Results 2,741-2,760 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (22 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: I understand that the expert advisory group established to look at measures for the prevention of workplace bullying and to identify improvements is finalising its report and will submit it to me shortly. I am committed to publishing the advisory group's report. I look forward to the report, which I hope will be a useful input to the formulation of a policy to deal with workplace bullying.

Written Answers — Construction Industry: Construction Industry (22 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Department has not received any complaint about working conditions at the Dublin Port tunnel and, accordingly, I am not aware of any workers on the project working 12-hour shifts at €45 per day. The wages and employment conditions of workers employed in the construction industry are governed by the Registered Employment Agreement (Construction Industry Wages and Conditions of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (15 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Office of Public Works is currently working on a property solution for the Health and Safety Authority in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, and a decision has not yet been made. Some 111 posts in the authority are identified for transfer to Thomastown. Eight staff of the authority have indicated an expression of interest to relocate to Thomastown. In addition, 40 expressions of interest have...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (15 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: On foot of the Government's decision in 2002 to reduce public service numbers by 5,000, FÁS is required to reduce its staffing complement of nearly 2,400 by 150. This is to be achieved through the non-filling of vacancies. FÁS has flexibility to decide where the reductions should be made and to prioritise resources to take account of the demands placed on the organisation. Similar...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (15 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: I am addressing the Deputy's question from the viewpoint of occupational safety and health. Day-to-day responsibility for the administration and enforcement of occupational safety and health legislation through the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 and the range of regulations made under it, including the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 1993 and...

Written Answers — Hazardous Substances: Hazardous Substances (15 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: Council Directive 96/82/EC on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances has been transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2000 (S.I. No. 476 of 2000), as amended by the European Communities (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances)(Amendment)...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (15 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: The current law on safety in the workplace is set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989. Section 7 of that Act imposes a general duty on employers to conduct their undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in their employment who may be affected thereby are not exposed to risks to their safety or health. This law is now due...

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (10 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: My Department has no specific funding available for this purpose. Funding is, however, provided to industrial development agencies and FÁS with a view to fostering employment and opportunities which contribute to social inclusion. Funding is provided to FÁS, which operates a range of training and employment programmes with a view to fostering employment and thereby contribute to social...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (8 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: From inquiries made in the redundancy section of my Department, the position is that no claim for statutory redundancy has been received in respect of the person concerned. When a redundancy arises in an employment, the employer pays the employee statutory redundancy in the first instance. If the person concerned feels he or she is entitled to a statutory redundancy payment, he or she should...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Information: Health and Safety Information (8 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, the Health and Safety Authority is the State body charged with overall responsibility for administration, enforcement and promotion of workplace safety and health. Matters arising from this responsibility are, therefore, a day to day function of the authority. Under the 1989 Act, there is a duty on employers relating to the provision of...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (3 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: As previously stated in my predecessor's reply to the Deputy's Question of 27 April 2004 — Reference No. 11482/04 and my reply on 25 November 2004 — Reference No. 30915/04, my Department was formally notified of the proposed redundancy of the person concerned on 17 December 2003, when statutory form RP1, notice of proposed redundancy, was submitted in respect of that person. No further...

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (1 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: The parties to the mid-term review of part two of Sustaining Progress — Pay and the Workplace — agreed to ask the Labour Court to review the national minimum wage and to make a recommendation to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in accordance with the National Minimum Wage Act 2000, to apply with effect from 1 May 2005. The Labour Court has undertaken a review of the...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (1 Feb 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Employment Appeals Tribunal is empowered under section 39 of the Redundancy Payments Act 1967, as amended, to give notice to a person to attend before it and to produce documents under his or her control which relate to the matter under investigation by the tribunal. In this particular case, it appears that the party concerned was served with such a notice, in which case there is no...

Missing Persons Unit. (26 Jan 2005)

Tony Killeen: I am deputising this evening for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I am aware of his interest in this subject. I assure the Deputy that the Minister shares his concern and that of the public with regard to missing persons. As the House is aware, the establishment of a national missing persons unit has been suggested from time to...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (26 Jan 2005)

Tony Killeen: In 2001 the Labour Court made a recommendation to the effect that a mechanism should be put in place to address situations of dispute between retired employees and their former employers. In 2002, the Pensions Act provided for the appointment of a pensions ombudsman with the power to investigate and determine matters regarding the administration and management of pension schemes. Situations...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (26 Jan 2005)

Tony Killeen: The staff of the training centre in question are employed by a private sector organisation that receives grants from FÁS to meet its operating costs, including staff costs. FÁS is not the employer of the staff. While private sector workers are generally ineligible for benchmarking, it has been accepted that categories of employees of FÁS grant-aided organisations, which have demonstrated...

Media Lab Europe. (26 Jan 2005)

Tony Killeen: The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dempsey, has asked me to convey his regret that he is unable to be in the Chamber tonight. Media Lab Europe was formed by an agreement between the State and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was in operation since early 2000. It was established to conduct non-directed research in the field of digital media. The...

Job Losses. (26 Jan 2005)

Tony Killeen: I thank Deputy McGinley for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The announcement by the company that it is to close its Donegal Parian China facility is most disappointing and particularly devastating for the workers and families directly affected. I understand the decision to close is due to a reduction in product demand. However, I am also advised that the company is to consolidate its...

Seanad: Job Losses. (26 Jan 2005)

Tony Killeen: I thank Senator Wilson for raising this important matter on the Adjournment and, like the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, for raising it previously with the Department. I am conscious of the adverse effect on the workers and their families of the announcement of the closure of Ezy Koter Limited, Virginia, County Cavan. Ezy Koter, which manufactures paint rollers, announced on 20...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes. (17 Nov 2004)

Tony Killeen: The principal difficulty heretofore raised with the Government by sponsors of schemes was that they tended to have approval for scheme numbers in excess of those, which were available in their areas. The raising of the cap related to those aged over 55 was meant to address that shortfall in eligible participants. I was not aware of the details of the numbers allocated to Longford County...