Written Answers Nos. 1-35
33. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach the number of retired senior civil servants and public servants appointed by the officeholder of the day to State boards, authorities and other State-appointed bodies, after being recommended on draft lists submitted by the Public Appointments Service, in each of the past ten years [9060/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is one retired civil servant currently serving on the National Statistics Board and one retired public servant serving on the National Economic and Social Council.
34. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach the number of senior staff members of his Department or of State bodies under the aegis of his Department who are also on the boards of bodies registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or on the board of bodies which have had to disclose that they engaged in lobbying State authorities; and if it is intended to issue directions as to the appropriateness of such involvement in these bodies. [9078/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department currently has no senior staff on the boards of bodies registered for lobbying purposes.
Staff are required to abide by the Civil Service Code of Standards which states “Civil servants may not at any time engage in, or be connected with, any outside business or activity which would in any way conflict with the interests of their Departments/Offices, or be inconsistent with their official positions, or tend to impair their ability to carry out their duties as civil servants."
35. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the practice of differential pricing between standard tickets and wheelchair accessible tickets in a venue (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure this discriminatory practise is stopped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8984/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy has submitted the same question to my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth who has policy responsibility for disability and equality matters.
I understand that the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the basis of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and membership of the Traveller community. Where a consumer believes that pricing practices are discriminatory in nature, based on the grounds set out in the Equal Status Acts, they can obtain information on how to proceed on the website of the Workplace Relations Commission which deals with all complaints of discrimination in access to goods and services.
