Results 1,861-1,880 of 8,073 for speaker:Peter Burke

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (27 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: 572. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on further information for agency roles working in the HSE; and their eligibility for the pandemic bonus payment. [47332/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Housing Policy (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 to 253, inclusive, together. Section 3A of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation Act 2022 provides for the introduction of a new regulatory regime in relation to the short-term letting sector, specifically non-principal private residences advertised for letting in the designated Rent Pressure Zones. However, the provisions cannot come...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the members for affording us the time to come to the committee in relation to this pre-legislative scrutiny. I also thank the committee for the expeditious way it has dealt with this issue, notwithstanding how busy it is. My opening statement has circulated and I will outline a few points contained therein. A key priority of mine when I was appointed as Minister of State was to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: The Senator's points are very valid and well made. We are hoping to bring in legislation in relation to sick leave as well, with the explicit wording "will be absent due to illness or in good faith" to cover other areas the Senator referred to. This is important because if someone is undergoing chemotherapy or is very ill and has a protracted absence, it is very unfair that the council...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I expect it will be operational from the enactment. We have regulations currently, which were advanced on in relation to that administrative support aspect. If a councillor chooses to remain in office but wants administrative support to carry out their functions over their maternity leave period, we will be bringing in regulations in tandem with the Bill for doing that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: As soon as the Bill is ready, we will publish both together. There will be a suite of measures to support it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I have indeed. We are looking at approximately €230 per week of administrative support for local authority members on maternity leave that would help them with secretarial work if they so chose. There is a genuine fear held by some women that they do not want to step away from their role fully but need support like that. This support mirrors what Oireachtas Members get currently...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: That is the language we have inserted. I see that as coming into force if someone has a very significant reason that incapacitates them or if they are very ill. Going around the country, I have met people and seen a number of circumstances where the family of a very sick individual have had to request the local authority to extend their period of absence. Again, requesting a resolution of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: We will do it through the current vouch scheme we have for local authority members. What we did this year on foot of the reforms requested through the Moorhead report is we have brought about a fully transparent vouch system for all local authority members where they have to furnish invoices in respect of payments they give. It is through mirroring that system that we will be giving the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: My view is that they should be but that would obviously be at the request of the council. The local authority is the key decision-maker on what positions any elected member holds at any time, by resolution of the council. In terms of good faith, it would be hoped the positions of a councillor who is on maternity leave would fall into the place of an individual who is providing a role as a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: It is something we can look at. I have heard some very significant stories, particularly in our own party in Dún Laoghaire, about women bringing their infants into the chamber for breast-feeding. It was very interesting last night in the Dáil Chamber to see a new baby brought in. Councils can put a framework around that themselves. I do not think we need legislation. A lot of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: Absolutely. Councillor Joanna Byrne of the Deputy's party was on the subgroup. We have established a committee to consider the non-pay aspects of the Moorhead report. In terms of paternity leave, section 18 is not invoked where one would have to take the extra six months or go past the six-month period. We want to put a policy framework around that. As I stated, the most urgent issue was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy. I wish to acknowledge Ms Laura Mannion, who has done a significant amount of work on this in my area, as have Mr. O'Leary and Mr. Buggy, in terms of feeding through the subgroups and reflecting the wishes of women. On illness benefit, my intention through the regulation is to have that administrative support. As I stated, I have encountered a few of the very difficult...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: It was represented. Councillor Clare Claffey was a representative on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: They were.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: All parties were requested to submit a nominee, and they did, as far as I can see from the list in front of me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: It would be up to the local authority in question to decide that. Essentially, if a representative wants to take maternity leave and step away from her role, we will provide her with the support to do that, and with a temporary substitute. However, the representative may wish to remain in her role. Indeed, some women have expressed such a preference, but have stated that administrative...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: It could. It would be up to the local authority in question. Other Deputies raised the issue of breastfeeding. That is a culture change that needs to take place at local authority level and at the coal face.