Results 8,221-8,240 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Is the Deputy listening to me?

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I do not have the number he is seeking. I do not need to know it.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. This protocol concerns employers and employees working together. It has been developed on the basis of collaboration between, among others, the unions, employers, IBEC and ICTU. We have all worked together, as have the HSA, the HSE and the officials in all the different Departments. This protocol has been a collaborative effort and I expect the same will apply in the...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for the matters he raised. On the issue of work permits where workers come in from abroad, the general operative employment permits for the meat sector have a number of conditions attached concerning pay and hours of work. In addition to those conditions, the employer applicant must provide the Department with a signed declaration that the company will ensure the foreign...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Migrant workers who come to this country have full employment rights and the full rates of pay to which everybody else is entitled. They are not tied to any one employer. If they wish to work for somebody else, they may do so. Only in the region of 15% of these workers are on work permits. They too have full employment rights and, because of the work permit system, they earn more than the...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The food sector, as the Minister, Deputy Creed, has said, is probably the most regulated sector we have. We have inspections by the HSA and the WRC. Workers in the meat sector enjoy the benefits of all employment rights. It does not matter where they come from; they have access to all of the supports Irish workers enjoy. If, for some reason, some of them must take time off they receive...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Non-EU migrant workers have rights under the permit with which they come in here. We are very careful that they get paid more than the minimum wage. In certain sectors they get paid considerably more than it. In particular, meat boners receive €27,000 per annum. The WRC is the inspectorate that checks the conditions of employees. They are being taken care of.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I-----

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Excuse me?

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: To explain to the Deputy, there are certain processes through which queries are raised. The query he raised with me or with my Department concerned a specific issue, if I remember correctly, of a work permit and somebody who was in the State, possibly illegally; I do not know.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The matter was dealt with in an efficient way by my Department. The Deputy got a letter in response on 1 April. By the way, the Deputy was not the only Deputy who raised the matter with my Department and everybody was responded to at the same time.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: No.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: To respond to that point, my office contacted Deputy O'Donoghue. The issue was raised with my Department. It was a specific issue relating to a specific section of my Department. It was dealt with and the Deputy received a response. I take exception to the manner in which the Deputy has outlined the case.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Thank you. If the attitude of the Deputy from Limerick changed - perhaps he should look at his own approach - he might find that people would be more collegial.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The HSA has full powers to go into any place of work and carry out inspections. With the Covid-19 issue, the authority wants to work with employers and employees to resolve complaints if they exist. Every complaint receives attention.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy knows the HSA is an independent body and I have no problem asking it to respond to him.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I suppose, in fairness, Covid-19 has changed everything, including the way in which workers have had to change their processes.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The authority has carried out 240 inspections-----

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: -----since Monday. Included in that are some meat plants.

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Heather Humphreys: If there is an outbreak in any meat plant, the first port of call is the HSE. The HSA does not go into a plant in that scenario.