Results 1,021-1,040 of 1,035,937 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Joan Collins OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív)

Other Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

National Minimum Wage.

National Minimum Wage. (10 Feb 2004)

Dan Boyle: Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are particular industries or areas in which compliance with the minimum wage regulations has been below the national average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3812/04]

National Minimum Wage. (10 Feb 2004)

Eamon Ryan: Question 126: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage level of compliance reported by the Labour inspectorate of minimum wage regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3810/04]

National Minimum Wage. (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 126 together. Since the introduction of the national minimum wage in April 2000, inspectors have undertaken inspections under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000, with reported compliance and sanctions levels as follows. In 2000 and 2001, respectively, 3,419 and 1,192 inspections-visits were undertaken by the inspectorate. The respective outturns for...

National Minimum Wage. (10 Feb 2004)

Eamon Ryan: It will not be a surprise to anyone who watched the recent RTE television programme, which is highly commendable, that the hotel, bar and restaurant sectors are mentioned in this regard. In that programme a young man worked for low wages in various establishments and reported to the public on his experiences. It was shocking to note that his wage slip for a week's work following various...

National Minimum Wage. (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: It is a fair and just rate and by and large employers are happy to go along with the minimum level of pay. However, we acknowledge the point made by the Small Firms Association that compliance with the minimum wage level adds a burden which did not exist in the past. I am satisfied that €7 per hour is not an unreasonable level of minimum pay — if anything, it may be too low. That is not...

National Minimum Wage. (10 Feb 2004)

Eamon Ryan: If I am reading the regulations correctly, I note it is an offence for an employee to provide incorrect details of his or her working hours. It is of particular concern that the detail and reporting of the working conditions of migrant workers could be easily amended to suit the legislation, when they might not be earning the €7 per hour minimum wage, apropos of what happened in the case of...

National Minimum Wage. (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: I do not have information to hand on the reporting by employees of a fewer number of hours than they worked. I have a concern regarding the wage levels paid to some foreign workers who do piece-work. There has been some evidence in the past 12 months of foreign workers in some sectors not being paid the minimum wage because they work long hours on a piece-work basis. I refer in particular to...

National Minimum Wage. (10 Feb 2004)

Eamon Ryan: Clearly, the Minister of State has evidence in regard to the industry to which he referred, otherwise he would not have mentioned it. Has an investigation of that industry led to any of the convictions to which he referred?

National Minimum Wage. (10 Feb 2004)

Frank Fahey: I do not have specific information to hand on any particular industry. We have stepped up inspections in some industrial sectors where there have been reports of foreign workers doing piece-work who are not being paid the minimum wage.

Other Questions. (10 Feb 2004)

Job Losses.

Job Losses. (10 Feb 2004)

Jimmy Deenihan: Question 114: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the recent spate of job losses in Kerry; the steps she intends to put in place to revise this trend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3633/04]

Job Losses. (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: I regret very much recent job losses in County Kerry, including the Sports Socks Company's plants in Cahirciveen and Tralee, and Rosenbluth in Killarney, and I am conscious of the adverse effects on the workers, their families and the local community. Finding alternative employment for the workers affected is a priority for FÁS and the State development agencies. FÁS is making available its...

Job Losses. (10 Feb 2004)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Minister accepts that over 220 jobs have been lost in the manufacturing industry over the past two weeks. This is the equivalent of 20,000 jobs in Dublin. I can imagine the response if job losses prevailed to that extent in Dublin. Will the Minister visit Kerry as soon as possible and meet the social partners, leaders of industry and the county manager to discuss ways in which to reverse...

Job Losses. (10 Feb 2004)

Phil Hogan: No problem.

Job Losses. (10 Feb 2004)

Jimmy Deenihan: Besides, there are further job losses on the horizon. The owners of one particular plant in Listowel were over from America last week and the outlook for the plant is very gloomy. Addressing this problem will require more than the actions the Minister outlined in her reply. She will have to come down to Kerry herself and be more proactive in her approach to reversing this trend. The social...

Job Losses. (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: I appreciate Deputy Deenihan's invitation to Kerry. It is always a great pleasure to visit the county and I will be visiting it shortly on an extensive visit. Notwithstanding the disappointing news about the companies we mentioned, there are companies expanding in the Kerry area. The live register is up 147 year on year but there are also a substantial number of immigrant workers in many of...

Job Losses. (10 Feb 2004)

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin: I, too, invite the Minister to Kerry — I believe this is my fifth time to do so. I know she has been in Kerry since I first issued the invitation to her to meet the social partners and such people with regard to employment issues. It is very serious that the IDA has attracted only one person to visit Killarney. In light of the Minister's statement that Enterprise Ireland has expended funds...

Job Losses. (10 Feb 2004)

Jimmy Deenihan: Is the Minister happy that the IDA did not create one single job in Kerry last year? It brought only two itineraries to the constituency of Kerry North, for example. Surely this is not a credible performance.

Job Losses. (10 Feb 2004)

Mary Harney: If any visit of mine to Kerry or anywhere else can generate employment, I will be willing to make such visits to any county. The IDA had five site visits to Kerry North in 2003. The support of Enterprise Ireland was for the expansion of FEXCO. In addition, FÁS has about 1,500 people in either apprenticeships or training programmes in Kerry, which represents a considerable resource. Many of...