Results 81-100 of 5,164 for speaker:Billy Kelleher in 'Written Answers'

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...

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.

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (27 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I intend to go to the Council of Ministers' meeting on 5th December which will consider the Amended proposal for a Directive of The European Parliament and Council on temporary agency work.

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The number of inspections/visits undertaken by Inspection Services in 2006 and to date in 2007 to check compliance with the Protection of Young Persons Act (Employment), Act, 1996 are as follows: in 2006; 3,347 inspections/visits were undertaken, 1,766 of which were conducted at night-time; and to date in 2007; 1,123 inspections/visits were undertaken, 284 of which were conducted at...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The Government is committed to delivering the key package of measures agreed under the chapter dealing with Employment Rights and Compliance in Towards 2016. In this regard the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) has been established on an interim basis since February 2007. NERA has Department of Finance sanction for 141 staff, including an increased complement of 90 Labour...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: Insofar as sectors covered by the National Minimum Wage Act, 2000 are concerned, the number of inspections/visits during which breaches were detected and the number of prosecutions initiated for breaches of that Act for the year 2006 and to date in 2007 are as follows: in 2006: 2,002 inspections/visits were undertaken; in 104 cases breaches were detected and in one case a prosecution was...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: Figures published by the Health and Safety Authority show that in 2006 there were 50 recorded fatalities in Ireland as a result of work related accidents, compared to 74 work-related deaths in 2005, 50 in 2004 and 68 in 2003. As regards construction, there were 12 fatalities in 2006 and 23, 16, and 20 for the years 2005, 2004 and 2003 respectively. Of the 12 fatalities in 2006, 11 were...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 80, 84 to 87, inclusive, and 112 together. As part of the Government's commitment under the partnership agreement — Towards 2016 — I am currently considering the final elements of proposals for the draft Scheme of a Bill to regulate the employment agency sector. I intend to submit a Memorandum to Government very shortly seeking approval to have the...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: In accordance with commitments given under Towards 2016, the Social Partnership Agreement, the number of Inspectors is scheduled to increase to 90, from the starting position of 31, by the end of 2007. Fifty-one Inspectors are currently assigned to the National Employment Rights Authority's Inspection Services. Twenty of these Inspectors were recruited in 2007 and have already undergone the...

Written Answers — Wage Inflation: Wage Inflation (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The provisions regarding private sector pay in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, were agreed by negotiation between the parties to the agreement. The agreed pay terms will begin to expire at the end of March 2008 and it is envisaged that the Social Partners will commence the next round of pay negotiations early in 2008. It is the Government's firm view that a wage inflationary...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: Data from the CSO quarterly industrial survey show that average industrial earnings per hour for male industrial workers on adult rates in June 2007 was €16.62. For female industrial workers the average rate was €12.73. From the CSO National Employment Survey, March 2003, average hourly earnings were €17.74 for males and €14.93 for females. These latter figures cover the entire...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: There is no age discrimination provision in employment rights legislation and there are no provisions in employment or equality law that impose a compulsory retirement from employment. The Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004, among other things, protects against discrimination on the ground of age in relation to access to employment. However, they also permit an employer to decide on a...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The number of employment rights inspections/visits undertaken to 23rd November, 2007 by the Inspection Services of the National Employment Rights Authority, or NERA, amounted to 12,002. In the full year 2006, some 15,855 inspections/visits were undertaken. Insofar as comparisons with the same period in 2006 are concerned I am advised by NERA that some 10,600 employment rights...

Written Answers — Unemployment Levels: Unemployment Levels (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The numbers of actual redundancies notified to my Department for the period 1 January to 31 October for the years 2002-2007 are as follows: Actual Redundancies 2002-2007 (Jan-Oct) Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Actual 20,604 21,882 21,322 19,412 19,505 21,411 This compares with the full year figures for the years 2002-2006 which were: Actual Redundancies 2002-2006 Year 2002 2003...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO) has identified eight conventions as "fundamental", covering subjects that are considered as fundamental principles and rights at work: freedom of association of and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child labour; and...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (28 Nov 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The value of arrears recovered by Inspection Services on behalf of employees arising from breaches of employment rights legislation in the years 2002-2006 and to date in 2007 is as follows: Year 2002 €354,000 2003 €226,000 2004 €486,000 2005 €476,000 2006 €1.49 million 2007 (to date) €2.20 million The amount of arrears recovered to date in 2007 represents a 48% increase...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (28 Nov 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 — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (4 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: Road works are considered by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) as a "place of work" as defined in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006, and as such the Authority has included road works under its inspection and enforcement programme. However, a number of Local Authorities around the country have...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (5 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: P.S.K. Construction Ltd (PSK) went into voluntary liquidation on 16 March 2006 and Mr Tom Kavanagh of Kavanagh Fennell was appointed liquidator. Claims for arrears of wages, holiday pay and minimum notice under the Insolvency Payments Scheme were received on behalf of one hundred and forty-six employees from the liquidator during May and June 2006. (In addition, twenty-two claims were...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (6 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: Where a company has ceased trading but is still solvent and has not paid an employee in full, the employee may refer a complaint against that company to a Rights Commissioner. In accordance with the Payment of Wages Act 1991 non-payment of wages properly payable by an employer to an employee on any occasion will be regarded as an unlawful deduction from wages unless the deficiency or...