Written Answers Nos. 120-124
120. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of Government special advisers employed in his Department; the total cost of employing these advisers and the cost of employing these advisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53317/12]
View answerI have appointed two special advisers in my Department as follows:
|
Name |
Title |
Current Salary (per annum) |
|
Anne Byrne |
Special Adviser (D/PER) |
€86,604 |
|
Rónán O’Brien |
Special Adviser (D/PER) |
€114,000 |
121. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of investigations that the Director of Corporate Enforcement has filed for alleged criminal offences committed under any of the Companies Acts between 2000 and 2012 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53214/12]
View answerPursuant to the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 the Director of Corporate Enforcement is independent in the performance of his statutory functions. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) was established in 2001 and details of investigations undertaken by the Director for the period from 2001 to 2011 are contained in the Annual Reports of the ODCE. These Reports have been laid before each House of the Oireachtas and are also available on the website of the ODCE at www.odce.ie.
Pursuant to the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001, the Director will be required to submit his Annual Report for 2012 to me not later than three months after the end of the year.
122. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on ratifying the Domestic Workers' ILO Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53143/12]
View answerI welcomed the adoption of the Decent Work for Domestic Workers Convention and Recommendation at the International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organisation.
The issue of ratification by Ireland of Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers is being considered in the context of our standard approach to the ratification of international instruments. Ireland does not ratify international Conventions until any such necessary amendments to domestic legislation have been identified and effected.
A preliminary assessment of the implications of ratifying the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 189 on Domestic Workers is currently being finalised by my Department. The Assessment includes an Article-by-Article examination of the extent to which Domestic legislation provisions already provide for the Rights and Entitlements enunciated in each Article, as well as the extent to which any legislative amendments will be required. This assessment will then be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General for their examination.
My officials have been in contact with EU Commission officials and I am aware that they are in the process of issuing a document to all its members in relation to the ratification of the Convention. I have asked the Commission to provide me with this document when it is available.
It is important, to note, however, that domestic workers are protected by virtue of the fact that the full suite of employment rights legislation, including that of redress for violations of their employment rights, apply to domestic workers in the same way as they apply to other categories of employees in Ireland. Also it is worth pointing out that NERA has carried out a programme of inspections involving Domestic Workers as well as continuing to respond to any complaints it receives from Domestic Workers.
A voluntary Code of Practice for Persons Employed in Other People’s Homes was developed under the Industrial Relations Act 1990. The Code sets out certain employment rights and practices for persons employed in other people’s homes and encourages good practice and compliance with the law in such employment situations. In any proceedings before a court, or a workplace relations dispute resolution body, a code of practice shall be admissible in evidence and any provision of the code which appears to the court, body or officer concerned to be relevant to any question arising in the proceedings shall be taken into account in determining that question.
123. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding a work permit in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53285/12]
View answerAn application was received in this instance on 8 October 2012. This application was refused on 9 November 2012 on the basis that new employment permit applications are currently only considered for highly skilled, highly paid positions or for positions where there is an officially recognised scarcity of supply in relation to a particular qualification or occupation type. Applications for renewal may also be considered in respect of non-EEA nationals already legally resident in the State on a valid employment permit. In addition it appeared on the basis of documentation provided in support of this application that more than 60 days lapsed since the position was advertised in national newspapers. Finally, no evidence of advertisements in respect of the post in a local newspaper was provided.
With regard to the point made about the lack of time afforded to the applicant to prepare an appeal, my officials inform me that the notice of refusal was incorrectly dated. Therefore the applicant has 21 days in which to make an appeal from 19 November 2012. I understand that my officials have contacted the employer who has indicated that an appeal against the decision will be submitted. My officials assure me that the appeal will be considered as soon as possible.
124. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of Government special advisers employed in his Department; the total cost of employing these advisers and the cost of employing these advisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53315/12]
View answerThe following table outlines the names and salary details of the two special advisors appointed by me as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. There are no further ministerial advisers appointed in the Department.
|
Position |
Name |
Annual Salary |
|
Special Adviser |
Mr. Ciaran Conlon |
€127,000 |
|
Press Adviser |
Mr. Conor Quinn |
€83,337 |
