Results 6,801-6,820 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Agency Staff Data (5 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: 120. To ask the Minister for Health the number of agency staff employed in nursing posts in the southern hospitals group in 2018; the cost and number of hours worked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50872/18]

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2018: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Christmas bonus is never in the budget because it would take away the Santa effect for Governments. On the issue of overheating, which we touched on previously in regard to non-residential construction, if we were to ramp up house construction we would have to dampen that sector, perhaps by way of stamp duties. The new heat map produced this year by the council indicated that another...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2018: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: How do we address overheating in terms of employment? Outside of bringing in workers, what can we do to increase the workforce? We hear constantly that we do not have a childcare system in this country conducive to people working long hours. Instead, people in many cases work for reduced hours because of childcare costs. If we had a proper childcare system, would that help to free up...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report November 2018: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (5 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Deputy Pearse Doherty wants to ask a question about corporation tax.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary) (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am happy with the proposal.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: As mentioned by the Minister of State, amendments Nos. 1 and 2 are amendments agreed to by the Government in the Seanad. The Minister is now proposing to delete the wording of those amendments and to substitute it with the wording proposed in amendment No. 3. I do not understand the need for this change. The Minister of State said it is being done on the basis of advice he received from...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I would be happier to leave the amendments which were accepted on Report Stage in the Seanad. During that debate the Minister of State said:I am accepting amendment No. 8 in the names of Senators Higgins and Ruane because it strengthens the language after the word “identity”. Similarly with amendment No. 9, where the Senators have drawn attention to Article 9 of the GDPR, it...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: In fairness, the amendments only came out the other day. I spent nine hours in the Dáil Chamber yesterday dealing with the abortion legislation, and ten the day before. We will take up the offer of engagement before Report Stage. For that reason, we will not accept the amendments.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is not the issue.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister of State is misunderstanding what is being proposed. What is being proposed is that if someone opts into the once-only principle and submits his or her data, there is an implied consent that the data can be shared. These amendments seek to ensure that there is some mechanism in place that allows an individual to opt out. Deputy Wallace will correct me if I am wrong but it is...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is not a perfect amendment. We tabled it to have this discussion. We are saying express consent would have to be received from a data subject before the data would be shared with certain public bodies. Obviously, there is an issue in terms of the data to be shared with the Garda or the Revenue Commissioners. We need some mechanism in that regard.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I have a couple of questions about section 10. It deals with the meaning of "public body". Section 10(4) reads, “The Minister may, at the request of a body that would not otherwise be included in the definition of “public body” in subsection (1) and with the consent of the Minister of the Government in whom functions in relation to that body are vested, by order...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Are we talking about private companies that may have a service contract with a Department or that provide a public service and are therefore being partly funded by Government through a contract? They are in receipt of public moneys.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Under the Bill, is it possible that legally a Minister could designate a private company as a public body for the purpose of sharing data?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: We are happy to support both amendments. They are consistent with the terminology relating to necessary and proportionate in the GDPR articles and the data protection legislation, and the Minister of State committed to the Seanad to do so.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I also ask the Minister of State to withdraw amendment No. 22. We will support No. 23, but given that No. 22 reverses an amendment the Minister of State accepted in the Seanad, similar to those he withdrew previously, I ask him to withdraw this one for consistency. We can discuss it before Report Stage and he can always resubmit it then.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I do not get from where the Minister of State is coming. We are talking about the functions of the board. The Bill reads "The board shall" and lists what its functions will be, of which No. 5 is, "The Minister may enter into an arrangement for the provision of consultancy, advice and other services to the board". The Minister of State is proposing to take out the line, "Any contracts in...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I do not accept that. I sit on the Committee of Public Accounts and one of the consistent findings in most of the Comptroller and Auditor General's reports concerns the failure to comply with public procurement law. It happens across all Departments where there is a failure in certain cases to comply with public procurement law. I see nothing in the Bill that it should be subject to public...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minster of State is a nice guy, but my trust levels are very low when it comes to Ministers.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will agree that, if the Minister of State leaves in the lines, I will reflect on the issue and if he comes up with an alternative wording, I will be more than happy to vote in favour of that amendment.