Results 2,341-2,360 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: On that point, while a period of six days between Second Stage and Committee Stage is an improvement on previous legislation in respect of the time provided between Stages, the programme for Government contains a commitment to have one week between legislative Stages. Last year, the House took all Stages of various Bills on the same day, which is a disgraceful and, as the Government Chief...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I urge the Government to assume a role in this matter and stick to the commitment made in the programme for Government.

Seanad: Hospital Services: Statements (13 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as teacht isteach go dtí an seomra seo inniú. I have a few queries on hospital services. It is good that the Minister is here and it follows on from the briefing that took place in Buswells Hotel when he announced the situation regarding the grouping of hospitals. In the north east we have major concerns. They start from the individual...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Statements (13 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I have asked questions to which I seek answers.

Seanad: Hospital Services: Statements (13 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: A Chathoirligh, I was nice to the Minister and complimented him on his briefing of Members. Even though I asked him nicely, he has not answered the question in respect of Navan hospital.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (13 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We are here a year after the Minister introduced changes to the one-parent family payment. There is some element of a climb-down in this Bill, which shows that people who object to this Government are not always wrong and that sometimes they can be right and have a point. In so far as the Minister's proposals go, I welcome them. I welcome changes regarding the retained firemen. I regret...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: That is a sensible alteration. The Garda should not be part of this and the role of the Commissioner should not be interfered with. Gardaí are regularly redeployed. I disagree fundamentally with the Minister that the Bill is technical. It is radical and goes way beyond what it is currently set out in the public service agreements. It should be treated as such. I am surprised that I...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I wonder if the unions have explained it to their members and whether those members know what is going through the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I protest that ruling vigorously, as well as the whole operation of the rule about something being a charge on the Exchequer. A new definition is being introduced in law on basic pay which does not exist anywhere else. The idea that I cannot propose an amendment to it is crazy. There is no intention to cost the State money.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 10: In page 6, line 48, after "day" to insert the following:"after having first given notice within every relevant public service body and having sought suitable candidates for redeployment and having first considered, in accordance with section 57D, whether to designate any such candidate who seeks redeployment".We may have to withdraw the amendment and raise the matter...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Neither are we, in fairness.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Nobody disputes the need for redeployment or suggests that people who are doing nothing should be left in place. Nobody is saying that should continue. We support redeployment. My amendment seeks merely to provide for what has been agreed in the Haddington Road agreement, which states on page 12 that the Department should identify the number of posts at each relevant grade that are surplus...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I will not pursue it any further. I fully understand there are protocols in respect of redeployment and I fully understand the Croke Park agreement and the Haddington Road agreement. Although I will not pursue it, I do not understand why the Minister cannot provide a statutory basis for some element of voluntary selection or volunteerism, as is the practice. Why would the Minister not put...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 12: In page 9, to delete lines 31 to 37 and substitute the following:“(c) the terms of any collective agreement negotiated with any recognised trade union or staff association concerned, relating to mobility or redeployment of public service employees or if no such collective agreement is applicable, the terms of any policy for the time being of the...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I understand Report Stage is being taken immediately following Committee Stage, which is unacceptable. If so, I will call divisions. I am prepared to withdraw the amendment and return to it on Report Stage----

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am hearing rumours that it will happen. We will be happy if Report Stage is not taken immediately.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I do not quite get the Minister's point, but he gets mine and perhaps he might reflect on my amendment and come up with a superior wording, given the superior intelligence that works for him. Any time the Opposition seeks to bring something forward and the Minister gets the point, there is at least a technical reason it cannot be implemented. I am willing to reflect on this issue and come...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It would be worthwhile for the Minister to confirm that there is nothing in the legislation to override the Haddington Road agreement in practice. Collective agreements are recognised by the Government and despite the fact that a procedure for compulsory redeployment is being provided for, which I accept may be needed, the practice has always been that the first to go leave on a voluntary...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: There is no provision for a redeployment appeals process. Has the Minister considered this issue, given that appeals processes are provided for in collective agreements? It would be sensible to provide for one.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (18 Jun 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I did not table an amendment on this issue, but it is worth considering. The original Croke Park agreement provided for an appeals process and stated, "Where a staff member wishes to appeal a redeployment decision, such an appeal will be managed by an agreed adjudicator who will reach a decision within the terms of the scheme within 21 days". An appeals process should be a basic provision...