Results 25,181-25,200 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Other Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: With a hint of neo-liberalism about it.

Other Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will have to look at it again.

Other Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy heard me say in previous replies, I believe the Lansdowne Road agreement will be a central element to how we manage public pay in 2017 and 2018. With all of the understandable focus on the current challenges in public service pay, we should not lose sight of the fact that more than 20 unions have signed up to the Lansdowne Road agreement. More than 200,000 public and civil...

Other Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: It is a significant challenge. We have the challenge of meeting the expectations of citizens with the money availabile from the State to actually meet them, whether it be increased wages, quality public services or infrastructure. The only way we can do this is by looking to make steady and incremental progress in all of these areas concurrently because what we cannot do is make a big leap...

Other Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: That will be a key consideration for the Government in how it plans for public pay rates in the future. As the Deputy knows well, wage rates in one part of the economy have consequences for competitiveness elsewhere. This is included in the terms of reference of the Public Service Pay Commission. The future competitiveness of the country is an issue on which the Minister for Enterprise,...

Other Questions: Departmental Contingency Planning (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: We have made an adjustment of 0.5% in national income arising from expected economic growth next year. The rate has been reduced by that amount. This has been built into our expectations for how much revenue will be available to spend, as well as into our tax plans. We are not proposing a further change. Our colleagues in the media are always with us and I am sure they will be commenting...

Other Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 156 together. I have already outlined the plans for what will happen in the aftermath of the Lansdowne Road agreement. Briefly, the plans are to allow space for the Public Service Pay Commission to conduct its work and to then have discussions and negotiations on what will happen after the Lansdowne Road agreement. That continues to be the case....

Other Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his comments, but he did not answer the question I put to him. It is an important question for people who are critical of the Government, including in this House, to tease out. Of course, they are entitled to be critical, but the question must be asked if they are in favour of gardaí having access to the Labour Court and if they are , do they believe an employer...

Other Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: We have given a huge amount of thought to it. I am actively engaged in considering it because the figures are exceptionally large. The Deputy referred to restoration. If one equates restoration with equalling the earnings that are not available owing to the FEMPI legislation, the figure comes to €1.4 billion per year. How the State responds presents an exceptional challenge. That...

Other Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Question No. 11 replied to with Written Answers.

Other Questions: Departmental Contingency Planning (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: While it would not be practice to prepare contingency plans for the range of outcomes of elections in other jurisdictions, the Government, its officials and our embassy in Washington were monitoring closely developments regarding the US presidential election and were ready to engage with the new US Administration, regardless of the outcome. It would be premature to anticipate or comment...

Other Questions: Departmental Contingency Planning (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy asked if I had received any additional request for investment in response to Brexit or the other threats he mentioned. I have not received any such request since the budget, but the budget only took place a few weeks ago. I continually receive proposals for additional expenditure. I expect that early next year there will be further claims and demands both within government and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I reiterate that I am absolutely aware of the challenges people face in their daily lives. I know the role that wage growth and increases in wages can play in alleviating that burden. I want to see this happen in the economy and society but in a way that is affordable and sustainable for everybody. I appreciate the Deputy's candour about the Lansdowne Road agreement. At least she is clear...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 151 and 169 together. The answer in respect of my Department is short. The board of the Public Appointments Service is the only State board under the aegis of my Department. There are no vacancies on the board of the Public Appointments Service and I can confirm that none has been filled since the current Government took office. I can give the Deputy...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy asked me whether I have confidence in the Public Appointments Service and its work. The answer is "Yes". As the Deputy is aware, it has an enhanced role and does more work in this area than was the case in recent years. I believe this has led to the availability of better candidates that has been the case for many years because more people are aware of the process. In...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: A Minister is paid to make appointments with which he or she is satisfied. It is up to the Minister of the day to make decisions on the matter. That is what the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is entitled do to and I fully support him in all that work because I am aware of how important those appointments are. It is up to him to be satisfied as to who he wants to put on the...

Other Questions: Appointments to State Boards (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: He is taking the time to which he is entitled to make decisions which he will ultimately be accountable to the House for. That is what he is doing. While he is doing that, we will continue with our work to assess how the process works overall to see if improvements can be made and what its current strengths are. I am seeking out the views of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Establishment (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, I can. A person has just been appointed and he and his team will play the lead role in the discussions to which the Deputy referred, with me, the Secretary General of my Department and the senior team there. I will be happy to confirm the details to the Deputy later.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government strongly supports the Lansdowne Road agreement, LRA, as the centrepiece of public pay policy, noting that the Labour Court's recommendation was explicitly made within that framework. However, the wider implications of the recommendation in regard to the continued operation of the Lansdowne Road agreement as it applies to all public servants across the public...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Lansdowne Road Agreement (24 Nov 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I have already outlined what the timeframe is for discussions on the future of public pay in this country, in response to questions from Deputy Dara Calleary and others. I also spoke about what will happen in the aftermath of the Lansdowne Road agreement, what a successor agreement could look like, and the timings and processes we need to do this. The simple challenge we face is...