Results 29,141-29,160 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin
- Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: Question 140: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he has taken or plans to take arising from allegations of very serious irregularities in regard to the treatment of employees of a Turkish company (details supplied) which has been operating in this country; if all the workers have now been given access to money held in accounts in a bank in Holland; if he has...
- Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: I am glad of the opportunity to speak on this important, albeit long awaited and delayed, Bill. A prominent member of the SDLP described the Good Friday Agreement as "Sunningdale for slow learners". Slowly, the Government has accepted the requirement for reforms mirrored in this legislation. The issue of policing is an extremely important one for any civilised society. The police force is the...
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: I am afraid it has been at least two years.
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: The employment permits Bill has been in preparation for years.
- Labour Force Survey. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: Will the Minister address the question? He stated he is aware of the CSO report. The question I asked is if he accepts the projection that this economy will need 50,000 immigrants a year over the next 12 years if economic growth is to be maintained at a 3% to 5% range. Does the Minister also accept that there is a need for joined-up Government? His Department is often working at variance with...
- Labour Force Survey. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: I thank the Minister for his reply because it is important. Will he accept that there are basically three pillars to the issue? One is a rational policy of migration to meet the economic needs of the country and to allow people who want to increase their economic well-being to come here. The second is a rational policy to deal with asylum seekers, which is quite separate and often confused...
- Labour Force Survey. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: The current policy is a problem for a quarter of our businesses.
- Labour Force Survey. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: I am saying that.
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: Will the Minister take the opportunity to give an exposition of Government policy as regards the allowing of spouses of all work permit holders to come and reside in the country?
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: I am asking what Government policy is as regards allowing spouses into this country. If tens of thousands of work permits are being issued on average, the current ballpark figure is between 40,000 and 50,000 annually. The number of work permits issued, more than 1,000 according to the Minister, is a tiny fraction of that figure. What is the Government's policy? What criteria is used to allow...
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: I am trying to elucidate what exactly is the Government's policy. It seems to be a very limited area, where the spouses of workers who are attracted to this economy and given work permits and are allowed to join them and work in this economy. I have dealt with several cases of where family members of doctors from abroad had difficulties in getting visitors' visas to enter the State. It links...
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: We are for some skills.
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: I did not say that.
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: Will the Minister define the skills?
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: Has this been reviewed yet?
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: The Government has not facilitated such a debate.
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: Will the Minister engage with the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business on this issue? He has made valid points that have not been debated properly with cross-party consensus. I am specifically referring to individuals whose spouses are in Ireland and who have skills that could add to the economy but are debarred from it. They feel excluded although they are resident in Ireland....
- Work Permits. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: There is no basis for them to apply because there is no scheme.
- Economic Competitiveness. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: What about the narrow approach?
- Economic Competitiveness. (20 Apr 2005)
Brendan Howlin: The Waste Management Act was introduced by the rainbow Government.