Results 31,941-31,960 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: I accept that is how the Minister of States understands it but I do not understand the rationale for including the Taoiseach. Perhaps the Minister of State was not present during the consultations——

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: ——but it is not clear to me or to a member of the commission. Deputy Boyle and I are not members of the commission.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Perhaps the matter could be resolved in the Seanad by way of an amendment. In the meantime, it could be clarified. It would not take long for this House to rubber-stamp the legislation if the matter were resolved in the Seanad.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: We would all be blissfully ignorant in that case.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: I presume the amendment is in order. I understand the Minister of State is saying that while these provisions will be without prejudice to other parts of the Civil Service disciplinary code, that code in itself is being renegotiated in the light of these new powers. Against that background it appears to be not unreasonable.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: While I accept most of the Minister of State's arguments, the position remains unclear in respect of an application for a review of a decision once an industrial dispute ends. The Minister of State appeared to indicate that a mechanism would be available to allow a person to appeal a decision following a dispute but it was unclear what form it would take. He then referred to the use of...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: The Minister of State seems to be developing a hybrid involving a mixture of internal guidelines for the regulation of disciplinary procedures within the public service along with the application of the Unfair Dismissals Act. To be consistent in that line, I would expect that the Minister of State would also introduce some new options for public servants to resort to the Industrial Relations...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Can the Minister of State explain the legal approach he is taking of offering some statutory rights of resort to the unfair dismissals procedure outside the code but not general resort to the industrial relations machinery that applies outside the code?

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: As I understand it, the Taoiseach will be the dismissing authority, on the recommendation of the Chairman, rather than the actual Chairman. Is that correct?

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Heretofore, it was the Government rather than the Taoiseach that had the authority to dismiss people from these positions. Will it now be a personal matter for the Taoiseach rather than the Government? Why is that change being made? I am not an expert in the legal thinking behind this. Was there consultation with all the individuals who might be affected by this change? What has been the...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: And the officials whose positions are involved.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: An issue on which clarification is being sought is the degree to which the Taoiseach has discretion. Will he be bound by the views of the Chair of either House or will he have discretion to deviate from their advice? According to the Minister of State, the appointments in question are made by the Taoiseach. I have not seen reference to such a provision in this or existing legislation in this...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: The Taoiseach has the discretion——

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (15 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: I do not understand why the Oireachtas commission has decided this is the appropriate route. The Minister of State appears to be acting on the basis that a consensus has emerged following consultation.

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (14 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 75: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children currently awaiting a NEPS assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19688/05]

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (14 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 101: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of psychologists employed by the National Educational Psychological Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19687/05]

Written Answers — Population Figures: Population Figures (14 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 150: To ask the Taoiseach the population in each of the 18 Dublin Garda districts at the last census. [18945/05]

Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (14 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 172: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if certain anti-sickness drugs used by cancer patients including a medication (details supplied) have been removed from cover under the GMS system; the reason this change has been made; and her assessment of the impact on patients for whom this medication has been recommended. [19021/05]

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (14 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 177: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that if a person's income exceeds the non-contributory old age pension by a margin of 20% plus the current maximum subvention level of €190, he or she is deemed too wealthy to qualify for even €1 of support towards the cost of private nursing home care and cannot apply for...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (14 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 178: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the three different levels of maximum nursing home subvention were first set; her estimate of the inflation in the cost of private nursing home care in the intervening period; and the present value of these subvention levels had they been indexed in line with rising costs. [19043/05]