Results 16,381-16,400 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I will deal with the questions put to me by Deputies Pringle and Wallace. On Deputy Pringle's point regarding engagement to date, there has been engagement to date. The Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court have been involved. It is obvious that engagement did not yield outcomes that were satisfactory to those who represent nurses as otherwise we would not be in this...

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is appropriate that the pay commission engages with stakeholders. As I said, I met the commission. Did I issue a direction to it regarding what to do? Absolutely not, because it is independent.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I have experience of institutions that are independent of me issuing recommendations that then cause significant consequences that I have to deal with as well. On Deputy Wallace's point on pay, one of the challenges we face is that the Public Service Pay Commission did issue recommendations in regard to pay for which, in my appraisal at the time, the rest of the union movement would have...

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Mattie McGrath made the absolutely ridiculous assertion that there is no money available. This year alone, the health services will be receiving €17 billion-----

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----of taxpayers' money to support the development and delivery of services in our country.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As I was saying in response to Deputy Mattie McGrath, there is €17 billion of taxpayers' money deservedly going into the provision of services that are available in the health service and into trying to improve them, of which at least one quarter goes into the wages of those who provide care in our country. The Deputy also asked if we respect the nurses and the contribution they...

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked me to explain why we are putting money into a rainy day fund. I understand why many would ask that question given the pressures that always exist for today. The simple answer is that we will get into another difficulty in the future because we are an open economy and a huge amount is happening in the world at the moment, as the Deputy knows. Our debt levels, on...

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Breathnach asked me whether we are willing to put different measurements in place. We have looked to respond to that with the new entrant agreement we have put in place that we still hope to be in a position to honour and implement.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It was never the intention of either the Minister for Health or me to be disrespectful to any public service worker. What we were doing was done in light of the fact that questions were being asked about whether we would engage with the WRC. We were indicating our willingness to do so. As the Minister for Health said, nobody in this House has a monopoly when it comes to respecting the fact...

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I will deal with the questions from Deputies Gino Kenny and Bríd Smith while the Minister for Health will deal with the question from Deputy Boyd Barrett. With regard to the question from Deputy Gino Kenny, I still accept and stand by the analysis and recommendations offered by the Public Service Pay Commission. It is independent in composition. Recommendations came from the...

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am reminded of what Deputy Donnelly said about this matter in July 2018. In case his colleagues in the parliamentary party need to be reminded-----

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----he stated:I also took a look at nursing salaries around the world. In 2013, nurses in this country were the third highest paid. We were still in the top five countries in 2016.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to ensure, as I am responding to the questions put to me-----

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----that everybody is clear on the track record of the differing views in Fianna Fáil on this issue. When it tabled the Private Members' motion on it a number of weeks ago, all it talked about was a commission.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not hear much of a reference to a commission this morning.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: To deal with the different issues and questions put to me by the Deputies-----

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----we have acknowledged that there are specific issues in recruitment and retention which need to be dealt with.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: They have been acknowledged within the Public Service Pay Commission. That is why we made specific proposals that we are willing to honour. Deputy Rabbitte asked if we were willing to enter into discussions and negotiations. We are, but we have to be conscious that we have an agreement in place for 291,000 other public servants whom I will address in my concluding comments. In respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Nursing Staff Remuneration (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I would first like to assure the Deputy that all nurses and midwives are benefitting from the dismantling of the temporary Financial Emergency legislation under the terms of the Public Service Stability Agreement. This Agreement is delivering pay benefits of 2-2.5% per annum and will result in the restoration of salary rates up to €50,000 for all public servants (including nurses) by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Commissioners of Public Works, on behalf of the State, manage a large and diverse property portfolio, which ranges from office accommodation to heritage properties, visitor centres, Garda stations, among others. As is typical of such large portfolios, there will always be a number of properties, at any given time, that are vacant. The majority of the properties currently vacant are...