Results 24,501-24,520 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Because that is the default position in the directive. It is only possible to derogate if the social partners agree.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: There are no social partners-----

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The predominant system of negotiation in other countries is through collective agreements and there are two derogations, one through the UK and Irish model in which there is national social partnership and the other through the more common European model in which it is done on a local basis. For us, outside registered employment agreements, the most relevant derogation is at the national...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I will pick up on the point in the conclusion of the debate.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Section 7 is the core provision that outlines the entitlement to basic pay and working conditions for agency workers. It must be read in conjunction with section 3 which sets out the criteria for establishing a "comparable employee". The requirement in the directive is that agency workers should enjoy at least the same basic working conditions as someone recruited by the hirer to do the...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I remind the Senator that the directive was not negotiated in my day.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I thank all Senators for their contributions. In starting with the last contribution first, while Senator Jim Walsh was highly critical of the manner in which social partnership was dealt with in the directive, I simply was pointing out to him that the negotiations in this regard took place in 2008. If terms were improperly used, I must deal with the directive as presented, which is an...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: That pertains to the Swedish derogation. Permanent agency workers are permanent with the agency, not with the hirer. As far as I am aware, the Swedish derogation is not used in Ireland, but the idea behind it is that it suits some employees and employers for the former to be paid a retainer when they are not employed. Some employees might see this as an attraction. They are on-call, work...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: IBEC and ICTU are social partners. They provide collective representation for employers, on one hand, and workers, on the other, and they are recognised nationally. My officials and I engaged in discussions with the social partners to discover whether agreement could be reached in this area. The directive explicitly provides that if, at national level, social partners can agree to its...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The point I am making is that we are introducing changes which will affect both JLCs and REAs and which will make it possible for them to respond to altered economic conditions. Under the current model, it is extremely difficult for them to respond to such conditions. It is necessary to encourage both sides to agree. One cannot expect unions to agree to a unilateral reduction in respect of...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: There have been some examples of rates being negotiated downward. However, we are introducing a much more flexible mechanism whereby the Labour Court will be involved. If there is deadlock and there is not an agreement to reduce a rate to facilitate new employment, the Labour Court will be in a position to intervene and advocate a rate that would be fair in all circumstances. We are...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Senator cannot have it both ways. He cannot pretend that we are not making the system more flexible.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: We are making it more flexible.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The Senator's party was in government for a long period and did not choose to take action on this matter.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: We are introducing a mechanism which allows for flexibility but I accept that it will not suit everyone. Everything in the area of industrial relations involves balancing the views of different people. I am of the opinion that what we have put forward is a fair system in the context of achieving such a balance. The Labour Court has a long record in being fair to both sides and it will be...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: Exactly. As already stated, Senator Mullins referred to the comparator and highlighted the position of people who were recruited in 2007 versus that of agency workers who were taken on afterward. The issue which arises is what is the fair rate on 5 December. The issue is not the rate used in 2007. The employer in question must show that in selecting a fair rate to set on 5 December, it...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (23 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The number of new jobs announced by HP in Ireland since September 2011 is 280 jobs. This number is made up of 150 R&D positions that are being supported by IDA together with a further 130 technical and support positions. The announcement was made on February 9th 2012. All of the jobs will be full time paid positions.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (23 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: A total of 72 requests were received by my Department under the Freedom of Information Act in 2011. Of that number, three requests attracted 'search and retrieval' fees, in accordance with Section 47 of the FOI Act. It should be noted that under the Freedom of Information Act, decision makers are obliged, except in a few limited circumstances, to charge search and retrieval fees where...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (23 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: I am aware that the Competition Authority, as the statutory independent body responsible for enforcing competition law in the State, has received information relating to alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the concrete industry. Section 29 (3) of the Competition Act 2002 provides that the Authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Under section 30(1)(b) of that Act, the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Feb 2012)

Richard Bruton: The cost of lump sums, severance payments and pensions of those leaving the public service through retirement or other grounds; the loss of pension levy and superannuation from employees leaving the public service was provided to the Deputy in the answer to PQ8439 on 14 February last. There has been no change in the information in the intervening period. In 2011, Vote 7 related to...