Results 7,821-7,840 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 21:In page 19, line 45, after "Executive" to insert the following:"and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children".

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I have no problem with speaking first but Deputy Kelleher has precedence because of his party's numerical strength. It is only a temporary matter but we will let it be.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 12:In page 9, line 24, after "determine" to insert the following:"but the total annual remuneration of the Director General shall be no more than €100,000".

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: In my earlier comments I had the same gentleman in my mind, among others. I recognise that. The Minister will recall I talked about appointments from outside the jurisdiction in regard to other areas. Where does this fit in regard to subsection (3)? I sought its deletion. What is the net effect of the amendment? It is open to interpretation and I am asking for certainty. I understand...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I do not want to be so bold as to suggest that it almost confirms the points Deputy Kelleher and I argued heretofore. At this point in time we have had limited sight of the amendment. To my knowledge it was only published today and I have not had any opportunity to evaluate the language involved. That is becoming quite a task in itself in regard to legislation in these times. In a spirit...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I join Deputy Kelleher in his comments. We addressed this issue in regard to pharmacists. There was acceptance across the board that in the circumstances it was an inappropriate penalty to apply to those practising as opposed to owning a business. I ask the Minister to give us a further indication of the intention of these amendments in regard to the holding of positions by those who are...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister used the phrase "commensurate with the responsibilities" of the job. As a Deputy, I know the extent of the reductions we have taken over recent years, in terms of both salary and expenses. I am still willing, even though I know it stretches me with a young family and college responsibilities, to give that leadership and to face further reductions. It is not about what we do...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We are in times of great economic strain and in those circumstances, an argument still stands for further reductions in pay at the highest levels, rather than continuing with the burdening of those who are very clearly already beyond affording the hits they are taking. I rest the case. I have made it and the Minister has responded as I expected. I am pressing the amendment.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I ask for a little elaboration on this. The amendment states that a person shall be considered as holding the grade of national director or other grade which is not less than that, where that person stands appointed to a post to such grade on a temporary or acting basis. Where is that appointee coming from? This is relevant in terms of some of the questions I posed earlier. This...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 5:In page 6, line 41, after “determine” to insert the following: “but the total annual remuneration for each director shall be no more than €100,000”.I have consistently argued, as I do in amendments Nos. 5 and 12, for a cap to apply at the highest pay levels of the public service. That is hugely important in these economically...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It looks as though we do not have a deal. There is no point in dragging this out unnecessarily. I have not heard an explanation of why the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, suggested earlier that the situation was other than what subsection 3 seeks to lock us into, namely, restriction to those in the service and those at particular grade levels. What she put on record in regard to...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 4:In page 6, to delete lines 31 to 36.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I will not persist in addressing the matter. Certainly, I will have an opportunity to address some of the salient points in the next grouping, which includes amendments Nos. 3 and 4. I am not happy to withdraw the amendment, however. I welcome wholeheartedly and without hesitation that a director of mental health appointment has been confirmed, which is hugely important. The other steps,...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I record my support for amendment No. 3.

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We get off to a positive start on the grouping, at least. The words used in the amendment are "not greater than" which means the Minister is not locked into making eight appointments. He is not locked in to a maximum of six appointments either but has flexibility in other areas of importance which must be reflected in the make-up of the envisaged directorate. That is good to go and I will...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I ask if the Minister could clarify something that is not a small matter. I pointed out the difficulty at times in understanding - perhaps the use of language is part of the problem. In my view, language has to be clear and understandable so that we know exactly what we are dealing with because otherwise we are talking at cross purposes. I made reference to page six of the Bill,...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The focus of this amendment is the designation of the role of director of mental health. I know an appointment has taken place since the amendments were tabled and wish the appointee good luck in his new role. However, the core issue is one that I and others, particularly those concerned with mental health reform, share and wish the Minister to consider at this time. There is a difference...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 2:In page 6, line 26, after “Act” to insert the following:“, one of whom shall be a Director of Mental Health”.I note this is being taken as a stand-alone amendment. I would have foreseen it being taken in the context of amendment No. 4 but, as amendments Nos. 3 and 4 are being grouped together, I will speak just to amendment No. 2 at this...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: In any other situation, I would accept the view that one would not be making a special case, but I make no apology at all for being that particular in regard to mental health. It requires every support and assistance to catch up after decades of abject neglect. I do not attribute that only to those in government over the years as I think it is a reflection of society that there was not an...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Perhaps the Minister of State will acknowledge that the Bill is quite specific in regard to what it requires.