Results 2,881-2,900 of 12,377 for speaker:Louise O'Reilly

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I am still not convinced there is a need for these. I understand the Minister of State is trying to justify them but I do not know who is asking for them. I am not certain how much lobbying has been done on it. It has truly been successful even if it is only a small number. We have 2.5 million people in work and 60 WRC inspectors. We are already miles behind and that is for workers who...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: The Minister of State has acknowledged that extra protections are needed. He acknowledges that he has to engage with the WRC. There is an acceptance on his part that there are particular problems with seasonal work permits. Nobody at this committee has suggested that 100% of employers are involved. I do not think anyone is even suggesting that it is most employers but even if it is one,...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: The three highest users of work permits are meat processing companies. The impact this has had is that workers' wages have not moved since 2017. For meat processors and deboners, they were set at €10.85 and €13.65, respectively. One of those will move but only because the minimum wage is moving. The wages in that sector have not moved since 2017. There has been wage...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: It not mostly doctors.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: We have discussed this matter already. I have been very clear in my opposition to facilitating the Minister of the day with the power to change and amend the employment permit system by way of regulation. The committee also outlined concerns as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny report. The report stated that while the general scheme aims to enable the employment permit system to respond...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: Nobody opposes regulations. I recognise there is a need for them in certain circumstances but not to bypass consultation and engagement with the Oireachtas or provide a facility to do so. I acknowledge the commitment given by the Minister of State but, with respect, that is his personal commitment. My concern is that there is no provision to compel the Minister to consult. This is not...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 5: In page 18, to delete lines 34 to 37.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 6: In page 19, to delete lines 3 to 8.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 7: In page 19, to delete lines 12 and 13.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: The section is opposed in an effort to get clarity as to whether the recommendation from the enterprise agency is on behalf of an employee working for that enterprise agency or an employee working for another employer. If it is the latter, it is not appropriate to allow enterprise agencies to lobby the Government in this regard because it opens up a certain element of exploitation, opens the...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I was not expressing distrust. This is a belt and braces issue. My concern was that an agency would lobby on behalf of an employee working for another employer. That is where my confusion was. I will be happy to withdraw the related amendment. The Minister of State has indicated there will be further engagement. I believe we can tease out the matter as it appears there are no great...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: Yes, and I think we can clarify the matter. I am fine with that.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 9: In page 25, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(a) allow the application to remain active and notify the applicant of the matters that are incomplete, and that the applicant has 30 days to submit the material necessary to rectify the incomplete aspects of the employment permit application;”. My amendment relates to allowing a...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: The Minister of State appreciates the problem that I am raising.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I am happy to engage with the Minister of State on that. On that basis, I am happy to withdraw the amendment to allow for further discussions.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 13: In page 28, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “(4) An employment permit shall include a contact list of the recognised trade unions operating in the sector in which the employment permit has been issued, contact details for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and contact details for the Workplace Relations Commission.”. This...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I understood that when we were drafting it as well. The Minister of State will understand me. On the basis that I will engage with the Minister of State and we can work on an amendment that we can agree in this regard, I am happy to withdraw this amendment.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 14: In page 28, to delete lines 36 and 37. I believe these have already been discussed and I intend to withdraw amendments Nos. 14 and 16.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (30 Nov 2022)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 15: In page 29, lines 25 and 26, to delete “, seasonal employment permit”.