Results 281-300 of 1,014,279 for in 'Dáil debates' OR speaker:Paul Gavan in 'Committee meetings'

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...

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

Gerald Nash: The ambition of the new Taoiseach to reset the messaging for Fine Gael and to go back to basics, as some people have described it, is worrying for working people across the country. This is especially the case if it is framed through the lens of worker versus business. That should not be the case. Quite frankly, however, that is how the mood music is being set. This is especially the case...

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

Peter Burke: I am in a Department where we have to balance the rights of employers and protect employees. I have to protect the rights of consumers and balance that with the rights of businesses. We have to be in a very strong position to protect all those across our economy. I would say, demonstrate by evidence. This Government has shown huge evidence. We have been a reforming Government, in line...

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

Departmental Consultations

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

Louise O'Reilly: 59. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will engage with stakeholders regarding the employment (restriction of certain mandatory retirement ages) Bill 2024. [16748/24]

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

Louise O'Reilly: In 2006, the OECD recommended the abolition of mandatory retirement in Ireland. I have brought legislation forward on this, as have my colleagues, Deputies Claire Kerrane and John Brady. Recently we had stakeholders present at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment to discuss the employment (restriction of certain mandatory retirement ages) Bill. We heard from...

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

Emer Higgins: I thank the Deputy for her kind remarks and I look forward to working with her. The purpose of the general scheme of the employment (restriction of certain mandatory retirement ages) Bill 2024 is to implement a key recommendation related to mandatory retirement age, which is included in the Pensions Commission recommendations and implementation plan. As recommended by the Pensions...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Policy (18 Apr 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I thank the Minister for that comprehensive reply. I ask if it might be possible to do an audit of the hotel space available in County Kildare and other midland counties with a view to ensuring the maximum bed space is available to accommodate tourists to encourage them to avail of the opportunity of visiting those constituencies. This is not to suggest that other temporary occupants of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tourism Policy (18 Apr 2024)

Catherine Martin: By way of update, I can confirm from talking to my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, that over 300 accommodations which were in use by the Department, directly or through local authorities, for the beneficiaries of temporary protection since the commencement of the Ukraine crisis are no longer being used as of mid-April. Of these, over 40 are hotels with approximately 1,500 beds...