Results 5,041-5,060 of 9,312 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (29 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Although this annual debate can be repetitive, it is important. Unfortunately, it sometimes becomes completely focused on the Special Criminal Court. As Members will be aware, there is more to these resolutions than simply matters to do with that court. Under the 1998 Act introduced in the aftermath of the horrific Omagh bombing, 12 new sections were introduced that were required to be...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Relations (28 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 130. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the consultation process for the industrial relations provisions in respect of pension entitlements of retired workers Bill 2021 has concluded; if so, the measures that he proposes to take with the draft legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33685/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (28 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 144. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps that he plans to introduce in order to reduce the amount of single-use plastic that is used in packaging in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33963/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (28 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the proposals that he believes should be introduced to encourage supermarkets and manufacturers to reduce the amount of single-use plastic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33964/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Mr. Moloney and his staff for coming before the committee. I agree with him when he says there are benefits to secondments in staff being able to broaden their skills and continue their professional and personal development. Would I be correct in saying that we have an issue in Ireland with retired Secretaries General and what to do with them when their seven years are up and they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: The reason I asked the question is that I am conscious, as I am sure Mr. Moloney is, that in recent times we have had two Secretaries General who have gone on to become ambassadors. The Secretaries General referred to in Mr. Moloney’s submission to the committee have gone on into third level institutions. All of them are highly qualified and talented people but the impression I get...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: When did the seven-year term for Secretaries General come in? I should know that myself and I apologise that I do not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Between 1984 and 2011, from Mr. Moloney's recollection what was the general pathway for Secretaries General whose seven years had expired but who had not reached retirement age? Where did they generally go?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: So they retired.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Prior to 2011, the vast majority of them, having done their terms as Secretaries General, retired irrespective of their age. Would that be fair to say?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: The point that Mr. Moloney is making to the committee is that this is as a result of the changes brought in during 2011 as a result of the financial crisis at that time. Does that mean they simply cannot retire if they want to avail of their full pension entitlement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: The individuals are fine individuals and I make no criticism of them. My understanding is that one of them was from the Department of Foreign Affairs and another was outside that Department. Is that something that is generally seen as being available to retiring Secretaries General, that they can become an ambassador? I am not asking Mr. Moloney to disclose any interests he may have in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: When it comes to appointment as an ambassador, these are jobs that are not generally advertised. They may be notified internally in the Department of Foreign Affairs. I can understand why they would not be advertised. In respect of someone who is going into an academic institution, the policy issue or the public concern voiced by many Members of the House of the Oireachtas was that if a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: From the point of view of the third level institution, it is not costing it anything in terms of taking on the Secretary General in a new position. Is that a fair assessment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: The payment of the Secretaries General involved are made by the third level institution but obviously they are funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. I thank Mr. Moloney.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Secondment Policy in the Civil and Public Service: Engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: The next time we are looking for an ambassador to the United States, we should start by looking at chairmen of committees like yourself.