Results 1-20 of 22 for competitive speaker:Joe O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Offshore Islands (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: ...Deputy some figures, the cost of heavy and light cargo contracts for 2022 was €2.2 million. It is important to remember that cargo services are procured on the open market through e-tenders and competition is open, fair and transparent. The contracts are generally of a three-year duration, sometimes a little more, but there is a clause to review on an annual basis. What we are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Offshore Islands (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: ...services are delivered using roll-on roll-off vessels, which also allow the carriage of cargo. Suitable operators for these services are chosen on the open market following a procurement competition. Cargo requirements vary from island to island, and so too do the tender documents. A consultation process with the island communities is central during the renewal phase of a service and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...basis of annual or multi-annual open calls for funding. The Department will also offer several funding calls of a similar nature in 2024. Each of these funding calls is run in a transparent and competitive manner, with applicants given detailed guidance on the particular criteria of each call. When assessing applications to open calls, the assessors consider the need to achieve a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (7 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...that not only will all vacant SENO posts across the country be filled but there will be a significant increase in the number of SENOs employed by the NCSE in the very near future. A nationwide competition for the recruitment of SENOs was advertised in October 2023 with a closing date of 2 November for receipt of applications, and it has had huge interest. At present, the NCSE advises...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (21 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or unemployed. Following significant engagement with various stakeholders it was determined that a procurement process would be required under EU competition rules for the next iteration of SICAP 2024-2028. The approach selected involves two phases – an initial tender, followed by a negotiation phase, if appropriate, to allow...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: A recent report produced for Dublin City Council by the Institute of Public Administration found it would be contrary to competition law to exclude private companies from the waste collection market in favour of returning the function to local authorities. Altering the structure of the market for tendering by local authorities would take several years and require consideration of legal...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...also considered options regarding the organisation of the household waste collection market. The RIA recognised that there were some advantages to the franchise-bidding approach, also known as competition for the market, which scored marginally higher than strengthening the regulatory regime and keeping the existing side-by-side competitive market structure or competition in the market....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...as part of the current LEADER local development strategy process. This year, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is sponsoring a special circular economy award for the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition. We also have just opened a new strand under the community services programmes specifically for circular economy projects led or run by Travellers. We are trying to drum up more...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...the first national policy on philanthropy in Ireland, is to support and facilitate philanthropy in Ireland and to further develop its potential. Laying the groundwork for this policy began with a competitive procurement process instigated by my Department which commissioned Indecon Consultants to undertake independent research and to produce a report, in August 2021, entitled ‘The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Environmental Policy (23 Feb 2023)

Joe O'Brien: A vibrant circular economy should be seen as an essential part of developing a sustainable, climate neutral, resource efficient and competitive economy. The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications recently published the first whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy and my Department has been playing its part in promoting the opportunities available in the circular economy....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (15 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ...of the previous 2019-2022 iteration of the scheme, to help strengthen and consolidate the administrative and operational capabilities of recipient organisations. The SSNO 2022-2025 has proven to be a highly competitive process. Following evaluation, funding of just over €21 million has been provided to 82 organisations. This is an increase of 8 additional organisations being...

National Parks and Wildlife Service Strategic Plan: Statements (Resumed) (19 May 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ...the thousands of foot soldiers for biodiversity who are our Tidy Towns Awards volunteers. That initiative is directly supported by my Department. Biodiversity is an increasingly key component of the competition and one of the categories is solely devoted to it. In fact, demonstration of a commitment to "nature and biodiversity in your locality" carries 55 marks for participants. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Crime Prevention (27 Apr 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ...the Government's commitment to increasing the Garda workforce to enable the organisation to keep our communities safe. Many of the Garda members to be recruited will be drawn from the Garda recruitment competition that closed in recent weeks, and I very much welcome the fact that more than 10,000 people applied to join An Garda Síochána in this competition. Record budget...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agricultural Shows (2 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ...of our national identity. Numerous events are undertaken every summer. They include the judging of cattle, horses, sheep, horticulture, dogs, arts and crafts, cookery, and numerous children's competitions. It is recognised that the costs have increased to host these events. The costs reflect the large range of activities that go on at the shows that make them so attractive. It is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ...employment programme, CEP, and the community activities fund. There is also the Tidy Towns initiative for activating community groups. The Minister should be making an announcement about the 2022 competition soon. Some €1.5 million is being put towards that initiative last year and it is a great way of activating communities at a very grassroots level.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Investigations (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ...been applied. All parties to the matter were informed of the intention of the Department to appoint an independent investigator. An experienced independent investigator was selected following a competitive tender process. The investigator offered all individuals involved the opportunity to give their account of the matter. On the basis of interviews and a review of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Authorities (16 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: ...the enactment of the Local Government Reform Act 2014. My Department has engaged Mazars consultants to carry out an independent review of PPN structures, which is currently underway after a competitive procurement process. The final cost of the review will be published, as appropriate, when the process is completed. The review will consider whether the current structures in place are...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Investigations (15 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: .... All parties to the matter were informed of the intention of the Department to appoint an independent investigator. An experienced independent investigator has now been selected following a competitive tender process, and formal signing of the contract is expected to take place shortly. The investigation is expected to commence in July. The investigator will be in contact will all...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Transport (23 Apr 2021)

Joe O'Brien: ...about the assistance that will be provided to the residents, a tender process is under way to secure those services. The final return date for the closing stage of the independent expert competition is 17 May. This will be followed by a short evaluation period and the independent expert will be appointed as early as possible in June.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (13 Jan 2021)

Joe O'Brien: ...Regulator (CRA) is an independent public body which is under the aegis of the Department of Rural and Community Development. The CRA have informed my Department that the open recruitment competition, to recruit a new Director of Legal Affairs and Registration was advertised by them on 14th October 2020 with a closing date for applications of 4th November 2020. The...