Results 2,061-2,080 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Age Discrimination: Age Discrimination (8 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: There is no age discrimination in employments rights legislation and there is no compulsory retirement age. Such legislation describes an employee as "a person of any age who has entered into or works under (or, where the employment has ceased, entered into or worked under) a contract of employment. . .". In some employments, a "normal retirement age" exists for that employment only. In such...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The number of inspector posts in the labour inspectorate of the Department is 31. The assignment of previously announced additional labour inspectors was completed in November 2005. That brought the complement of serving inspectors to 31 officers. That increase in staffing represents almost a doubling of the number of labour inspectors in the past 18 months. However, the Deputy may wish to...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: Responsibility for the resolution of trade disputes is a matter for the parties involved. The State provides the industrial relations dispute settlement machinery to assist the dispute resolution process, which, in line with the general principles of industrial relations in Ireland, is voluntary in nature. The system of industrial relations in Ireland is designed to help and support parties...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 129 together. In the area of pay and conditions, it is primarily the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 that apply to adult workers who are employed in domestic service. Employees, working in the provision of domestic service, as is the case for employees in most other areas of the economy,...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: Officials from my Department's employment rights section have participated in five meetings of the European Commission's group of national experts on the implementation of the posting of workers directive since October 2003 when the group was first established. The group's mandate is to foster practical co-operation between EU member states regarding implementation of the directive. Further...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: Posted workers are sent to another country on a temporary basis by an employer. The posting of workers directive provides for administrative arrangements between the national liaison offices of the competent authorities in each member state. In this regard, the employment rights information unit of my Department is the national liaison office for Ireland. We have not received any formal...

Written Answers — Redundancy Statistics: Redundancy Statistics (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The number of redundancies recorded by the Department for 2005 was 23,156, a reduction of 7.5% over the figure of 25,041 for redundancies in 2004. This downward trend is an indication of the continuing healthy state of the Irish economy. This comes on top of a 2.8% reduction in redundancies in 2004 from the 2003 figure of 25,769.

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 182 together. The assignment of additional labour inspectors was completed in November 2005 bringing the complement of serving inspectors to 31 officers. That represents almost a doubling of the number of labour inspectors in the past 18 months. In the past week one officer has commenced a career-break and a replacement officer will take up assignment...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Health and Safety Authority has responsibility for enforcement of occupational safety and health law as set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Matters relating to enforcement of the Act are consequently the responsibility of the authority. I am advised that the Health and Safety Authority was granted a High Court order in accordance with section 71 of the Safety,...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: Following the announcement by the Minister, Deputy Martin, on 12 April last, there are now 31 inspector posts sanctioned for the labour inspectorate. This represents almost a doubling of inspector personnel in the past 18 months and is indicative of a determination to ensure compliance with employment rights legislation. While the additional officers have been appointed and have been serving...

Written Answers — Employee Training Programmes: Employee Training Programmes (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Government is committed to the promotion of lifelong learning. In today's rapidly changing world, we all must be prepared to adapt our skills. As the majority of the 2020 workforce are already working today, the training of those in employment is particularly important. The primary responsibility for training rests with employers and individuals. However, the State funds training for...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Department, in November 2004, provided a detailed response to the European Commission questionnaire on the application in Ireland of the posting of workers directive. In a second report to the European Commission in January 2005, the Department provided a detailed account of the main provisions of Irish legislation which applies to posted workers. All employee protection legislation on...

Written Answers — Workplace Accidents: Workplace Accidents (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 158, 171 and 181 together. Figures published by the Health and Safety Authority show that 71 work-related deaths were reported to it in 2005 compared to 50 in 2004. I extend my sympathy to all the families of those involved and affected by the workplace fatalities. Unfortunately, for 2005, the same industry sectors, construction and agriculture, remained...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The labour inspectorate of the Department is responsible for monitoring certain employment conditions for all categories of workers in Ireland, including immigrant workers. The inspectorate operates without any differentiation with regard to worker nationality as statutory employment rights and protections apply to immigrant workers in exactly the same manner as they do to native Irish...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The number of workplace inspections-visits undertaken by the labour inspectorate, during and after normal business hours, and prosecutions initiated in respect of the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 is set out in the following tabular statement. It should be noted that substantial and multifaceted investigations appear in the 2005 figures as one unit. The primary function of the labour...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The Health and Safety Authority, the body charged with overall responsibility for administration, enforcement and promotion of workplace safety and health, is responsible for the implementation of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. This legislation deals with occupational safety, health and welfare. The authority has 164 staff involved in inspection, investigation and...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: Section 20 of the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 transposed the posting of workers directive into Irish law. Section 20 provides that, for the avoidance of doubt, all employee protection legislation on the Statute Book in the State applies to posted workers within the meaning of the directive in the same way as it applies to Irish workers. Posted workers are workers who are...

Written Answers — Wage Levels: Wage Levels (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: It is difficult to provide evidence regarding the impact on wage levels of the increase in new European accession states' nationals working here. This is because it is not possible to conclusively isolate this impact from that of the various other factors which affect wage levels. It is true that a significant number of EU-10 nationals have joined our labour force since accession in May 2004....

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: The labour inspectorate of the Department is responsible for monitoring certain employment conditions for all categories of workers in Ireland, including immigrant workers. To effectively exercise their powers when checking or pursuing possible non-compliance with employment rights obligations, inspectors require clarity around the employer-employee relationship in order that relevant...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (7 Feb 2006)

Tony Killeen: Section 25 of the Industrial Relations Act 1946 provides that an employment agreement is an agreement relating to terms and conditions of employment made between worker and employer representatives. Section 26 of the Industrial Relations Act 1946 provides that the Labour Court shall maintain the Register of Employment Agreements. Section 27 of the Industrial Relations Act 1946 provides that...