Results 141-160 of 1,150 for speaker:Frank Fahey

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: Since the introduction of the national minimum wage in April 2000, labour inspectors from my Department have undertaken inspections under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000, with reported compliance and sanctions levels as set out in the following table. Inspectors operate on the basis of achieving compliance. Where an inspection leads to a detection of infringements the employer is required...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 159, 169 and 175 together. The total funding allocation for employment schemes in 2004 has been fixed at €351 million, which will support up to 25,000 places across the three employment schemes, that is, community employment, CE, jobs initiative and social economy. FÁS is being given some flexibility in the management of this financial allocation to...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: Legislative proposals to repeal and amend the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 have been developed at departmental level and are presently the subject of legal drafting by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. These proposals are largely the result of a review carried out by the tripartite board, representing the social partners, of the Health and Safety Authority which had been...

Written Answers — EU Employment Strategy: EU Employment Strategy (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: The spring 2003 European Council approved the establishment of the European Employment Task Force to undertake an independent examination of employment policy and to identify practical reform measures that can have an immediate impact on the ability of member states to implement the European employment strategy. The report of the taskforce was presented to the European Commission in November...

Written Answers — Labour Market Reviews: Labour Market Reviews (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: In its Irish labour market review 2003, FÁS emphasised the importance of training the existing workforce to meet Ireland's future skill needs. This importance reflects the fact that the majority of persons at work now will still be in the workforce in 2020, when job and skill requirements are likely to be very different. It also reflects the fact that there will inevitably be a reduction in...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the right of initiative in terms of EU proposals in regard to the employment rights of workers lies with the European Commission under the treaty. In this regard, proposals in the area of employment rights likely to be progressed during our Presidency are as follows. The Commission communication on the review of the Working Time Directive, 93/104/EC, was...

Written Answers — Leave Entitlements: Leave Entitlements (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which implemented EU Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time, provides for an annual leave entitlement of four working weeks per annum for full-time employees and pro rata entitlements for part-time employees as well as an average hourly working week of 48 hours averaged generally...

Written Answers — Trade Union Recognition: Trade Union Recognition (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: Mechanisms to resolve industrial disputes in situations where collective bargaining arrangements are not in place were considered by a high level group established under Partnership 2000 and comprising representatives from IBEC, ICTU, and various Departments and agencies and chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach. This group recommended that two distinct procedures be put in place; a...

Written Answers — Rural Community Scheme: Rural Community Scheme (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: Funding for the new rural community scheme was allocated in the budget to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and responsibility for the structure and administration of the scheme rests with that Department. The scheme will be run separately from the existing community employment scheme and will not be administered by FÁS. A review of the social economy programme was...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (17 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: The allocation of community employment places on a county-by-county basis is a matter for FÁS and I have no function in the matter. In accordance with the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure community employment, participation levels have gradually been reduced in line with reductions in long-term unemployment and a strategic shift in policy in favour of training and other more...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: My Department has no statutory responsibility for the regulation of occupational pension schemes. The supervision of such schemes and their operation are matters for the Pensions Board established by my colleague the Minister for Social and Family Affairs under the Pensions Act 1990.

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (17 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2001, S.I. No. 481 of 2001, contain detailed provisions relating to the construction, maintenance, inspection, operation, testing and examination etc. of lifting appliances, including tower cranes. They also contain requirements regarding specific certified training of tower crane drivers. In addition the Health and Safety...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (17 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: A task force on the prevention of workplace bullying was established on 21 September 1999 to identify the size of the problem and the sectors most at risk and to develop practical programmes and strategies to prevent workplace bullying. The task force examined the existing legislation on industrial relations, employment equality, protection and health and safety issues. Serious consideration...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages. (2 Mar 2004)

Frank Fahey: I thank the Senators for their contributions to the debate on the Bill and I welcome the unanimous support of the Seanad, which has enabled us to progress the Bill more quickly than any legislation. I thank Senators for their compliments to me and my staff. This is good legislation. The debate in both Houses has improved the Bill, as initiated. As Senator O'Toole stated, the Bill emanated...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (30 Mar 2004)

Frank Fahey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together. As part of the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure community employment , future participation in CE by an individual was capped at three years, effective from April 2000. All time worked on CE after this date is taken into account by FÁS when determining an individual's eligibility for the programme. Offshore island residents...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (30 Mar 2004)

Frank Fahey: Every sector of employment is subject to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 and regulations made under that Act. Where tidy towns committees or residents associations recruit workers, they are subject to the requirements of the safety and health at work legislation. Under section 6(2)(e) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 and Regulation 13 of the Safety, Health...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (30 Mar 2004)

Frank Fahey: On 30 December 2003, the European Commission launched a communication — addressed to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — regarding the review of Directive 93/104/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time. The Commission has called for all interested parties, including the social...

Seanad: Hospital Services. (27 Apr 2004)

Frank Fahey: I am delighted to have this opportunity, in the unavoidable absence on official business of my ministerial colleagues at the Department of Health and Children, to respond to the Senator on this important issue. Neither the Department of Health and Children nor the Eastern Regional Health Authority, which has responsibility for the provision of services at Peamount Hospital, is aware of any...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes. (27 Apr 2004)

Frank Fahey: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. As part of the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure community employment, future participation in CE by an individual was capped at three years effective from April 2000. This change was introduced to discourage repeated participation in CE and to encourage unemployed persons to avail of training-education options where possible, which are...

Written Answers — Transport of Dangerous Goods: Transport of Dangerous Goods (4 May 2004)

Frank Fahey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. A memorandum on the matter of acceding to the ADR is being prepared by this Department and will be submitted to Government by the Department of Foreign Affairs later this year. The current legislative provisions relating to the appointment, examination etc. of safety advisers for the transport of dangerous goods by road are set out in the...