Results 28,861-28,880 of 34,885 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: The Vote for the Office of the Attorney General is Vote 3. The Votes for the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Chief State Solicitor and the Attorney General are all related in that they are all legal entities. During 2013 the Haddington Road agreement was brokered and there was a lot of talk about the cuts that applied to those earning salaries in excess of approximately...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Finally, under the Vote for the Chief State Solicitor's office, on page 85 of the briefing note there is an interesting reference to the fact that additional staff have been employed to allow for the additional work emanating from the newly-constituted office of Government procurement. I will take this issue up with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform too, but it seems that the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I will refer to the Minister on that issue. Finally, the last paragraph on page 86 refers to the Department undertaking a focused policy assessment on legal services and expenditure. I can take this up with the line Minister but it affects the Votes for the Taoiseach's Department. Is there a timescale for that policy assessment exercise? Is the Taoiseach able to say anything more on it...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I have one final short question on the Vote for the CSO. In terms of the Department's plans for 2014, reference is made to the commencement of planning for the 2016 census of population. Is there a date set for that census? Will it be held before or after the general election?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Will it be close?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I refer to page 24 of the briefing note. This is only a general question. There are references to the Cabinet committees on social policy and health. Did they meet in the immediate run-up to the budget to discuss it, or were they excluded from the budgetary discussions?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Pardon?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: The briefing note states the Cabinet committee on social policy met on seven occasions in 2013 and its focus included an area-based approach to child poverty and health and well-being. There is a full page on the specifics of what was discussed at the committee. I just want to ask one question in regard to the two Cabinet committees referred to. Did they meet to discuss the budget in...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I want to move to section H regarding the peace process. Last year, during the Estimates meeting, we spoke quite a bit about the legacy of the past and victims' meetings. I would like to know the Taoiseach's plan for 2014 because it is referred to as part of his work programme. I refer to the families of the disappeared and the 16 victims of republican paramilitary violence up to 2003. I...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I am sure the Taoiseach will join with me in asking any member of the republican movement who has information on the recent victims - we are just coming up to the first anniversary of the savage and brutal murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe - to come forward. There is the same kind of legacy culture of not coming forward with information. If those people who have information could...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I refer to a matter under the heading of British-Irish relations which the Taoiseach mentioned specifically when he was with us last May and I would like to know if there will be developments on it in 2014. He said significant achievements last year included the launch of a new east-west interconnector and the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the trading of renewable electricity....

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I will confine everything I say to the items in the briefing-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Deputy Lynch is the Chairman. This committee was given a 92-page briefing note from the Taoiseach in regard to matters which he has overseen as head of the Government. If the Chairman is saying the matters in the Taoiseach's briefing note cannot be discussed, that is his decision.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I was almost finished.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Is the briefing note which we graciously received from the Department of the Taoiseach inside or outside the scope of this meeting? I am going through the briefing document page by page but I have been told it is not to be discussed. Why did we get it then?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised) (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I would like to put two batches of questions, one on the Vote for the Department of the Taoiseach and another on the legal office and the Director of Public Prosecutions. I thank the Taoiseach and the Chief Whip for attending to discuss the 2014 Estimates. I will not make an opening statement. I have read the 100 pages of briefing material received. The first question concerns the Cabinet...

Irish Water: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I welcome this opportunity to speak on the Fianna Fáil Private Members' motion on Irish Water. I thank my colleague, Deputy Barry Cowen, for tabling the motion. The motion notes the critical role water plays in our social and economic infrastructure and the right of all citizens to access a safe, clean and sustainable water supply and the need for a comprehensive national water...

Irish Water: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Water services have been privatised in England where people pay charges of €600 a year. I contributed to Second Stage and Committee Stage of the Freedom of Information Bill. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, agreed that there was a case to include Irish Water and Iarnród Éireann under freedom of information legislation even though I accept that...

Irish Water: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: The costs associated with the establishment of Irish Water are being transferred to the balance sheet of the new entity and will form part of its asset and capital base. I refer to the evidence given yesterday by the Secretary General of the Department to the Committee of Public Accounts:Irish Water is a commercial semi-State body within the Bord Gáis group and, as such, requirements...

Irish Water: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I asked Mr. McGowan why he was attending the meeting last night if he had not been appointed as regulator. He replied that the Minister had asked him to take a preliminary look at the figures. He is still not the regulator. Will the Minister confirm that he will appoint the regulator, even though he has been hiding behind a so-called regulator for the past week? Mr. McGowan does not have...