Results 1,561-1,580 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to return to an area I mentioned on the previous occasion that Mr. Fitzpatrick was here, which is the idea of devaluation of non-pay savings. I acknowledge that subsequent to Mr. Fitzpatrick's appearance here in March, the implementation body published its June report. I was pleased to see greater itemisation of non-pay-related savings than I had seen to date. Pages 7, 8 and 9...

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: That was my first question. I wanted to ask if the September report was a sequel to the June report or a separate report altogether.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: That came out in September.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: It is different from this.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I am glad we have clarified that matter. However, my point still stands in that I can see progress in the itemisation of non-pay savings because that was a question I put to Mr. Fitzpatrick the last time. I return to the point of verification, a point we discussed. Paragraph 2.6 of the report outlines the four sample validations that were selected for evaluating the non-pay saving element....

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I acknowledge that.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to make a suggestion in that regard. Up to June the annualised figure for non-pay savings is €407 million - that is in the June report. This area is crucial for the credibility of the entire Croke Park deal. People who are not in the public service will be looking to the value of the other savings and reforms that have been made. We could be telling those people more about...

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I was at pains to acknowledge that the inclusion of the three bullet points and the items that had been picked represents significant progress since the last time we met. However, we need to do more of that.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I was struck by the progress made with the Labour Relations Commission on standardising the working hours of local authority workers. I believe it went to 34.5 hours - is that so?

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: It went from an average of 30 to 31 up to 34 for some local authorities. Is that enough?

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I will put it in context. The full industrial relations machinery of the State, including the Labour Relations Commission, was exhausted to get to that point. The working hours increased by approximately 1.5 hours on average. Is that enough to allow us to say to the public that we are making the kind of change in work practice we need in local authorities?

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: Where does the streamlining of annual leave stand at the moment?

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I will leave it at that. When we meet again, I hope we can see the continued progress to be made on demonstrating to people that the non-wage savings are real and can be stood over.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: Is the Chairman saying we should not have a meeting on 16 October and go directly to the meeting on 18 October?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: Prior to the start of the meeting on Thursday, 18 October, would it be possible to have a discussion on the objectives of this process so that as each lead speaker participates we will know what we want to achieve from each hearing? That way when we get the end of the process we will not say we wish we had asked a particular question earlier in the meeting. We could have a 30 or 40 minute...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (16 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Minister of State for being present to reply on this matter. Over recent months the Minister and his officials have kept the Dáil and the relevant Oireachtas committee well informed regarding the work the Department is doing to tackle the issue of what will happen to communities whose homes have been flooded regularly, most recently in October and November last year. The...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (16 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. Many of the communities I represent such as Cabra, East Wall, North Wall, Clonliffe Road and Ballybough, despite the works that have taken place or that are promised, cannot get insurance for their homes. Any day there is rain like there was on Sunday, the first people I think of are those who live in homes that are not protected...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Illegal Israeli Settlements (16 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the EU Council of Foreign Ministers should adopt an EU wide policy preventing Israeli settlement products being sold in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44337/12]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ash Dieback Threat (16 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the threat posed by Chalara fraxinea disease to ash trees; if he has considered banning of imports of live ash saplings from Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44921/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Substance Misuse (16 Oct 2012)

Paschal Donohoe: To ask the Minister for Health the date on which he plans to publish the National Overdose Prevention Strategy in order that a concerted and strategic effort can be made to reduce the current level of non-fatal and fatal overdoses here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44192/12]