Results 8,421-8,440 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016 Report: Motion (16 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: I listened attentively to all the speakers. As I said, this report is very welcome and it is important to discuss this issue. It is a very important issue regarding banded hours contracts and measures to tackle problems caused by the increased casualisation of work. Our debate, first and foremost, must be placed in the context of the programme for Government commitment to tackle the...

Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016 Report: Motion (16 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: -----IBEC and all the main players. On the other hand, I believe the Government's Bill, which the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, is committed to publishing before Christmas, is a much more comprehensive response to the issue of casualisation of work and the strengthening of regulation of precarious work. The Bill will address a number of issues which have been identified as being areas...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Relations (16 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together. Without specific examples of the issues involved I can only respond in general terms setting out the processes in place for dealing with grievances arising under employment and equality law and industrial relations. Under the Workplace Relations Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) a new two-tier workplace relations structure to replace the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (21 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: 443. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48941/17]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals Status (21 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: 604. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49391/17]

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: I will go through this as quickly as possible. It is a technical point. The further Revised Estimate of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation's Vote arises due to the recent transfer of employment rights functions to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The functional changes came into effect at the beginning of September. I understand that my...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: No.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: It is money that was already allocated to my Department. There was a partial transfer of responsibilities when the Taoiseach, Deputy Leo Varadkar, set up his new Government. Some responsibilities were transferred to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. As I stated, 14 members of staff were transferred there. That is why the pay costs and non-pay costs have come into...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: I refer to SI 361. A lot employment legislation has been transferred but we are still responsible for enforcement, the Labour Court, the Workplace Relations Commission and the International Labour Organization.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: I thank the Chairman and other members, particularly Deputy Tom Neville, who is always here. I thank him for his involvement. He has a particular interest in the area of employment and well-being in this area. I welcome the work being done by the committee not just on legislation, but in respect of various other areas it covers. The committee members visited Waterford last week. It is...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: The pre-legislative scrutiny process will be engaged in at the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: I think I might be involved as employment and social protection matters are part of my remit.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: I thank the Chairman. I hope both the Tánaiste and I will be in a position in the very near future to see the level of unemployment fall below the magic 6% figure. A rate of 5.8% or 5.9% would be a sign of the success of the policies of the Government, not to mention the role played by this committee in the work it has been doing. There are many challenges, particularly in the context...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (22 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: I am aware of that because I chaired a committee for five years. I know about the work the Chairman does and commend those members who attend all the time. It is important that they be recognised because they play an important role and without their attendance the committee could not function.

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Site Visits (23 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: We are fully committed to the creation of high-quality and sustainable employment across Ireland, including in County Meath. The Mid-East Action Plan for Jobs is a key policy response for supporting employment growth in this region, including County Meath, with public and private stakeholders actively engaged in delivering the range of innovative and practical actions set out in the...

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Site Visits (23 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: The IDA is only one element of job creation. It is a very important element and has been an important part of the job creation in County Meath. Meath is very near to Dublin. Clonee is on the border with the county. I also point out the importance of the indigenous sector in County Meath. The number of people employed in that sector has grown substantially over recent years. There has...

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Site Visits (23 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: I take the Deputy's points on board. We have to look at the fact that since 2016 there have been nine site visits to County Meath by the IDA. There are some flagship companies in Clonee, and there is a €200 million investment by Facebook happening there at the minute. That is a very important and significant investment. The Tánaiste spoke about it earlier when she discussed...

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Site Visits (23 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: This is a question the Tánaiste and I are asked in every county we visit. Regional development remains a priority for the Government. I am very much aware that an important part of unlocking the potential of regional Ireland is ensuring that foreign direct investment, FDI, is spread as evenly as possible across the country, as per Government policy. IDA Ireland is committed...

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Site Visits (23 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: There are several more points I would like to make.

Other Questions: IDA Ireland Site Visits (23 Nov 2017)

Pat Breen: I understand the south east is one of the areas that has seen significant investment recently. It is important to note that foreign direct investment normally locates in clusters. As we know, industry tends to follow industry. In regard to IDA Ireland activities, there were 27 site visits in Limerick, which is the Deputy's area. In my own area of Clare, we had 20 visits. These numbers...