Results 11,181-11,200 of 26,512 for speaker:John McGuinness

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: How many individuals who have come directly from the private sector are employed in the higher levels of the Civil Service now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Yes, but they are recently appointed. You might let us have the information on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I heard on the radio this morning that the Garda representatives wish to meet you. Do you consider that a worthwhile step in terms of their negotiations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I should explain the absence of members, particularly Members of the Seanad. They are currently listening to the Taoiseach. I hope you understand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Exactly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: The Minister's argument is that the Deputy should not worry because he is in safe hands.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: The Deputy should not worry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Deputy D'Arcy is the only person who is worried. I do not know why he is worried when there are 15 officials present who are carrying the burden of worry on our behalf.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: The Minister worries too; he does not sleep at night knowing he must appear before the committee. I have a brief point to make. In terms of State employees, certain Departments employ people on contracts and at some point let them go and replace them with others on similar contracts. Why do such employees not have their contracts extended when there is more work to be done? It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I could give a number of examples but the one that comes to mind is the Companies Registration Office which is under considerable pressure as a result of the decision that people do not have to go to court to register a file. The office employs people on contracts which expire after a certain period, at which point someone else will be appointed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Yes. This does not seem to make sense. If I had an employee on a contract who was doing the job well, I would extend the contract rather than having to train someone else to do the same job, which is happening at present. I am merely bringing this matter to the Minister's attention.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: How is the Department preparing for Brexit under its various programmes? How is the Minister dealing with the issue and what future planning is taking place? It has taken up a considerable amount of time and there are three areas in which it is impacting directly on my Department. The first is the mid-term consequences for economic growth in the State and effect this could have on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Within the Department there must be a way - I am sure the Minister is doing this - of getting that message out about Brexit, about where the weaknesses are and how the Government may react in particular circumstances. This is important for those that provide employment in this country and those who are employed in order that there will be as much certainty as one can provide.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I am sure committee members would appreciate receiving any information the Minister might have on the general approach being taken to Brexit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: That is a matter for consideration.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I thank the Minister and his officials for attending.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Independent Review Mechanism (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: 57. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will confirm a date for the commencement of the promised statutory inquiry relative to a person (details supplied); if contact has been made with the person to agree the terms of reference of the inquiry; the action taken since the announcement to establish the inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27901/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: 117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements in place to cover periods in schools where a special needs assistant, SNA, may not be available due to illness; his views on whether the absence of the SNA is not a health and safety issue and one that affects the special needs pupil adversely and therefore one that needs to be addressed urgently; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: 117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements in place to cover periods in schools where a special needs assistant, SNA, may not be available due to illness; his views on whether the absence of the SNA is not a health and safety issue and one that affects the special needs pupil adversely and therefore one that needs to be addressed urgently; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: 216. To ask the Minister for Health the strategy and funding in place to ensure that scoliosis patients have their required operations within the international norm of three to six months; the number of scoliosis patients waiting for two years and over for operations; his strategy relative to this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27902/16]