Results 10,341-10,360 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English
- Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (4 May 2022)
Damien English: I agree that it has to work for all workers. It is particularly targeted at those in the lower-paid sectors where, according to research, there are no sick pay schemes. All that was borne in mind when we set the 70% rate and the €110 maximum. We did take all that on board. We tried to go as far as we thought was reasonable in order to protect jobs. We recognise that this will...
- Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (4 May 2022)
Damien English: I want to be clear. We have done the maths on this scheme and we have come in at a figure of 70%, which we believe is fair and reasonable. I do not want to give the impression that we are going to go away and come back on Report Stage with an increase on that because that is not the intention. As with every discussion we have here, we will reflect on it, we will talk to the Tánaiste...
- Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (4 May 2022)
Damien English: I move amendment No. 26: In page 11, line 22, to delete “20 weeks’ ” and substitute “2 weeks’ ”. Amendments Nos. 26 and 28 amend the maximum penalty that the Workplace Relations Commission or the Labour Court may award for an employer's breach of the obligations under the Bill to two weeks' remuneration. This is to bring it into line with the...
- Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (4 May 2022)
Damien English: I was going to.
- Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (4 May 2022)
Damien English: The Deputies have made a fair point. The ambition was to deter people. We might have gone too far with the 20 weeks, but I take the point that setting it at two weeks might be too low. We will reflect on this matter to see if we can get the balance right. We ended up on two weeks after tracking penalties in other legislation. This period is approximately in line with what the offer was....
- Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (4 May 2022)
Damien English: We looked at other legislation. Where paternity leave is concerned, it is two for two. There is an entitlement to 26 weeks of maternity leave and a 20-week penalty. That is why we lowered it to two weeks - to reflect what was common across other legislation. The Deputies will accept that 20 weeks was probably disproportionate, but we will consider the matter and revert to members.
- Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (4 May 2022)
Damien English: I will withdraw it for now and revert on Report Stage.
- Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (4 May 2022)
Damien English: I move amendment No. 28: In page 11, line 28, to delete "20 weeks' " and substitute "2 weeks' ".
- Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (4 May 2022)
Damien English: I will withdraw it for now. To be clear, we will recommend some change on Report Stage. I hope to get a figure on which we can all agree.
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: I thank Senator Wall for tabling this Commencement matter for discussion. I am happy to address it and to explain to him the reasons and the rationale behind this, as well as to discuss what we are doing with working with the local enterprise offices, LEOs, in Kildare. As the Senator will know, the mid-east regional enterprise plan brings together the three counties of Wicklow, Kildare and...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: I again thank Senator Wall for raising this matter and giving me a chance to explain to him and the people of Athy what the situation is. The bottom line is that the area would not have met the criteria. We do not set the criteria; they are set by the European Union. The evidence on which the criteria are judged is not made up either. It is based on facts and data gathered in Kildare and...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: While it is a positive for Athy that the county is doing so well, I accept that in County Kildare, as in all counties, there are particular areas where we want to see more jobs growth and more opportunities. There is no denying that. However, when we are dealing with European state aid rules, we must fit the criteria and in this case Kildare scores too high, which is a positive in one way,...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: Was the question answered?
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: I made the point very clearly that the Kildare data, including the data for Athy, would not fit the criteria. That is the bottom line. I have been very clear on that. I cannot be any clearer.
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: It would be great if Senator Wall could share the facts and figures.
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: There are different facts-----
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: To be fair, in the context of this debate, if Senator Wall has evidence contrary to what we have, perhaps today was the chance to present it.
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: That is fair enough. It is important that the House would know-----
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: I want to be very clear. The question I have before me has been very clearly debated and answered. It was to ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to explain why the Athy municipal district in County Kildare has been removed from the recently announced regional aid map. I have answered that question in great detail. I take exception if the claim is that I have not. What I...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Aid (5 May 2022)
Damien English: With respect-----