Results 181-200 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (31 Oct 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The Government is committed to a two-pronged approach to achieving the goal of making workplaces more family friendly — the provision of statutory entitlements through legislative measures, and promoting a partnership approach at the level of the enterprise. Legislative measures which provide for statutory entitlements include maternity leave, adoptive leave, carer's leave and parental...

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 — 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...

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 — 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...

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 — 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.

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...

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

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I want to outline the background to this debate. I was asked what I would like to discuss if I came before the Seanad. I thought about the area of social partnership and other areas under the auspices of the Department, including health and safety, but globalisation, in the context of the labour market and the economy, is fundamental to what we...

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

Billy Kelleher: A pertinent point was made about graduates and bringing skills into the country. Our labour market has benefited greatly from migration, mainly from eastern Europe, but there is a bigger issue at stake, namely, attracting graduates here from universities throughout the world. We will not compete in manufacturing alone. It is fundamental that we promote research and development and high end...

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

Billy Kelleher: ——is something this society cannot sustain in the long term. Reference was made to longevity. A recent statistic indicated that the average life expectancy of girls born this decade will be 100.

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

Billy Kelleher: That is a long way off but it is food for thought and will present us with many opportunities.

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

Billy Kelleher: We had a shortage, until recently, in the labour market but the skills and leadership levels these people have acquired over many years is something we will have to examine. That is in the context of the Green Paper on pensions and the way we deal with retirement. Should there be a cut-off point or should people be allowed phase out of the active labour market over a period of time and pass...

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

Billy Kelleher: ——were leaving this country but at least they were leaving with a reasonable education. I acknowledge, however, that a challenge remains in the area of adult literacy and numeracy, something we must address.

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

Billy Kelleher: We can talk about having a knowledge-based and an entrepreneurial society but if people do not have the basic fundamentals of being able to read and write, as well as basic computer skills, many of them will be left behind as we forge ahead. Senator Quinn highlighted a number of areas, which we accept, but in the context of what we are trying to achieve with the skills strategy, we examined...

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

Billy Kelleher: This is not to do with lifelong learning; it is to do with quality of life.