Results 25,101-25,120 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (17 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. It would be a breach of the EU rules for a public body to favour or discriminate in favour of a particular candidate on grounds such as location or existing relationship with the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (17 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue of pension entitlements for Community Employment Scheme Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors was the subject of a Labour Court recommendation in 2008. The position is that although the employing bodies concerned are mainly funded by public expenditure programmes, the State does not have any role as an employer in this sector and the employees of such bodies are not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (17 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Exchequer pay bill for 2017, as detailed in the recently published Revised Estimates Volume 2017, is €16.4 billion, compared with €15.6 billion for 2016.  This increase will be driven primarily by recruitment of additional staff across the public service during the year - mostly in health, education and policing.  There is  also provision...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Grades (17 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The matter of the amalgamation of the Civil Service Staff Officer grade with the Executive Officer grade is currently under deliberation between the management and union side parties concerned.  As this deliberative process has yet to be concluded it is considered that it would not be appropriate in the circumstances to comment on any issues that may arise between the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service Renewal Plan (17 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The report of the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance was published in June 2014.  The Panel's recommendations, along with the work of the Civil Service Renewal Taskforce, were integrated into a single Civil Service Renewal Plan and published in October 2014.  Information on the implementation of the Plan, including annual Progress...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (16 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The SME Advisory (Working) Group was established to address issues affecting SME participation in public procurement and to ensure that the voice of Irish SMEs can be heard by Government and the Office of Government Procurement. The Working Group consists of officials from the Office of Government Procurement, Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, The Competition and Consumer...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (16 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for Ireland's commitments under the EU Stability and Growth Pact, including compliance with the fiscal rules and any engagement with other Member States and the European Commission on issues relating to the design and application of the rules, such as for example the matter referred to in the Deputy's question, is a matter for my colleague the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Travel (16 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Since my appointment as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have not made use of the Government Jet.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Travel (16 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I draw the Deputy's attention to the Department of Defence's website where full details of Ministerial use of the Government Jet Service since 2008 are set out and accessible at the link hereunder: .

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Expenditure Reviews (16 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In my speech accompanying the publication of the Estimates for 2017, I announced that a spending review will be undertaken prior to Budget 2018. As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have consistently reiterated the need to consider the totality of government spending when examining expenditure priorities. Spending reviews previously played an important...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (16 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Board of the Public Appointments Service is the only State Board under the aegis of my Department. Currently, there are nine members of the Board of PAS, with no vacancies. There are 5 female board members (55.5%) and 4 male board members (4.5%).

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (16 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises the importance of the SME Sector to the economy and has tasked the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) to continue to develop measures to support SMEs in accessing the public procurement market. In this regard, the OGP engages industry representative bodies ISME, IBEC, SFA, CIF and Chambers Ireland through the SME Working Group to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (16 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Programme for Government has a number of objectives in relation to public procurement including supporting SME access, conducting a consultation on the merits of establishing a Procurement Ombudsman, conducting an independent review of the Tender Advisory Service (TAS) and refining the new procurement structures, such as the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), as they bed down and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (16 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Programme for Government contains a number of objectives in relation to procurement; one of which is to refine the new procurement structures in place, such as the OGP, as they bed down and make adjustments according to best international practice and in conjunction with Irish businesses. Public procurement is a key part of my portfolio and an integral part of the Government's overall...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Programmes (16 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together. The PEACE IV and INTERREG IVA Programmes are co-funded by the Irish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the European Commission through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The breakdown of funding for the two programmes is as follows: Programme Programme Total Ireland ERDF UK ERDF Ireland Match Funding UK Match...

Presentation of Estimates: Motion (15 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I move:That, notwithstanding Standing Order 182 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business, Revised Estimates for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2017, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members and be referred to Select Committees, as appropriate, pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(c) and 182(3).”

Appropriation Bill 2016: Second and Subsequent Stages (14 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The first half of 2017 in particular looks like it will be exciting. The second half of 2017 leads on to the budget of 2018. I look forward to that journey and to completing it with all of you.

Appropriation Bill 2016: Second and Subsequent Stages (14 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Calleary for his very helpful and constructive contribution. As he has outlined, and as I said, while this is a technical Bill the total expenditure and funding to be made is €44.2 billion, an extraordinary amount of money. I hope the relative lack of debate in the Chamber this evening reflects a consensus on expenditure. If, however, such a consensus has been reached...

Appropriation Bill 2016: Second and Subsequent Stages (14 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I will indeed. I look forward to putting my side of the case in respect of the use of taxpayers' resources in 2017 and working and debating with colleagues in the House and where possible reaching agreement with them. Some critics argue that there has been a huge increase in Government expenditure not planned for or adequately funded. As we move into next year the rate of increase in...

Appropriation Bill 2016: Second and Subsequent Stages (14 Dec 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Deputies will be aware that this is a somewhat technical Bill so my comments will, inevitably, be technical in nature. However, I am sure they will spur a broader debate on budgetary policy, in which I will happily engage, both in this House and outside it. I want to start by explaining that the Bill is an essential element of...