Results 5,781-5,800 of 14,554 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: While I recognise the complexity of this issue, when an organisation such as the INTO, which normally takes a very constructive approach to participating in many issues in the past ten years, takes the decision it did on the public service pay agreement, it highlights the importance of starting the process and addressing the pay equalisation issue once and for all. We all recognise the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Government Communications (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: God be with the days when the leader of the country could look into his heart and know what the people were thinking. The Minister has referred to research and insight, branded entities, digital media creative services, digital campaigning services, media strategies and marketing pitches. I realise the Minister cannot give me the breakdown of all of this for procurement reasons, but what...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Government Communications (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: Presumably in the establishment of the strategic communications unit, like the establishment of any new Government unit or service, a business case was made. It would have pointed out that the unit could bring its skills to bear in terms of bringing these efficiencies on Government communications. Presumably in the business case savings were projected or figures were presented to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Labour Court Recommendations (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: 7. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress on his discussions with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in relation to the implementation of Labour Court recommendation, LRC 19293, concerning the rights of community employment scheme supervisors in view of commitments made by his predecessor; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Labour Court Recommendations (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: Just before the Halloween recess there was an all-party gathering on a Topical Issue concerning the issue I am raising in relation to community employment scheme supervisors. That was held in advance of what was a planned meeting of the forum that was established in the Department to address the pension issue. That meeting was postponed and I gather it will now happen later in November. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Labour Court Recommendations (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: First, FÁS was part of the Labour Court hearing. It made submissions to the Labour Court hearing in 2008. The court's recommendation refers to the fact that the court has considered the submissions made to it by the direct parties, that is, the supervisors and by the funding agency, namely, FÁS. It also said that FÁS acknowledged that the provision of pensions was regarded...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Labour Court Recommendations (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: I understand the complexities but there is a Labour Court recommendation and one cannot have the Government on the one hand advising companies to listen to the Labour Court, even though it is a voluntary system, while it ignores recommendations concerning itself, in particular now that the Minister with responsibility for employment, is in charge of social protection schemes and, by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Government Communications (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: 8. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has been consulted or if he has been involved in the rollout of the new communication strategy across government; if the Office of Government Procurement has been involved with the procurement of outside communication services; the amount spent on outside communication services through the Office of Government Procurement; and if...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Government Communications (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: Communications and the communications strategy of the Government is a topic of much interest at the moment. The Minister made an allocation to the Department of the Taoiseach during the budget process which we understand will be used to reform communications within Government. The previous Government made significant investment in film production and that ethos seems to have extended into...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pensions Legislation (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: 3. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to deal with pension restoration for retired public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47438/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pensions Legislation (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: While there has been an understandable focus on public service pay and I acknowledge the publication this week of the FEMPI legislation, this question focuses on public service pensioners, particularly those on lower pensions, and the timeline for recovery of their incomes in the course of the agreement and the legislation that we will discuss in the coming weeks.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pensions Legislation (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: While coverage of the issue of public service pensions tends to focus on the minority of high pensions, the majority of public service pensioners do not have alternative means to earn income. They are on relatively low incomes, considering the service they have given to the State. I welcome the proposed changes in the legislation. Will the Minister outline how many pensioners will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pensions Legislation (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: I acknowledge the work done by the Alliance of Retired Public Servants. Public service pensioners endured substantial cuts to their incomes. As I noted, they have no other means to make up for the cuts, yet they have no negotiating rights. In the future we will need to examine how the alliance may become involved in some way. Rather than being merely an add-on in public service pay talks,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: 1. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the capital review; if the ten-year plan will outline funding beyond the timeline of 2021; the way in which it will co-ordinate with the national development plan; if it will incorporate findings from the IMF's PIMA report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47437/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: Will the Minister update the House on the progress of the review of the capital plan? Tomorrow is the closing date for the receipt of submissions on the review of the national planning framework. What alignment will there be between the two documents when the review is published?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: When will the Minister announce the projects being aligned with the extra allocations? Second, I realise the national planning framework is the responsibility of a different Department, but its alignment with transport plans, for example, is weak. There are vague references to matters such as climate change which was mentioned by the Minister. Will we be given the list of projects before...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: 71. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent Topical Issue on community employment supervisors; the reason the meeting of the forum regarding community employment scheme supervisors to be hosted by his Department was cancelled; the date for the rescheduled meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47491/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: 161. To ask the Minister for Health if medical card holders are liable for charges for blood tests at their general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47409/17]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Administration (9 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: 282. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the housing needs of persons on RAS are deemed to be met; if persons on RAS are still eligible for inclusion on local authority housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47396/17]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Services (8 Nov 2017)

Dara Calleary: 197. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a community transport service (details supplied) in County Mayo is to cease operation by the end of 2017; if the circumstances of the discontinuation of the service can be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47182/17]