Results 13,341-13,360 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Amendments Nos. 107 and 108 clarify the range of additional functions which will transfer to the workplace relations commission and the Labour Court on the dissolution of the Employment Appeals Tribunal. The Employment Appeals Tribunal will continue to sit for a period beyond the commencement of this legislation in order to hear all complaints and appeals referred to it before the...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Subsection (4) currently provides only for the transfer to the Labour Court of records of the Employment Appeals Tribunal relating to proceedings before it under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1997. This subsection is being amended to provide that the tribunal's records in relation to proceedings under all employment legislation within its remit should be transferred to the Labour Court on the...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Section 82(2) provides that the amendments to the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 "effected by this section shall not apply in relation to a claim for redress under that Act brought before the commencement of this section." Perhaps I will have a note prepared for the Senators to provide certainty on the matter.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: That is my understanding of the matter. Section 71 also provides that any document operative immediately before the dissolution day will be treated as if it was issued by the Labour Court. That means any undertaking given by the EAT would continue to be an undertaking in the Labour Court.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senators for their contributions to the debate on this provision. The section provides for a reserve power and my intention is to use it in only one circumstance, namely, where an employer fails to attend a hearing at first instance and subsequently appeals the decision to the Labour Court. I do not want to encourage that type of practice when we are providing a simple and clean...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: I am introducing this general provision with the intention of using it only to ensure the system works smoothly in the way it should.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Despite some interests wanting it, I have no intention of using this to put barriers in the way of workers. I can bring to the Oireachtas committee the regulations on the provision for the fee for those who fail to turn up. I am giving myself a general power because we do not know what other practices might arise that would interfere with people's proper use of the legislation.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: It is a general power. The Senators must take my word that we are not using it to raise funds or stand in the way of any worker pursing his or her justifiable rights. I do not see any reason for putting fees in place to stand in people's way. There were different views on the two sides and, after considering it, I came down on the side that conforms to the views of the trade unions....

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: It will be necessary to bring any regulation under this provision before the Houses of the Oireachtas in the usual way. Consequently, there is provision for the Houses to be involved if any such regulation came forward. As I stated, only one will be brought forward and I undertake to consult with the Oireachtas committee in order that people can see what I am bringing forward. However,...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: But it would be necessary to bring forward any power in regulations to the House.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Because I intend to use this power to bring forward a regulation in the case I have outlined. I will do this because I believe that will improve the operation of the Act. I will bring that regulation before the committee and before I lay it before the Houses and people can decide whether they approve it. However, I believe this is a reasonable approach. The instance I have outlined to the...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Amendment No. 110 is of a drafting and technical nature. Section 75 amends section 21 of the Industrial Relations Act 1946 to extend the range of proceedings in respect of which the Labour Court may exercise certain functions and powers invested in it by the 1946 Act, as amended.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: The Bill makes adequate provision for an increase in the staffing of the Labour Court. It also makes provision for the making of temporary appointments to the Labour Court to cover certain absences of a full-time officer or member. There is no case to support the creation of a panel of temporary members. The Labour Court is bound to act judicially at all times and to avoid bias or the...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Amendments Nos. 112 and 113 are intended to allow the Minister to make a temporary appointments to the office of deputy chairman of the Labour Court to fill a temporary vacancy that may arise in certain circumstances in that office. Such a vacancy may occur, for example, where an incumbent deputy chairman is unable to perform his or her duties for a period or dies or is removed from office.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: Government amendments Nos. 114 to 120, inclusive, are largely technical and of a drafting nature. These amendments are necessary to ensure that the complaints and redress procedures which will apply to complaints brought under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 are as analogous as possible with the complaints in redress scheme provided for in Part 4 of the Bill. In particular, section 11 of the...

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: There are alternative means.

Seanad: Workplace Relations Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: These amendments seek to address the complex issue of so-called informal insolvency. This issue is not within the scope of the scheme of the Bill. Furthermore, the issue raises complex questions at the intersection of employment and company law which would require detailed and separate consideration. The amendments are not appropriate for these reasons, therefore I do not propose to accept...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Criteria (26 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: If the non-EEA national spouse or civil partner of an Irish or EEA national is resident in the State with his or her spouse or partner, he or she does not require an Employment Permit to work in the State, though the permission of the Minister for Justice and Equality should be sought in relation to his or her residence in the State.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permit Criteria (26 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: If the non-EEA spouses and civil partners of EEA nationals are resident in the State without their Irish or EEA spouses or civil partners, the normal criteria for granting of an employment permit apply (but the fee is waived). Therefore, if fulfilling a Labour Market Needs Test is required for the grant of an Employment Permit, this will be required.If the non-EEA spouse or civil partner of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU Regulations (26 Feb 2015)

Richard Bruton: In general, the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation, which sets out requirements regarding the CE Mark for Structural Steel, is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (D/ECLG). I understand that officials in that Department have worked with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure the industry was aware of, and prepared for, the...