Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Bernard J Durkan, has today (Thursday) warmly welcomed the announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, that funding has been allocated to allow Kildare County Council...

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the portion of pension resulting from the payment of AVCs will be subject to the proposed public sector pension reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, in the proposed pension reduction legislation, a pension above the threshold i e .€ €33,000, will be subject to the reduction on all of the pension or just on the portion in excess of the threshold €€32,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly, T.D., today (Friday 24 May 2013) officially opened the 3rd National Patient Safety Conference in the Croke Park Conference Centre.

I thank the Government for introducing this Bill. Regardless of the outcome of the inquiries referendum in 2011, and judging by the number of Deputies who have spoken on this matter in recent days, I believe there is a strong public and political appetite for the proposed powers to be enshrined in legislation so as to ensure public representatives in the Houses can hold to account those who spend public money and who are involved in governance.

I thank the Government for introducing this Bill. Regardless of the outcome of the inquiries referendum in 2011, and judging by the number of Deputies who have spoken on this matter in recent days, I believe there is a strong public and political appetite for the proposed powers to be enshrined in legislation so as to ensure public representatives in the Houses can hold to account those who spend public money and who are involved in governance.