Results 10,181-10,200 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 94 together. As the Deputies are aware the Government decided that the increases recommended by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector should be implemented for the generality of grades covered by the recommendations on the following phased basis: 5% from 14 September 2007, the date of the report, or where the total increase is less...

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have been considering this question since my appointment as Minister for Finance. The Taoiseach has made clear that the Government is prepared to review all increases in the context of the social partnership discussions that are under way. I do not want to pre-empt those discussions at this stage. I appreciate that the Deputy asked whether preconditions were being set. In my discussions...

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: No. I——

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I recognise the considerable public disquiet surrounding these pay increases. They were determined, as the Deputy knows, by a group——

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: They were determined based on an exercise of comparison with the private sector. I know from discussions with finance Ministers from other countries that there is grave concern in many European countries about the high levels of remuneration with which senior private executives are awarding themselves. In that context, I agree with the position of the Taoiseach and the Government that we...

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will not indicate at this stage what I intend to do.

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Two or three issues arise from the Deputy's question. I agree with her that the bonus payments, characterised by some payments in senior banking positions, are deplorable. That these increases are occurring in international financial markets is a cause of common concern among many European Finance Ministers. Concerning the comparators used by the body in question, the review and...

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Ministers have no such linkage and are consequently in an impossible position constitutionally and politically.

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have made it clear that the Taoiseach has placed this matter on the agenda of the public social partnership talks. I am not prepared to go beyond that this afternoon. The Taoiseach has made it clear that the matter will be subject to further discussion and that issues have not been finalised in that regard.

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy can use it if she wishes.

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I did not intend to prohibit Deputy Burton from using that word, but I will prohibit myself from using it in future.

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Entering the talks, it is neither my frame of mind nor the Taoiseach's that this item is on the agenda because we want to justify the increase.

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It was decided to defer it for a substantial period and the questions the Deputies raise are not simply of relevance to Ministers but concern a substantial category of senior public servants as well.

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 84 and 139 together. The programme for government states that the Government will continue to move ahead with decentralisation and ensure that no public servant is obliged to accept decentralisation against his or her wishes and that promotion opportunities remain available. I have no plans to review the programme and I am confident the public service...

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Bruton raised several issues. First, the progress report was published by my predecessor last October and at that stage the decentralisation implementation group was of the opinion that the programme is progressing satisfactorily. The time frames are, of their nature, indicative and subject to a number of variables. I made it clear in my answer that there has been some slippage...

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy asked whether it was the case that there has been no decentralisation. There has been.

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I beg the Deputy's pardon. There have been considerable difficulties with regard to State agencies but these represent a very small proportion of the total number of posts to be decentralised. Negotiations with ICTU are ongoing and the Government is attempting to work through the issues in question with congress. The Deputy mentioned criticism contained in the OECD report. That, again,...

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: When the implementation group revert to me I will take decisions on the matter.

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The senior officers of the State work to Ministers as a collective body. Advice is sought from them on occasion and then one acts——

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: One acts on that advice if it is appropriate.