Results 9,661-9,680 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Intellectual Property (13 Jul 2021)

Damien English: International Trade is a competence of the EU under the Treaties. In exercising that competence at the WTO, the European Commission engages with Member States, including Ireland, through a variety of Committee and Working Parties/Groups, including on intellectual property. The EU continues to be committed to an open and comprehensive dialogue with all WTO members to explore how the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Bodies (14 Jul 2021)

Damien English: The staff of the Health and Safety Authority comprises both administration and inspector grades as well as professional and technical specialists. In the 2021 budget the Health and Safety Authority was given an additional pay allocation of €4.2m, primarily to increase the staff available to it, enabling the Authority to deliver further on its mandate including the establishment of an...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Support Services (14 Jul 2021)

Damien English: There is an obligation under section 12 of the Protection of Employment Act 1977 which makes it mandatory on employers proposing a collective redundancy to notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of the proposed collective redundancy. I can confirm that no notification has been received from GMC Utilities. A collective redundancy notification from Balfour Beatty Group...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Pension Provisions (14 Jul 2021)

Damien English: The Government have agreed to a timed amendment to the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021. This will allow time, as I outlined on the floor of the Dáil, to examine the issues carefully and to ensure that all stakeholders are consulted. This process will commence as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Grant Payments (14 Jul 2021)

Damien English: The Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus schemes were administered by the 31 Local Authorities on behalf of my Department and closed to applications on 31st October 2020. The Schemes were superseded by other budgetary measures including the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated through Revenue, and the Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid (SBASC) administered by the Local...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Foreign Policy (15 Jul 2021)

Damien English: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for raising this issue. As the House will be aware, the United States has maintained a comprehensive economic embargo on Cuba since 1962, which prevents US businesses or businesses with commercial activities in the US from trading with Cuban interests. Ireland's position on this embargo is long-standing and clear....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Foreign Policy (15 Jul 2021)

Damien English: I again thank Deputy Ó Murchú for his contribution and I welcome the opportunity to speak again on the issue. I acknowledge the severe impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on Cuba, not least in leading to a collapse, essentially, of the international tourism industry on which the Cuban economy is hugely dependent. I note the Cuban authorities managed to contain the initial...

Seanad: Workplace Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2021)

Damien English: I thank the Senators for their contributions and for tabling amendments, which are proposed in good faith. I accept we had a discussion in this House and in the Dáil earlier in the week on the issue of public versus private proceedings. I understand the concerns about that but we have a duty to respect the Supreme Court decision, and to implement legislation as best we can to reflect...

Seanad: Workplace Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2021)

Damien English: For the purposes of today's discussions, because I am conscious that not everybody was in the room when we discussed during the week, I will set out exactly what is in section 4, as well as the amendments being put forward. Section 4 contains an amendment of section 41 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015, in respect of the provision in section 41(13) of that Act. It currently provides that...

Seanad: Workplace Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2021)

Damien English: I thank Senator Black for moving the amendment on behalf of Senator Higgins. I will not be able to accept it because we have already allowed for what it proposes in legislation. We got into this in detail earlier in the week although I am conscious that not everybody could be here. I also discussed it with colleagues in the Dáil. I gave a strong commitment on the proposed review.The...

Seanad: Workplace Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2021)

Damien English: I thank both Senators, and Senator Seery Kearney in particular for making the case again. The Bill will assist people in coming forward. We have to recognise that it is okay to pursue your rights. It is not something that should be hidden away. Employers should see it as a positive. If, in the future, an employer reacts negatively to employees pursuing their rights, perhaps those...

Seanad: Workplace Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2021)

Damien English: I thank all Members for their co-operation in helping us to bring this legislation through the Houses quite quickly. I understand that we requested not to avail of pre-legislative scrutiny in this case. In general, we should always do pre-legislative scrutiny if we possibly can but all the Members here, from all parties, recognised the urgency and importance of getting this done as quickly...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Damien English: Applications for funding received under the competitive Capital Investment Scheme are currently being assessed and evaluated by Enterprise Ireland. Given the competitive nature of this scheme, I am not at liberty to comment on the specifics of particular applications received.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Farm Safety (15 Jul 2021)

Damien English: The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) investigate every farm fatality. In addition, data is collected on incidents at work as part under the Framework Directive 89/391/EEC (1) on measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work. Each year the HSA publishes a comprehensive review of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. The latest report was...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Farm Safety (15 Jul 2021)

Damien English: Agriculture is among the priority sectors identified by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in its current strategy. This sector, therefore, receives a sustained focus in the delivery of the HSA’s occupational health and safety policy and inspection programmes. The HSA investigates every farm fatality. The findings from these investigations inform and focus future farm safety...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jul 2021)

Damien English: Universal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines, diagnostics and treatments is crucial in the global fight against COVID-19. International Trade is a competence of the EU under the Treaties and in exercising that competence, the European Commission engages fully with the Member States, including Ireland, through a variety of Committees and Working Parties/Groups,...