Results 981-1,000 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (10 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Ireland's comprehensive body of employment rights legislation, including the terms and conditions set out in Registered Employment Agreements and Employment Regulation Orders, apply to all workers employed in the State. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 20 of the Protection of Employee's (Part-Time) Work Act, 2001 provides that all employee protection legislation applies to a person,...

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I wish to share time with Deputies Nolan, Brady, O'Connor, White and Moynihan. When talking about issues such as this it is appropriate that every Deputy, whether on the Government or the Opposition side, is fully aware of the major difficulties caused to families by unemployment or the fear of losing jobs. We should not politicise things. I am not accusing the Deputies opposite, but the...

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome the fact that the Labour Party has moved to this point. However, I must mention, as I have many times, that in Ireland's hour of need on 29 September 2008, when the Government had to make a major decision to provide the bank guarantee, it was unfortunate that the Labour Party decided to be populist and not support this critical decision in the context of the banking crisis facing...

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: To talk about the need for due diligence reports——

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: We can talk about due diligence reports and the rest of it.

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: At that time banks were collapsing frequently in Europe.

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: More importantly, it stemmed from the subprime crisis in the United States. We must acknowledge the considerable international context. Ireland must deal with the issues it can deal with in the context of our own budgets. The Government recently announced there would be a supplementary budget in early April. That is simply because we have no choice but to make difficult and unpopular...

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: ——but also because of the weakening of sterling against the euro, which makes it difficult for Irish exporters to trade in the UK market, and because the US itself, on which we are heavily dependent for foreign direct investment, is suffering due to the credit crisis. Those two issues are of crucial importance. To simplify the debate by stating that Fianna Fáil is levying public sector...

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: It is important to put it in context. I will address the motion.

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: At times when we ask for solidarity, it is important that we engage in serious debate on this issue. I am glad Deputy Penrose at least acknowledged that the financial crisis is the most immediate issue facing Ireland at present. That in itself is a move forward for the Labour Party. I attended a Council of Ministers meeting on Monday and the EU is at one in addressing the issue of the jobs...

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: There will be a meeting of Heads of State on 7 April to discuss this serious issue. I assure the House that every country within the European zone is facing rising unemployment and haemorrhaging of jobs. It is not exclusive to Ireland.

Unemployment Levels: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: It must be dealt with in a co-ordinated manner. Not only must Ireland get its own house in order, but the European Union must come in and assist vulnerable states. I was surprised at the understanding and empathy from colleagues at the Council of Ministers. They were understanding of Ireland's particular position. I must point out again that we are not alone. It is not uniquely Irish; it...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (11 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: This application was refused on the grounds that current Government policy is to issue new employment permits only in respect of highly skilled or highly paid positions, in respect of non-EEA nationals who are already legally resident in the State on valid employment permits or in respect of a sector of the employment market where there is an officially recognised scarcity of workers of a...

Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I am delighted to have the opportunity to reply to the debate on this legislation. There was much interest in the Second Stage speeches inside and outside the House. They were followed closely not only by interested employer representative groups, but also by the trade union movement and Deputies who did not have an opportunity to contribute in the House. There is no doubt but that there...

Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: We find that figures can be a very risky business. The provisions of the Bill arise directly from the process of consultation negotiation as referred to in the context of Towards 2016. With regard to NERA being a quango, an advisory board was established and a former Member of the House, John Dennehy, was appointed chair of this board. I have known John Dennehy for a long time and he has a...

Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008: Referral to Select Committee. (12 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (12 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I understand that the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), which is responsible for monitoring compliance with employment rights legislation, is conducting investigations into the case of the individual to whom the Deputy refers. NERA advise me that appropriate action will be taken in the event of breaches of employment legislation being discovered.

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (12 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to...

Oireachtas Reform: Motion. (24 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this issue. At the outset, I feel like the accused in the dock having to defend myself from the angry mob on the other side. It is important to keep these things in perspective. First and foremost, we are a parliamentary democracy. We have two Houses of the Oireachtas, the Dáil and the Seanad. Everybody on both sides of this debate...

Oireachtas Reform: Motion. (24 Mar 2009)

Billy Kelleher: It would be unfair if I had fewer staff, simply because I have other roles and responsibilities. As to whether people believe they are roles of responsibility is a decision those on other side of the House will make. I passionately believe no person should be at a disadvantage in representing their constituents because of a role or responsibility they hold in this House. This motion is...