Results 8,621-8,640 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Seanad: Job Creation. (9 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Senator Browne has raised what is obviously an extremely important issue in his local area. State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through the Industrial Development Agency Ireland, which has responsibility for foreign direct investment, and Enterprise Ireland, which concentrates on the development of indigenous industries. Although the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and...

Seanad: Job Creation. (9 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: IDA Ireland has assured the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment that it is committed to the development of County Carlow and is actively promoting Carlow town for new foreign investment in international services and high-value manufacturing activities. IDA Ireland has invested almost €11.5 million to date in developing the Carlow business and technology park on the Dublin Road....

Seanad: Job Creation. (9 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: There are many positives in what Senator Browne said about Carlow. As I said, the proper structures are being put in place in Carlow and co-ordinated efforts are now being made to ensure that Carlow receives the benefits that many other towns in a central or hub position have received. The science building and other buildings that Senator Browne mentioned augur extremely well for Carlow. In a...

Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: Deputy Rabbitte fell asleep on the back foot.

Local Authority Staff. (8 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank both Deputies for raising this important issue. A scheme for performance related awards for the local authority sector for managers, assistant managers and directors of services was introduced in 2003 following the recommendation of the review body on higher remuneration in the public sector in its report of 25 September 2000. The review body recommended that a committee for...

Local Authority Staff. (8 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: The committee's mandate is to make an independent determination of awards in accordance with the scheme formulated by the Department with the approval of the Department of Finance and which is consistent with principles recommended by report No. 38 of the review body. Under the scheme, participants prepare a statement of objectives at the beginning of the year and a self-assessment of...

Local Authority Staff. (8 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: In the two years covered by the reports, awards to county and city managers ranged between 8% and 12% with an average award of 10.12%.

Local Authority Staff. (8 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: In the case of grades other than manager, awards ranged between 4% and 15% with an average award of 9.9%. The maximum award of 20% was not made in any case. The average annual cost of the awards so far has been approximately €2.1 million across the local government sector. The annual reports clearly set out relevant details of the scheme with the main exception of details concerning...

Local Authority Staff. (8 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: The commissioner in the decision stated that public servants, as with all employees, are entitled to a degree of privacy——

Local Authority Staff. (8 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——in the evaluation of their work performance, competence or ability and found that this type of information is held by public bodies on the understanding that it would be treated by them as confidential. The commissioner found that, on balance, the public interest in protecting the right to privacy outweighed the public interest that the information be granted. The operation of schemes...

Local Authority Staff. (8 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have no doubt both Deputies will take the opportunity to make such a submission.

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (8 Feb 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. A huge range of important water services infrastructure is being progressed in Kildare at present with the support of unprecedented Exchequer funding from the national development plan. The investment in such infrastructure has made a key contribution to the economic growth that has benefited every part of Ireland, with Kildare very much to...

Sheep Farming. (31 Jan 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As my Department has the lead role in matters involved in this question I am pleased to respond. In June 2002 the European Commission secured a judgment against Ireland in the European Court of Justice, in case C117/00. The case, which focused on the Owenduff and Nephin Beg areas of County Mayo, was taken under the birds directive and concerned the...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (31 Jan 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: As indicated in the reply to Question No. 438 of 15 December 2005, my Department is awaiting the submission by Mayo County Council of proposals for the acceptance of a tender for the provision of a new fire station at Westport. Until the tender process has been completed, it will not be possible to indicate when construction will commence.

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (25 Jan 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1509 and 1510 together. Waterford County Council has submitted proposals to my Department for the provision of new fire stations at Tallow and Portlaw, together with an extension to Dungarvan headquarters fire station. These proposals are under consideration in my Department in the context of the 2006 fire services capital programme.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (25 Jan 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Senator Kitt for raising an important national issue. I hope the information I am now going to provide will satisfy him that we are making real progress. Providing modern water services infrastructure to support social and economic objectives has been a major focus of Government spending over the past number of years. There has been unprecedented investment by my Department under the...

Seanad: State Property. (25 Jan 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am on my way.

Seanad: State Property. (25 Jan 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am pleased to update the House on the Nenagh castle project and I thank the Senator for bringing it to the attention of the Seanad. The Nenagh Tourism and Development Committee purchased 35-36 Pearse Street, Nenagh, including outbuildings, with the intention of demolishing them to open up a vista to Nenagh Castle from the Dublin Road approach to the castle. It was intended that opening up...

Seanad: State Property. (25 Jan 2006)

Batt O'Keeffe: I cannot indicate a timeframe, but I understand we are expediting the result of the review. I will communicate further with the Senator on the exact timeframe we expect is involved.

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (15 Dec 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: On 26 October 2005, my Department authorised Mayo County Council to invite tenders for the construction of a new fire station at Westport. The Department is awaiting the submission by the council of proposals for the acceptance of a tender for the project.