Results 4,341-4,360 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: I could accept that if we were dealing with competition law. We are dealing with industrial relations law, which is supposed to protect the rights of workers. There is a problem with Ms Sweetman's approach that it can be this or that, or one can make up one's own mind as to what it is. I am afraid that does not cut it when it comes to workers' rights, particularly given what they are paid...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: I am not sure I understand what Mr. Fenn is talking about.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: Can I come in there, please?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: There is another way of looking at this instead of putting it the way Mr. Fenn has just put it. He indicated that the legislation would preclude a business from collecting a service charge. As already suggested, where the service charge is at 12.5%, for example, in brackets after this the businesses could say "this does not go to the employee or the person who serves you".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. It might be helpful to hear some details of what actually goes on in the industry from Ms McCord and Dr. Curran who have carried out the research. Some people may have read all of the details and are very familiar with them, but others may not have done so. Fleshing out the matter might be helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: That was very helpful. That testimony would prove to be very helpful to the Low Pay Commission. I assume that it has not looked at it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: Obviously, it would be a good idea for us to put the Bill on hold in order that the Low Pay Commission could review the advice it has given on the Bill. Clearly, it is not ill-advised, but there is a gap in the advice it gave. There is a huge void in the information and the robust advice it has given to the Government to support the Bill. Clearly, the Minister, as she did in the case of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: The point I am making is political but the Minister's attempt to usurp Senator Gavan's Bill is-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: I have a final question for the Low Pay Commission. The profits in the hospitality industry have increased beyond pre-economic crash levels. We all see service charges on the menu in restaurants and many of us do not leave a tip because we believe a tip is paid when we pay the charge. Does Dr. de Buitléir have an opinion on the view that service charges not being returned to workers...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: Everyone except the employer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Discussion (10 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: The Minister claims Senator Gavan's Bill would have unintended consequences resulting in tips having to be taxed and made subject to USC. I find that contradictory and ironic, when the State has just given the special assignee relief scheme, SARP, to very wealthy and highly-paid executives to enable them to avoid tax on all their income. There are ways and means to ring-fence the money to...

Financial Resolutions 2019 - Financial Resolution No. 9: General (Resumed) (9 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, is being praised in the mainstream media for his prudent budget. The reality, however, is that it is a blatant class-biased budget that is using the Brexit and climate crisis to hit workers and the poor, in the main. I will examine a few things he is up to in the budget as he looks after his own. The Central Bank has predicted that tens of thousands of jobs...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cross-Border Projects (9 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: 135. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if funding for a project listed on the PCI list of the EU is discretionary; if not, if the State is obliged to provide funding having nominated the project for PCI status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41327/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: I wish to formally express my disappointment that the Department is not represented at the meeting. It is shocking. It is very unusual that no member of the Department responsible for this policy is here to answer questions. I acknowledge that the Department provided a written submission which all members received today, but it is highly unusual and regrettable that there is no...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: Can we communicate to the Department that it is unacceptable that it is not represented?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: I thank all our guests, particularly Professor Howarth for joining us from New York. We are using up all his time, which is precious but very useful. I direct my first question to Dr. Deane from MaREI. He claims that we do not know how much fracked gas we import, particularly from the UK. However, on 1 October it was reported that fracking has now ended in the UK as the company that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: I have two more questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: Are they small compared to what is proposed in Shannon?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: I ask Professor McMullin and Professor Howarth to comment on what Dr. Deane said. I am not convinced when I hear it is not possible to implement these measures because of economic constraints. We hear in this debate all the time that market integration, competition and security of supply are prioritised ahead of the needs of the environment, biodiversity and what the children of the planet...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration: Discussion (9 Oct 2019)

Bríd Smith: Sorry, I have another question to put to Professor McMullin and Professor Howarth on this topic. Will they describe the climate mitigation impact of reducing methane emissions? They have increased, but what would be the effect of bringing them right back down? If all countries were to refuse to take fracked gas from the US, how much good would it do in terms of climate mitigation? How...