Results 2,121-2,140 of 2,156 for speaker:Tom Parlon

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Tom Parlon: In issuing certificates, Secretaries General will need to be fully satisfied that the deliberative process is ongoing. Secretaries General are responsible people—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Tom Parlon: Secretaries General are responsible people in charge of complex organisations and we can rely on them to discharge this function responsibly. In addition, the FOI central policy unit of the Department of Finance will give detailed practical advice to Departments on what procedures should be put in place. There has been much talk about the culture of secrecy in the Civil Service.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Tom Parlon: Our Civil Service operates in an environment which is very open and liberal by international standards and this will continue to be the case. There have been liberal references to other countries. I refer to Australia. The Secretary to the Department of the Prime Minister has the power to certify that the document is a Cabinet document. Such a certificate establishes conclusively that the...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Tom Parlon: In Canada, the Act does not apply for 20 years to a long and non-exhaustive list of Cabinet confidences, including communications used for rejecting communications or discussions between Ministers of the Crown on matters relating to the making of Government decisions and the formation of Government policy. Neither does it apply to records the purpose of which is to brief Ministers of the...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Tom Parlon: The extension of the Freedom of Information Act to a wide range of public bodies – which was done not because it was required under the 1997 Act, but because the recent Government chose to do so – and the introduction of other measures such as the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 which established a comprehensive ethos and framework for public officials, show a very firm commitment on...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Tom Parlon: In regard to oral questions, Deputies have an opportunity to ask supplementary questions.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Tom Parlon: That is the position. The information goes on the public record and I see no need to go further. Contrary to what has been suggested, the measures in the Bill do not radically alter the purpose or intent of the original legislation. Certain provisions impacting on very specific and sensitive areas of Government activity are being reformed to protect and improve the process of Government and a...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Tom Parlon: —the Information Commissioner will continue to be legally bound to treat a refusal of a request for information as unjustified. I look forward to further debate on Committee Stage. Question put. Tá

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Community Services. (4 Mar 2003)

Tom Parlon: On behalf of my colleague, Deputy Martin, Minister for Health and Children, I thank the Senator for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to outline the Department's position on this issue. In recent years the Department of Health and Children has provided funding to meet identified needs in existing services. It has also provided funding to put in place new service developments...

Seanad: Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (18 Feb 2003)

Tom Parlon: I appreciate the opportunity to speak on the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Bill 2002. I wish to inform Senator McDowell that the threshold for capital acquisitions tax for a child is €441,000.

Seanad: Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (18 Feb 2003)

Tom Parlon: There will be an opportunity for Senators to raise these issues by way of an amendment to the Finance Bill. In response to Senator Mansergh, the 90% agricultural relief also stands, even though Senator McDowell may not agree with it.

Seanad: Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (18 Feb 2003)

Tom Parlon: I am glad that his view and that of the Minister have matured during the years, although they still continue to differ. The Bill consolidates the law relating to capital acquisitions tax which is contained in the Capital Acquisitions Tax Act 1976 and provisions in subsequent Finance Acts. The new consolidation Bill continues the very successful process of the ongoing modernisation of the tax...

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Tom Parlon: I am speaking this evening on behalf of the Minister for Finance who is attending the ECOFIN meeting in Brussels today. I very much welcome this motion which endorses the recent measures introduced by the Government to improve the management of public expenditure and underlines the need for continuing effective control of public expenditure in 2003. In my address I will outline the context...

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Tom Parlon: I thank Senators for their substantial contributions. I noted the quality of the contributions, which helped make for a good discussion of the 2003 Estimates. There was no attempt on the part of the Government to be over-congratulatory. Its purpose was to point out where the outturn was to come in light of the serious misconceptions that were held in regard to it. The reality is that we ended...

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Tom Parlon: Senator Higgins painted a grim picture in regard to job losses and it is true that we have some difficulties in this regard. He mentioned the issue of competitiveness, which came up throughout the debate. This appears to be a problem particularly in regard to our traditional manufacturing industries. The point was made that the bulk of these industries were owned by multinational companies...

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Tom Parlon: The Senator certainly looks very fresh. The fact that such people are concerned about job security is an indication of the changed times. I have been through phases in my life where job security was a major issue, as is the case with many of the Senators here. The Government is concerned about job security and the need to be competitive and has attempted to tackle these matters in the budget....

Seanad: Finance and Related Matters: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Tom Parlon: She made a valid point about the issue of competitiveness and about the euro versus the dollar. The uncertain global political situation is a major issue for us going forward.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Post Office Network. (29 Jan 2003)

Tom Parlon: I thank Senators Mansergh and Feighan for raising this matter. One of the first commitments given by Senator O'Rourke as Minister in June 1997 concerned the post office network. She promised that there would be no forced closures of post offices. The position of Government has not changed since. We remain committed to a viable and competitive post office network. I draw the attention of the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Job Losses. (29 Jan 2003)

Tom Parlon: I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I have come to the House on behalf of the Minister. I was also present for the debate on Connacht rugby, during which everyone indicated their support for the province. No insensitivity was intended when the Minister made the comments to which the Senator referred. I hope my response will be devoid of the clichés and jargon...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Job Losses. (29 Jan 2003)

Tom Parlon: I am informing the Senator of the facts. It is very positive that, despite taking a decision with serious implications for Ballinasloe, the company has acted responsibly in terms of what it is offering to do. Many other companies have walked away without paying workers their entitlements.