Results 29,261-29,280 of 34,885 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: While that deadline is by and large being met, that sometimes is no more than simply an acknowledgement that the request has been received. It regularly can just be-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: On that response, people often tell me they just get word back that it is being dealt with. It is a response, but I am really trying to tie down the period of time after that.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: I have listened carefully to the Minister and I am very pleased that he has been willing to listen to common sense and do a complete U-turn on this issue. I admire his courage. Some here seem to consider this a laughing matter, but others of us do not. I said I admired the Minister's courage before the skits came from the other side. It is unquestionably a U-turn, but it is a good man who...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: We did so for a variety of reasons. The Minister opposed our doing so when he was in opposition, but he is reinstating that provision now and proposing in this section to add to it. He pointed out in the course of his contribution that one fifth of countries in the European Union and the OECD charged application fees in respect of freedom of information requests. That means, of course,...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: Yes and I understand from where the Minister is coming on that issue. However, the amendment refers to separate and distinct information on functions and responsibilities carried out in different functional areas. I gave the example yesterday which seemed to surprise the Minister somewhat that an FOI request to do with pensions might end up going to the human resources section, the audit...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting Applications (13 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: 127. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when Garda vetting will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48493/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (13 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: 179. To ask the Minister for Health if he wil provide information regarding the categories of persons based on clinical assessment with the orthodontist on the orthodontic treatment waiting list; the basis for the different categories such as 4d,5i,4f,4c, and all other categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48517/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (13 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: 180. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the orthodontic treatment waiting list, on a county basis; the number of these persons that applied for treatment in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and earlier years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48518/13]

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: I accept that.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: I am surprised at the Minister. The big boys are calling the shots again. They should have been told where to go. Most people agreed with what the Minister did in bringing down the pay of the chief executives but it is galling-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: I said most people, although there are some who would not agree. Once again, NAMA and the NTMA have got out of it. This is not good enough. Let us look at what the NTMA does. One could say that for the past three years, while the troika was in town, it had very little work to do. It was not raising the level of funding on the market that it had been raising. I know it might have had to...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: The NTMA is being partially included but the Minister is excluding the terms and conditions of the senior executives.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: That is not good enough. The Minister might explain why the terms and conditions are being excluded. I think the Minister's instinct was not to accept it but it was forced on him by the Department of Finance. If the Minister had his hand on this, he would have told them where to go and we would have supported him in that. I have no doubt we will vote on this amendment.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: I do not-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: No.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: I accept that.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: They had a lot less to do.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: From where is the resistance coming, other than the people who are receiving the payments? I know the Minister will not comment and that this legislation is as a result of a collective Cabinet decision but I can understand his instinct is to say what they are paid. However, they have said they do not want that to happen. The Minister gave his answer in his press release on the publication...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: I accept several paragraphs in the same section and I know Deputy Donnelly had a different view and wanted them excluded. I accept investors are going to invest, that company funds are potential investors and that purchasers are potential purchasers of assets. I could have included that but I felt, in the interests of the Irish taxpayers, that good commercial practice might be compromised...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Seán Fleming: I will go back to those three issues. Amendment No. 12 refers to "receivers and administrators working for or employed by the National Asset Management Agency". I understand that in most cases in which NAMA is holding loans, companies bring in the receiver or administrator. It is done by the company with the agreement and full knowledge of NAMA, which is required to give its consent, but...