Results 24,261-24,280 of 32,924 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 24 provides for the retention of statements and matters concerning legal or medical services. Subsection (1) provides that a statement of declarable interests or a statement of ad hocdisclosures will be retained by the relevant person who receives it for 15 years, and that it or a copy of it will be furnished to the commissioner whenever it is requested by the commissioner....

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It means that where somebody receives statements and matters concerning legal or medical services, the sections of the Bill will apply to it. In terms of legal services, that is quite clear where it is, for example, legal advice that might have a monetary value. It is important that it would be declarable or available to be declared. In relation to medical services, currently the 1995 Act...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I will reflect on it. I can see clearly the legal piece. I note I am not currently being asked to change it but I will have a look at it. I will reflect on the reference here to psychiatric or psychological services. Even if it is anchored in other legislation, we think about these matters in different ways now to how we did a number of years ago. It is a fair point.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move amendment No. 18:In page 37, line 37, to delete "office holder" and substitute "Minister of the Government".

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move amendment No. 19:In page 38, line 3, after "Government" " to insert "in each place where it occurs".

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move amendment No. 20:In page 38, line 7, to delete all words from and including "(1) There" down to and including line 10 and substitute the following:"(1) There is established, by virtue of this section, an office which shall be known as—(a) Oifig an Choimisinéara um Chaighdéain san Earnáil Phoiblí, or (b) in the English language, the Office of the Public...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The purpose of this is to ensure that the litmus test for the potential dismissal of such a person is very high. That is appropriate, given the degree of power that he or she has.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It is demanding but we lay out the circumstances in which that could occur.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: We do, but this is a different kind of commissioner.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move amendment No. 21:In page 39, to delete line 10 and substitute the following:“Commission by— (a) the Act of 1997, and (b) the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999, and paragraphs (a)and (b)shall not be construed as limiting the generality of section 64(1)as regards that provision operating to confer functions, under other enactments, on the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move amendment No. 22:In page 39, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “Supplemental provisions in relation to section 2627.(1) Where a person who holds the office of the Public Sector Standards Commissioner is—(a) nominated as a candidate for election to either House of the Oireachtas, the European Parliament or a local authority, (b) nominated as a member of...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move amendment No. 23:In page 39, line 13, after “of” where it secondly occurs to insert “the”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move amendment No. 24:In page 39, line 21, to delete “subsequently”.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 29 makes provision for the issuing of advice by the commissioner. Subsection (1) provides for the issuing of advice by the commissioner to a person to whom the Act applies regarding steps that could be taken by the person to comply with the Act. Subsection (2) provides that when a request for advice is made, the relevant provision of this Act will not apply between the time the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It is being put in for that reason. I strongly hold the view that the Standards in Public Office Commission has discharged and continues to discharge all the powers it has in the way that we would expect. However, the Bill provides that if a Member has a question, he or she can engage with the Commission and support and help will be provided in so far as it can be. In light of the change...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: That is correct. If anything, I hope it will be strengthened because we are putting it on a statutory footing. Moreover, I hope that officials subject to the Bill will then feel more able and willing to seek such advice. The hope is that it will be clear to them that if they are seeking particular advice and it turns out that an issue arises, they are not subject to the Act during the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I completely agree.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: If there are, I will deal with the Standards in Public Office Commission and the Ombudsman. If issues need to be dealt with relating to making this happen, we will deal with them. We are coming to the relevant section that relates to the code of conduct. I will ensure that as the legislation is being rolled out, everyone who is subject to the Act has an opportunity to understand it and...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move amendment No. 25:In page 40, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following:“(2) Before drawing up a model code of conduct under subsection (1), the Commissioner shall consult with such persons (or representatives of them) as, in the Commissioner’s opinion, having had regard to the degree to which those persons will be directly affected by the code, ought to be...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Standards Bill 2015: Committee Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I move amendment No. 26:In page 40, line 18, to delete all words from and including “Each” down to and including “and” in line 20 and substitute the following:“Each public body may, having had regard to the model code of conduct under subsection (1), draw up and issue one, or more than one, code of conduct in respect of its public officials”.