Results 2,221-2,240 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: A registered employment agreement provides for the establishment of the construction federation operatives pension scheme, generally referred to as CFOPS. A registered employment agreement is an agreement that is negotiated between two parties, for example, a body representative of employers and a similar group representative of employees, who are all engaged in the same sector of activity in...

Written Answers — Public Safety Regulation: Public Safety Regulation (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 351 together. The review group on public safety was established in November 1999. The group comprised representatives from Departments, various agencies and bodies. Its report entitled A Review of Public Safety in Ireland was published in 2000. One of the recommendations of the review group was that an office of public safety regulation should be...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: The labour inspectorate of my Department carried out two inspections of the records of Irish Ferries. The first inspection was carried out in 2000. This was a routine inspection which was carried out during the course of a major campaign to ensure compliance with the then recently enacted National Minimum Wage Act. The second inspection of the company's records was carried out in April this...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 131, 153, 161 and 164 together. In January 2005 the complement of labour inspectors was 17 officers. When all sanctioned posts are filled there will be 31 officers assigned to labour inspector posts. A selection interview process was undertaken following the announcement of additional labour inspectorate posts earlier this year. Arising from that process...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Whistleblowers Protection Bill 1999 is still retained on the Government legislative programme. However, as previously stated on a number of occasions in the House, it is now considered, on reflection, that the provision of statutory protection for whistleblowers on a sectoral basis might provide a better and more focused approach to dealing with this issue. Recent legislative initiatives...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: 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 for full-time employees and pro-rata entitlements for part-time employees. The Act also provides for an entitlement to nine public holidays per annum....

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: I propose take Questions Nos. 140, 143 and 171 together. The construction federation operatives pension scheme, generally referred to as CFOPS, has been established on foot of a registered employment agreement for the construction industry. A separate registered employment agreement in the construction sector provides for the establishment of statutory rates of pay and related working...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: Work has been progressing with regard to the discussion document prepared in connection with the mandate and resourcing of the labour inspectorate. The social partners, together with representatives from the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance, are members of the Employment Rights Compliance Group, ERCG, that is considering the discussion document. The group first met on...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: In the absence of specific information in respect of the employments concerned I am not in a position to comment on the detail. However, if it is the case that non-national workers were paid less than Irish workers for comparable work and there are no other relevant differentiating features it may be appropriate to refer the matter to the Equality Authority for consideration under equality...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: Allegations of non-compliance with labour legislation in respect of a major construction firm were raised in the House on 8 February last by Deputy Joe Higgins. Those allegations were that certain non-national construction workers were required to work excessive hours and that such workers were in receipt of pay of between €2 and €3 per hour in contravention of the statutory minimums...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: Legislation provides that an application for the establishment of a joint labour committee can be made to the Labour Court by me, as Minister, a trade union or any organisation or group of persons claiming to be representative of such workers or of such employers. In consultation with the Labour Court and the Labour Relations Commission my Department is considering the practicalities of...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 167 together. There is already a comprehensive body of employment rights legislation which has as its objective the protection of employees against arbitrary behaviour by employers, provision for the safety and health of workers and to foster labour market harmony by promoting policies that minimise conflict and maximise fairness. While recognising the...

Written Answers — Labour Court: Labour Court (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Labour Court is an independent statutory body that acts independently in carrying out its functions. The Deputy's question relates to an issue concerning the day-to-day operation of the court, and is one in which I have no direct function. There are two employment agreements relating to the construction sector registered with the Labour Court: (1) pensions assurance and sick pay; and (2)...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: The growth in employment by 93,000 in the year to the second quarter of 2005 is the highest annual growth rate recorded in five years. Full-time employment increased by 72,500 — males, 39,200 and females, 33,300. Part-time employment increased by 20,600 — males, 5,800 and females, 14,800 — compared with 6,000 in the same period last year. Overall, since 1997, full-time employment has...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (2 Nov 2005)

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 to date is set out in the following tabular statement. The primary function of the labour inspectorate is to seek compliance and rectification of any breaches identified, including payment of any...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: Officers of the Labour Inspectorate met some of the workers in June 2005 to discuss their concerns. The employees concerned were advised of the relevant bodies to which their complaints should be addressed. In that regard they were told that matters relating to allegations of workplace bullying are dealt with by the Health and Safety Authority, Temple Court, 10 Hogan Place, Dublin 2. I...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: I provided details to the House in regard to certain other aspects of this case in my reply to a question on 25 October last. Section 27 (3) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, which came into effect on 1 September 2005, states that An employer shall not penalise or threaten penalisation against an employee for ... making a complaint or representation to his or her safety...

Seanad: Quarterly National Household Survey: Statements. (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: The country occasionally illustrates a capacity for consensus, dramatically so in the context of social partnership. Hopefully, it will be possible to enable the participants in social partnership to chart a way forward for the next three or four years, or whatever will be the length of that partnership. I worry when people attack social partnership because I have never heard any of them...

Seanad: Quarterly National Household Survey: Statements. (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: I would like to thank Senators and my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, for their contributions today. It is an important debate, not least because population and migration are not issues that we consider every day. These CSO figures show Ireland at a turning point and give us cause to reflect as a society on how we...

Seanad: Quarterly National Household Survey: Statements. (2 Nov 2005)

Tony Killeen: He also said that angling tourism has suffered some difficulty but that is being addressed. It is a serious challenge to reach a consensus on dealing with all areas where there is difficulty. The only point in the debate with which I disagree is Senator Ryan's comment that Fianna Fáil is not a party of consensus. When I turned the corner of Merrion Square today I saw the Labour Party's...