Results 21,741-21,760 of 32,864 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Services Card (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: My voice is not as fresh as I thought. Apologies to the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, for what I have just done.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Services Card (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: On the questions Deputy Calleary put to me, the procurement process is not being delayed. It is under way. Because we have not got to the point at which the campaign has even begun - we are not at a point yet, indeed, in which the campaign can even be paused - my understanding is that the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has engaged with the Data Protection...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Services Card (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In relation to the Deputy's first point, I myself have the card and I am glad to hear Deputy Ó Cuív appreciates and acknowledges the role that it can play. I will take on board the point the Deputy made about the writing on it and I will pass it on to my colleagues who are working on it. As the Deputy will be aware, the people who are making the greatest use of it at present...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commission for Public Service Appointments (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It sounds as if the roles and process to which the Deputy refers relate to section 7 rather than section 8 procedures. As I explained, under section 7 procedures, the commission cannot overturn the decision of the licence holder and does not play a role in the decision. Has the Deputy raised the matter with the Minister for Health? Perhaps he has already done so. If the matter falls...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commission for Public Service Appointments (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: This is not a matter for my Department. As I indicated, the CPSA is an independent body. From the Deputy's description, this appears to be a section 7 matter in respect of which the CPSA may not have a role. It is very much a matter for the Department of Health and HSE, which will respond to the Deputy's query. The Deputy's question did not refer to the specific issue he raises, which is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commission for Public Service Appointments (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: If the Deputy had referred specifically to the recruitment of psychologists in the text of his question, rather than raising a general issue in respect of the role of the CPSA, I may have been able to provide a clear answer on the role of the HSE and Department of Health in this matter. Given the way in which the psychologists in question are appointed, it is highly likely that the CPSA does...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue of addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants who entered public service employment since 2011 and those who entered before that date was addressed with the relevant trade union interests under the provisions of the Haddington Road agreement. My Department and the Department of Education and Skills reached an agreement with the INTO and TUI...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It is an annual cost. In terms of the timeline for completing the process, I expect it to conclude - one way or another - in advance of next year's budget. We will engage in the process in good faith. From my dealings with the INTO, which has raised the matter with me, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, I am aware of the difficulty the pay equalisation issue causes. It would be very...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Government Communications (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not have the answer for the Deputy in respect of the total value the State spends on advertising and communications throughout the State. That was not contained in the Deputy's original question. However, I will get the answer for him. I believe that when I provide the answer, the need for efficiency and streamlining in respect of how we do this work will become apparent. A wide...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Government Communications (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: A decision was brought to Government in respect of the matter, and it was one I supported. The recommendation came from the Department of the Taoiseach. I do not believe any other Government body or agency was involved. As part of that there was focus on how much money we are spending on advertising and on the procurement of communication and the opportunity to centralise and do that work...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Commission for Public Service Appointments (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission for Public Service Appointments is an independent statutory body. It is responsible for overseeing appointments to a wide range of positions in the civil and public service. In carrying out its oversight role the commission audits recruitment processes and examines complaints from individuals unhappy with the conduct of an appointment process....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Labour Court Recommendations (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 17 together. Following a meeting with SIPTU and IMPACT trade unions in late 2015, the community sector high level forum, which had ceased operation some years earlier, was reconvened by my predecessor, Deputy Brendan Howlin, in order to fully examine certain issues pertaining to the community employment sector, having regard to the consequences for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Labour Court Recommendations (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I have three points to make in response. The information I have, which of course I will check given the point the Deputy made, is that FÁS was not at the Labour Court and had not consented to the matter being taken to the Labour Court for determination. Given that Deputy Calleary has information to the contrary on that point I will take that into account but the information I have is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Labour Court Recommendations (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: My understanding is that the scoping exercise will be completed by the end of the year but I am hopeful that the next forum meeting will be able to discuss where it is and if the conclusion of the scoping process is not available by then at least my officials will be able to give a good update of where the work stands. If the scoping exercise cannot be brought to a conclusion in time for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Government Communications (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Following due consideration and discussion, the Cabinet decided that a strategic communications unit, SCU, should be established in the Department of the Taoiseach, based on international best practice, and with the citizen at the centre of its work. I attended one meeting with the SCU, which took place on 19 October. The director of the unit briefed me, the Secretary General and senior...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Spending Code (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: If the Deputy has any suggestions on the price we are using for carbon that he wants me to take on board, I will be very happy to hear it. I assure him that my views and those of my Department are reflected in the increased funding being made available to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and in the Government's commitment to the metro project. That is because of my commitment...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Spending Code (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In other considerations, particularly regarding the development of roads, I must also take into account road safety and the maintenance of the local and regional road network, for example. I cannot take responsibility for decisions made 20 years ago. What I can do is take responsibility for decisions I have to make now, and that is what I am doing. In engaging with the Department of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Pensions (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Under section 41 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform can initiate a review, or an actuarial review, or an actuarial review and revaluation of the single public service pension scheme, also known as the single scheme. I have no immediate plans for the carrying out of such a review, bearing in mind, in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Pensions (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In respect of members of pre-existing public service pension schemes, supplementary pensions can be paid only to certain retiree categories and, even then, their payment is subject to strict terms and conditions. In essence, a supplementary pension in a pre-existing scheme is an additional amount of pension that may be paid to a person whose occupational pension is integrated or co-ordinated...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Pensions (9 Nov 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, many other parts of our public service have mandatory early retirement. The pension schemes of affected members of the public service reflect that. Although not always, the schemes tend to have a slightly different accrual rate to reflect scheme members' early retirement. I acknowledge what the Deputy said on this matter. Any changes in areas such...