Results 2,021-2,040 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: If I were to think of Corofin village, I would probably have to make a declaration of interest. I had better stay away from that element. It is obvious the groceries order protected neither suppliers nor businesses given that so many of them closed, something people seem reluctant to acknowledge. I have come to the view that the issue of predatory pricing is one about which people pretend to...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: I am speaking generally, but I will be specific if I must. Ultimately, the job we are charged with doing is to present the most effective legislation. I have extended to Deputies my belief that everybody in the House is opposed to predatory pricing by those in a dominant position. I do not accept that these amendments serve in any way to improve the situation in that regard. In some cases...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: Even if one were to take that as an if, which I do not, the benefit of predatory pricing for the dominant player can only be delivered on if the player is in a position and has financial muscle over a prolonged period to exclude others and force them to close. Not only would the firm need to do that, it would subsequently need to keep other players from entering the market.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: It depends on whether they are involved in both areas. With respect, it is not my call to decide whether they are. The Competition Authority has a role in this and there is provision in the Bill to allow others who wish to do so to take a role in this area. The small people are the consumers and there are many of them. There is much evidence they need protection. The way this Bill sets about...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, asked me to convey his regret that he cannot attend today's debate due to his involvement in a promotional tour. His regret at his inability to attend comes second only to mine in this matter.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: Not at all. He is undertaking an important promotional tour on behalf of the country from which we hope positive results will emerge. Although Deputy Howlin described the Committee Stage debate as somewhat tetchy, I found it quite entertaining to read.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: However, I do not intend that the remainder of the proceedings will be quite as entertaining. Amendment No. 1 in the name of Deputy Howlin is designed to criminalise behaviour that will be prohibited under the Bill but, as the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, explained on Committee Stage, the prohibitions contained in the Bill are not per se offences. In other...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Tony Killeen: Three differences need to be taken into account. First, the operation of a cartel is quite separate from the unilateral situation described in amendment No. 1, which might include within its scope some pro-competitive activities that would also need to be provided for. Second, civil prohibition has the advantages I set out in that a contravention can be dealt with much more quickly and...

Written Answers — European Social Charter: European Social Charter (28 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Council of Europe's standard reporting procedures in respect of the revised Social Charter apply to all the contracting parties, which are the member states which have signed and ratified the charter. Ireland signed and ratified the revised Social Charter, which has 31 articles, on 4 November 2000. In preparing its reports, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has to consult...

Written Answers — Factories Regulations: Factories Regulations (23 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Factories (Woodworking Machinery) Regulations 1972, SI 203 of 1972, continue in force unchanged and I have no immediate plans to replace them. However, significant work has already commenced on the rationalisation of occupational health and safety legislation generally. For example, the Health and Safety Authority is currently considering submissions received on foot of the public...

Written Answers — Trade Union Practices: Trade Union Practices (22 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: Article 40.6.1° of the Constitution guarantees liberty for the exercise, subject to public order and morality, of, inter alia, "the right of citizens to form associations and unions". However, an employer may decide not to recognise a trade union, or to recognise only one trade union and to deal exclusively with that union on issues concerning pay and conditions. Similarly, an employer may...

Written Answers — EU Charters: EU Charters (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Council of Europe has standard reporting procedures regarding the revised social charter which apply to all contracting parties — that is, those member states that have signed and ratified the charter. Ireland signed and ratified the revised social charter on 4 November 2000. The revised social charter has 31 articles. The reporting is done in a "two-cycle" process: (a) the nine "core"...

Written Answers — Consumer Entitlements: Consumer Entitlements (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: I understand from inquiries made that the company named is part of a larger travel company which went into creditor's voluntary liquidation on 15 December 2005. The liquidation of a company involves the cessation of the company's activities, the realisation of its assets and the payment of the company's creditors to the extent possible. The travel voucher would appear to fall into the ranking...

Written Answers — Construction Industry Fatalities: Construction Industry Fatalities (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: I understand from the Health and Safety Authority that there were 23 construction fatalities in 2005, plus one further fatality from the transport, storage and communications sector that occurred on a construction site. Of these 23 fatalities, 21 were employees, one was a member of the public and another was a non-construction worker. In 2004 there were 16 construction fatalities, plus two...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: As a general rule, a redundancy situation exists where an employer requires fewer employees to do work of a particular kind; a company goes into liquidation or receivership; it is decided to rationalise or reorganise a company; or where a company closes down. Other examples could include partial closing down of a company; a decrease in an employer's requirements for workers with particular...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards: Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The enforcement unit of the Department deals with the enforcement of both Labour Court and employment appeals determinations, and generally has approximately 100 cases in various stages of preparation for referral to the Office of the Chief State Solicitor to institute legal proceedings. As indicated in previous replies concerning the case under reference, following receipt of the request...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards: Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The insolvency payments scheme operates under the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) Acts 1984 to 2004, which give effect to EU Directive 80/987/EEC as amended by Directive 2002/74/EC. The scheme provides for the payment of certain unpaid entitlements due to an employee — including various Employment Appeals Tribunal awards — where an employer has become legally insolvent as...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards: Employment Appeals Tribunal Awards (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The disqualification of a person from serving as a company director is a serious matter which can only be determined by a High Court judge on application by the Director of Corporate Enforcement or, in certain instances, other specified parties. It is a matter for the Director of Corporate Enforcement to determine which cases he pursues. The Deputy may wish to make a formal complaint to the...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Inspections: Health and Safety Inspections (21 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 420, 421 and 422 together. The incident in June 2005, to which the Deputy refers, was investigated by the Health and Safety Authority and on the evidence available, legal proceedings were not initiated. The circus owner and the owner of the animal confirmed in writing to the authority that they have engaged the services of a professional safety adviser to...