Results 3,881-3,900 of 4,931 for speaker:Mary White

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

Mary White: I agree that direct involvement does not mean sending out an e-mail or a newsletter. However, it could involve sitting down once a week with employees. Senator Quinn spoke about a meeting he had with his staff last week. Direct involvement could involve meeting with employees in a staff canteen and the management engaging socially in dialogue with staff to resolve any misunderstandings or...

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

Mary White: It is possible to hold meetings with 50 or 60 people. They could be held in boardrooms in the case of small companies. Regarding the question of larger companies and the pyramid model described by Senator McDowell, there are master's degrees in human relations and personnel courses that people pursue in larger companies to learn to engage directly and appropriately with employees. No company,...

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

Mary White: The purpose of the amendment is to reduce employers' exposure by including a broader definition and thereby avoid the possibility that disputes will arise as a result of a carte blanche presumption by employees.

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

Mary White: With respect, we are not here just for talk and rhetoric. We are discussing the country's future.

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

Mary White: I remind Senator McDowell that there are 240 companies, mostly high-tech and pharmaceutical companies, that employ more than 1,000 people. Therefore, I believe the 10% figure required to set off these discussions is dangerous and far too low.

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

Mary White: It is dangerous because 10% or 100 employees is a very low number in a large company. I speak from practical experience, as do the others who support this change. It is a serious matter and the Minister should reflect seriously on it. The figure should be 15% or 250 employees. Otherwise it will give a wrong signal to large companies. When international investment grew here in the 1970s and...

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

Mary White: I support fully Senator Quinn's comments about the 250 employees. This is an important issue. I am not asking the Minister of State to make a decision on the matter today, but to state that he will give the matter further consideration and to outline his thoughts again on Report Stage.

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

Mary White: I remind the Senator that the vast majority of Senators were originally nominated by nominating bodies. I was nominated by the Irish Exporters Association. I have to reflect on my experience as a businessperson as well as the advice of those involved in the bodies which nominate candidates to the industrial and commercial panel.

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

Mary White: If I were the Minister of State — I hope he does not construe this as a personal remark — I would seriously consider engaging in discussions with the 240 key companies which employ more than 1,000 people. He needs to listen to the opinions of the companies in question to ensure that we do not have excessive bureaucracy and regulation. I have made my suggestion with all due respect to the...

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

Mary White: I am fascinated by Senator McDowell's comments. As I understand it, the Labour Party is proposing to go into coalition with Fine Gael, which is a right-wing party. However, it is going back to its——

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

Mary White: Senator McDowell is pursuing a form of left-wing ideology that is wrong. He is playing games with private business. As I said earlier, only 25% of private enterprises in this country are unionised. I am in favour of unions, when they are needed. What Senator McDowell is doing is wrong. He is playing games at the moment. He is returning to left-wing policies, rather then joining his Labour...

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

Mary White: I move amendment No. 33: In page 8, subsection (1), line 1, to delete "An agreement" and substitute "Agreements". I propose that the word "agreement" be changed to "agreements". As it stands, the Bill does not make clear whether a suitable arrangement within an employment could consist of separate agreements to cater for diverse groups such as unionised or non-unionised workers in order that...

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

Mary White: Amendments Nos. 33 and 34 have already been dealt with.

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

Mary White: The Senator should move on to the other amendments.

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

Mary White: Members will be here all day doing so.

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

Mary White: One cannot make legislation for the very small number of rogue employers. In general, Senator O'Toole takes a negative approach towards employers in this House.

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

Mary White: That is my observation since I came to the Seanad. I sat on the national women's committee of the Federated Workers Union of Ireland in the mid-1970s so I do not have a problem with trade unions. We must be very careful with these amendments. We do not want to intrude on existing first-class relationships between employers and employees achieved through the direct method or frighten people...

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

Mary White: I totally agree with Senator O'Toole that a person should not hold an office for longer than a period of three years. However, I am totally opposed to the notion that the representative should always be elected and never appointed. It is fine for Senator O'Toole. He is in a forum where elections take place all the time but some people are not used to seeking election. In some cases people...

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

Mary White: I ask the Minister of State to reflect on the matter before Report Stage.

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

Mary White: Section 7 is entitled——