Results 15,401-15,420 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: This is a technical amendment to provide for the fact that the Local Government Act 1942 has been amended by the Local Government Act 2001, since the passing of the 1980 Act.

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Again, this is a technical amendment which provides that the term "Minister" where it appears in the Bill should be taken to mean the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, not the Minister for Finance.

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There are two parts to this amendment. Paragraph (a) provides for the consultation of a committee of the Houses before making any proposal to appoint an ombudsman. In order to strengthen the Ombudsman's relationship with the Oireachtas, I propose that the Ombudsman's role be enhanced by allowing the Oireachtas to have a view pre-appointment. Therefore, in the future, before the next...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: This is a technical amendment which clarifies the existing practice of the Ombudsman, that a complaint can be made by a person or a person acting on his or her behalf who is authorised to make the complaint.

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Seanad amendments Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, are technical amendments which update the lettering of a number of paragraphs in the amended section 5 of the principal Act as a consequence of amendment No. 12 which deleted the original paragraph. Seanad amendment No. 14 is a further technical amendment arising from which the Ombudsman shall not investigate an action taken before the date on...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Issues of legal interpretation may arise from time to time in an investigation carried out by the Ombudsman. This section will allow the Ombudsman to refer a question of law arising from an investigation to the High Court for its determination. The amendment provides that any such determination of the High Court is subject to the normal avenue of appeal to the Supreme Court, in line with...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: These Seanad amendments provide for the amendment of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and the merger of the Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments with the Office of the Ombudsman. This merger is recommended and should lead to greater flexibility in the deployment of staff in administration. The Commission for Public Service...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Seanad amendment No. 24 provides for an amendment to the Ombudsman for Children Act. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the Ombudsman for Children asked me to make this amendment. In essence, it substitutes the definition of "public body" to provide that the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman for Children will automatically follow any changes to the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman as...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Deputies opposite for the cogent cases they have made which I will address seriatim. On the exclusion of the Irish Prison Service, the Minister for Justice and Equality has confirmed his intention to introduce a new and credible prisoner complaints system which will deal with complaints in an open, transparent and independent way. Robust new procedures will be implemented,...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Absolutely. The electorate makes its views known.

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I am not sure what role the Ombudsman would play. Agreeing to the development plan is a reserved function of the local authority. Would the Ombudsman be expected to state her disagreement with a decision made? That would be improper.

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: At Question Time.

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Amendment No. 2 is a technical amendment to amend the definition of an exempt agency to encompass non-public bodies, which, by order, are made reviewable agencies in full or with some elements excluded and exempted entities in the Second Schedule and entities with some elements excluded as set out in Part II of the First Schedule. That sounds more complicated than it needs to be but we are...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: This is important legislation and I must acknowledge its genesis is in the term of office of the former Government. It is reforming legislation and I pay tribute to my predecessor for introducing it. It was passed in this House in 2010 and restored to the Order Paper. Since my Department was established, I have been involved in discussions with the Ombudsman to seek to broaden the scope of...

Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008: Amendments from the Seanad (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: I thank both Deputies for their comments. There is no disagreement on having the legislation enacted as quickly as we can. I am advised that for the 140 bodies involved there are requirements regarding the defining of internal complaint processing procedures, the training of staff and the management of documents, while linkages are made with the Ombudsman. I have been helpfully guided in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Depending on what comes back from the committee.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: That will be included in the Bill also.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: When was Deputy Martin told?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: What did Deputy Martin say?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Freedom of Information Legislation (23 Oct 2012)

Brendan Howlin: It is his gentle demeanour.