Results 901-920 of 2,156 for speaker:Tom Parlon

Seanad: Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (21 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: I thank Senators Mansergh and Hanafin for their supportive comments and Senator White who broadly welcomed the Bill. We will bring forward an amendment on Committee Stage dealing with the Houses of the Oireachtas. I look forward to our continued discussion of the issues which have arisen.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: To be entitled to a widow's pension, the husband of the person concerned would have had to be a member of the widow's and orphans' pension scheme while he was employed in the Office of Public Works. As the records in the Office of Public Works indicate that her husband opted out of the original widows' and orphans' pension scheme 1978, and the revised spouses' and children's pension scheme...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (22 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Since October 2004 the Commissioners of Public Works have granted 28 licences, in respect of 19 State-owned buildings, to mobile telephone operators. As the process is ongoing it is not possible to say how many additional licences will be granted in the future. While the exact licence fee depends on the amount of equipment installed, the average licence fee is €12,500 per annum.

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (22 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: The Commissioners of Public Works are currently finalising the purchase of the land in Drumshambo. The purchase will be completed on receipt of a current tax clearance certificate from the vendor. On receipt of the final brief of requirements, the commissioners will arrange for the advancement of the project to tender stage.

Seanad: Inspector of Prisons Reports: Motion. (22 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: I commend the amendment to the motion to the House. I welcome this opportunity to address the House on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McDowell, on the issues raised by the Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention, Mr. Justice Dermot Kinlen, in his annual reports which have been published by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Mr. Justice Kinlen was formally appointed to...

Seanad: Inspector of Prisons Reports: Motion. (22 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: That is very good. Parliamentary time is very limited and the Minister has to focus on priority issues such as the Garda Síochána Bill and the Criminal Justice Bill. Nevertheless, the Minister has decided to provide a more immediate statutory framework for the work of the Inspector of Prisons by means of the prison rules. New draft rules for the government of prisons have now been finalised...

Seanad: Inspector of Prisons Reports: Motion. (22 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: The Senators will find them in their pigeon holes this evening.

Seanad: Inspector of Prisons Reports: Motion. (22 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Perhaps they are. I do not know. They were to be delivered.

Seanad: Inspector of Prisons Reports: Motion. (22 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: The difficulty highlighted by the inspector was that on the two nights of 18 December 2003 and 4 January 2004 there was significant overcrowding in the holding cells in Mountjoy Prison due to a high number of committals from the courts. The situation was quickly alleviated by the re-opening of a portion of the A wing of a prison which continues to be in use. Following the rejection by ballot...

Written Answers — Driving Test Centres: Driving Test Centres (23 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: A total of eight sites has been evaluated in consultation with the Department of Transport driving testers. A decision on the preferred site for the new centre is expected in the near future.

Seanad: Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Section 7 inserts a new section 5(a) into the 1956 Act to provide clarification on the initial appointment of persons as civil servants. It provides that persons may be appointed as established civil servants on contract in a probationary capacity. Currently, when officers such as executive and administrative officers enter the Civil Service, they are employed in an unestablished capacity on...

Seanad: Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: The amendments in the grouping relate to the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. Most of the amendments are technical and arise on foot of amendment No. 4. The purpose of the amendments is to clarify the dismissal arrangements for the staff of the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. Currently, section 14 of the Bill amends section 20 of the Staff of the Houses of...

Seanad: Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (23 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: I thank everyone involved with this Bill. It marks a major progression in terms of encouraging civil servants. As Senator John Paul Phelan stated, it is very important that public servants be encouraged and rewarded for working to the best of their ability. The Bill is also important in terms of discipline and dismissal, which it addresses very strongly. Some of the areas with which the Bill...

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (28 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: There are 36 national monument sites in the care of the Office of Public Works in County Clare. Responsibility for the management of these sites transferred to the Office of Public Works on 1 January 2004. The primary source of funding for conservation projects at national monument sites is the National Development Plan 2000-2006. The programme of works and funding under the NDP was agreed in...

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (28 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: As I have indicated repeatedly in reply to previous questions on this matter, the folly is subject to continual monitoring by my office and no significant deterioration has been observed. Should any such deterioration be detected appropriate remedial action will be taken. No major works are planned for the structure currently. A clean-up of the site was recently of organised by my office and...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (28 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: No observations on the pre-feasibility report on Shannon flooding have been received to date from the various stakeholders, 22 in all, who contributed to the completion of the report. Because of the report's size and complexity, this may take some time. Further action, if any, must await the views of the relevant stakeholders. Any actions being considered to alleviate flooding from the...

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (28 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: The Commissioners of Public Works are currently in discussions with the Department of Defence regarding the possible future use by the FCA, of the former Garda station at Kilrush, County Clare.

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (28 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: The survey in question was carried out, not by the Office of Public Works, but by the firm of consultants operating on behalf of the National Roads Authority and the local authorities. The Office of Public Works understands that the survey has now been completed and that the consultants have commenced the modelling of flood flows in order to identify options in relation to reducing the flood...

Written Answers — Office of the Chief State Solicitor: Office of the Chief State Solicitor (28 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: The Chief State Solicitor's office was first written to on 23 October 2002 and is in correspondence with the claimant's solicitor.

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (28 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: The Commissioners of Public Works carry out works to Garda stations at the behest of the Garda authorities and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. To date, the commissioners have not received a request for painting works to the Garda station referred to.