Results 11,781-11,800 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: There was no financial incentive to——

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I hope that the scheme will be an encouragement and that the property market will not be as conducive to investment. The scheme has been altered to allow for people investing in venture capital.

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I thank Senators.

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: Flattery can get me into trouble.

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: We value education and are trying to move towards the high end, such as by investing in fourth level and doubling the number of PhDs, but these are not the end. People will not be able to access that education because they dropped out earlier. They must be continually upskilled. Many went into trades, which are fine in and of themselves, but people must be skilled in other areas as an...

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: In the context of the budgetary position for the coming years, the national development plan will be fundamental in terms of investment in infrastructure, increasing knowledge-based activity——

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: ——and training and education. These issues are of paramount importance to Government policy. I thank Senators and the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: The Irish Market in a Globalised Economy: Statements (21 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: Globalisation dominates our economic and social policymaking at national and EU level. It has elicited different responses across the world, stimulating competition and bringing opportunities and challenges to the doorsteps of many nations. It has also brought fears that intense competition will widen the gap between rich and poor countries. People throughout the world see employment as the...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (20 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I do not have a function in the determination of safety rules and regulations at beauty spots. Where, however, any of the locations are a 'place of work', the provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, and its associated statutory provisions will apply.

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (13 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I wish to assure the Deputy that Directive 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 2002 establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community was fully transposed into Irish law by the Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006. This Act came into operation on the 24 July 2006. My Department has...

Seanad: Health Repayment Scheme (13 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I will be taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank Senator Corrigan for raising it and I am pleased to have the opportunity to set out the position in respect of the health repayment scheme. Eligibility for repayment under the scheme has been based on the repayment of charges agreed by the Government following consideration of...

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects (13 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I thank Senator Burke for his kind words and I appreciate them very much. I also thank him for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to discuss the position on the Castlebar swimming pool proposal under the local authority swimming pools programme administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. The Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Deputy Brennan, sends his...

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects (13 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The consultants also recommended that the building be designed to include facilities that could be added in the future such as a sports hall, artificial pitches and tennis courts. The preliminary report for this project was approved by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in April 2005 which allowed Mayo County Council to prepare contract documents. The Department of Arts, Sport and...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The draft EU Directive on Temporary Agency Work has not yet been adopted and, as such, the transposition of its terms into Irish law does not arise. It is currently, however, under consideration having been placed on the table for discussion by the Portuguese Presidency. Ireland continues to adopt a constructive role in these discussions. Some key outstanding issues include the review of...

Written Answers — Employment Appeals Tribunal: Employment Appeals Tribunal (8 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The Employment Appeals Tribunal is an independent body which is bound to act judicially. It was set up to provide individuals with a forum to seek remedies for infringements of their statutory employment rights. I understand that the practice is that Tribunal members do not hear cases where a relationship exists between them and a party or witness to a case. If a member becomes aware that...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes (7 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words. I am delighted to be back in the House and I appreciate the kind words. As Senator Coghlan well knows, community employment, CE, is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis....

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (6 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: There is no provision in employment rights legislation imposing a compulsory retirement age in relation to employment in the private sector. The Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004, among other things, protect against discrimination on the ground of age in relation to access to employment. However, Section 34(4) of the Employment Equality Act 1998 allows an employer to include a specific...

Written Answers — Labour Inspections: Labour Inspections (1 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The National Employment Rights Authority's Inspection Services undertakes both day-time and night-time inspection activity in respect of enforcement of the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996. The night-time element of Inspectors' activities has an exclusive focus on such enforcement. Inspection Services initiate prosecutions in all cases where breaches are detected (subject to...

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (31 Oct 2007)

Billy Kelleher: Specific data in the format requested by the Deputy are not available. However, since the introduction of the national minimum wage legislation in April, 2000, three surveys of firms have been carried on behalf of my Department by the Economic and Social Research Institute. The studies estimated, inter alia, how many employees were on the minimum wage. The table below shows the number of...

Written Answers — Job Losses: Job Losses (31 Oct 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The actual redundancies for the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and year to date are laid out in tabular form below. The Deputy should be aware that all of these figures are available on the Redundancy home page of the Departmental website-www.entemp.ie. Actual Redundancies 2004-2007 Year Number 2004 25,041 2005 23,156 2006 23,684 2007 19,218 (Jan-Sept)