Results 261-280 of 1,919 for speaker:Pat Casey

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 May 2022)

Pat Casey: I thank the Government and the Minister for the supports for the hospitality sector over the last two years. As the Minister will know, I am directly involved. As he pointed out, at the end of this month we are coming off all the supports that have been there for the past two years. We always get used to supports and we have to try to wean ourselves off them. We are in a challenging...

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 May 2022)

Pat Casey: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (10 May 2022)

Pat Casey: I welcome the Minister to the House to discuss the Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022. As Senator Kyne said, let us hope that the term "Covid-19" is in our rear-view mirror and is not to return again. As the Senator said also, when we look back, we will see what the Government did with the significant supports it gave businesses to survive during the last two years...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (5 May 2022)

Pat Casey: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. As my colleague identified, we are talking about investment in public transport and, specifically, in the Dublin-Rosslare route, which passes through County Wicklow. Whatever additional services can be provided to Rosslare will directly improve the facilities in Wicklow. The service to Wicklow town and Arklow at the moment is a joke....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (5 May 2022)

Pat Casey: I, too, understand the Minister of State was handed a written reply and this issue does not relate to his brief, but the answer is totally unacceptable. DART+ does not yet exist and I do not think reopening the western coastal rail line will have much impact on Wicklow and Wexford, so it is disappointing. As my colleague said, the new carriages have not even been identified for this route....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: I thank Mr. Fraser for coming in today. I am trying to explore the whole area of the secondments and will rely on his experience as a Secretary General since 2011. I will start off where Deputies Doherty and Tóibín finished with regard to Circular 27/2021. It would be great if that was made available to the full committee in order that we can have a deep understanding of exactly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: I am not indicating that secondments are bad in any way. I am trying to see how each secondment complies with the circular that has been issued to each Department. How many secondments are in place in the Department of the Taoiseach?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: Are any of those open ended? Do they all have a closing date? What is the breakdown on them? I can understand if Mr. Fraser does not know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: A long time is a lot longer than five years. Mr. Fraser has been in the Department for ten years as Secretary General. How many people have returned to his Department from secondments?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: I am just trying to get a better understanding of how these secondments work within the Civil Service.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: I am in business and I have gone through my own HR issues over several years. Have secondments ever been used to resolve a HR issue within the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: I know it is not the purpose but that is not to say it would not be used in such a way.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: I am just asking.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: Yes. All employers go through difficulties with employees. Sometimes they can be quite protracted and drawn out. Sometimes solutions are found.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: That is fine. I am just asking a question. Is it unusual that a secondment can allow additional earnings from the private sector? Is that compliant with Circular 27/2021?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: It is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: Mr. Fraser has never signed off on secondments that allowed additional earnings from the private sector on top of that secondment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: What level of discretionary spending can Mr. Fraser sign off on without any other authorisation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: In the Civil Service generally, is there a policy on what a Secretary General can sign off on up to a limit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)

Pat Casey: I just seek a better understanding. When a Secretary General signs off a €20 million fund from a research budget does he not have to communicate with that section to agree that and then he can advise that?