Results 11,441-11,460 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Job Losses. (24 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The quarterly national household survey, which is published by the Central Statistics Office, compiles figures for people who are unemployed. The live register by itself is not as accurate because the people reported may seek benefits as casual or seasonal workers.

Job Losses. (24 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: In regard to the IDA and the pipeline, the Deputy should not dismiss the challenges that exist——

Job Losses. (24 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: ——and the competition in the global market for foreign direct investment. We are competitive with other countries in terms of a flexible workforce, low corporation taxes and highly educated third-level graduates and Ireland is actively pursuing direct investment. For fear that the Deputy takes these matters for granted, it is important that we set out the success of IDA Ireland rather...

Job Losses. (24 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Some years ago the Government — the Irish people endorsed the decision subsequently in a general election — opened up our labour market. Is the Deputy implying that we should have a green card system for other EU citizens to work here or vice versa?

Job Losses. (24 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: In the event of an Irish person wishing to work in another European country, should there be stipulations and regulations on their access to that labour market?

Job Losses. (24 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: This is an integral part of the EU. With regard to immigrants to this country, employers are obliged to comply with employment law. Every employee is entitled to a minimum wage. Where there are employment regulation orders, EROs, or registered employment agreements, REAs, the employer is obliged to pay the rate that is struck and lodged before the Labour Court. If there is exploitation,...

Job Losses. (24 Sep 2008)

Billy Kelleher: An investigation is not needed; what is needed is action, and there will be plenty of that from this side of the House.

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (10 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: From a budget allocation of €234m for Redundancy Payments in 2008, a provisional figure of €80, 484.868.76 was expended for the year to 30 June 2008. The budget allocation for Insolvency Payments for 2008 is €10m. The provisional expenditure figure for the year to 30 June 2008 is €4,634,287.31.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Is it a liability for the Deputy now?

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Democratic Left as well.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I wish to share time with Deputies Ardagh and Michael McGrath. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter and that we extended the sitting days of the Dáil in order to discuss it. This should be acknowledged. Listening to the speakers opposite, we would be in breach of the Stability and Growth Pact rules because of the amount of money spent in the past 20 minutes of contributions....

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: ——all of which had a major impact on the international climate. This is coupled with the fact that we have come to the end of the boom years. Everyone accepts that the rapid growth of the past ten years was not sustainable. Listening to the Opposition, one would think we had squandered the boom years. This has been the mantra from commentators. Let us put this in perspective. In...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The wish list brought to the table by all sides may have to be parked but the fundamental issue is to bring forward a pay deal that reflects the new reality. All sectors of social partnership, and Members, should outline the realities that exist without undermining the competitiveness of the economy. Over the past number of weeks, in the context of the publication of the report, the...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: They should read the speech of the Minister for Finance in the budget last December. Corrective action was announced in recent days.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Those who experienced the gain in recent times must also share in an element of the pain to get us over this difficultly in the next 18 months or two years.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance outlined what they are trying to achieve. Confidence is being restored in the economy and investors and consumers know that the Government has a strategy. Transport 21——

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: ——and the national development plan, across all aspects of the economy, are matters we should highlight and about which we should speak positively. The 3% reduction in payroll is a matter to which speakers opposite have referred. This is not a cap across all areas of the public sector. It allows local management to ensure front line services will not be affected. This is a fundamental...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: A 3% payroll cut is not necessarily an embargo, as some would like to suggest. It allows flexibility at local level.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The difficulty from my point of view is that while the Opposition outlines that we must take corrective measures, Deputy after Deputy spends more money and does not tell us where savings will come from. To date, the Opposition has not told us where savings could be made or where savings should have been made in recent years.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Over the past number of months, I have listened to the Opposition highlighting inadequacies in the services and then stating that there should be cutbacks in the public sector and savings there.