Results 24,941-24,960 of 32,924 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Other Questions: Departmental Contingency Planning (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy asked if I had received any additional request for investment in response to Brexit or the other threats he mentioned. I have not received any such request since the budget, but the budget only took place a few weeks ago. I continually receive proposals for additional expenditure. I expect that early next year there will be further claims and demands both within government and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I reiterate that I am absolutely aware of the challenges people face in their daily lives. I know the role that wage growth and increases in wages can play in alleviating that burden. I want to see this happen in the economy and society but in a way that is affordable and sustainable for everybody. I appreciate the Deputy's candour about the Lansdowne Road agreement. At least she is clear...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 151 and 169 together. The answer in respect of my Department is short. The board of the Public Appointments Service is the only State board under the aegis of my Department. There are no vacancies on the board of the Public Appointments Service and I can confirm that none has been filled since the current Government took office. I can give the Deputy...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy asked me whether I have confidence in the Public Appointments Service and its work. The answer is "Yes". As the Deputy is aware, it has an enhanced role and does more work in this area than was the case in recent years. I believe this has led to the availability of better candidates that has been the case for many years because more people are aware of the process. In...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: A Minister is paid to make appointments with which he or she is satisfied. It is up to the Minister of the day to make decisions on the matter. That is what the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is entitled do to and I fully support him in all that work because I am aware of how important those appointments are. It is up to him to be satisfied as to who he wants to put on the...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: He is taking the time to which he is entitled to make decisions which he will ultimately be accountable to the House for. That is what he is doing. While he is doing that, we will continue with our work to assess how the process works overall to see if improvements can be made and what its current strengths are. I am seeking out the views of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Establishment (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, I can. A person has just been appointed and he and his team will play the lead role in the discussions to which the Deputy referred, with me, the Secretary General of my Department and the senior team there. I will be happy to confirm the details to the Deputy later.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government strongly supports the Lansdowne Road agreement, LRA, as the centrepiece of public pay policy, noting that the Labour Court's recommendation was explicitly made within that framework. However, the wider implications of the recommendation in regard to the continued operation of the Lansdowne Road agreement as it applies to all public servants across the public...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I have already outlined what the timeframe is for discussions on the future of public pay in this country, in response to questions from Deputy Dara Calleary and others. I also spoke about what will happen in the aftermath of the Lansdowne Road agreement, what a successor agreement could look like, and the timings and processes we need to do this. The simple challenge we face is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I am interested to hear what the Deputy's attitude was to the signing of the Lansdowne Road agreement. Did she welcome it?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Collins is now criticising the Government because she perceives that an agreement she did not welcome at the time is no longer in action. The Deputy cannot have her cake and eat it on this matter.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: This is an agreement that she criticised at the time and now that it is her view that it is no longer in place - a view with which I completely disagree given, for example, that the Labour Court recommendation was made inside the framework of the Lansdowne Road agreement - she cannot then criticise the Government for an agreement that she herself is against. That is the challenge Deputy Joan...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: That shows the difference in approach to politics between the Deputy and me. I legitimately respond with facts about what is happening elsewhere-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: -----but the Deputy's best retort is a mixture of interruptions and allegations that I do not care.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Sinn Féin does not have a monopoly of caring about issues of equality and fairness. The Deputy does not have a monopoly of caring about issues-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: -----that people within public services have to face and of the desire to do so fairly. Of course, I care about fairness. Of course, I want to deliver equality-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: -----but I also have a duty to deal with other issues, such as how to fund and provide the kind of housing that Sinn Féin constantly and correctly highlights in the Chamber and how to put in place the kind of funding that we need to support our hospitals and primary care centres. These are also issues of equality and fairness. All of it must be funded out of the money that is available...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I can make these points and put that argument to Sinn Féin and the Deputy while recognising a presumption of good faith on his behalf. It is just a pity that Sinn Féin cannot do the same for others.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Establishment (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: On 18 October at the conclusion of a period of consultation with stakeholders in the Lansdowne Road agreement, the Government approved the establishment of the PSPC to advise it on public service pay. For its initial report, the commission will be asked to consider the evolution of pay trends in the public and private sectors based on published data and a comparison of pay rates for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Establishment (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: We could not have a discussion with the commission without a recognition of the context in which we find ourselves, but I did not raise the matter with it directly because it was never envisaged that the pay commission would deal with issues in the Lansdowne Road agreement. Its terms of reference relate to what will happen after that agreement and the future sustainability of public pay. ...