Results 2,501-2,520 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Health and Safety Regulations. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: As I informed Deputy Hogan, a review of the training regime is under way, which undoubtedly will impact positively on the experience in the future. I cannot say whether the specific training in the cases involved had an impact. If that were the case, I presume it would have been brought to my attention. I have had no update since last month on the Garda inquiry. On Deputy Howlin's question on...

Health and Safety Regulations. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: The number increased in one or two sectors but I do not have the figures.

Employment Legislation. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Since the setting up of the Labour Court almost 60 years ago, structures and systems have evolved in an ad hoc manner to the extent that there are now seven bodies and 25 Acts operating in the employment rights and industrial relations area. The evolution of a large body of employment rights legislation has led to the current system, which can be complex and costly, with duplication of...

Employment Legislation. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: None of us would expect to get full approval. When I was appointed seven or eight months ago one of the first documents I received concerned the recommendation arising from the review group. I held consultations with representatives of the various bodies concerned and with the social partners. There was not complete support for the proposals and there was concern about the next phase, the...

Employment Legislation. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: I am aware of the concerns expressed by Deputy Hogan and I am also aware that there are many divergent views on this matter. Nevertheless, the overarching concern of Government must be to ensure that the system is fair and accessible to everybody at reasonable cost. The proposals arising from the review by Mr. Bonner are considerably more acceptable to many of the bodies than had been the...

Employment Legislation. (31 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: There are two elements to the proposal, one of which is consolidation of the legislation. It is an important job, which, I understand, will take 18 months to two years. It is worth doing in any event. The original proposal was for the amalgamation of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Labour Court, but it did not find a lot of favour. Following Mr. Bonner's review, it was felt that a...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Following my recent announcement on 12 April, the number of labour inspector posts has increased to 31. The additional inspectors will strengthen the labour inspectorate's capacity to ensure workers receive their entitlements under employment rights legislation. Arising from paragraph 12.4 of the mid-term review of Sustaining Progress, and to assist in the preparation of proposals for...

School Accommodation. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: I thank Deputy Ring for giving me the opportunity to outline the proposals of the Department of Education and Science in regard to the provision of a new facility for Gaelscoil na Cruaiche in Westport, County Mayo. Since the beginning of the year the Minister for Education and Science has made a number of announcements relating to the schools building and modernisation programme. This year...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: The matter is under query with the person concerned and as soon as a reply is received by my officials, payment will be made directly to her from the social insurance fund.

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Following the Minister, Deputy Martin's recent announcement on 12 April, there are now 31 labour inspector posts. The additional inspectors will strengthen the labour inspectorate's capacity to ensure that workers receive their entitlements under employment rights legislation. Arising from paragraph 12.4 of the mid-term review of Sustaining Progress and to assist in the preparation of...

Industrial Relations. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this matter on Adjournment. I understand his concerns about the proposed cost-saving proposals at Galtee Meats, which is the pig division of Dairygold Co-operative Society Limited. The operations of Galtee Meats in Mitchelstown, Roscrea and Tallaght employed approximately 500 people until the end of September 2004. On 10 August 2004, the Dairygold Group...

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: I will start with the last point made by Senator McDowell. When provision is made for the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals directive, the REACH directive, it is intended additional people with qualifications and expertise in this area will be employed. Where individual inspectors or the entire inspectorate do not have expertise in a particular case, it is the practice...

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: In response to Senator McDowell, I forgot to mention expertise from outside the country can be sought. This has happened in at least one situation of which I know. It seems considerably less complex than the chemical industry example about which Senator O'Toole spoke but it is the practice to seek outside expertise. The inspector is legally indemnified, although that is not quite the point...

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: This is a technical amendment to realign paragraphs (1) and (2) and to clarify that they apply to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) and not only to (c) as might be the impression created as they stand.

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: This is also a technical amendment to insert a reference to the European Communities (Dangerous Substances and Preparations) (Marketing and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2004. These regulations were made late in 2004 and reference to them could not be included in the Bill because it had already been published.

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: The correct procedure in this case is that the existing references under this section of Schedule 2 must be removed and replaced by the new ones. If one looks carefully, two of them are very similar, if not exactly the same. Three regulations are replacing two. The last one, SI 852 of 2004 had not been enacted before the Bill was published. It is just a procedural matter.

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: This is also a technical amendment to ensure consistency throughout the Schedule. It involves substituting the word "Authority" for the word "Board".

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Senators for their co-operation. I have accepted some amendments and will consider others. The Senators suggested next Tuesday, 24 May for the Report Stage. My understanding is that 31 May might be a more suitable date as I will be out of the country next Tuesday, 24 May.

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Amendment No. 1 in the name of Senator O'Toole had considerable merit and while I might not have accepted it as it was, I would like to have considered a variation on it. On amendment No. 2, as Senator Cummins has pointed out, the definition as it stands is particularly wide and open to sweeping interpretation. For example, it is possible that a site manager on a construction site could be...

Seanad: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (17 May 2005)

Tony Killeen: Senator O'Toole is correct. The Bill was published while the health boards were still in operation, but on 1 January 2005 they were replaced by the Health Service Executive. The amendment proposed by the Senator makes the correct reference relative to the current situation. I therefore accept it.