Results 261-280 of 1,020,120 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Paul Murphy: In June 2021, the Minister's Department issued a press release, the strapline of which was: "All workers to get 10 days paid sick leave phased in between now and 2025". Now it is being reported that the Minister is going to betray this promise because of pressure from business owners. I have a very simple question. Will he will confirm or deny that he is going to pause the planned and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy for the question. The Sick Leave Act 2022 introduced employer-paid, medically certified statutory sick leave for the first time in Ireland. Commencing on 1 January 2023, the initial statutory entitlement was up to three days’ sick leave, which increased to five days on 1 January 2024. This could potentially increase to seven days in 2025 and ten days in 2026. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Paul Murphy: That was as clear as mud; we do not have an answer. Is the Minister going to deliver the sick days that are promised to workers, which the Minister said are not just an issue of workers' rights but also public health? This is about forcing mostly low-paid workers to go to work when they are sick. Is the Minister going to deliver on that or pause it in the interests of those business...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: I join with Teachta Murphy in pressing the Minister on this. The Minister can clearly come out and debunk what is being put out the media. The suggestion in the media is that he will put a pause on the provisions. That is something he either is or is not actively considering now. He can very easily, quickly and simply either confirm or deny what we have read in the media. It is unfair to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: That was an excellent report from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and I advise the Minister to read it. This is not the first time this morning that questions were posed on Fine Gael's commitment to modest adjustments to Ireland's sick leave regime. I note the Minister did not give me a straight or direct answer earlier. It would provide some reassurance to workers across the country if...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: I was very clear in my answer to Deputy Nash on a living wage. I said we were going to wait for the report from the Low Pay Commission. That is the mechanism and structure that is in place, and I am not going to pre-empt that report.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: This question is on sick pay.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Rights (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: On sick pay, we are very committed as a Government to improve the rights of employees. We are in the month of April. Section 6 of the Act clearly sets out that the decision has to be made in quarter 4 and a ministerial direction has to be given on 1 January next year. I make all my policy decisions based on evidence. Through the year, I will look at how the economy is progressing and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Consultations (18 Apr 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: Yes, but will the Government listen to them? That is probably the question I should have two minutes on. We heard from a range of stakeholders, some of whom pointed out something that was quite interesting, namely, that at the last election, 13 Deputies were aged 65 or over. During the course of this Dáil, 12 Deputies will attain the age of 65, and fair play to them, but nobody is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Consultations (18 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: As the Deputy may be aware, it is not possible for the State to provide that a retirement age below 66 in all circumstances will be illegal. The reality is that certain roles may require a lower retirement age, often for the health and safety of the workers in question. That is especially so where people have very physically demanding jobs, for example. It is also critical for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Consultations (18 Apr 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: The Pensions Commission also recognises in the case of people who work in certain occupations, like hairdressers who are on their feet all day and those working in construction and retail, that by the time they hit 65, they feel they have done their shift. Many do not want, and nor should they be compelled, to work past the age of 65. That is contained within the Pensions Commission report....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Consultations (18 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Deputy and I agree that when it comes to certain occupations, it may not be appropriate to have indefinite periods of working life and that is what this legislation provides for. There are complexities where there are existing contracts between employers and employees, particularly in the private sector, that specify a mandatory retirement age. What we are doing here is making changes...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Priorities (18 Apr 2024)

Departmental Priorities

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Priorities (18 Apr 2024)

Catherine Connolly: 60. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 8 February 2024, for an update on his Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs with a view to developing a new business and human rights action plan and implementation body; the number of meetings held to date by the stakeholder forum; the dates of same; the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Priorities (18 Apr 2024)

Catherine Connolly: Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an mbeirt Aire nua. Is pribhléid amach agus amach é. Guím gach rath orthu sa dá ról. Cinnte, ní bheidh aon drogall orm iad a chrá le ceisteanna. My question specifically relates to the new business and human rights plan. Four years after the previous plan came to an end, we are still waiting for that plan. Why has...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Priorities (18 Apr 2024)

Dara Calleary: Déanaim comhghairdeas le mo chomhghleacaí nua freisin. Cuirim fáilte roimhe chuig an Roinn. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist agus as suim a léiriú san issue seo. We recognise the importance of businesses having due regard to issues of human rights. There is a strong expectation in Irish society that our values are reflected in the way we do...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Priorities (18 Apr 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I appreciate the Minister of State's ambition. He said that the review showed that 91% of commitments in the original plan were implemented. However, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission found that "While a high implementation rate is reported, there was a failure to meet key commitments within agreed timeframes and the Plan focused on 'promotion' rather than mandatory and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Living Wage (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Nash for his kind words. As the Deputy will be aware, in 2021 the Low Pay Commission was asked to examine the programme for Government commitment to progress to a living wage and provide recommendations on how best to achieve this commitment. The Low Pay Commission’s recommendations were received and considered and in November 2022, the Government agreed that a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Living Wage (18 Apr 2024)

Gerald Nash: There is no doubt that some small businesses are experiencing difficulties at the moment. There will be challenges for businesses to wean themselves off the kind of corporate welfare that has been available over the last few years to maintain the viability of businesses. However, this should not be done at the expense of low-paid workers. We have a problem with low pay in this country....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Living Wage (18 Apr 2024)

Peter Burke: The Low Pay Commission was established by a Government of which my own party was a member. This shows we are very committed to employees right across the economy. On an objective analysis, last night we voted for auto enrolment to ensure pension rights to those right across our economy. The most vulnerable will benefit. We also introduced sick pay on a statutory basis, which will also...