Results 17,701-17,720 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: A good chairman who is well trained will know what are the principles of administrative law and natural justice and will apply them. This is a very serious board. We are not talking about the local committee where someone is asked to leave, which may be what Senator Burke is talking about. An agency which is set up by the State and appointed by the Minister must be bound by all legal and...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Yes.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: We suggested that the group report directly to the chairperson in order to give it status, so that it could go straight to the top, rather like reporting to a Minister instead of officials, or to the Taoiseach instead of a Minister. There is nothing to preclude the chairperson or the group itself from giving the report to every member of the agency. There is nothing to preclude the...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Or a person nominated by the chief executive.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It is largely because the chief executive of the agency, or another person nominated by him or her, should be the chairperson it is appropriate that the reporting mechanisms are as they are. The person nominated by the chief executive shall not report back to the chief executive. That is an extra safeguard. As Senator Henry clarified, the consultative group can give the report to whomsoever...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: They are there for the purposes of consultation.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Senator Brady has made the point I was about to make. It is a very inclusive group. I do not accept Senator Burke's point that it would be restrictive, depending on who was the chairperson. The list contains public representatives, patients and providers of healthcare services, Dublin City Council, the Dublin Institute of Technology, members of staff of the DIT, the student body of the DIT,...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I do not because the consultative group should hear views and then make sure they are taken on board as much as possible.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The subsection is broad enough as it states, "The consultative group shall report to the chairperson at such time as it considers appropriate". There may be times when it will not make a written report or when something has arisen and the group meets the chairperson to update him or her. However, if a provision is inserted that a report of such a meeting should be circulated to all the...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: My position is clear enough.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The chairperson of the consultative group will have to be as skilled as the chief executive of the agency but in a different way. A person will be sought who can organise a listening process to take on all the views of the various stakeholders covered by the legislation and assimilate them. It is provided in the legislation that the chief executive of the agency could decide to be the...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, 6, 9 and 11 are straightforward drafting amendments required to reflect current drafting practice. The amendments simply alter the references to the Schedules from First Schedule, Second Schedule, Third Schedule and Fourth Schedule to Schedule 1, Schedule 2, Schedule 3 and Schedule 4, respectively.

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: It is important to remember the principal purpose of the Bill and the strategic plan, namely, to develop the campus for the Dublin Institute of Technology and to provide health care facilities for the Health Service Executive. Obviously, in devising the plan there should be consultation with the major stakeholders which are, of course, the Dublin Institute of Technology, the Health Service...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The specific information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Bus Éireann informed my Department that the average age of its own large capacity bus fleet is 16 years. The average age of all vehicles used is 11.5 years.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The following is a breakdown of the number and type of vehicles used for school transport. Bus Éireann has 650 large buses and two mini-buses. It contracts out 462, 450 and 1,213 large buses, medium buses and mini-buses, respectively. Contractor cars number 255. The above figures were extracted by Bus Éireann from the October 2004 census.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Bus Éireann has advised my Department that the most recent figures available indicate that 1,590 vehicles have seat belts and 1,483 are without seat belts. The vehicles with belts include taxis. The question of retrofitting vehicles with seat belts is being assessed to establish which buses are suitable.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together. The following is a breakdown of the number of vehicles which are driven by Bus Éireann drivers and non-Bus Éireann drivers. Bus Éireann has 650 large buses and two mini-buses. It contracts out 462, 450 and 1,213 large buses, medium buses and mini-buses respectively. Contractor cars number 255. The above figures were extracted by Bus...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 246 together. As the Deputies are aware, a new general allocation scheme has been announced under which schools will be provided with resource teaching hours based on their enrolment figures to cater for children with high incidence special needs, such as dyslexia, and those with learning support needs. The general allocation for the school in question...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Officials in the school planning section of my Department are carrying out a review of educational needs in the north Dublin-east Meath-south Louth area, including Donabate and Portrane, by way of a draft area development plan. The need for a post-primary school in Donabate is being considered in this context. The draft plan is nearing completion and I hope to be in a position to publish it...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The staffing of this school for the 2005-06 school year was considered by the appeals board on 14 June 2005. The board, having considered the appeal with regard to the criteria outlined in Department circular 19-02, was satisfied that a departure from the staffing schedule is not warranted in this case. The board of management of the school was notified in writing of the decision of the...