Results 24,941-24,960 of 33,118 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As I announced in my speech on budget day last year, this spending review will be carried out in advance of budget 2018. The economic and political landscape in Ireland has changed very considerably since this work was last done in 2014. There are now increasing and competing public service demands across a period in which expenditure growth is planned at a moderate pace. The approach...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Procurement is governed by the EU Treaty, EU Directives, Regulations and national guidelines. These set down rules whereby contracting authorities must award contracts under procedures designed to achieve value for public money in an open, transparent and non discriminatory competitive process.  The appropriateness of including sustainability clauses in public procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The 10% reductions in starting pay for certain new entrants were introduced by the then Government in January 2011 as part of the National Recovery Plan in order to reduce the Public Service Pay Bill. Terms and conditions of employment for public servants are also set by reference to legislation including the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Construction Contracts (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Modern manufacturing involves a significant supply chain contributing to a single product.  The construction industry is no different in this regard and the procurement of a construction project assumes a significant element of subcontracting.  The award of a main contract on the basis of direct employees would indirectly impose conditions on the construction sector that do not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue  referred to by the Deputy arises in the context of an anomaly created by Labour Court recommendations CD/16/321 and CD/16/322 of 3 November 2016 which made payment awards exclusively in respect of members of the Garda Representative Associations and Garda Sergeants and Inspectors. In acknowledgement of this anomaly and within the relevant provisions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Issues (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: While the specific impact of Brexit will be determined by the nature of the new relationship between the EU and the UK, I am confident that the economy is resilient and that appropriate fiscal policies are now in place.  My objective is to protect and consolidate the progress of recent years which has seen economic growth become more firmly established, and the public finances...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. The EU Procurement Directives, transposed into Irish law in May 2016, are intended to make it easier for SMEs to tender for public procurement contracts.  Specific measures...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Pay Commission (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is no doubt aware, in October of last year I appointed the following members of the Public Service Pay Commission: - Mr. Kevin Duffy (Chair) - Ms Marian Corcoran - Mr Ultan Courtney - Ms Ruth Curran - Mr Noel Dowling - Dr Seán Lyons - Mr Peter McLoone These individuals bring a wealth of industrial relations and economic experience. Following Labour Court Recommendations...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The provision of public library services, including the procurement of books, is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under the Local Government Act 2001. Local Authorities are under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and as such my Department has no role in these matters. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Programme for Government Implementation (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Revised Estimates Volume (REV) 2017 outlines Gross Voted Expenditure for 2017 of €58,072 million. The increase in the 2017 Estimate over the 2016 Estimate, including Supplementary Estimates, is €1.7 billion or 3.1 per cent. The Mid-Year Expenditure Report, published in July 2016, set out the pre-Budget Ministerial expenditure ceilings that reflected certain...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Regulation of Lobbying (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government Reform programme was undertaken to facilitate more open, transparent, responsible and responsive public governance. A very substantial programme of legislative reforms has been delivered including the Ombudsman (amendment) Act 2012, the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Freedom of Information Act 2014, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Whilst the primary focus of public procurement reform has been on achieving value for money and encouraging SME access to procurement opportunities, the Government is also keen to explore to scope for supporting wider policy objectives including social and environmental clauses in public contracts. Social clauses can be used where they are targeted at factoring into...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: An individual who pays Class B PRSI is an established civil servant appointed before 6th April 1995.  As a Class B PRSI contributor he/she pays modified PRSI, he/she does not make the appropriate PRSI contributions towards a contributory state pension (CSP).  Therefore such a person will not be entitled to a Social Welfare pension in respect of his/her Civil Service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Terms and conditions of employees of commercial state bodies (other than the Chief Exective Officer) are generally a matter for the body concerned and I have no direct input in relation to those terms and condition. However, in relation to public servants generally including those in non-commercial state bodies, the Deputy may be aware that an Interdepartmental Working Group, chaired by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Public service pay reductions under the financial emergency (FEMPI) legislation have not altered the value of public service pensions in payment. The particular FEMPI measure which has affected the payment rate of public service pensions is the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR).  Introduced in January 2011 under the FEMPI 2010...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 121 to 123, inclusive, together. Increased investment in public capital infrastructure can support enhanced economic growth. In this regard the Deputy will be aware that I announced on Budget Day that my Department would, by the middle of 2017, complete a review of the Capital Investment Plan published in September 2015. The objective of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: This Government believes in the value of collective agreements and is taking steps to support the continued implementation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement . A collective approach to public service pay is vital to our national interest as it provides for the stable industrial relations environment which has been a pillar of our domestic recovery and restored international reputation....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Capital Plan "Building on Recovery", sets out a €42 billion framework to address our priority infrastructure needs up to 2021. This plan is being reviewed to ensure that capital spending is strictly aligned with national economic and social priorities, consistent with Programme for Partnership Government objectives. This includes...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Update (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Service Reform was a central element of the response to the challenges of recent years and remains an essential part of building for the future. Since the first Public Service Reform Plan was published in 2011, a comprehensive programme of reform has been implemented and this continues to be a key priority.  This is important as the performance of the Public Service has major...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Procurement reform is a key element of the Government's overall reform programme and is aimed at delivering increased value for money, more accurate and timely data and improvement in the capacity and capability of procurement across the public service.  The fragmented procurement arrangements across the public service facilitated amongst other things suppliers charging...