Results 24,361-24,380 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Proposed Legislation. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The Law Reform Commission published a consultation paper on corporate killing in October last. The commission recommended that a new offence of corporate killing be established which would be prosecuted on indictment, without exclusion of any entity regardless of whether incorporated. The offence would apply to acts or omissions of a high managerial agent, which would be treated as those of...

Proposed Legislation. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: It is certainly my intention and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, to create an offence of corporate manslaughter. The reason it cannot be included in the health and safety at work Bill is that the Attorney General has advised that it has wider implications which go beyond the health and safety of workers. If a company knowingly leaves a product on the market, for example, a...

Proposed Legislation. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The answer to the Deputy's question must await the conclusion of discussions that are ongoing with the Attorney General as to which is the most appropriate legislation to make provision for this offence. If it is not the health and safety at work Bill it will have to be special legislation, and it is my intention to introduce such legislation as quickly as possible.

Proposed Legislation. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I do not believe it will be possible to introduce it this year. We are half-way through the year and I have not had a chance to discuss this matter with the Attorney General. The Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, has been handling this Bill on a daily basis. I made an effort to speak to the Attorney General today, but he is overseas. I apologise for that. I intend to speak to him in the next...

Employment Support Services. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: Since July 1997, State agencies under the auspices of my Department have been involved in 22 employment task forces. While no cost-benefit evaluation of these task forces has been undertaken the operational experience would strongly suggest that they were effective in providing a co-ordinated response to major company closures. Large-scale job losses in an area are always a matter of concern...

Employment Support Services. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The Deputy misunderstands what the task forces are supposed to do. They are established following major closures to assist workers, in particular, to access training or find alternative employment. Huge logistical issues arise for workers and their families after a major closure. The view of the trade union movement and all those who have participated is that the task forces have been...

Employment Support Services. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: Task forces are wound down when they have passed their sell-by date and achieved the task that was given to them. I cannot remember when we last established what I would call a task force because we have not had a major closure in recent times.

Employment Support Services. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: We have to keep an open mind about the most suitable mechanisms to put in place when large numbers of people in a particular area, especially a peripheral location where easily accessible alternative jobs are not available, find themselves out of work. When large numbers of people are made redundant, we usually bring together State agencies such as FÁS to interact with the company and the...

Social Partnership. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The fact that 24% of small and medium sized enterprises believe that social partnership is not beneficial, whereas 38% believe that it benefits them, does not suggest "widespread dissatisfaction with the process". Social partnership has made a significant contribution to the economy in the past 17 years. The social partnership agreements since 1987 have facilitated and encouraged Ireland's...

Social Partnership. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The Deputy may be surprised to learn that I agree with most of what he said. When I initially read Question No. 4, I had to recheck the name of the Deputy who submitted it as I was surprised that it had been tabled by Deputy Finian McGrath.

Order of Business. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: That is a financial services Bill and has nothing to do with e-voting.

Order of Business. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: That legislation will be published before the summer.

Order of Business. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The Order of Business today shall be as follows: No. 15, Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003 — Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stage to adjourn at 1 p.m. today, if not previously concluded, and No. 1, Maritime Security Bill 2004 [Seanad] — Second Stage.

Order of Business. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I share the views expressed by Deputy Richard Bruton on the success of the Garda Síochána in its major find yesterday. In regard to the IGC, legislation and a referendum will be necessary. There is no question of us not co-operating to tackle major drugs activities of this kind or other serious crime, but Ireland and Britain have a different legal system from counties in mainland Europe and...

Order of Business. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The only matter the Deputy raised that relates to legislation is the medical practitioners Bill which was also referred to yesterday. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to state when it will be published. I suggest that the Deputy discuss the matter with the Minister for Health and Children.

Order of Business. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The building control Bill will be published later this year. There is no legislation required in respect of grants.

Order of Business. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy stated, the legislation is already in place. It is not a legislative matter; it is a budgetary matter. It is, therefore, not a matter for the Order of Business.

Order of Business. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: Legislation is not required.

Order of Business. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: I do not believe that secondary legislation is required here. It is a question of budgetary resources and that is a different matter.

Order of Business. (13 May 2004)

Mary Harney: The matters that were to be the subject of the health complaints Bill will be incorporated in the health Bill.