Results 301-320 of 1,030,780 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Brian Stanley)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pensions (2 May 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I met the Minister for Justice about this matter yesterday. I would hope that by the summer we might have the outlines of how we would deal with this issue. The Minister for Justice has emphasised the importance of this issue to me and I am aware of the consequences it has for members of An Garda Síochána who have retired and the fact that these numbers are now growing.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pensions (2 May 2024)

Marian Harkin: I am really pleased to hear that because this requirement applies to gardaí who joined post-1995 and next year all these members will have served 30 years. This issue, therefore, must be dealt with. I say this because many gardaí have told me that when they have tried to explain to the Department of Social Protection that they are not jobseekers and are, in fact, retired members...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pensions (2 May 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I can simply say I take the Deputy's point. I am aware of the issue. Several Deputies have raised it with me, as has the Minister for Justice in recent months. We are looking at a way of trying to find a solution to this issue and I take on board the point made by the Deputy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ethics in Public Office (2 May 2024)

Ethics in Public Office

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ethics in Public Office (2 May 2024)

Rose Conway-Walsh: 76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on planned reforms to strengthen standards in public office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19844/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ethics in Public Office (2 May 2024)

Rose Conway-Walsh: Go raibh maith agat. This question was previously raised by Deputy Shortall. The Minister's Department completed a review of the ethics legislation and a report on this was submitted to the Government by his predecessor in the Department, the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, in December 2022. The Government approved the publication of the review report and agreed to the preparation of a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ethics in Public Office (2 May 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I emphasise that work on the heads of the Bill is significantly advanced. I want to be in a position to bring proposals to the Government very shortly.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ethics in Public Office (2 May 2024)

Rose Conway-Walsh: As the Minister stated, the review makes some very important recommendations. There seemed to be an eagerness on the part of the Government to progress the proposed legislation at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, even when there were a number of scandals and resignations and these were reported in the media. Since then, though, it seems it has been quietly shelved. It should be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ethics in Public Office (2 May 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I aim to deal with both those matters. I aim to deal with the issue of liabilities and how they are registered and I also aim to bring forward proposals regarding strengthening the powers of SIPO to allow it to initiate its own investigations.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ethics in Public Office (2 May 2024)

Rose Conway-Walsh: I hope this will allow SIPO to be more proactive in certain instances and enable it to act where it feels suspected breaches of the ethics framework have taken place. For instance, if it were felt that something had not been declared, then the agency would be able to investigate and sanction members if necessary. My colleague, Deputy Mairéad Farrell, brought forward legislation to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ethics in Public Office (2 May 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I am very much aware of the Bill brought forward by Deputies Mairéad Farrell and Buckley last year. It contained several different provisions relating to this matter. The legislation proposed had seven sections in total and many dealt with powers regarding the Standards in Public Office Commission. As I said, I will be bringing forward an approach that will deal with some of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Process (2 May 2024)

Budget Process

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Process (2 May 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: 77. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will list the occasions over the past 18 months on which Government Departments have requested additional funds from his Department; the purposes of these requests; which requests were granted; and which were refused. [18661/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Process (2 May 2024)

Peadar Tóibín: We know that over Christmas the Minister and the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, had a ferocious argument over the health budget. We also know there are significant tensions currently between the Minister's Department and other Departments. Some of these tensions concern overspends by those other Departments. Can the Minister give us information about where these difficulties...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Process (2 May 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Vote allocations are decided as part of the Estimates process each year. Following publication of the summer economic statement, the Secretary General of my Department writes to all other Departments requesting proposals for the upcoming budget, including where they consider additional funding to be required. These requests are then assessed as part of preparations for the budget. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (2 May 2024)

Legislative Measures

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (2 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: 73. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on reform of the ethics in public office legislation, given that the review of the statutory framework was completed in December 2022; the reason for the delay in publishing the heads of Bill; if he expects this Bill to be introduced this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20037/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (2 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: The programme for Government contains a commitment to reform and consolidate the ethics in public office legislation. When are we going to see that legislation? It is over four years since the commitment was given.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (2 May 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy makes reference to the 2020 programme for Government. That did indeed lay out the commitment to reform and consolidate the ethics in public office legislation and, as she will be aware, my Department carried out a comprehensive review of the statutory framework as a first step in meeting this commitment. The review’s report was submitted to Government in December 2022 and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (2 May 2024)

Róisín Shortall: There have been incredible delays in all of this. It is 14 months since the review report was published. We know the important areas that are covered by it. We should not have any further delay. It is 20 years now since SIPO started identifying the serious gaps in its powers. It is supposed to be a watchdog but it seems to be more of a lapdog at this stage because of the failure of...