Results 561-580 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (12 Jul 2022)

Damien English: The company in question has not received any mitigating aid towards carbon emission off-setting from Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland offers a number of measures to help businesses on their sustainability and carbon reduction journey. The Government recently launched the Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund which provides a capital investment for decarbonisation processes...

Irish Corporate Governance (Gender Balance) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Jul 2022)

Damien English: I am delighted to have the chance to thank Deputy Higgins for this Bill, which has allowed us all to focus on a policy priority of the Government. It addresses a very important issue and one I know the Deputy is dedicated to. As with all the work she does, it is extremely well researched and based on evidence. I thank her and her team, some of whom are here, for their work on bringing...

Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Jul 2022)

Damien English: I thank the House for its support. I thank the contributors to the debate on this very important matter. It is very clear from all of the contributions from the members of the different parties that there is great support for the hospitality sector and acknowledgement of its importance and that of all of those who work extremely hard in it. Many of us have worked in the sector over the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (7 Jul 2022)

Damien English: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services. The WRC inspectorate subsumed the functions of the former National...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (7 Jul 2022)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department, established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (7 Jul 2022)

Damien English: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department, established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, facilitation, and advisory services....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Work Permits (6 Jul 2022)

Damien English: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that a standard General Employment Permit application for the person concerned (details supplied) was received on 12th May 2022. Applications for employment permits are dealt with in date order. The Employment Permits Section of my Department is currently processing standard new General Employment Permit applications received on 04...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (5 Jul 2022)

Damien English: I thank the House for facilitating this discussion. We were anxious to get this legislation through before the summer break of the Houses, so that is important.I thank everybody for their help and for all their work. I thank the officials. Ms Wendy Gray who put a lot of work into this legislation over a long period of time could not be with us today. I want to give her a shout-out because...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (5 Jul 2022)

Damien English: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that an application has been received in respect of the person concerned, requesting a Stamp 4 support letter from the Department. In order to receive a Stamp 4 support letter from the Department, an individual is required to be in continuous employment in the State on a Critical Skills Employment Permit for a minimum...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (5 Jul 2022)

Damien English: Ireland’s employment permits system is designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill skills and labour gaps for the benefit of our economy, in the short to medium term but this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one. The system is...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (30 Jun 2022)

Damien English: Ireland’s employment permits system is designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill skills and labour gaps for the benefit of our economy, in the short to medium term but this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one. The system is...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Process (30 Jun 2022)

Damien English: As this Bill is a Private Members Bill, the timeframe in relation to its progress is a matter for the sponsoring Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (30 Jun 2022)

Damien English: The Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect is operational since 31 March 2021 and is a best practice guide and template to remind employers of the statutory obligations around record keeping, the maximum average weekly working hours permitted for employees, and employees statutory rest period entitlements.  The Code is also aimed at ensuring workers are aware of their statutory...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (29 Jun 2022)

Damien English: I am glad to have a chance to address Senator Victor Boyhan on the important issue raised today around increasing the participation of women and diversity in local government. It is essential and I am delighted to be able to respond on behalf of Minister of State, Deputy Burke, who successfully brought his proposal through Cabinet yesterday in relation to maternity leave, which should have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (29 Jun 2022)

Damien English: As I described, a range of measures are being taken to promote gender balance and diversity in local government, including supports through local authorities for women’s caucuses and political parties. Like the Senator, I recognise all those who have been involved in promoting this, whether in the Department, local government, the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, or any of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (29 Jun 2022)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for the opportunity to provide an update on the position regarding a letter of formal notice that was adopted by the European Commission on 19 May 2022. The case concerns European works councils and the transposition of the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act 1996. The 1996 Act provides for the establishment of a European works council, or other...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (29 Jun 2022)

Damien English: The question as set out asked me what departmental processes are involved in this. The Department's involvement with the EU Commission is a process and that is exactly what I have updated the House on. To be very clear again, the Department's position is that the provisions of the 1996 Act, as amended, meet the requirements of the directive. That is our opinion as a Government and a Department.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (29 Jun 2022)

Damien English: There is currently no evidence to support an assertion that the rights afforded to special negotiating bodies and European works councils under the statutory provisions mean there is a lack of access to justice or an absence of dispute resolution mechanisms concerning their rights. However, we will engage with the European Union, as we do. Departmental officials will continue to engage with...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2022)

Damien English: It is good to be back in the House again to discuss this important legislation. I thank the Cathaoirleach for facilitating the debate. The issue of the definition was discussed in both Houses on a number of occasions previously. I understand the concerns that have been raised, and the Senator's amendment reflects those concerns. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, also raised the...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2022)

Damien English: Amendment No. 3 makes a minor but useful change to the Minister's power to set the number of sick leave days by order. As originally formulated, it would have required the Minister to specify the number of additional days to which employees would be entitled. This amendment means that an order can now simply specify the overall number of days of statutory sick leave. This reduces the risk...