Results 4,481-4,500 of 6,307 for speaker:Gerald Nash

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Company Closures (4 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: I have a close personal interest, apart from a political interest, in how this matter evolves. I expect that, given my interest in the issue and that of the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, the ODCE will keep us informed. There is a huge amount of public interest in this issue. Decisions will have to be taken by the Government and Departments on the next steps to be taken. It would be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Company Closures (4 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: On 6 July I submitted a report to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to further inform the Government on the issues surrounding the sale and liquidation of Clerys. I also briefed my Government colleagues on the report, a copy of which is available on my Department’s website. It sets out the sequence of events leading up to the closure on 12 June based on the information then...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (4 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: The Deputy is asking about the terms of voluntary redundancy agreements in State Agencies. At the outset, I would point out that it is up to an individual, following consideration of the terms on which voluntary redundancy is being offered, to decide whether or not to avail of voluntary redundancy. I understand from my colleague with responsibility for terms and conditions in the public...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: x (4 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: At all times the Governments policy choices are considered in the context of the impact on jobs. This is at the heart of the Action Plan for Jobs process and has been a central feature of successive Budgets and The Pathways to Work programme. This level of policy focus has helped create an environment where 126,000 extra people are at work, all regions are increasing employment and our...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Living Wage (4 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: The Living Wage concept is grounded in the idea that a person’s wage should be sufficient to maintain a safe, decent standard of living. Of course, it is not isolated from a State’s taxation and social support systems. So, at an individual level the resources required to achieve a minimum essential standard of living is very dependent on family circumstances and thus the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (4 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, yesterday afternoon, following a decision by Government, I published the study by the University of Limerick (UL) on the prevalence of zero hour contracts and low hour contracts in the Irish economy. I also launched a public consultation process to give all interested parties an opportunity to consider and respond to the conclusions being drawn in the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Living Wage (4 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: The introduction of the Living Wage Campaign is a voluntary initiative which I am championing. Over 120 employers, trade union representatives and civil society organisations gathered at Dublin Castle on 30 September to discuss the issues involved with both myself and the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton T.D. participating. The Living Wage Campaign has been...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Black Economy (3 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: I understand that the Deputy’s question relates to concerns regarding bogus self-employment in the construction sector.Ireland has a well resourced and proactive labour inspectorate, which now forms part of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Inspections are undertaken on the basis of risk analysis which identifies certain sectors, and as a result of complaints received. Where...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (3 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 371 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, following a decision by Government this morning, I am today publishing the study by the University of Limerick (UL) on the prevalence of zero hour contracts and low hour contracts in the Irish economy. I am also launching a public consultation process to give all interested parties an...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Patent Applications (3 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: In 2008 national patent filings reached a peak with 1007 applications but by 2014 this had declined to just 321. Inevitably the financial crisis and economic collapse experienced by Ireland after 2008 led many companies to adapt their innovation strategies with a consequent decline in patent filings. The revision of the patent royalty tax exemption in 2006 and its ultimate abolition in 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Measures (3 Nov 2015)

Gerald Nash: The Government is committed to the earliest possible implementation of the Construction Contracts Act, 2013 and in order to achieve this, approved the delegation of responsibility for its implementation to me as Minister for Business and Employment, late last year. I am taking all the necessary steps to bring about implementation of the legislation and significant progress has been made...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Registered Employment Agreements (20 Oct 2015)

Gerald Nash: A public consultation process on draft proposals for an Employment Regulation Order for the Contract Cleaning Sector was undertaken in early 2015. Notice of making of the proposals was advertised in national newspapers on March 25thand observations on the proposals were invited to be submitted by April 15th. Copies of the draft proposals were available from the Joint Labour Committees...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2015)

Gerald Nash: The budget announced yesterday represented a key milestone for the country and its citizens. After many arduous years brought about by the profligacy of the previous Government, the fruits of the hard won economic recovery the Government has delivered have enabled us to plan for the type of social recovery we all want to see so badly. When I speak of a balanced recovery, I do not speak...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Construction Contracts (14 Oct 2015)

Gerald Nash: The contractors of whom the Senator speaks will be in a position to benefit from the legislation very soon. I am glad to have the opportunity to speak in the House on the subject of the implementation of the Construction Contracts Act 2013. I assure the Senator that I am taking all steps necessary to bring about the implementation of the Act as soon as possible, following the Government...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Construction Contracts (14 Oct 2015)

Gerald Nash: No.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Construction Contracts (14 Oct 2015)

Gerald Nash: This is about getting it right. Persons who may be considered for appointment to the panel of adjudicators must be registered professionals as defined in section 2 of the Building Control Act. They may be a chartered member of the Institute of Engineers, a barrister or solicitor, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators or a person with a qualification equivalent to any of those...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 Oct 2015)

Gerald Nash: Climate change, as we are all aware, is one of the defining challenges of our time, with increasing emissions of greenhouse gases contributing to increased air and ocean temperatures, drought, melting ice and snow, rising sea levels, increased rainfall, flooding and other climatic influences. The urgent need for co-ordinated action is now very much to the fore as the global community...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 Oct 2015)

Gerald Nash: I thank all of the Senators for their contributions to this debate. A number of issues were raised to which I am not in a position to respond, but I will ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, to respond to them at a future sitting as this legislation winds its way through the legislative process. I remind the House that we have included a number...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Programme (14 Oct 2015)

Gerald Nash: The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015 came into effect on 1stAugust 2015. The enactment marked the fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government to reform the current law on employees’ right to engage in collective bargaining in order to ensure compliance by the State with recent judgements of the European Court of Human Rights. The legislation provides a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (13 Oct 2015)

Gerald Nash: I confirm that the University of Limerick (UL) has completed its study, which I received recently. The study is a substantial body of research into the prevalence of zero hour contracts and low hour contracts across the Irish economy, the manner of their use and their impact on employees. I intend to bring the report to Government shortly with a view to its immediate publication and to...