Results 901-920 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Job Losses. (18 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: ——in regard to seeking the retention of any work currently carried out by SR Technics in Dublin will be dependent on a company or companies submitting proposals for consideration and seeking approval for State support for an undertaking in the normal way. We fully understand the concerns of the Deputies.

Job Losses. (18 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I believe there is a letter on its way indicating the Tánaiste will meet the Deputy next week to discuss the matters. I am sure Deputy Shortall could attend as well.

Job Losses. (18 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: The State agencies had several discussions with SR Technics over a prolonged period of time. They looked at grants, availability of training and provision of business plans, etc. The State has tried to do everything possible to assist the company.

County Enterprise Boards. (18 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: We are in the most challenging economic environment that has confronted our nation in modern times. The Government has acknowledged this and has embarked on addressing this situation in a concerted fashion. The Government focused on safeguarding the financial system so that it could continue to operate to sustain the real economy and in particular contribute positively to the enterprise...

Suicide Incidence. (18 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, who sends her apologies as she was unable to take it herself. I thank Deputy Neville for raising this matter. It provides a very timely opportunity to highlight all of our concerns about the high levels of suicide among the Traveller community. This is particularly relevant to this...

Foreign Conflicts. (18 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Minister for Foreign Affairs sends his apologies for being unable to attend to take the matter. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has made clear the Government's deep concern at the plight of the war-ravaged Tamil population in the north of Sri Lanka who are the innocent victims of the conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the rebel...

Written Answers — Social Insurance Fund: Social Insurance Fund (18 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Payment of statutory redundancy is, in the first instance, a matter for the employer. An employer who makes a statutory redundancy payment to an employee is entitled to apply for a rebate of 60% of the total cost from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). Employees are only paid statutory redundancy lump sums from the Social Insurance Fund where the employer is not, due to insolvency,...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (19 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I again welcome the opportunity to speak on these issues. We are in very challenging times. The Bill is entitled the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009. That title sums up the challenges facing the economy. Listening to some of the commentary from both within the House and outside, I feel sad that we do not debate the facts. We do not discuss the situation in...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (19 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: FÁS has responded to the increase in the level of redundant apprentices especially in the construction and related sectors by providing the following supports for redundant apprentices. The Department of Social and Family Affairs immediately refer redundant apprentices to FÁS for assistance. Following this immediate referral, the FÁS Employment Services and FÁS Services to Business...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (19 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: The Tánaiste launched the Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme on 29th December 2008. The scheme provides support to employers to provide on-the-job training to redundant apprentices while they have released their employed apprentice to a scheduled Phase 4 or Phase 6 off-the-job training phase in the Institutes of Technology. The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment...

National Minimum Wage. (24 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I understand that in November 2008, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions asked the Labour Court to review the national minimum wage and to make a recommendation on its adjustment to me. The court subsequently invited submissions on the issue. Various submissions were received from IBEC, ICTU, the Department of Finance and other interested parties. The Labour Court held discussions with these...

National Minimum Wage. (24 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Deputy. I did not suggest that the minimum wage should be increased or decreased. I pointed out that I am obliged under the relevant Act to consider any recommendation that is made to me by the Labour Court. When the Labour Court is adjudicating on this matter, it is obliged to seek submissions and to take into account issues such as employment, unemployment, inflation and...

National Minimum Wage. (24 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I accept that certainty is required by employees, employers and everybody else involved in the broader economy.

National Minimum Wage. (24 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: The Labour Court must take many issues into account, including the earnings of employees as well, so the argument is not one-sided.

National Minimum Wage. (24 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I am simply making the point that the Labour Court will make its adjudications. It consists of wise counsel and is well represented and reflective of the broader society out there. When the court makes the determination, we will make an adjudication on that. Until such time as it does this, I will not give my personal opinion because that would undermine the court's decisions.

Work Permits. (24 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Since 2004, Irish labour market policy has been to ensure that general labour and skills needs are met from within the workforce of the European Union. For strategic skills or labour shortages in designated occupations in key economic sectors, Government policy is to issue employment permits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response to employer demand....

Employment Regulation Orders. (24 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Employment regulation orders are made by the Labour Court on foot of proposals from joint labour committees. JLCs are statutory bodies, established by the Labour Court under the Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 2004, to provide machinery for the fixing of statutory minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment in particular sectors. JLCs operate in sectors where collective bargaining...

Employment Regulation Orders. (24 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Why ask the question then?

Employment Regulation Orders. (24 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: The Deputy has decided that social partnership in all its guises should be thrown out the window.

Employment Regulation Orders. (24 Feb 2009)

Billy Kelleher: He has never supported the idea of consensus in this House on the issues of pay and conditions for workers and industrial agreements.