Results 3,461-3,480 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Departmental Agencies. (17 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand the report states the Department must adopt a clear stance on customer services by its agencies. It states it is important that it considers this issue at a strategic level and develops a coherent viewpoint that is understood by all of its staff and all of its agencies. Clearly, there is a continuing serious problem in this regard.

Departmental Agencies. (17 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am not suggesting the Department should do that.

Departmental Agencies. (17 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy Broughan.

Departmental Agencies. (17 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: We need a sea change in this area. I agree with my colleague, Deputy Broughan. The criticism of the Department and, indeed, of the Minister, is that he is not doing his job and does not have oversight of these bodies. Is it not a fact that the Department is divided as to whether these bodies should be accountable to the Minister?

Departmental Agencies. (17 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: The report states they are not.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (17 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 228: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cuts in home help services in County Louth in 2009. [46548/08]

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (17 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 274: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on competition in the Irish aviation sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46634/08]

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (17 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 436: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 474 of 21 October 2008, the position regarding the proposal from an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46549/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 164: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of staff allowed to be hired by his Department; if the Department of Finance has communicated concerns over staffing policy in his Department; if his Department has complained to the Department of Finance regarding finance to fill vacancies in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47314/08]

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 166: To ask the Minister for Transport the function of the Minister of State with special responsibility for road safety within his Department in view of the fact that all functions relating to road safety have been transferred to the Road Safety Authority under extensive primary and secondary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47305/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 167: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of staff assigned to work for the Minister of State in his Department; the budget the Minister of State has at his control; the number of meetings he has had with the Road Safety Authority since being appointed; the legislation he has specifically introduced since his appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47306/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 168: To ask the Minister for Transport the action he plans to take to address the long-term planning deficit within his Department; the structural changes that will be imposed in order to free up senior management time and resources for long term planning and setting strategic direction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47307/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 169: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on whether the work of his Department is hindered by its lack of long-term planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47308/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 170: To ask the Minister for Transport the way he will address the lack of communication between senior management in his Department with lower grades of management; the action he has ordered to correct this criticism as outlined in the organisational review programme report of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47309/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 171: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the criticism of many transport agencies that his Department fails to set and clarify strategy across the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47310/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 172: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the criticism of the organisational review programme that his Department's relationship with some of the transport agencies is poor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47311/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 173: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the situation in which there appears to be little consensus within his Department regarding whether users of services of agencies are customers of his Department and regarding his Department's role in respect of these service users and that some staff in his Department hold the view that monitoring of services provided by agencies...

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 180: To ask the Minister for Transport the effect the issue of underperformance is having on general staff morale within his Department; the action contained within the new strategy to deal with staff underperformance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47320/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 174: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department has the capacity to monitor independently the output and services of the agencies under his Department; if he has the relevant expert staff available in his Department to access and report on the activities of all the transport agencies properly; the number of staff assigned to this task; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Dec 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 175: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on his Department's access to information held by agencies under his Department and on whether systems are adequate to retrieve and share information between his Department and its agencies. [47315/08]