Written Answers Nos. 98 - 105
98. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if temporary promotions or acting-up allowances have not been a feature of the staffing arrangements within his Department for this EU Presidency; if he will provide a list detailing the number by grade involved in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55882/12]
View answerTemporary promotions or acting-up allowances have not been a feature of the staffing arrangements for the EU Presidency in my Department. While there are a number of officials at different grade levels working on Presidency related business there is no one currently working solely on Presidency related work.
An interdivisional group has been established within my Department to co-ordinate preparation for the 2013 Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The group is chaired by the EU/North South Unit and includes those sections that will have a role in the Presidency.
99. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of executives of multinational companies who have offered to serve on State boards; the members of the Irish diaspora who have been appointed to State boards under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55800/12]
View answerIn line with Government Policy, the process for making appointments to State Boards has, since mid-2011, been administered through the Public Appointments Service (PAS). PAS publicly invites Expressions of Interest from all interested parties, including those of the type referred to in the question. These applications are not categorised by reference to the occupational background of the applicants within their own organisation or on whether they form part of the Irish diaspora.
In parallel with the formal system administered through PAS, I occasionally receive expressions of interest directly from individuals for consideration for appointment to State Boards. While the occupational background of these individuals may not be explicit, I am not aware of any multinational executives having expressed interest through this channel. In all cases, however, any such applicants have been referred to formal process administered the Public Appointments Service.
100. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details of each service in his Department that is currently outsourced; the company that provides such services and the total cost for these services; the other services which may be outsourced in the future that are currently being run in his Department; the names of the companies, fees paid and nature of service for all contracts awarded from his Department excluding legal, accounting, PR or building refurbishment related services since March 2011. [55832/12]
View answerIn the time available since this Question was tabled, my Department has not been able to collect information in relation to the services listed by the Deputy.
Once the available information is collated, I will arrange for it to be forwarded to the Deputy.
101. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if temporary promotions or acting-up allowances have not been a feature of the staffing arrangements for this EU Presidency, if he will confirm that his Department has been given sanction to make such arrangements detailing the number by grade involved, the date sanction was sought and the date it was given. [56302/12]
View answerSanction was sought from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) by my Department on 27th February 2012 to enhance staff deployment to assist with EU presidency preparations. Sanction was given to my Department on 24th July 2012 for temporary promotions (as set out in tabular format below) from within my Department’s existing resources to assist my Department’s Trade Policy and EU Sections in the co-ordination and management of key aspects of logistics and information gathering for policy development and synthesis for hosting of the EU Presidency.
This is in addition to eight officials of my Department on temporary secondment in their substantive grades, to the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Permanent Representations in Brussels and Geneva for the period of the EU presidency.
Temporary Assignments/Promotions within DJEI:
|
Substantive Grade |
Temporary Promotion Grade |
Number |
Appointment from |
Appointment to |
|
CO |
EO |
2 |
3/12/12 |
26/7/13 |
|
EO |
HEO |
2 |
17/12/12 |
26/7/13 |
102. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Social Protection when a claim under the insolvency payment scheme will be paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55697/12]
View answerA claim under the insolvency payment scheme was submitted on line on behalf of the person concerned on 25 October 2012 in respect of arrears of holiday pay and minimum notice. The Department is currently processing on line claims received in June 2012.
Every effort is being made to process claims as quickly as possible but, unfortunately, it is likely to be a number of months before the claim in question is finalised.
