Paul O'Kane
Scottish Labour
MSP for West Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Paul O'Kane
Contact details
Contact online
Post-d: Paul.O'Kane.msp@parliament.scot
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5942
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
Phone: 0141 887 5111
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Paul is a member of 2 committees
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Deputy Convener
Cross-party groups
Paul is a member of 22 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Work
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Stroke
Deputy Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Paul does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Paul has 2 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Health
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Care
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Paul had 1 previous role
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Health Social Care and Sport Committee
Member
Register of interests
Paul's register of interests
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
Here is the register for Paul O'Kane. The date of their initial statement was 07 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until 10 June 2021, I will be Chair of the Transport and Mechanical Advisory Group Association of Public Sector Excellence (APSE) (a not for profit unincorporated association of 300 Councils across the UK promoting excellence in public services of Scottish Office, Brandon House, 23-25 Brandon Street, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, ML3 6DA). I work 4 hours per month and receive remuneration of between £1,001 and £2,000 per annum. I resigned from this role with effect from 10 June 2021.
Until 10 May 2021, I was a Policy and Participation Manager at ENABLE Scotland (a Learning Disability Charity and Social Care Provider of Inspire House, 3 Renshaw Place, Eurocentral, North Lanarkshire, ML14UF). I worked 21 hours per week and the remuneration I received was between £30,001 and £35,000 (pro-rata) per annum.
I am a councillor for East Renfrewshire Council (of Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, G46 6UH) and additionally, until 10 June 2021, I will be Depute Leader of the Council and Convener for Education and Equalities. I work approximately 21 hours per week and, until 10 June 2021, will receive remuneration of between £20,001 and £25,000 per annum. I have resigned as Depute Leader of the Council and Convener for Education and Equalities with effect from 10 June 2021 but will remain as a councillor. From 10 June 2021, I will receive remuneration of between £15,001 to £20,000 per annum. My councillor salary will be donated to local community groups in my Ward.
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am a member of ENABLE Scotland.
I am a member of Community Union.
I am a member of LGBT Labour Scotland.
I am a member of GMB Union.
I am a patron of LGBT Labour.
I am a member of the Scottish Co-operative Party.
I am the Chair of Trustees of Neilston War Memorial Association.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Paul O'Kane has said in Parliament
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 22 June 2022
Social Care Charges
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "In closing the debate on behalf of Scottish Labour, I reflect that the Parliament has again used Labour time to debate the ending of all non-residential care charges in Scotland…
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee meeting date: 21 June 2022
Health Inequalities
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the witnesses for their insights, which have been helpful. I want to ask about progress…
Chamber meeting date: 16 June 2022
Men’s Sheds
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I thank Christine Grahame for bringing the debate to the chamber…
Chamber meeting date: 15 June 2022
Health and Wellbeing of Children and Young People
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I am pleased to have the opportunity to close this important debate on behalf of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee…
Chamber meeting date: 15 June 2022
Protection of War Memorials
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I thank Meghan Gallacher for bringing the debate to the chamber, and I wish her well for her forthcoming maternity leave. I apologise to you, Presiding Officer, and to colleagues, as I will need to leave prior to the conclusion of the debate…
Votes
How Paul O'Kane has voted in Parliament
Find out how Paul O'Kane has voted recently.
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 85 for, 25 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 63 for, 47 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Pam Gosal, Jamie Greene, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Dean Lockhart, Douglas Lumsden, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 47 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Ash Regan, Edinburgh Eastern, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Supported by: Keith Brown
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 84 for, 0 against, 25 abstained, 20 no vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Submitted by: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 25 for, 85 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Paul O'Kane in Parliament
Find out what motions Paul O'Kane has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Paul O'Kane has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to implement a service-level agreement with ScotRail."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Save a Life for Scotland partnership."
Answered by: Maree Todd on 29 June 2022
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 16 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to monitor the current use of restraint and restrictive practices in (a) healthcare (b) social care and (c) education settings for children, young people and adults who have a learning disability."
Answered by: Shirley-Anne Somerville on 23 June 2022
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 21 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the opportunities for people who have learning disabilities to access creative alternatives to how people spend their day, including access to robust supported employment programmes."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 16 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to increased access to short breaks or respite services for family carers as a result of any cuts to day services."
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 21 June 2022
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 16 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to capture the views of people with learning disabilities regarding their day services and any changes that have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 16 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish draft guidance on restrictive practice for education staff."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 16 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of (a) restraint and (b) seclusion were recorded in (i) healthcare (ii) social care and (iii) education settings for children, young people and adults who have a learning disability, in each of the last three years."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 31 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to extending the payment of Scottish Carer’s Assistance to carers for six months after the person being cared for dies, in order to ensure that any carers are not at risk of falling into, or remaining in, poverty."
Answered by: Ben Macpherson on 16 June 2022
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 31 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Marie Curie and Loughborough University’s recent research into poverty at the end of life, which states that 8,200 people die in poverty every year in Scotland and that the double burden of income loss and increased costs brought on by terminal illness can push people into poverty, whether it will…
Answered by: Ben Macpherson on 16 June 2022
See all of Paul O'Kane's written questions submitted in Parliament