Results 1,561-1,580 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Skills Strategy: Skills Strategy (26 Apr 2007)

Tony Killeen: The Government is fully committed to investing in the upskilling of the Irish labour force. That is why this year this Department will invest nearly €480 million in training programmes operated by FAS, Skillnets and others organisations. Out of this sum €280 million will be allocated to training programmes to prepare people to enter employment. A further €70 million is being...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (26 Apr 2007)

Tony Killeen: Payment of Statutory Redundancy is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the employer. When a redundancy situation arises in an employment, an employer must give at least 2 weeks notice of termination of the employment in accordance with the provisions of the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2003. On the date of termination or as close to possible to it, the employer should pay the...

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies and Related Matters) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 May 2007)

Tony Killeen: This amendment arises because of the necessity to have the same definition for the words "employee representatives" in this legislation in accordance with Towards 2016 as in the Protection of Employment Act 1977. It is somewhat technical, but is in agreement with what was decided in Toward 2016.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies and Related Matters) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 May 2007)

Tony Killeen: These are amendments Nos. 2, 3 and 5.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies and Related Matters) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 May 2007)

Tony Killeen: Amendment No. 2 inserts additional words "or periods" after the word "period". It is already implied in the section that the redundancy panel be set up for a period of three years with provision for a three year extension, however, concern was expressed in the Dáil that it was not sufficiently clear and I accepted the amendment. Amendment No. 3 is unnecessary legally but it makes the text...

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies and Related Matters) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 May 2007)

Tony Killeen: Amendment No. 5 is a technical amendment to section 9(3)(a),which provides for a substitute provision for section 7(1)(c) of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. It relates to enhanced compensation where an employee takes a successful unfair dismissals case following the issuing of a Labour Court opinion that the dismissal was one of a number of dismissals, including in exceptional collective...

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies and Related Matters) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 May 2007)

Tony Killeen: Amendment No. 4 does not change the sense but reflects exactly what was agreed in paragraph 18(3) in Towards 2016. I introduced it in the Dáil, having had discussions with ICTU on its concerns that it was better to reflect exactly what was decided.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies and Related Matters) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 May 2007)

Tony Killeen: Amendment No. 6 is somewhat similar. This is provided to provide comfort to those companies with established operations in different locations who may need to restructure and to move part of an operation to another existing location. It reflects what was agreed in Towards 2016.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies and Related Matters) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 May 2007)

Tony Killeen: Amendment No. 7 provides that for the avoidance of doubt, the flexibility of the provisions of section 6 of the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 to the type of dismissals situations described in the new section 5(2)(a)of that Act is not affected by the provisions of this new section. In other words, section 6 continues to apply to circumstances in which all the employees involved in a strike or...

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies and Related Matters) Bill 2007 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 May 2007)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Acting Chairman and all the Members of the Seanad for their courtesy, help and co-operation. I have dealt with several Bills in this House over the past two and half years and really appreciate that Members have taken the time to consider the relevant issues. I suspect I have accepted more amendments in the Seanad than any other Minister, certainly on a pro rata basis. I have...

Planning Issues (28 Jun 2007)

Tony Killeen: Comhgairdeas leat ar do phost nua, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Government is committed to creating sustainable towns and cities and ensuring quality living spaces for our community. We will introduce new urban design guidelines for building new housing developments, require all new apartments and other high density developments to comply with improved...

Waste Management: Motion (Resumed). (4 Jul 2007)

Tony Killeen: That is correct. I thank Deputies who have contributed to this debate, particularly those who have demonstrated an understanding of the legal obligations which flow from legislation that has passed through the Oireachtas. Deputies on the Opposition benches always have the luxury of being able to make free-wheeling comments about issues, including this project now before our statutory...

Seanad: EU-US Agreement: Motion (4 Jul 2007)

Tony Killeen: This motion under Article 29.4.6° of Bunreacht na hÉireann seeks the approval of the House for Ireland to participate in the adoption of a new agreement between the EU and the US concerning the collection, storage, use and transfer of passenger name record, PNR, data. The events of 11 September 2001 and terrorist attacks in other parts of the world — most recently in Glasgow — have made...

Seanad: EU-US Agreement: Motion (4 Jul 2007)

Tony Killeen: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí a labhair ar an ábhar seo. I thank Senators for their contributions on this issue. Senator Bradford mentioned balance and citizens' rights to privacy, expressing his concern that we are rushing this motion through the Oireachtas. I referred to this in my opening remarks; speed is necessary because of the timescale at European level and the fact that...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (5 Jul 2007)

Tony Killeen: This important matter is of interest to many people in the Shannon region and beyond. The Minister, who regrets he is not available this evening, explained to the House yesterday in response to a written question that the Department had provided the funding to Dublin City Council for a study to assess the long-term water use and supply needs of the greater Dublin area and to identify...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (5 Jul 2007)

Tony Killeen: I am only able to speak one sentence at a time. I will come to that. Dublin City Council is now carrying out a detailed appraisal of the Shannon and desalination options to determine which, if either, would represent the optimum solution to the region's long-term water needs. The appraisal is just that, an appraisal, and no decision has been taken, at either local or departmental level, as...

Alternative Energy Projects. (5 Jul 2007)

Tony Killeen: I welcome Deputy White to the House and compliment her on her contribution. The development of Ireland's bioenergy sector is part of a comprehensive strategy to increase deployment of renewable energy across the three energy sectors — transport, heat and electricity. These sectors are almost equal in the amount of energy they use and their CO2 emissions. Bioenergy policy is relevant across...

Local Authority Funding. (26 Sep 2007)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Ready, Steady, Play: A National Play Policy which was published in 2004 provides a framework for the development of public play facilities in Ireland, with the overall aim of ensuring children have access to a range of quality play opportunities to enrich their childhood. The development of the policy by the National Children's Office was as a...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (26 Sep 2007)

Tony Killeen: The Action Plan for Rural Drinking Water Quality, drawn up by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee, has identified 728 group water schemes serving 88,627 households as being subject to the requirements of the EU Drinking Water Directive. The Plan also identified treatment solutions to ensure all schemes achieved compliance with the drinking water quality standards in the Directive....

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (26 Sep 2007)

Tony Killeen: Approval in principle was granted in 2001 for a new fire station in Tallow. While it has not been possible to provide funding for this station as part of the 2007 fire services capital programme, announced earlier this year, funding has been provided for various other priority projects which have been advanced in County Waterford since 2001. These include replacement stations and extensions...