on Committee Stage. I have received advice from the Attorney General that this is the correct way to proceed, arising from our EU obligations which include that this be effective from 5 December. As the Deputy knows, there was considerable negotiation and hope that there would be a provision for a qualifying period before equal treatment would apply. That did not...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Many other member states operate under a different system, with substantial collective agreements which de facto implement the directive.

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The arrangements in other countries are different. These extensive collective agreements are specifically provided for in the directive. I suspect that is why other member states are in a different position from us. Ireland is implementing the directive. We have an obligation under its terms to ensure agency workers are entitled to protection as and from 5 December last. We have taken...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Not on the amendment. I have dealt with it.

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: That is the intention. I have consulted the Parliamentary Counsel. The phraseology used refers to persons employed under a contract of employment with an employment agency. That does not include the instances to which the Deputy refers. The Parliamentary Counsel has assured me that the wording is robust and that there is an implicit exclusion. In addition, my Department will issue...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 3: In page 5, to delete lines 27 to 30 and in page 6, to delete lines 1 to 11 and substitute the following: " "basic working and employment conditions" means terms and conditions of employment required to be included in a contract of employment by virtue of any enactment or collective agreement, or any arrangement that applies generally in respect of employees, or any...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Members for those various contributions. To start with the last comment first, the purpose of this legislation is to deal with temporary agency workers who have been clearly exploited where they have been brought in and paid at an entirely different rate. Basic pay and conditions is the issue. This is not seeking to state that short-term assignments are identical to the...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Deputy Mick Wallace who has practical experience in this area has made the point that the nature of temporary agency work is often intermittent and serves to meet the need to fulfil additional work obligations as they arise. That flexibility is needed in many workplaces and the reason temporary agency work arrangements have developed. Such arrangements suit certain workers who are not...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 8: In page 7, to delete lines 4 to 11 and substitute the following: " "pay" means— (a) basic pay, and (b) any pay in excess of basic pay in respect of— (i) shift work, (ii) piece work, (iii) overtime, (iv) unsocial hours worked, or (v) hours worked on a Sunday, but does not include sick pay, payments under any pension scheme or arrangement or payments under any scheme...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 11: In page 7, line 26, to delete "employed" and substitute "employed under a contract of employment". These are technical amendments which aim to clarify beyond doubt that as the Bill refers to persons who are employed under a contract of employment this extends also to persons employed by the State or in the wider public service such as local authorities or the HSE,...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 12: In page 7, line 31, to delete "employee of" and substitute the following: "employee employed under a contract of employment by".

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I understand the desire of Deputies in supporting this amendment. However, putting into a Bill of this nature such a provision implies there is in place a sanction for an employer who fails to address a matter but no such sanction is implied or provided for. What the Deputies seek to introduce is a regulatory obligation which would have no oversight mechanism. I will ensure that the...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Report Stage (22 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: This is what I believe any proper employer would do. However, there is no sense in stating that were an employer to correct the situation and deal with the issue on the 15th or 16th day, such an employer still would be in some sort of breach. The Government does not intend to introduce a form of sanction regime for a new provision that really comprises the substance of a guideline to good...