Results 381-400 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Job Losses. (17 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: On the question of Ukraine, the two factories are interdependent. That has been brought to the attention of the IDA. It is important to reiterate that the IDA had already been engaging with the company and had offered assistance by lending its support to resolve the industrial relations situation through discussions with unions at senior level and with shareholders. That has been happening...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (17 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Rights commissioners operate as a service of the Labour Relations Commission and are independent in their functions. Rights commissioners investigate disputes, grievances and claims that individuals or small groups of workers referred under legislation in the fields of employment rights and industrial relations. Rights commissioners issue the findings of their investigations in the form of...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (17 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Every employer has a duty under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of their employees and to manage and conduct work activities in such a way so as to prevent, as far as is reasonably practicable, any improper conduct or behaviour likely to put the safety, health and welfare at work of their employees...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (17 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: This is a matter in the instance for the Department of Health and Children and/or the Health Service Executive. The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) is responsible for the enforcement of the minimum rates of pay provided under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 and the rates provided for under the Employment Regulation Orders and Registered Employment Agreements. While nurses would...

Written Answers — National Minimum Wage: National Minimum Wage (22 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together. On 3 April 2008, the European Court of Justice issued a judgement in a case between Mr Dirk Rüffert, a company liquidator, and Land Niedersachsen, a public authority in Germany. The background to this case is that a public construction contract was awarded to a German company called Objekt und Bauregie, of which Mr Dirk Rüffert is the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: An Employment Agreement is an agreement made either between a trade union and an employer or employers organisation or at a meeting of a registered Joint Industrial Council, which relates to the pay or conditions of employment of any class, type or group of workers. Employment Agreements may be presented to the Labour Court for registration. Where the Labour Court is satisfied that the...

Written Answers — Unfair Dismissals: Unfair Dismissals (22 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: If the named person believes that he has been unfairly dismissed he may present a claim of unfair dismissal to either a Rights Commissioner or to the Employment Appeals Tribunal. The Unfair Dismissals Acts apply, with certain exceptions, to employees over age 16 with at least 12 months' continuous service. A claim for unfair dismissal must be submitted within six months of the dismissal. The...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Construction Industry (Pension Assurance and Sick Pay) Registered Employment Agreement (REA) requires employers in the construction sector to become and remain a party to a contributory pension scheme approved by the Revenue Commissioners and sets out the conditions upon which pension and mortality payments are payable and the associated minimum amounts and benefits. The REA does not...

Leaders' Questions (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: What has Deputy Kenny done in the past 11 years?

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Eamon de Valera wrote the Constitution. I do not mean to give history lessons but the Deputy is factually incorrect.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I listened with interest to the previous speaker and wish to point out that the political establishment to which he refers is the democratically elected assembly of this country. The parties in this House are not the political establishment but sent here by the people who vote in general elections. The political establishment is not an elitist organisation, as Deputy Ferris implied, it...

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I am here on the same premise as the Deputy.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Voices were heard in the Chamber claiming there was a political establishment. I reject that categorically. Members in this Chamber have been elected by the de facto votes of the people. I take grave exception to the view that there is a political establishment. The people are mature and cast their votes. People are sent to the Dáil on an equal basis.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: There is a myth that there is elitism in Irish politics. It is a myth I reject categorically as a Member who espouses the values of republicanism and equality, particularly of all Members in this Chamber. I respect Deputy Ferris's views. I listened to the Deputy's history lesson on Ireland and Europe. It was not the same history lesson I learned in national or secondary school. I take...

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I will take no lectures from anyone on milking cows at 4 a.m. I would even suggest I have done a little more of it than the Deputy.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: There have been dramatic changes in Irish agriculture.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: I accept many have left the land but it is because they have alternatives in accessing education, decent employment and other opportunities. Other opportunities emerged besides remaining in a homestead that could not support them or their families. When considering the changes in Irish agriculture, it is for positive reasons that most have embraced the European project.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Historically, the farming community has always been supportive of EU referenda. It knows we cannot live on an isolationist island on the periphery of Europe, ignoring market realties and globalisation which I accept pose challenges.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Regarding employment rights, Ireland has benefitted from judgments of the European Court of Justice and equality legislation initiated in the European Union. Other employment rights legislation was passed in this Parliament having been nudged by the European Union.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Billy Kelleher: People have benefitted from it across Europe. The reason Ireland receives many migrants is the European project. Massive investment through the Cohesion Fund and the Structural Fund allowed us to invest in education, infrastructure and create a dynamic economy. The reason we have difficulties and challenges in ensuring no one is exploited in the labour market is the European Union has been...