Results 2,641-2,660 of 3,356 for speaker:Feargal Quinn

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: They have not yet been dealt with.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: Yes, but we must discuss amendments Nos. 36, 37, 47 and 69 at the same time.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I will discuss amendment No. 36 as the point has been made about amendments Nos. 33 and 34. Amendment No. 36 proposes that the term "an agreement" be deleted from section 9 and replaced with the word "agreements", while amendment No. 37 proposes the deletion of "exists" and the insertion of "exist". It is also proposed to insert, on page 9, line 17, after the term "employees", the phase...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I thank the Minister of State for his remarks. I would have preferred it if he had accepted the amendments immediately. If, however, his desire is to get the wording exactly right and introduce it on Report Stage, I must accept that.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 34: In page 8, subsection (2)(d), line 9, after "employees" to insert "covered by that agreement". This is a technical amendment and has been addressed by the Minister of State's previous statement.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 47: In page 10, subsection (1), line 18, to delete "Consultation Forum"' and substitute "Information and Consultation Forum internal structures, in accordance with Schedules 1 and 2,". I am unsure whether this amendment should have been discussed with amendment No. 33 as it deals with section 10 and is dependent on the Minister of State's expressed view on that section.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: This amendment aims for more precision. The issue here is the internal structure of an information and consultation forum rather than the actual forum itself. It would be a healthy change and would lend clarity. Will the Minister of State consider the amendment?

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 48: In page 11, subsection (2), lines 1 and 2, to delete "collective representation" and substitute "to be informed and consulted through their representatives (as defined under this Act)". I hope no one minds my choice of words but this amendment aims to correct defective wording, as it strays a million miles from both the wording and the intent of the directive we are...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 15: In page 6, lines 24 and 25, to delete subsection (1) and substitute the following new subsection: "6.—(1) Without prejudice to section 11, and subject to subsections (3) and (4), the employer shall arrange for the election or appointment of one or more than one employees' representative under this section.". This group of amendments has two purposes. First, there is...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I did not realise amendment No. 21 was to be included with the other amendments when I spoke earlier. This amendment, which was proposed by Senator White, would insert "in that employment" after "members" in page 6, subsection (3), line 34. This is rather like the Minister's amendment in that it is technical, and it should apply. Section 6(3) would then read: Without prejudice to section 11,...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: On balance, it appears the Minister of State has got it right. Senator O'Toole referred to my concern about the process being cumbersome and bureaucratic. I agree that there is a danger of this happening. Some 75% of employees in the private sector are not represented by trade unions. Even in general elections, a large proportion of the population no longer vote. The voting tradition is less...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I, on the other hand, have a different view entirely to that expressed by Senator McDowell. Setting aside the rights of employees and employers, the amendment proposed is disproportionate and it should be rejected because it is counterproductive to the ethos that the Bill sets out to establish. We are not talking about negotiation. I am aware that I stated this previously and that I am...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: If the Minister of State will reply to all of the amendments together, I wish to make one or two observations because we tabled a number of amendments.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: Senators Coghlan, White and I have proposed a number of amendments. I feel strongly about this amendment because it seeks to define more precisely who exactly is an employee under this legislation. Many companies rely from time to time on temporary staff supplied to them by employment agencies. Over the years, particularly coming up to Christmas or at similar times, my company would get...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I am not sure I fully understand the difference between contract of service or contract for service. Let me give an example. In the business with which I am associated we often need temporary employees, such as security people over the Christmas period. I am not sure if these people have a contract of service or for service. Am I to understand that a person who got a job through a contract...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I will not press the amendment now, but will examine what the Minister has said so as to understand it better. If necessary, I will raise it again on Report Stage.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I would like to withdraw my comments of some moments ago. It is obvious that it was not appropriate for me to withdraw an amendment that is in the name of other Senators as well as in my name. I ask the House to ignore what I said about the amendment, about which Senator White feels very strongly.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I will withdraw the amendment because the Minister of State has given a better explanation of the difference between a "contract for service" and a "contract of service". Perhaps he can reflect on the matter before Report Stage to confirm that his interpretation of the matter is exactly correct. Senator White and I can also consider our approach to the matter before Report Stage.

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I move amendment No. 9: In page 4, subsection (1), between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: "'trade union' means a trade union which is the holder of a negotiation licence under Part I of the Trade Union Act 1941; 'undertaking' means a public or private undertaking carrying out an economic activity, whether or not operating for gain.". The purpose of this amendment is to add...

Seanad: Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Bill 2005: Committee Stage. (12 Oct 2005)

Feargal Quinn: I would like an answer to my queries in respect of this amendment. I was impressed by the Minister of State on Second Stage because it was clear that he had done a substantial amount of work on the Bill. I criticised him when he said he intended to table some amendments to the Bill on Committee Stage, but it is clear today that almost all of his amendments are technical in nature. The...