Results 14,461-14,480 of 14,886 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: While I recognise the spirit of the amendment, the main body of the legislation predates 1993 when gender neutral language was submitted. On that ground that there is an understanding that the language is said to be gender neutral, I oppose the amendment.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I accept the Deputies' arguments but the rationale is that we are moving away from a worker director system. I appreciate the point made by Deputies Penrose and Morgan that the worker director model has served well. In the new board we are moving towards a structure which does not have prescribed nominations, that is, a person will be nominated by the Minister, who is accountable to the...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: Since the debate on Committee Stage we have reflected on the matter. While we are not in a position to accept the specific amendments, the Tánaiste and I have discussed the wishes of the committee. We decided the positions of the board members of FÁS would be advertised in newspapers in the coming days, as soon as the legislation is passed. Public submissions will be sought and we are...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: There is very little I disagree with in the sentiments expressed. I assure Members that this is not intended to be window-dressing. I can give Deputy Penrose, in his position as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, a commitment to keep him updated on the process. We have already had considerable expressions of interest from people around the country, even...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I move amendment No. 27: In page 14, line 4, to delete "or". This is similar to amendment No. 1. It adds to the list of reasons a board member may be removed to include the contravention of the Ethics in Public Office Act.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I move amendment No. 28: In page 14, line 8, to delete "2009)." and substitute the following: "2009), or (e) the member has contravened the Act of 1995.".

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I move amendment No. 31: In page 19, lines 8 and 9, to delete "and shall be construed together as one Act". This is a technical amendment on the basis that the collective construction provision regarding the three Acts referred to in this Bill is not required in this case.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I thank Deputies for their input on Committee Stage and today on Report Stage. I acknowledge the presence of the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, Deputy Bernard Allen, in the Chamber. The Committee of Public Accounts and the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment played important roles in the work that brought us to this Bill. At a time when this House is under...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Order for Report Stage (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, to delete lines 13 and 14 and substitute the following: " " 'Act of 1995' means the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995; 'material interest' shall be construed in accordance with section 2(3) of the Act of 1995;". This is a technical amendment to facilitate the addition to the Bill of references to the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 by adding a definition to...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I acknowledge the Deputies' concerns on this issue and have reflected on the proposal since Committee Stage. However, the issue of severance packages to chief executive officers is more general than the specific range of this legislation. The Government is reviewing the issue of severance and retirement terms of chief executive officers as part of a broader examination that is under way...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I understand the thrust of the amendment and I share the Deputy's concerns that this general issue should be resolved as soon as possible. In regard to Deputy Varadkar's comments, I have complete faith and trust in the abilities and character of the Tánaiste and the Minister for Finance. The issue in regard to the specific package will be dealt with by the Committee of Public Accounts at...

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (10 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I am advised that at 30 October 2009 there were 22,898 people participating on Community Employment Schemes. A breakdown by principal welfare payment is provided in the following table. CE Participants as at 30/10/2009 by CE Eligibility CE Eligibility Total Adult Dependent Swap - JA 51 Adult Dependent Swap - JB 13 Blind Pension 18 Carers Allowance 20 Deserted WifesAllowance 198...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (10 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: I can advise the Deputy that the latest figures available to end October 2009 indicate that the number of redundancy claims awaiting processing stands at 43,826. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide the Deputy with the specific information she has requested as the Department does not collate statistics for applications awaiting processing on a county basis. I am sure the Deputy will...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (10 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: The apprenticeship system is a modular standards based system comprising of seven alternating phases of on-the-job and off-the-job training and development. Phases 1, 3, 5 and 7 are the on-the job phases and take place with a FÁS approved employer while the off-the-job phases 2, 4, and 6 are delivered in FÁS Training Centres; Institutes of Technology or Colleges of Further Education. ESB...

Written Answers — Hazardous Substances Regulations: Hazardous Substances Regulations (10 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: As I indicated in my response to [PQ 33556/09], no guidelines have been issued by my Department relating to the control of unattended petrol dispensing outlets nor does my Department issue guidelines on such matters. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for both the Local Authorities in general and the Fire Services in particular.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (10 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: A reply to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy issued from the Tánaiste's office on Friday, November 6th 2009.

Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: What about Deputy George Lee as well?

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (5 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: My Department administers the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) in relation to redundancy matters on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. There are two types of payment made from the SIF – rebates to those employers who have paid statutory redundancy to eligible employees, and statutory lump sums to employees whose employers are insolvent and/or in receivership/liquidation. I...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (5 Nov 2009)

Dara Calleary: My Department administers the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) in relation to redundancy matters on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. There are two types of payment made from the SIF – rebates to those employers who have paid statutory redundancy to eligible employees, and statutory lump sums to employees whose employers are insolvent and/or in receivership/liquidation. I...