Results 1,341-1,360 of 2,156 for speaker:Tom Parlon

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: I do not even know the location of those islands.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Who is getting tetchy now? The Government has taken on board the observations of Mr. Quigley. To this end, it is examining the recommendations of the report and taking action in a number of areas. As recommended in the Quigley report, the Government has incorporated in the Cabinet handbook guidelines in this area relating to where a Minister is seeking a named person for a consultancy or the...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: I move amendment No. 6: In page 11, lines 6 and 7, to delete all words from and including "has" in line 6 down to and including "guilty" in line 7 and substitute the following: "has, in relation to his official duties, been guilty". This is a technical amendment suggested by the Office of the Attorney General, the purpose of which is to amend the current wording of section 15(2) of the Act,...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: The Deputy is talking about informers.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: I will discuss the amendments together because both propose the inclusion in the Bill of a provision to protect officers who wish to report wrongdoing in the Civil Service. I am impressed with Deputy Ó Caoláin's enthusiasm for the proposition that people living along the Border should come forward with information. Previously, his party and organisation would have taken a different view in...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Perhaps he will encourage some of his colleagues in the McCartney case to come forward with some information as it could be helpful in terms of a successful prosecution.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: As I indicated on Committee Stage, I agree that it is important to protect officers who wish to report wrongdoing within their organisations in the hope of preventing or stopping such behaviour. To this end, protections are already afforded to civil servants under the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 and the Civil Service code of standards and behaviour introduced last year in accordance...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Given the number of significant and complex issues which have arisen during consultation on the Bill, it would not be appropriate to address this matter in the context of the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill, the aim of which is to enhance the structures in place for managing civil servants. In light of the protection already provided by the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 and...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: I am obsessed with the fact that I am a constant source of disappointment to Deputy Burton. Every time she gets up she is disappointed with what I have said or with what I will say. The Garda Síochána Bill is going through the House and the Taoiseach earlier this evening, in this seat, said the Bill is being reviewed in light of the findings of the Morris report recommendations.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Yes he did.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Yes.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Yes.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: In terms of what applies here, we are talking about legislation for civil servants and Deputy Burton insists on talking about the Morris tribunal. The Garda Síochána Bill will deal with that.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: There is a Garda Síochána Bill going through the House to deal with those particular issues.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Of course they are public servants but there is a Garda Síochána Bill that applies to them that does not apply to the rest of the Civil Service.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: In terms of duplication, in my response I have clearly shown that legislation already supports whistleblowers and civil servants who choose to give information. There is no need for provision here. The legislation is on the cards, I heard the Taoiseach not long ago in the House give an answer to say that the whistleblowers Bill is on the programme and I hope it is expedited. Significant and...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Section 15 of the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 provides for the imposition of disciplinary action in respect of civil servants. The Civil Service disciplinary code, which implements the 1956 Act, is set out in a Department of Finance circular. This is being revised in conjunction with the amendment of the 1956 Act. It will be negotiated with the Civil Service unions under the...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: The constitutionality of the current position under section 15(5) of the 1956 Act states an officer shall be "afforded an opportunity of making to the appropriate authority any representations he may wish to offer". This has not been challenged up to now. It would be a perverse interpretation of the legislation to suggest that the provision of the right for a person to submit representations...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: As far as Deputy Howlin's question regarding the legal status of the code is concerned, any circular from the Minister for Finance is given effect by the Civil Service Regulations Act 1956.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

Tom Parlon: Yes. As for the amendments' purpose in guaranteeing fair procedures, clearly it is important, in terms of fairness, that we have a disciplinary code within the Civil Service. This is accepted by all sides. There are sanctions provided, such as deferral of an increment, which can be applied under the code. Some of the other issues must be agreed between the Civil Service's human resources...