Results 1,321-1,340 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Seanad: Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: Amendment No. 5 relates to a drafting point to facilitate the introduction of a new subsection (2D) which is to follow subsection (2C). Amendment No. 6 also relates to section 26. It proposes to insert the following paragraph between lines 39 and 40, which is the new subsection (2D) to which I referred. It states: "Where the Controller decides to allow a request under this section to...

Seanad: Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: The proposal is to delete lines 27 to 46 and substitute the text as outlined in the amendment. The substance of the section remains the same, apart from subsection (3). For drafting reasons the Parliamentary Counsel found it necessary, in order to facilitate the introduction of the subsection, to set out the entire provision. The purpose of the section is to reflect Article 11 of the...

Seanad: Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: This arises from a suggestion by Parliamentary Counsel. It is an editorial amendment to include a reference to the following section in the introductory words of section 30.

Seanad: Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: This substitutes singular for plural. The reference should be to "amendment" because it is affected by section 43 (c).

Seanad: Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: This is a stylistic change suggested by Parliamentary Counsel. It is required to align the manner in which the date is cited with the manner in which dates mentioned in the Long Title are cited.

Seanad: Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: I am grateful to Senator Coghlan for making the offer. Some elements of the Bill involve time constraints. I did not expect to be afforded the opportunity to proceed with Report Stage. The officials inform me we are in a position to deal with it if the House agrees.

Seanad: Patents (Amendment) Bill 1999: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Coghlan for his suggestion and Senators Leyden and Hanafin for their co-operation. On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, I thank the Senators for facilitating the passage of the Bill. It must return to the Dáil and time constraints will arise. I also commend the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, on his work on this...

Job Protection. (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: I am aware through a variety of sources that there is particular concern with regard to the alleged practices of some employments in the mushroom industry. The labour inspectorate of the Department is aware that the application of piece-rates is a feature of the remuneration structure of many mushroom enterprises. The payment of such rates is not in itself a contravention of employment...

Job Protection. (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: There certainly is a problem on the basis of some of the information we have received. The labour inspectorate has targeted this industry in recent times, with 40 investigations, 28 of which are ongoing, in contrast to 12 last year and only seven the previous year. The inspectorate has been following up in this area. I have met SIPTU on a number of occasions and a group that represents...

Job Protection. (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: I would like to see a new JLC or ERO in this sector, ideally in co-operation with employers and unions. That would benefit the industry and workers tremendously. There are some deficiencies in respect of records, as Deputies are aware. This will be addressed in promised legislation under Towards 2016. The legislation on work permits introduced by the Minister will address all the issues...

Job Protection. (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: It will take place in January. The signal given in the legislation is strong. There is no doubt where we stand on the rights of workers.

Equal Opportunities Employment. (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Disability Act provides that each Minister may specify targets for the employment of people with disabilities in the public bodies under his or her aegis. The Minister for Finance may specify targets for the Civil Service generally. It is not intended to legislate to impose a similar approach in the private sector which could be counter productive. The latest available figures published...

Equal Opportunities Employment. (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: I regret that Deputy Connolly finds the answer disrespectful. I could have given more information but I wished to leave time to respond to further questions. The Deputy refuses to acknowledge a number of facts, such as the voluntary nature of our tradition and the appropriate provision of incentives to encourage employers to hire people with disabilities. I had the honour of speaking at a...

Job Losses. (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Deputies for raising these matters. While responsibility for the food sector rests with the Minister for Agriculture and Food, I was very disappointed to hear about the situation at the company in question. I am very conscious of the effects that the job losses will have on the workers concerned and their families, as well as on the local community in the surrounding area. This...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: The eligibility requirements and terms and conditions of employment for the position of Labour Inspector do not provide for competence in minority languages. While Inspectors come into contact and engage with migrant workers in the course of investigations a substantial portion of the Inspectorate's time is allocated to the detailed examination of employment records and compliance with a...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 149 together. The persons in respect of whom details have been supplied could, in accordance with Section 6 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1991, present a complaint to a Rights Commissioner. The Rights Commissioner may, following examination of the facts and if he/she considers that the complaint is well founded, order the employer to pay appropriate...

Written Answers — Redundancy Issues: Redundancy Issues (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: A Collective redundancy means dismissals effected by an employer for one or more reasons not related to the individual concerned where in any period of 30 days the number of such dismissals is: (a) at least 5 in an establishment normally employing more than 20 and less than 50 employees, (b) at least ten in an establishment normally employing at least 50 but less that 100 employees, (c) at...

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: The number of inspections which have been carried out by the Labour Inspectorate in respect of compliance with the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 in 2005 and 2006 was 481 and 2,818 respectively. While no prosecutions were initiated under that legislation in 2005 or 2006 the Deputy should be aware that the primary objective of the Labour Inspectorate in cases where breaches...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 119 together. The Office of the Director for Employment Rights Compliance (ODERC) will be established under primary legislation to be published next year. In the meantime, and as soon as the Director has been appointed and an Advisory Board put in place, I propose to establish this Office on an interim basis. The Public Appointments Service is managing...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 161 together. The Report of the Expert Advisory Group on Workplace Bullying was launched and published by me on the 17th August 2005 and it follows on from a 2001 Report by the Taskforce on the Prevention of Workplace Bullying. The recommendations of the 2001 Taskforce were implemented. One of the recommendations in the 2005 Report of the Expert...