Results 26,101-26,120 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Other Questions: Sale of State Assets (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I will.

Other Questions: Sale of State Assets (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: To respond to the first question on whether I have further plans to dispose of State assets, the answer is currently "No".

Priority Questions: Programme for Government (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I am reviewing the status of the 2016 Estimates with the Government. We will introduce them later this year than would have been the norm during the Deputy's tenure in this role. I aim to secure Government approval for the Estimates soon. When that is done, the information will have to be made available to the Dáil because the Dáil must vote on them.

Priority Questions: Programme for Government (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I agree with the Deputy that in the context of the new budgetary process, we must know where we stand this year before we look to next year. He made a fair point. Alas, my answer to him is the same.

Priority Questions: Programme for Government (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I am reviewing the issue with my colleagues. As soon as I have reviewed the Estimates that were designed to be passed at the start of this year and determined whether they remain the appropriate ceilings, we will make the figures available to the Dáil, as is required and given the fact they need to be passed. Regarding the Deputy's question on the cost of the programme for...

Priority Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I share the premise underlying the Deputy's question that following the right investment strategy is critical to securing economic progress and social development. The process leading up to the publication of the current plan sought to ensure that resources were focused where needed in order to drive economic recovery and meet social needs. This principle was also central to the strategy...

Priority Questions: Legislative Reviews (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In order to continue and maintain the recovery that is underway, we need to ensure that our national finances are sustainable. A crucial element of that is ensuring that we have responsible wages in place for those who work in our public services so that we can meet the wage needs that they have now and in the future. The unfunded wage increase of today is the wage cut of tomorrow. I...

Priority Questions: Programme for Government (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The programme for a partnership Government lays the foundation for the new Government's ambition to build a strong economy and deliver a fair society. It is complemented by the policy principles set out in the agreement made with Fianna Fáil to facilitate the effective operation of the partnership Government. The programme contains a commitment to spend at least €6.75 billion...

Priority Questions: Legislative Reviews (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As this is my first opportunity to take questions as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I look forward to working with Deputies Dara Calleary and David Cullinane. I especially acknowledge the contribution of the former Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, who conducted himself in this role and led the Department for many years. I always had an appreciation of the great contribution he...

Priority Questions: Legislative Reviews (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: On the Deputy's first question as to why I believe the Lansdowne Road agreement is the only game in town, as I have said publicly, the reason I made this claim is evident in the result of the vote by the Teachers Union of Ireland announced last night, which I welcome. I also welcome the huge effort put in by the union and the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton and his officials. We now have...

Priority Questions: Legislative Reviews (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: One of many gifts. If Deputy David Cullinane wants proof as to the reason the agreement is the only game in town, the most recent can be in the vote last night. The reason I have made the claim about the Lansdowne Road agreement and the broad FEMPI legislation measures is that they offer the only framework in which we can manage the need for better public services and at the same time meet...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The current Capital Plan "Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021", published last September, announced an Exchequer capital spend of €27 billion over a six year period. Supplementing this Exchequer-funded investment with investment from the wider semi-state sector (€14.5 billion), and PPPs (€500 million), brings total state investment to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Moratorium on the Recruitment in the Public Service no longer applies. It was formally brought to an end last year. In 2015, public service numbers increased by more than 8,500 and so far this year, public service numbers have increased by more than 2,000. It is important to note that the increases recorded in 2016 are largely a result of Budget-day decisions to provide funding for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: From the period 2009 to 2013 the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Acts introduced pay reduction measures. These measures, together with the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) implemented in January 2011, are estimated to have resulted in over €2.2bn in direct reductions in public service remuneration and pensions annually. The Government has now,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Strategic Infrastructure Provision (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: A strategic review of infrastructural requirements was undertaken by my Department as part of last year's capital review. This culminated in the publication in 2015 of 'Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021', which outlines a €42bn framework for infrastructural investment across Ireland. The Plan prioritises spending on what were considered to be the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: 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 before that date was addressed with the relevant union interests under the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA). Any further consideration of remuneration for any group of public servants, including issues...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legal Costs (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In recent years, with a view to achieving significant reductions in the State's legal costs, my Department has been actively engaged with the State organisations which have direct responsibility in the field, i.e. the State's Law Offices - the Office of the Attorney General (principally the Office of the Chief State Solicitor) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions - and the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget Consultation Process (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that institutional arrangements are in place to support equality and gender proofing. Cabinet procedures require a whole range of impacts to be covered in every decision proposed to Government. This ensures that the impact of policy proposals on gender equality, rural communities, North-South/East-West Relations, employment, persons...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Since the ending of the Moratorium on Recruitment in 2015, each Government Department has been given delegated authority to manage staff numbers. Under the delegation, Departments can recruit and promote in grades up to and including Principal Officer or equivalent. Delegation is contingent on Departments remaining with the overall pay ceilings (as agreed at Budget time and voted by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (31 May 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government has, through the negotiation and agreement of a financially prudent public service agreement on pay and related issues, provided for a gradual unwinding of the FEMPI measures as they apply to public servants. The terms of this agreement, the Lansdowne Road Agreement, are being implemented under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015 with effect from 1...