Results 8,121-8,140 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister is making the claim that it is still there. It is patently not still there. It is being removed and there is no explanation of it. It is not about two-week holiday periods. It is about any number of situations that could arise where there would be periods of absence of six months or more. This is not the local penny arcade of which we speak. For God's sake, it is the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That could happen.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I welcome the fact that the Minister has responded. It was not my amendment. I was pointing out what I saw to be a deficiency. That is the purpose of this exercise.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I accept and welcome that and look forward to seeing it corrected at Report Stage. The Chairman is not happy to let me have my moment.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I have a concern. The wording the Minister seeks to amend includes, importantly, under section 16G(4), "...the functions of the Director General referred to in subsection (1) may be performed, for such period not exceeding 6 months". The amendment and the Minister's comments make no reference to that important point. It is not included for no good reason. The Minister is seeking to delete...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That does not explain why the Minister is seeking to delete the provision for a six-month cap relating to that absence. We have many examples across the public service of people in high office who are merely acting in the respective role that they occupy. Several local authority county managers are acting up and they have not been designated. Their predecessors have not been properly...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 9: 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”.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister's comments suggest he is only looking at the chief financial officer, but my wish is to consider all opportunities. My focus was particularly on mental health, which I still hold strongly. I do not have anybody in mind, and this is not to aid and abet anybody's career prospects. Far from it, I would not be party to such a process. I hope that by opening up this matter we...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, line 39, after “determine” to insert the following:", but the total annual remuneration for each director shall be no more than €100,000".I had the rare opportunity to take Leaders' Questions last Thursday, as it has not fallen to my lot for some time. I availed of the opportunity to ask the Tánaiste about matters concerning Croke...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The amendment states: In page 6, line 39, after "determine" to insert the following:", but the total annual remuneration for each director shall be no more than €100,000".This is definitely influenced by the fact that low to middle income earners across the public service in particular have had to bear the greatest burden-----

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: This would ensure a greater sharing of the weight of all that has befallen us as a people in recent years. High income earners have a responsibility to play a greater role in helping us through these times. Others are shouldering more than they can carry. My consistent position is that those who are on a higher income are entitled to take a greater share of that burden. This amendment is...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I am concerned about this. The earlier amendment-----

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Will the Minister elaborate in respect of the numbers he intends to provide for in the amendment on Report Stage? We had heretofore understood the number would be seven, but clearly the Minister will extend that. Has the Minister made a decision on what number he intends to propose? It is welcome that the Minister is willing to look at others within the HSE rather than only current...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I moved the amendment against the historic backdrop of mental health being the poor relation within the health services. We have seen ample evidence of this across a succession of Administrations. I do not have to cite instances, even in our current circumstances, in regard to the failure to ring fence mental health and A Vision for Change. There is understandable nervousness in this...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I will respond to the Minister briefly by welcoming what he has put on the record. That certainty is important. It should not be confined to this committee, however. I will not press the amendment but I reserve the right to present it again on Report Stage. The Minister's remarks were important and they should be heard in the Dáil. I may revisit the matter on Report Stage and if he...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, to delete lines 31 to 34.This amendment would delete the proposed new section 16A(3). Section 16A(3) reads: "A person may not be appointed as an appointed director unless he or she is a person who is an employee of the Executive holding the grade of national director in the Executive." I would be of a mind to be not only greatly sympathetic to that view...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I congratulate the progress the Chairman has made through his comments, with which I concur based on what I have learned from colleagues who serve on the forum in the Dublin north east region. To return to the proposition, the amendment does not threaten the role of the Minister or his powers and responsibilities. I am seeking a consultation which will enhance the role of this committee...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, line 26, after “Act” to insert the following: “, one of whom shall be a director of mental health”.Is amendment No. 3 being discussed on its own? I do not have a list of groupings.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is important that the legislation recognise the centrality of addressing mental health. There is concern among people involved in the mental health services and several non-governmental organisations operating in this area that the legislation does not include a stated commitment to ensure one of the directors is a director of mental health. A later amendment refers to the position with...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Is that the Chairman or someone else's telephone?