Results 121-140 of 4,377 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I am more than happy to facilitate that engagement, perhaps in the context of company law. I think that is what I was at, and where it is more appropriate, whereas this is when it comes into the area of statutory versus voluntary. The Deputy and I are both unionised workers. We do so on a voluntary basis. That is an option open to us. Inserting this amendment, while well-intentioned,...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: To address the first point about what is happening at European level, the last European Council meeting I attended was just last month and I will be going again in two weeks' time for the EPSCO meeting. It is my understanding the Belgian Presidency has already convened a working party on this matter and a second working party meeting is scheduled at the end of this month to lead into the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (13 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Department of Justice has responsibility for the granting of immigration permissions that may provide for entry and work rights in the State for non EEA nationals and their spouses and partners where eligible to apply. Spouses and partners of Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit holders do not currently receive automatic work rights from that Department, however they are free to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Disputes (13 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: On 13 November 2023, the Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), on foot of a decision of the 349th Governing Body, sent a request for an advisory opinion to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the Right to Strike under ILO Convention No. 87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948. On 14 December 2023, the ILO...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (13 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I understand that the Deputy is seeking information regarding Carlow in particular on this matter. The number of participants in the Start Your Own Business Programme in any given year gives some indication of the number of entrepreneurs who have contacted their Local Enterprise Office (LEO) regarding a new business idea. In addition, by looking at the level of Feasibility and Priming grants...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (13 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: Following the review of the Employment Permits Occupations Lists in 2023 the occupation of HGV/bus mechanic was removed from the ineligible occupations list and became eligible for a General Employment Permit, subject to a quota of 200 General Employment Permits. This role became eligible for a General Employment Permit with effect from 20 December. Before an application can be submitted...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank Deputy Stanton for again raising this issue and for consistently doing so constructively and productively over a period. One of the attractions of the critical skills employment permit is that holders of these permits can apply to the Department of Justice for immediate family reunification and, once their partners or spouses are resident in the State, they are eligible to apply to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: A couple of hundred intra-company transfers happened last year but, to be frank, that is far fewer than we would have liked because people simply did not apply. In many of the multinational companies who have chosen to locate their European head offices in Ireland or to establish very big footprints here, the management systems require people to spend a year or two in another country to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: That is under active consideration, but I have to underline that the full buy-in of the Department of Justice is required. We are at the Department's mercy as to whether that can be achieved before the Bill passes through the stages in the Seanad.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Work Permits (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: Just to be clear, this does not apply solely to the nursing homes sector. It also includes healthcare assistants and home support workers, so while it is obviously a provision for people who are in nursing homes, be they private nursing homes or independent nursing homes, it is also for those who provide care in the home and those who provide disability services, many of the recipients of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Work Permits (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: To get to the nub of the question, a decision was made to make a temporary deferral. I have laid out in depth the reason for that here, in our previous discussion on a Bill, and indeed to anyone who has raised a direct question, and I believe Deputy Barry raised it on Questions on Promised Legislation. These deferrals are temporary. The minimum thresholds for work permits are set in all...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Film Industry (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Deputy for this question on an issue that he has raised consistently here and during our time on the finance committee together. As he knows, Ireland has a comprehensive body of employment, equality and industrial relations legislation, which offers the same protections to all employees legally employed under a contract of employment. All employers, regardless of sector, are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Film Industry (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I appreciate the point the Deputy is making. He refers rightly to the case in December before the WRC where it released decisions in respect of a sample group of complaints made by 38 members of the industry. Those decisions are, of course, being appealed to the Labour Court. Separately, the Labour Court issued a decision last month in respect of another complaint related to the industry....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Film Industry (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: I will make two points. Regarding the protections provided under the section 481 tax relief application, the application is clear that the relationship between the producer company and the qualifying company – the DAC – has to be informed by the 1994 Act, which entitles an employee to certain information about his or her employer, including full names and details, to ensure...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Work Permits (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: Last December, I published the outcome of the review of the occupations lists for employment permits, which signalled the Government’s intention to increase the minimum salary thresholds for employment permits, including those associated with healthcare assistants and home care workers. The purpose of this change is to ensure fair treatment for employment permit holders and to allow...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: The 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play an extremely important role providing supports directly to small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship within towns and communities across the country. They are the ‘first stop shop’ at a local level providing expert advice and guidance, financial assistance, and offer a ‘signposting’ service for all Government...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: Ireland has a comprehensive body of employment, equality, and industrial relations legislation, in respect of which the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is mandated to secure compliance. Ireland’s employment rights legislation protects all employees who are legally employed on an employer-employee basis. All employers, regardless of sector, are responsible for ensuring that their...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Creation (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: The company in question is at an early stage of development and is being supported by Enterprise Ireland to explore business opportunities both in China and across the wider nutritional powders market. There are currently a small number of full time workers employed on site with an expectation that employment numbers will increase as the business develops. For reasons of commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Green for Business scheme forms part of a suite of Lean, Green and Digital supports offered by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) to enable small businesses to be more efficient, productive, and sustainable. It is a free programme that helps small businesses take the first step towards becoming more sustainable. It is also a necessary requirement for businesses to undertake in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (8 Feb 2024)

Neale Richmond: The Government is fully committed to backing business and will continue to work closely with SMEs nationwide by supporting their growth, helping them to find new markets and stimulating job creation. I know that at present, SMEs are facing several challenges, due in particular to rising energy costs, inflation, and a tight labour market as well as measures which are aimed at improving...