Results 1,001-1,020 of 4,707 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (24 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone, including people with disabilities, intending to start or grow a business. In that regard, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (24 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: 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 Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (23 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: In December 2022, changes to the employment permits system were introduced which made the role of Dairy Farm Assistants eligible for General Employment Permits subject to a quota of 500 permits. This change was made in order to help address skills shortages in Ireland’s Dairy Sector. It followed constructive engagement between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (23 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme does not exclude newly established businesses. Businesses who are newly established within the past 12 months can apply for TBESS. Where the eligible business does not have a reference electricity bill or reference gas bill for the reference period because the business had not commenced at that time or because the relevant electricity account or...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (23 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: At the outset, I must emphasise that the responsibility for the resolution of an employment law dispute is a matter for the WRC's adjudication service. I have no role in the administration of justice. Under Irish law, an individual has the right to join a trade union of their choice. The Unfair Dismissal Acts 1977-2016 provide for a number of grounds under which a dismissal may be...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (23 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Sick Leave Act 2022 commenced on 1st January 2023, and introduced a new statutory right to employer-paid sick leave. This progressive Act provides protection to employees who do not currently have employer-paid sick pay schemes, many of whom are low-paid and cannot afford to miss work. As a starting point, the scheme provides an entitlement to 3 days of employer-paid sick leave. In...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Company Law (23 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: I am acutely aware that many families and workers are struggling with increased grocery costs and general rising prices on households. We are particularly concerned about the cost of essential staple items and welcome the recent cuts to prices of butter, milk and bread. I met with representatives from the retail and grocery sector on 10 May and the high prices and factors driving...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (18 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Employment Permits Bill 2022 has been drafted to respond to the need to consolidate existing employment permits legislation, to modernise some provisions, and to facilitate a more flexible approach to the employment permits system in Ireland. The ability for permit holders to transfer to a new employer, inside the existing permit duration, and without the need for a new employment...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (18 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. I have had sight of the correspondence. I cannot comment on a contractual relationship between commercial enterprises.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (18 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are a ‘first stop shop’ for providing advice and guidance, and act as a signposting service for all government supports available to anyone looking to start or grow their own business. As such, I would recommend that this individual contact their Local Enterprise Office to inquire about what supports would be available to them. The LEOs are...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: I appreciate the Deputy's work on this matter and thank her for bringing it up. This is a live issue under the concern of the Department. We would first and foremost encourage everyone to engage with the WRC. There are a number of issues going on in the stores, as the Deputy mentioned, in relation to salaries and rent. I am due to meet the new head of Iceland in the coming weeks. To talk...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (17 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: Contractual terms of employment are a matter for agreement between the parties to the contract.  Whilst it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the particulars of proposed changes to employment contracts within a company, I would note that any alterations must comply with our existing suite of employment legislation including the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Payment of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (17 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: On 3 August 2022, the former Minister of State for Employment Affairs, Business and Retail announced an intention to issue an Order to give effect to a statutory recommendation of the Labour Court concerning minimum rates of remuneration and other terms and conditions in the Security Sector. The Order was to apply from 29 August 2022.  On 24 August 2022, my Department was informed...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (17 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that there is no record of a new application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit in respect of the person concerned (in the details supplied) having been received. However, I have also been informed that the person concerned in the details supplied was granted a Critical Skills Employment Permit on 08/03/2021 which was valid...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: A Vision for Change (17 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: Ireland operates a managed employment permit system through occupation lists, namely the critical skills and ineligible occupation lists, which are reviewed twice a year. This is an evidence-based process that takes account of labour market conditions and submissions from sectors and other stakeholders together with contextual factors, including for example the impact of COVID-19. The purpose...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Labour Court (17 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes certain legal obligations on employers proposing collective redundancies. These obligations include engaging in an information and consultation process of at least 30 days with employees’ representatives, and to notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment of the proposals at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Policies (17 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: Towards Responsible Business, Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2017-2020 was published in June 2017. The aim of the Plan was to continue to build on the awareness created under the first National Plan on CSR Good for Business Good for Community, Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2014-2016.  The second National Plan on CSR...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Visa Applications (16 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: 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. The system is managed by means of two Occupations Lists determining either highly skilled roles in critical short supply or those that are ineligible for an employment permit. The lists undergo...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Ukraine War (16 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: In order to work in the State non-EEA nationals require either a valid employment permit from my Department or relevant immigration permission from the Minister for Justice allowing them to enter and work in the State without the requirement for an employment permit. These are two very distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (16 May 2023)

Neale Richmond: Contractual terms of employment are a matter for agreement between the parties to the contract. Whilst it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the particulars of proposed changes to employment contracts within a company, I would note that any alterations must comply with our existing suite of employment legislation including the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Payment of Wages...