Results 1,421-1,440 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I was speaking about the difference between average levels of pay and the ability to deliver individual contracts to people identified to step up to the next level or who should be retained. Is that an issue that also confronts Dr. Prendergast?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: Dr. Prendergast has made the argument for more flexibility in making choices in respect of the total amount allocated, as this would allow him to make different choices in retaining people and encouraging others to come to Ireland.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to raise one other issue, that of discretionary pension awards. In chapter 5 of the university report the issue of pension top-ups attracted media attention. There was evidence that some of the universities were topping up the pensions of staff as they decided to leave. The Department has indicated that work is under way in each university to identify all sets of circumstances where...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: That is still happening as people look to retire?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I will conclude, Chairman, but, first, I request an update on pension entitlements from the position which obtained when the report was published in 2010. I would like to know how the scheme is operating now, given that the Department of Finance has joint responsibility for it. There are examples given in the report that show that in one university nine staff had retired in 2008, with the...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: Representatives of the Higher Education Authority will be in attendance next week. I will raise it then.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: What is the nature of the court case in question?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: It is about his retention in that post.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I think we all feel that the issue regarding the flight is bonkers and we must get an explanation next week. Also, in the interests of fairness, at this point we do not have evidence to prove that the person for whom the flight was procured requested it.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: We do not have evidence that Dr. Jim Port requested that flight. We know a flight was taken. At our meeting next week with the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Education and Skills, we can explore how it was that somebody who was in a hurry to go 120 miles ended up on a plane funded by the taxpayer.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, and his flight was paid for by the taxpayer. We will explore that but at this point, in fairness to him – because he is not here – we are not saying that he requested it.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I feel it is important.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I wanted to make that point because the individual is not here.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 78 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Matters Arising out of Education Audits (27 Sep 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: So the flight was booked through the president’s office.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Years Strategy Implementation (2 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the early years strategy will be in place; if she will outline the various aspects of the proposed strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41917/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (2 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: To ask the Minister for Health if the independent review of orthodontic services has been completed and if he has had an opportunity to consider its findings; if he will provide any details on the recommendations relating the best possible model of care delivery in order that those currently on waiting lists will be treated as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the...

Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and offer my support to it. I thank the Minister of State for being present to hear what my colleagues and I have to say. I will make some points on the Bill and then comment on some of the broader issues raised by Deputy O'Donovan. Deputy Buttimer touched on some of these points earlier. I express puzzlement at the very low number of...

Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: The recruitment of a small number of people spread across the country would make a vast difference to the people we serve, who deserve a better service than that currently available. I would urge that these areas be prioritised in our policy for recruitment into the public service into the future.

Philanthropy and the Arts: Statements (3 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I enjoyed the opening of Deputy Troy's contribution, when he referred to the Minister's work before the summer. We have become used to amnesia being a conscious political choice by Fianna Fáil. The party tries to paint a picture of politics in government starting with this Dáil. However, a new tool has been added to its armoury, namely, selective recall. I heard Deputy Troy use...