PQ’s – Health, Public Expenditure and Finance

Health – Recent meetings with the Irish Thalidomide Association and Survivors Society; Click here.

Public Expenditure – How Commercial rates are set for units in suburban shopping centres; Click here.

Finance – Student Residences and the Property Tax; Click here.

Recent PQ Replies

Recent PQ replies:

Minister Varadkar’s comments on taxi regulation and further information on the Smarter Transport Bill 2011; click here.

Minister Noonan’s comments on tackling the illegal cigarette trade; click here.

Information on Ireland’s attendance at the forthcoming International Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Oslo; click here.

Minister Bruton’s comments on companies imposing charges for the use of particular payment methods; click here.

Information on medical cards for Polio survivors; click here.

Employment practices in the civil service

It’s important when there is such high unemployment in the country, that we ensure that new jobs go to new or existing people in the workforce where possible. I believe it’s important that we preference these people over those whom have retired. I think it’s particularly important when it comes to the public sector given that the State is the employer.

At the same time though, we have to recognise that there are people who have retired from active employment who have a particular skill set, expertise or experience that is essential to different areas of government business. And these people may indeed have to be re-engaged and re-employed, to the benefit of what the State is trying to achieve.

I receive complaints from time to time alleging that the public sector, or the civil service, are re-hiring people who have retired from the public sector (and whom we might then effectively be paying twice). This government has sought to put an end to this practice (though anecdotally I understand it is still an issue in education for example).

So, I thought I would question each of the Departments to get to the truth of the matter insofar as their operations are concerned. And I think you’ll find the answers to be quite interesting. For instance, many people may not be aware of the abatement principle, which we have put into effect. The abatement principle ensures that the fee paid plus pension does not exceed the rate of pay the pensioner would receive if he/she had continued service in their former post,  and this applies to payments as appropriate.

And, in fact, it is only in place in a limited number of areas because there is only a very small amount of people currently employed or financially engaged by the government to whom it could apply.

Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An Taoiseach 

Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Children and Youth Affairs

Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Defence

Education and Skills

Environment, Community and Local Government

Finance

Health

Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Justice and Equality

Public Expenditure and Reform

Social Protection

Foreign Affairs and Trade

Transport, Tourism and Sport

This Week’s PQ Replies

PQ replies received so far this week:

Minister Reilly’s comments on Ireland’s compliance with the EU Working Time Directive in relation to non-consultant hospital doctors; click here.

Information on the planned reform of the health system; click here.

Information about the State’s subsidy to the Irish Greyhound Board and how this money is spent; click here.

This Week’s PQ Replies

To read parliamentary questions put to Minister Noonan regarding USC rates for the self-employed, interest restriction on residential lettings, pension fund access for the self-employed and AIB’s transfer of assets to its pension fund, click here. 

For information on the number of bicycle thefts over the last five years in the Dublin area and to read about disclosure of a non-conviction under the Probation Act, click here.

To read about funding for angel investors click here. 

For information on legislation to reform adoption law, click here.

To read Minister Hogan’s view on pop-up shops, click here.

To see Minister Quinn’s comments on the McKinsey report on education, click here. 

This week’s PQ replies

For information on who qualifies for a fuel rebate, the property tax and means testing for State benefits click here

To read the Minister for Education’s view on the selection of substitute teachers click here

For information on the various visa schemes available for senoir executives coming to work in foreign owned companies based in Ireland click here

To find out the timeframe for the enactment of changes to family law legislation following the Children’s Referendum click here

This Week’s PQ Replies

To read about the extension of VRT for electric vehicles click here.

For information on public procurement in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform click here.

To find out the number of Visas granted under the visa investment scheme programme click here.

Click here for details on transparency of payments from natural resources and the grant system in place for electric vehicles.

This Week’s PQ Replies

To read the Minster’s opinion on the reducing tax relief for pensions over €65,000 click here.

For a breakdown of staff reductions in the public service click here.

Click here to find out about qualifications needed to be a PE teacher, the resources available to schools for the teaching of PE and the PE curriculum for primary and secondary schools.

For the Minister’s views on the criteria to qualify for JobsBridge click here.

This Week’s PQ Replies

This week’s replies include; the events confirmed for the Gathering 2012 and information on the committee examining the feasablity of a Museum for Irish Sport. Click here to read more.

For Minister Noonan’s reply on on NAMA’s 80:20 deferred payment scheme click here.

PQ Replies

Should micro businesses have further tax incentives? Read what the Minister for Finance said here

For the Minister for Eduation’s view on the recommended collaboration of initial teacher education providers click here

Find out about additional redundancies in the public sector and the management terms of the National Convention Centre here

Read the Minister for Social Protection’s reply to a my question on the possibility of a opt-in scheme for child benefit here

For information on the register for electors in Dublin South East click here

Private in-patients in public beds, the Minister’s plan for 2013 – read here