Results 2,481-2,500 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Following my recent announcement on 12 April, there are now 31 labour inspector posts. Immediate steps have been taken to source the new inspectors initially from within the existing staff complement of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. The recruitment process has commenced and I would expect early appointments. The additional inspectors will strengthen the labour...

Written Answers — Migrant Workers: Migrant Workers (31 May 2005)

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

Written Answers — Legislative Review: Legislative Review (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: As part of the Government's commitments under Sustaining Progress, a review of the Employment Agency Act 1971 is being carried out by my Department. As part of this review, my Department published in May 2004 a discussion paper on the 1971 Act and requested submissions from the various interests in the sector, including the social partners. A total of nine submissions were received and were...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: FÁS, in conjunction with the social partners, continues to maintain and develop procedures and mechanisms which are designed to keep under ongoing review the relevance of its training courses to the needs of business and those seeking employment. There are several ways in which FÁS maintains contact with and is responsive to the training requirements of business, job-seekers and the wider...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: I am aware that Mr. David Begg, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, recently spoke on the subject of an overhaul of the system of industrial relations and employment rights. The evolution of employment rights legislation over a long period of time has led to the current system involving seven bodies and 25 Acts, which can be complex, with duplication of functions as well...

Written Answers — Pay Issues: Pay Issues (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Primary responsibility for policy in relation to the gender pay gap is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Addressing the factors behind the gender pay gap is, however, a multi-faceted task involving a number of Departments. My Department undertakes the following actions. The national framework committee on work-life balance policies, which is chaired...

Written Answers — Industrial Accidents: Industrial Accidents (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: The rate of deaths and injuries in Irish workplaces is unacceptable. Since the beginning of 2000 to 25 May 2005, 338 people lost their lives in workplace accidents. Approximately 47,000 people also had workplace accidents resulting in occupational injury benefit claims for the years 2000 to 2003, inclusive. Overall trends in workplace accidents are best described by reference to the data from...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: The funding allocated by my Department for workplace safety in 2005 is €301,000.

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: In co-operation with the industrial development agencies and local organisations, FÁS has developed a process of engagement with redundant workers. Since the beginning of 2003, FÁS has engaged with some 100 companies experiencing redundancies. Skills audits and subsequent training form the backbone of interventions. As a result of these interventions, many workers have secured alternative...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Broad employment and training objectives and policies to promote the employment of disabled people, including schemes, programmes and services, are reflected in the statements of strategy and business plans of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and FÁS. FÁS programmes and the various support measures are based on the policies of the Department, which are developed through a...

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Senator O'Toole tabled this amendment on Committee Stage and we had a discussion thereon. I accepted it was clear that the definition was deficient. However, in the course of discussing the amendment, it became apparent that there was a danger that the words "the uncontrolled or accidental release, the escape or the ignition of any substance" might be deleted by the inclusion of the previous...

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Amendments Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, are technical. Under some sections, such as section 66(7), pertaining to an appeal against an improvement notice, and section 67(7), pertaining to an appeal against a prohibition notice, it will be necessary to prescribe the procedures and forms of order for cases in the District Court. These are matters that will be prescribed by the Minister for Justice,...

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: In reviewing the Bill, it has come to light that there is a possible inconsistency between the use of the word "undertaking" in section 2(5), which uses the phrase "whether carried on by him or her for profit or not", and the definition of "undertaking" in section 2(1). For this reason it is important that amendments Nos. 5 and 6 be accepted. I am concerned that the Bill will cover all types...

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: This amendment was discussed on Committee Stage in reference to an amendment tabled by Senator Coghlan and proposed by Senator Cummins. I indicated on Committee Stage that I believed there might be a need for a very minor amendment to their proposal. It involved the inclusion of the word "another". Amendment No. 7 basically accepts and clarifies Senator Coghlan's proposal.

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: I take this opportunity to thank the Cathaoirleach and Members of the Seanad for their co-operation during the passage of the Bill through this House, and in particular for drawing our attention to the deficiencies addressed by the amendments which have been accepted. I also want to thank the officials of the Department for their help in the course of the Bill, as well as everybody who...

Health and Safety Regulations. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Health and Safety Authority is in the final stages of its consultation with the social partners and interested parties on the formulation of new construction regulations. These regulations will be made by me under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004, which I expect will be passed by the House during this term. The legal advice to me is that the regulations must be made under...

Health and Safety Regulations. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: The new regulations will be put in place under section 17 of the new Bill. These include a number of important new groups in construction, particularly clients who commission building work, architects, engineers and designers. The Health and Safety Authority is engaged in exhaustive consultation with architects, engineers and designers who are concerned about their new legal responsibilities....

Health and Safety Regulations. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: The new regulations will be enforced under section 17 of the Bill.

Health and Safety Regulations. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Under the new legislation, it is possible to include the additional groups to whom I referred in my first response.

Health and Safety Regulations. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: This might have been done. However, I assume it was intended that the new legislation would be in place long before now. When I was appointed last October, it was hoped the Bill would be passed before Christmas, but as Deputies will be aware, it took considerably longer. I share the Deputy's concern about the increased number of deaths in the first five months of the year against a background...