Results 2,641-2,660 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — National Workplace Strategy: National Workplace Strategy (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: An Taoiseach launched the Report of the Forum on the Workplace of the Future on 9 March 2005. The report contains 42 separate recommendations, which form the basis for a national workplace strategy. The strategy aims to create a climate conducive to supporting change and new forms of work organisation at national and organisational levels. A high level group comprising senior representatives...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: I wish to reiterate that no distinction is made in Irish employment rights legislation between the terms and conditions of Irish as opposed to migrant workers. Section 20 of the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Workers) Act 2001 provides, that for the avoidance of doubt, that all employee protection legislation on the Statute Book in Ireland applies to workers posted to work in Ireland....

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: I do not consider that my replies of 24 February need to be amended, as the investigation of the labour inspectorate into a particular company in the construction sector was ongoing. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment did not receive the report of the labour inspectorate until 6 April. Since the Minister received the report he has been active with the management of the company...

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Retail Grocery and Allied Trades Joint Labour Committee has, as and from 16 March 2004, set down the rates of remuneration and conditions of employment by way of an employment regulation order dated 8 March 2004. Persons covered by that employment regulation order are entitled to the terms and conditions therein. The pay rates currently applicable for an adult worker range from €7.51 to...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (20 Apr 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. Accordingly, I expect early appointments. Pending these new appointments, there are 17.5 labour inspectors in the inspectorate. One inspector...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The labour inspectorate of my Department is responsible for monitoring certain employment conditions for all categories of workers in Ireland, including immigrant workers. Inspectors pursue allegations of worker mistreatment and when evidence of non-compliance with the relevant employment rights legislation is found, the inspectorate seeks redress for the individual or individuals concerned...

Flexible Work Practices. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The question of the introduction of flexible working hours is a matter for negotiation between employees, or a trade union acting on their behalf, and employers. I have no plans to introduce flexible working hours on a statutory basis for all employees. Current legislation provides for statutory entitlement to maternity leave, adoptive leave, carers' leave and parental leave. Further...

Flexible Work Practices. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: One of the great advantages of the current system is that the voluntary approach has been very successful. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, considerable numbers of workers are employed part-time, and very successfully. If at this stage we were to introduce a statutory right for all workers——

Flexible Work Practices. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: ——along the lines outlined by the Deputy, many more problems would be created, instead of being sorted out. This is a matter which may be adequately addressed within the partnership approach and most successfully at the level of the individual enterprise where there is a willingness for this.

Flexible Work Practices. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: In the instances which the Deputy mentions where there is demand for such flexibility I have no doubt that it will be provided.

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 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. Accordingly, I expect early appointments. There are currently 17.5 labour inspectors, whole-time equivalents, in the inspectorate. One...

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The issue was raised at the mid-term review of Sustaining Progress and I was not a Minister of State at that stage. At the first meeting I had with SIPTU, that was one of the issues raised. We have been seeking resources to announce the additional inspector since then. The announcement on 12 April addresses the immediate concerns.

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: This issue was raised by the unions in the mid-term review. A recommendation was made at that stage. Ultimately, the recommended number of inspectors was 21. Clearly, the unions were extremely dissatisfied with that outcome. However, since Deputy Martin and I were appointed to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, this matter has been raised frequently with us. It is fair to say...

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: I am not in the business of adjudicating on the strength of brass neck on this issue. A number of people have raised this need for an increase in the number of inspectors, Deputy Howlin among them. This issue was raised long before I was in the Department——

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: ——and I would not have been answering parliamentary questions at that stage. In October or November 2004, I felt that additional inspectors were required. I discussed the matter with the Minister, Deputy Martin, who was of the same view. The necessary financial provision was not there for them. In view of those circumstances, the additional appointments represented a very quick response.

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: Arising from paragraph 12.4 of the mid-term review of Sustaining Progress, and to assist in the preparation of proposals for consideration by Government, the labour inspectorate prepared a discussion document on its mandate and resourcing. This comprehensive document was circulated to the social partners in January of this year so that their views could be obtained. The discussion document...

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: As I said, the labour inspectorate's report was circulated to the social partners in January. As the Deputy will be aware, and as I said previously in response to his questions, up to last year the number of labour inspectors was 17. There were some difficulties last year because some of them were involved in work associated with the European Presidency. The number was increased following the...

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: A number of lessons arise from the points made by Deputy Howlin and indeed adverted to by almost every Member of the House. There is no doubt that there are employers who will exploit their workers but a second and important lesson is that the labour inspectorate eventually catches up with those people——

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: ——and prepares reports which ultimately have to be placed before the courts.

Labour Inspectorate. (20 Apr 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Deputy will acknowledge, as will anybody who is familiar with the law here, that one is required to present evidence in court and produce people who are prepared to give that evidence. That has been a difficulty heretofore but it is one that is gradually, and perhaps too slowly, being addressed. We need to send out a strong message from this House that those employers who continue to...