Written Answers Nos. 109 - 126
109. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Taoiseach the measures taken to ensure all that statutory instruments are placed on the Irish Statute Book website in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37420/13]
View answerThe electronic files for Statutory Instruments (SIs) are produced through the electronic statutory instrument system (eSIS) by the Government Publications Office and sent to the Attorney General’s Office in batches of 30-50.
When received, they are processed for publication on the electronic Irish Statute Book web site (eISB), in a searchable format, with relevant cross referencing/linking as required.
The time taken to process the SIs varies depending on the complexity and number of SIs received. It is generally done in a timely manner, but in some cases can take up to 10 days.
As an interim measure, SIs in Portable Document Format (PDF) are also sourced from Government Publications and are available from a link on the eISB, normally within a day of being notified in Iris Oifigiúil. The SI PDF format file does not contain cross referencing/linking and is not searchable.
110. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a list of the bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department to which ministerial appointments are made; the statutory provision providing for the making of such appointments in each case; the annual allowance or other payment made to the chairperson and the annual allowance or other payment made to an ordinary member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39093/13]
View answerAppointments are made by the Taoiseach to the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) in accordance with Section 13(2) of the NESDO Act 2006.
NESDO is the body corporate of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). The Taoiseach appoints members to the NESC in line with Section 14 of the NESDO Act 2006 and Statutory Instrument No. 603 of the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010.
Up to 20 appointments are made following receipt of nominations from business and employer interests, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Farming and Agricultural Interests, the Community and Voluntary Sector and the Environmental Sector. The Taoiseach may also appoint up to six public servants and up to eight independent members, possessing knowledge, expertise and skills which the Taoiseach considers relevant to the functions of the NESC.
No allowance or other payments are made to the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson or ordinary members of the NESC.
Appointments to the National Statistics Board (NSB) are made in line with the provisions of Section 18 of the Statistics Act 1993. My functions in relation to the NSB were delegated to the Government Chief Whip, Minister of State Paul Kehoe T.D., on the 22 March 2011.
As set out in the Act, the NSB comprises a Chairperson and seven Board members - five persons of proven ability and experience in relevant fields, an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of the Taoiseach, an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of Finance, and the Director General of the CSO, ex officio.
The Chairperson is eligible to receive an annual stipend of €8,978. Those Board members eligible to receive a stipend receive €5,985. (No stipend is paid to members of the Board who are Civil Servants).
111. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Taoiseach the bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department where there is currently a vacancy to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, whether the vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of vacancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39094/13]
View answer112. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Taoiseach the bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department where there is anticipated to be a vacancy within the next six months to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, whether the anticipated vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of anticipated vacancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39095/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.
There are currently no vacancies on the National Statistics Board (NSB) or the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). The term in office of the NSB is due to end in October. The Statistics Act 1993 sets out the composition and membership of the National Statistics Board (NSB).
The NSB comprises a Chairperson and seven Board members - five persons of proven ability and experience in relevant fields, an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of the Taoiseach, an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of Finance, and the Director General of the CSO, ex officio.
There are no vacancies anticipated in the National Economic and Social Council in the next six months.
113. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a yearly detailed breakdown of the sectoral measures and accompanying savings for the duration of Haddington Road agreement applicable his Department and/or non-commercial State sponsored bodies under the aegis of his Department. [39096/13]
View answerThe savings arising under the Haddington Road Agreement have been incorporated in my Department’s Revised Estimate for 2013 and will be reflected in the Estimates for 2014. Further details for 2015 and 2016 will be incorporated in the relevant vote allocations in the context of the overall Estimates process.
The table below shows the estimated savings for my Department for 2013 and 2014:
|
HRA Estimated Savings |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Estimated Overtime Saving |
€70,561 |
€ 131,243 |
|
Higher Remuneration Reduction |
€147,579 |
€ 295,158 |
These savings are in addition to savings arising from the application of Haddington Road which will assist the Department in reaching the reductions in employee numbers under our Employment Control Framework and in delivering new and enhanced services in line with business needs.
The estimated saving for the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) through the reduction of higher remuneration in 2013 is €32,979 and for 2014 it is estimated to be €62,218.
114. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Taoiseach in relation to concerns regarding the quality of record keeping in his Department, the new instructions to staff that have been issued regarding the filing and retention of documents in his Department since the current Government came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39097/13]
View answer115. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Taoiseach in relation to concerns regarding the quality of record keeping in his Department, the new protocols that have been implemented regarding the filing and retention of documents in his Department since the current Government came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39098/13]
View answer116. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Taoiseach in relation to concerns regarding the quality of record keeping in his Department, the training that has been offered to staff regarding the filing and retention of documents in his Department since the current Government came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39099/13]
View answer117. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Taoiseach in relation to concerns regarding the quality of record keeping in his Department, the new documents that are now being kept, which were not previously being recorded in his Department since the current Government came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39100/13]
View answer118. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Taoiseach in relation to concerns regarding the quality of record keeping in his Department, if an audit of document retention and filing systems, both digital and analogue, has been undertaken since the current Government came into office, if he will release the details of any such audit in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39101/13]
View answer119. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Taoiseach in relation to the his concerns regarding the quality of record keeping in his Department, the new IT systems that have been installed since the current Government came into office to address his concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39102/13]
View answer120. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Taoiseach in relation to concerns regarding the quality of record keeping in his Department, the new positions that have been introduced for example chief information officer since the current Government came into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39103/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 114 to 120, inclusive, together.
All records and data, electronic and paper based, held in my Department are maintained in compliance with the provisions of the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003, the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 and the National Archives Act 1986 and in compliance with the records management guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
My Department operates a central registry record-keeping system comprising a Registry File Tracking System and a central repository for the storage of Departmental records. The location of files created in the Department are known, to the time when they are transferred to the National Archives for permanent preservation.
As part of an ongoing programme of in-house training, a workshop on the creation and maintenance of records was recently provided for staff by relevant officials from the Department and the National Archives Office. Similar training is being provided in relation to obligations under Freedom of Information legislation and on the Department's IT systems.
A Chief Information Officer (CIO) was recently appointed at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to give guidance and leadership in the development of an ICT strategy across the Civil Service and the wider public service. My Department will actively engage with the CIO in this work.
121. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach the present gender balance of the total membership of State bodies under the aegis of his Department; if the ratio has changed significantly over the course of the present Government's term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39108/13]
View answerSince coming into office on 9 March 2011, I have made 14 appointments to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) in accordance with the provisions of the NESDO Act 2006 as amended by the NESC (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010. Eight of these appointments, comprising four women and four men were independent members. See full list of appointments in the Table below.
In line with this legislation, I appoint up to 20 members on the basis of nominations from business and employer interests, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, farming and agricultural interests, the community and voluntary sector and the environmental sector.
I may also appoint up to six public servants of whom at least one shall represent the Taoiseach and one shall represent the Minister for Finance. These appointments represent relevant Departments to ensure NESC's work is integrated with Government policy-making. Historically, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson posts are filled from my Department at Secretary General and Assistant Secretary level.
The ratio has not changed significantly over this time. Women now account for 26% (28% in March 2011) of the Council's total membership, while men account for 74% (72% in 2011) of its membership.
Table for Circulation
Table: Details of appointments made by the Taoiseach to NESC since 9 March 2011 are set out in the table beneath.
|
Name |
Organisation |
Date of Appointment |
|
Mr. Martin Fraser, Chairperson of NESC |
Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach |
August 2011 |
|
Mr. John Shaw, Deputy Chairperson of NESC |
Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach |
January 2012 |
|
Prof. Edgar Morgenroth |
Associate Research Professor, Economic and Social Research Institute |
June 2011 |
|
Prof. John McHale |
Economist, National University of Ireland, Galway |
June 2011 |
|
Prof. Mary Daly |
Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, Senior Research Fellow of Green Templeton College, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford |
June 2011 |
|
Prof. Anna Davis |
Department of Geography, Trinity College Dublin |
June 2011 |
|
Prof. Seán Ó Riain |
Department of Sociology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth |
June 2011 |
|
Dr. Michael O’Sullivan |
Head of Portfolio Strategy and Thematic Research, Credit Suisse, London |
June 2011 |
|
Ms. Mary Walsh |
Chartered Accountant |
June 2011 |
|
Dr. Michelle Norris |
Senior Lecturer, School of Applied Social Science, University College Dublin. |
July 2011 |
|
Mr. Shay Cody |
IMPACT |
September 2011 |
|
Mr. John Murphy |
Secretary General, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
November 2011 |
|
Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú |
Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills |
February 2012 |
|
Mr. John Moran |
Secretary General, Department of Finance |
March 2012 |
The National Statistics Board (NSB)
Under the Statistics Act, 1993, the National Statistics Board comprises a Chairperson and seven Board members - five persons of proven ability and experience in relevant fields, an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of the Taoiseach, an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of Finance, and the Director General of the CSO, ex officio.
Of the 8 current members on the NSB, one (the Chair) is female. The ratio has not changed significantly during the course of the present Government’s term as only one vacancy has arisen. A vacancy arose to replace an Assistant Secretary from my Department, as set out in the legislation.
The term of the current board is due to end in October.
122. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the staffing levels of the private offices and constituency offices of Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department; the salary of each; the same figures for this time in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39113/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below:
|
Office |
- |
September 2011 |
- |
September 2013 |
|
- |
Staff |
Salary Cost |
Staff |
Salary Cost |
|
Taoiseach's Private Office |
15* |
€1,065,227 |
15 |
€ 1,049,462 |
|
Taoiseach's Constituency Office |
5 |
€281,422 |
4 |
€220,450 |
|
Government Chief Whip's Private Office |
5 |
€281,267 |
5 |
€271,535 |
|
Government Chief Whip's Constituency Office |
3 |
€133,180 |
3 |
€138,145 |
|
Minister of State for European Affairs's Private Office |
2 |
€104,406 |
2 |
€99,525 |
*This figure includes the special advisers as outlined in Parliamentary Question 123.
123. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide the saving to the Exchequer if all special advisers to him and his Ministers of State were capped at the first point on the principal officer pay scale. [39114/13]
View answerThere are five Special Advisers employed by my Department, four of whom are my Special Advisers and one of whom is Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip. The details requested in relation to their salaries is set out in the table below.
The 1st point of the Principal Officer (standard scale) is €75,647.
The salary cost for special advisers employed in my Department in 2012 was €581,236. The comparative full year figure for Special Advisors employed in this Department in 2010 was €1,072,920.
|
Position |
Current Salary |
|
Chief of Staff |
€156,380 |
|
Special Adviser |
€156,380 |
|
Special Adviser |
€81,676 |
|
Special Adviser |
€81,676 |
|
Special Adviser to the Chief Whip |
€81,676 |
124. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach the number of miles claimed for and the amount of travel expenses paid to him and each Minister of State in his Department in respect of his official functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39115/13]
View answerThe below table details travel expenses paid to Minister of State Kehoe, including the number of miles claimed, from March 2011 to end of August 2013.
|
Travel Expenses |
Mileage Claimed |
Total Miles |
|
€1,087 |
€37,925 |
69,896 miles |
I have been provided with a Garda car under the Ministerial transport scheme and do not use a private car for official purposes. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade pay expenses in relation to Minister of State for European Affairs.
125. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach in respect of each State agency and commercial State company under the aegis of his Department, if he will provide details of the name of each pension scheme; details of the salary percentage contributions made by the employer and the employees; the latest information on the funding position of the scheme; if any changes are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39116/13]
View answerThe National Economic and Social Council (NESC) comes under the aegis of my Department.
Most staff in NESC are members of the Non-established State Employees Scheme. The scheme is non-contributory but there is a deduction of 1.5% of net salary in respect of the Spouses’ and Children’s scheme. There is no contribution applying to the employer.
A number of staff who are not members of the non-established scheme are paid an allowance of 16.6% of salary in lieu of superannuation. These staff currently have a once off option of joining the non-established scheme.
126. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the number of amendments to legislation he proposed during Committee and Report Stages in Seanad Éireann in 2012; if he will provide in tabular form the number of his own amendments accepted; and if he will indicate in tabular form the number of amendments accepted from members of the Seanad, broken down by Senator. [39117/13]
View answerI did not take any legislation through Seanad Éireann in 2012.
