Results 33,801-33,820 of 34,833 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (12 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 180: To ask the Minister for Health his role and that of the Health Service Executive in relation to the confidential inquiry into maternal and child health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29037/11]

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 175: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Construction Contracts Bill will be introduced into Dáil Éireann; and in view of the regulatory impact assessment carried out if he will consider the non-binding adjudication, the restriction to limit the application of the Bill to figures of greater than €200,000 and the right to suspend work for non-payment...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 183: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has denied any requests to proceed with retaining or filling posts from any public sector entity which is working within the figures for an agreed employment control framework; and if he will provide details of such cases. [28362/11]

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 362: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if persons (details supplied) in County Laois will be considered for a longer period than three months in future when the stamp fours are being issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28410/11]

Order of Business (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: In view of the financial difficulties facing many small businesses, when is it proposed to bring forward the valuation Bill, which will reduce the commercial rates bill for small businesses?

Public Service Appointments (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Will the Minister indicate the identity of the new external members of TLAC and how they came to be appointed? Does the committee have the power to set the terms and conditions of candidates' appointments? We have heard recently of extraordinary exit packages awarded to senior members of the public service. There is a suggestion that a Secretary General who recently announced he will be...

Public Service Appointments (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: I never sat in government.

Public Service Appointments (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: It would be disingenuous to suggest-----

Ministerial Engagements (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 42: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will have any engagement with the Troika during their October quarterly review; if so if he will give details of his involvement; the key items on his agenda for discussion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28654/11]

Ministerial Engagements (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the Minister's brief, general and non-specific introductory remarks. The Minister introduced the issue of the sale of State assets. We are talking about the sale of strategic State assets such as the ESB, EirGrid, Bord na Móna, Coillte and Bord Gáis. Will the Minister confirm that no figure for the sale of State assets was included in the original EU-IMF agreement? The...

Ministerial Engagements (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: The Minister mentioned the comprehensive spending review. Will he be discussing that review when he meets the troika? He has said he will not publish the review before budget day, in early December. Will the Minister discuss it with officials from the EU, the IMF and anyone else who comes under that umbrella, notwithstanding the fact that he will not disclose the review figures to the...

Public Sector Reform (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 45: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his priorities in terms of protecting frontline services; the mechanisms he will put in place to ensure that key staff are retained in the provision of these services in view of the expected reduction in public service numbers in the months ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28655/11]

Public Sector Reform (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Minister for his general response, but I wish to raise this issue because specific staff will be leaving. I am concerned about the health sector. Doctors are exempt, but nurses who take early retirement are not an exempt grade under the moratorium. Does the Department have a mechanism in place to ensure that, if an inordinate number of nurses decide to take early retirement,...

Public Sector Reform (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: I am pleased the Minister has the flexibility under the Croke Park agreement, on which his party refused to have a view until we implemented it. When I speak about "early retirement packages" I use the phrase in general layman's language. People understand there is a benefit for going early. It might not be the technical name of the package but people understand it is better to go sooner...

Fiscal Policy (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: The Minister made no reference in his response to the matter I raised regarding his views on the recommendation made by the Central Bank of Ireland. It suggests that the opportunity exists now to consider a bigger budget adjustment to public expenditure than agreed with the EU-IMF.

Fiscal Policy (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: The Minister might give me his views on that. I know there may be scope, but I caution against making any cuts that are not needed. We have a good programme. There are always some people who are tempted to go harder, faster and deeper and that may be a positive outlook, but there are downsides. There is a limit to the pain people can take and the Minister should take heed of that.

Public Service Reform (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: I am disappointed by the information presented by the Minister today. This Government has been in office for eight months, but the Cabinet sub-committee on public sector reform has met only once since its establishment in April. The Minister indicated - possibly prompted by this question - that another meeting will take place towards the end of the month. I do not accept that the Minister...

Public Service Reform (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: I look forward to the Minister coming before the committee. It comprises more than 20 members and the meeting will take place in public.

Public Service Reform (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Yes, it is an open forum. I also welcome the Minister's indication that this discussion will take place in advance of the budget. The deliberative process on this matter is not connected with the budget in December, because these issues are ongoing and not restricted to a particular budget. I look forward to the discussions.

Pension Provisions (11 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Minister for his reply. I welcome his indication that there has been a considerable degree of consultation with staff representatives, particularly in view of the initial reaction by the teacher unions when the proposal emerged. We all agree there must be a comprehensive single scheme for the public service, but has the Minister considered all the implications of a switch from...