Results 6,861-6,880 of 11,050 for speaker:Timmy Dooley
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: I welcome the groups and I thank them for their presentations. Their pre-budget submissions are helpful to us in formulating our policy. I would like Ms Barry to provide some clarity on the figures. How many positions in the community mental health area have yet to be filled as of the end of July? What impact has that had?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: The metric, therefore, is the money and the fact that there is still €35 million unspent in providing that service. Is that correct?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: Ms Barry is confident that about 500 have been filled, so it looks as though around 300 positions are yet to be filled, including backfilling.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: So, from Ms Barry's point of view, there is a significant problem.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: The IMO witnesses have given us a broad spectrum of the organisation's views. They have done the patient advocate piece, which is to spend more money, but they have not really got into what benefits their members. At the end of the day, they represent doctors. I would like to hear more on their relationship with the Government on negotiations for a new contract, or the issues they face on...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: I was talking about primary care and general practice level.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: What kind of percentage might it be? I am sure Dr. Sadlier would be aware of internal discussions within the IMO. I recognise that it is a competitive environment and that doctors can charge what they want, but has the general charge by a GP to a patient come down over the past three years?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: That is okay. I thank Dr. Sadlier for the presentation on the patient advocacy side of things. It is helpful for any policy on reorganisation and additional investment in infrastructure and especially for ensuring an appropriate primary care system that keeps people out of hospital. Whether there is a budget or not, Ms O'Meara and Mr. Macey keep us updated throughout the year, which we...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: I move: The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: noting that: - the Department of Finance will provide economic forecasts for the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council in advance of the budget; and further notes that: - the Dáil should have equality of esteem with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council; and - as set out in Recommendation 1.1 of the 4th Report of the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: If I may clarify the matter, that line comes from a press release issued by Deputy Humphreys during the course of the summer. I structured the motion in that way in order that there would be unanimity on it. I did make an effort to try to include language in the motion that would satisfy everybody, including Government members.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: There is a timeframe here. I am serious about this. Can the committee take a decision that we request information by way of what is set out here? I accept that there is not much difference between us.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: Let us pass the motion by acclamation and forward it for the consideration of the Government and the Department of Finance so that the next day, rather than receiving another letter, we have a response to a decision that was taken. A letter by way of a motion weakens what we are looking for. It weakens the committee's resolution.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: I agree with Deputy Doherty. There is no point in splitting hairs. I proposed the motion and I hope the committee will support it. I do not think there is anything in it that is partisan or meant to hit at a policy. It is just a request to the Economic Management Council to direct the Department of Finance to provide this committee with information. We must careful. I believe the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: This committee has a role that is independent of the Executive. We should be able to take a decision today requesting the information by way of a resolution of this committee, as opposed to going back with the begging bowl asking the Minister to give us something. We are Members of Parliament. We are talking at the moment about reform and the independence of-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: With respect, the motion sets out the information that we require.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: I am looking for the support of the committee to back my motion.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: There are none. I am asking for the committee to back this motion without division and that is a cross-party approach. It shows the independence of the committee.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: I welcome the fact that Deputy Humphreys is supporting the motion. It makes sense that the committee be united.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: If one reads the motion, the nuts and bolts of it are that this committee calls on the Economic Management Council of the Government to direct the Department of Finance to provide the same forecast data and the same briefing to allow the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform adequate time to consider the information in advance of the budget. The word "briefing" in the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Business of Joint Committee (11 Sep 2013)
Timmy Dooley: No. It is a non-political motion which is meant to set out, on behalf of the committee, our desire to get the same information that has been provided to the fiscal advisory council. I get the impression that the motion would be passed by general acclamation here. I do not think there is anyone here who disagrees with it.