Results 25,461-25,480 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: While the final details of the proposed approach are currently being examined, I am happy to set out for the Deputy the main current elements of the proposed review of the capital plan. As is normal in respect of a multi-annual capital programme, a commitment was made to conduct a mid-term review in 2017 in order to take stock of progress and provide the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy asked me whether I would consider alternative capital funding sources for capital projects and within that, the relationship we might have with the European Investment Bank. This is an issue I want to consider in terms of our capital review. It will need to look at not just the capital projects that may or may not be progressed but current sources of capital funding and potential...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The answer to the question of how we can better deal with delivering projects on time and in line with their original expectations is the fact that we have a strengthened public service spending code and an entire Department in the form of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that is focused on this area. The creation of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, which merged the Rail...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (19 Oct 2016)

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. The issue of addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants who entered public service employment since 2011 and those who entered...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: There is always a difficulty in having any group decide their own pay and that is particularly the case for those involved in public life. I remind Deputies that the principle that parliamentarians should be paid is a fundamental part of how we support our democratic process. If we do not pay our parliamentarians a wage to reflect the responsibilities they have, we will confine our pool of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy will be aware, although he did not acknowledge it in the question he put to me, that yesterday the Cabinet made the decision that office holders would forfeit the wage restoration that is due under the lifetime of the Lansdowne Road agreement. That decision by this Government, reaffirming the decision of the last Government, was made precisely in recognition of the challenges our...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: That is not the question I asked.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I am answering the question.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I clearly outlined the policy of office holders in this Government regarding pay restoration. I answered the Deputy's question by outlining the principles upon which Deputies should be paid. It is always subject to agreement in the House. It is vital that we adhere to the principle that politicians do not set other politicians' pay. The benefit of this anchor is that it allows the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget Consultation Process (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of FLAC's response to Budget 2017, and note that it welcomed the greater supports the Budget provides for older persons, carers and families with young children.  I would not, however, share its assessment that there is  a lack of transparency and accountability around how Budget decisions are made.  The Government is strongly committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Services Provision (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: There is a substantial increase of €1.9bn in Gross Voted Expenditure in the Estimates for 2017.  This represents an increase of almost 3.5 per cent.  As well as including €0.9bn for various expenditure pre-commitments such as demographic related expenditure pressures and the Lansdowne Road Agreement, there was €1bn allocated for additional...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (19 Oct 2016)

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.  The issue of addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants who entered public service employment since 2011, and those...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Since my appointment as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform no other Chief Executive of a Commercial State Body has been reappointed beyond their original term - the consent to the reappointment of the CEO of Horse Racing Ireland having been given on an exceptional basis. By way of further information to the Deputy, I am aware that a number of Chief Executives...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Additional Voluntary Contributions (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Participation in AVC schemes is a matter for individual civil servants, some of whom participate in schemes set up by their trade union.  Through long established practice, deductions for such schemes are facilitated by Payroll Divisions across the Civil Service.  As the Deputy may be aware, a Payroll Shared Service Centre is operated by the National Shared Services Office in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Education Funding (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As I stated in the Dáil in my speech on the Estimates 2017, the Government are very conscious of the importance of the higher education sector and the vital role it plays in our society and economy.  We are also conscious of the pressing need to ensure a more sustainable, long-term funding model for the entire Higher and Further Education sector. To that end, I announced...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (19 Oct 2016)

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 New EU Directives on Procurement are intended to make it easier for businesses and SMEs to tender for public sector procurement contracts.  Specific measures aimed at...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In addition to 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 the procurement process consideration of issues such as employment...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Budget 2017 introduced a package of measures which will increase gross voted expenditure by €1.9bn in 2017 to a total of €58 billion.   As outlined by the Minister of Finance in his Statement to the House on Budget 2017, this is consistent with an expenditure to tax ratio of greater than 3:1 in favour of investment in public services. This exceeds the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Labour Employer Economic Forum (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The inaugural meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) on the 5th of October was chaired by An Taoiseach and attended by the sponsoring Ministers of Public Expenditure and Reform, Finance and Jobs Enterprise and Innovation with representatives of employers and trade unions. The aim of the LEEF is to provide a forum to discuss areas of shared concern affecting the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (19 Oct 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The public service operates a Spouses' and Children's Contributory Pension Scheme.  This provides benefits to Spouses or Children of deceased members. In summary, when a member dies after retirement, a spouse's pension of one-half of the former member's pension is payable.  Dependent children are also entitled to a child's pension of one-third of the spouse's pension for each of...