Results 32,201-32,220 of 34,832 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: The expiry date seems to be one of the secrets of Fatima. Nobody seems to know about it.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: Yesterday, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform indicated that it is generally understood to be around the end of next year. Are the issues of increments and allowances mentioned in the agreement and what is Mr. Fitzpatrick's opinion on them? Is it proper to deal with them as part of the change package?

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: It could come before the implementation body.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I ask Mr. Fitzpatrick to explain the procedures. The public is familiar with the Labour Court. Is a separate mechanism provided for under the agreement or can disputes be fast-tracked through the Labour Court? What happens if a Department wants to introduce a change but the trade union does not agree?

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I have come across cases in which public staff were asked to relocate by managers who argued they were not protected by the Croke Park agreement. What reforms or changes to practices are taking place in the public service outside the remit of the agreement and who decides whether a change is covered by it?

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: If a manager wanted to close a branch or office, what would happen?

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: Mr. Fitzpatrick referred to disputes that are outside of Croke Park.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Agreement 2010-14: Discussion with Implementation Body (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: How many cases have come before the LRC or the Labour Court - two, ten or 300?

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: It would be €30 million.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister of State should tell them that.

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Minister for his presentation which dovetails with the discussion we had during Question Time in the Chamber yesterday. When he announced his plan in November 2011, I mentioned the appointments of eight to ten senior responsible owners in the overall delivery of each of the major ten crosscutting projects. Are they ten new staff? How many people have been employed to deliver...

Public Accounts Committee: Public Service Reform Plan: Discussion (11 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: On the procurement issue I ask the Minister to outline the outside commercial experience. I would hate to think we are just growing our own internally. People have done MBAs in procurement but have never personally purchased anything beyond a car for themselves. I ask the Minister to outline the range of commercial practical experience. My other point relates to property and is broader...

Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012. The background and context to the discussion is that the Irish people recently voted in a referendum, by a majority of 60% to 40%, to pass what was generally described at the time as the fiscal compact agreement. Essentially, this legislation is to give effect to the budget and debt rules which are part of the...

Other Questions: Croke Park Agreement Issues (10 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I asked a broad question on the Croke Park agreement which, as the Minister noted, was introduced by the previous Government. It has helped to achieve, in industrial peace, the reduction of staff numbers from approximately 320,000 to 292,000 and is intended to bring about savings of some €3.5 billion. It is important to put that on the record because people complain now and ask...

Other Questions: Croke Park Agreement Issues (10 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: The first annual report covered the period from 1 April to 31 March so one can conclude the same again if it is a four year agreement. Can it extend to the end of 2014? The Minister might clarify that point because people continue to ask that question. Would he be minded to bring forward that date, as some Members on the Government side have suggested, in order to get an earlier deal on...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (10 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: While I thank the Minister for the figures, the question sought to ascertain the Minister's views on the issue. By way of parliamentary question to the Department of Health, I obtained the information that 185 people in the HSE on salaries of in excess of €100,000 will receive increments this year. The HSE represents approximately one third of the entire public service so we can...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (10 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I am pleased to hear the Minister is personally well disposed to the issue if he can find a legal mechanism to do it. While it is only 500 people this year, it is another 500 next year and so on. In fact, the figure is about 6,000 or 7,000 over a period of a few years.

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (10 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: It is approximately 500 this year and I have no reason to believe it will be any less than 500 next year or the following year. If it is €40 million a year, that is a significant contribution over a couple of years. I suggest the Minister might take a case to the Labour Court and see what it decides and whether this can be negotiated. I would much prefer to see the public sector...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Issues (10 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: How much work on these projects will physically start in 2013? I take it that nothing will happen this year. Perhaps the Minister can tell us how many people will be employed specifically as a result of this initiative in 2013.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Issues (10 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister introduced party politics into this. He will get his answer back from me.