Results 501-520 of 1,886 for speaker:Fergal Browne

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2004)

Fergal Browne: I join in congratulating all those who contested the elections. The bravest thing any person can do is put their name on a ballot paper. Those involved deserve our congratulations on taking part in the democratic process. It is encouraging that voter turnout has increased, something which upset the trend in recent elections. As a person who took part in the election, I learned a great deal...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Fergal Browne: I agree with previous speakers that we should have a debate before the recess, while the elections are still fresh in our minds, on No. 18 of the non-Government motions on the Order Paper which refers to registration for elections. I am aware of a couple who were taken off the register without receiving written notification. They were very unimpressed when they went to vote on election day. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: Last Tuesday I raised the issue of special needs assistants for schools. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Science to the House to clarify whether students who are currently receiving special needs assistance will receive the same service in the next school year and for the remainder of the school term. There seems to be confusion in that regard. I am aware of some...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: It is a little like a meeting of the Clare persons' association in the Chamber this evening. I am a second generation Clare person. The phrase "A lot done, more to do" is applicable in the area of special needs. The announcement in the past few days by the Department of Education and Science regarding the specific allocations of special needs assistants is incredible. The Department had that...

Seanad: Election Management System. (1 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: This matter concerns the boundaries for the local elections due to be held in 2009, of which I hope a review will be carried out. Although Carlow is the second smallest county I want to list some examples of the daftness of the current system. The first case I want to highlight concerns Ballon, in Carlow, a very small village which finds itself divided in half. One half is in the Tullow...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: We brought about Ryanair and introduced competition.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: On the point raised about special needs assistants, my attention was drawn during the week to a case concerning a boys' school and a girls' school situated side by side. Members of the same families attend the two schools. However, the boys school was classified as disadvantaged and it is getting a special needs assistant for every 80 pupils, while the girls school is getting one for every...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I apologise. It is being taken this week. We should consider this matter. The classification of some schools as disadvantaged puts so-called advantaged schools at a disadvantage. This is borne out in the special needs assistants area. Can we discuss again the issue of the first-time buyer's grant early in the next term and the need to raise the current threshold applying to stamp duty? The...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 1: In page 8, subsection (1), line 10, after "appointment" to insert "or promotion". My colleague, Deputy Richard Bruton, was concerned about the promotional prospects for those in the Civil Service and the public service. Almost 80% of promotion competitions result in internal candidates being promoted so this amendment will open up more opportunities.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 2: In page 11, line 42, after "concerned" to insert "which order shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and shall not take effect unless and until it is approved by a positive resolution of each House". This is self-explanatory. The amendment is tabled in the interests of accountability and transparency. One of the successes since the foundation of the State...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 3: In page 14, subsection (3), between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following paragraph: "(c) if it is satisfied that such exclusion is in the public interest and provides for a recruitment process which is in accord with the principles of fair and transparent recruitment and promotion processes.". We were afraid that the old system of patronage could occur from time to...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 4: In page 17, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following subsection: "(2) Where the Commission is of the opinion that there has been a failure to comply with the principles and policies of this Act, in particular if it forms the opinion that there has been a failure to apply codes of practice, it may investigate or cause to be investigated the matter on its behalf...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 5: In page 19, line 25, to delete "5(d)" and substitute "5".

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 6: In page 20, before section 18, to insert the following new section: 18.—(1) The Commission shall promote best practice in recruitment. (2) The Commission shall, at regular intervals, conduct both random and systematic assessments of recruitment practices being implemented pursuant to this Act in order to determine whether best practice is being adhered to.". The...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 7: In page 21, subsection (1), line 12, to delete "Minister" where it firstly occurs and substitute "Standards in Public Office Commission". This concerns declarations of interest by commissioners. The Bill provides that the declaration should be made through the Minister and our amendment proposes that they should be made to the Standards in Public Office Commission,...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: Senator Mansergh's point is good. The Minister for Education and Science landed himself in difficulty by making an error of judgment regarding the dissemination of information prior to the local elections. He will pass judgment on others even though it has been proved that he lacked judgment previously. An amendment could be made on Report Stage.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 8: In page 23, subsection (1), between lines 42 and 43, to insert the following paragraph: "(a) the observance of the appropriate independence between appointment to the public service and political appointments,". This is self-explanatory.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 10: In page 31, subsection (3), between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following paragraph: "(d) to formulate proposals for submission to Government on the development of a system of reward mechanisms to enhance the performance of those in public service;". The general perception is that there is very little reward for extra productivity in the Civil Service and it is...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I move amendment No. 11: In page 31 subsection (3), between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following paragraph: "(e) to develop a system under which the public service would benchmark their operations against international best practice;". It has to be said that we have one of the best public services in the world but it does no harm to go beyond our own thinking and compare ourselves to...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Fergal Browne: I wish to inform the House that the "Yes, Minister" and "Yes, Prime Minister" series are available on DVD. I recently bought them and they certainly give a fascinating insight into the mindset of the British Civil Service. I do not think it is as bad as it is made out to be in the programmes, but it is certainly very interesting.