Results 48,521-48,540 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: So the SPU in April will contain expenditure ceilings for each Department.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: But that can change in the budget subsequently.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: It is a statement of intent.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Minister. I have a concern which I hope is groundless and it is do with Dáil oversight. As the Minister has explained, twice a year the Government will inform the Dáil of the latest updated expenditure ceilings for a Department. These are statements of intent rather than legally binding on the Government.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: In a great many cases, ceilings will be the actual targets set in the budget. There are probably not too many people will come back to the Government to say that they were told to spend €10 billion but that they only need €8.5 billion.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Yes. The ceiling becomes the maximum. It becomes what one expect. Let us say it is health.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I apologise for being late. I thank the Minister for the time I was given by his officials on this matter. We had an incredibly useful meeting as we tried to deconstruct all the changes being made.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I was trying to understand it all. It has become very complex. I just wanted to express my thanks for that very useful meeting. On Deputy Fleming's point - I will speak on the section in a moment - I agree that conditional repayment of debt would be risk-adjusted. It would cost more, but that does not mean we should not do it. We should accept that if we allow the Dáil to vote on...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Will the Minister - I do not know if it will be the Minister, Deputy Howlin, or the Minister, Deputy Noonan - come to the House to say it is our intention in 2014 to borrow €15 billion, for example, and will the Dáil vote on that?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: There is a number.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Minister.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Council for Special Education (26 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is no Irish National Teachers Organisation member on the national Council for Special Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31000/13]

European Council Meeting: Statements (25 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I am sorry the Taoiseach had to leave because I intended to congratulate him on the EU Presidency which he and his Cabinet have held for the last six months. I was in Brussels recently where I spoke to MEPs and officials. They complimented the Irish officials on being very professional. They spoke in particular about the officials in the Department of Finance. I was delighted to hear it....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (25 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 324. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will release the analysis carried out on the potential sale of the Coillte harvesting rights, which led to the decision not to proceed with the sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30603/13]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Copyright Legislation Review (25 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 334. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether the High Court order requiring UPC, Vodafone, O2, Imagine, Digiweb and 3 to block a website (details supplied) conflicts with the stated opinion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30353/13]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Copyright Legislation Review (25 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 335. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation following the High Court order requiring UPC, Vodafone, O2, Imagine, Digiweb and 3 to block a website (details supplied), his views on whether internet service providers need to install and operate technology such as deep packet inspection; if so, the safeguards that are in place to ensure that they are only used for the purpose...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Copyright Legislation Review (25 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 336. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation following the High Court order requiring UPC, Vodafone, O2, Imagine, Digiweb and 3 to block the a website (details supplied) the process and the way in which websites or destinations can be added to this Court Order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30355/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Commercial Rates Calculations (25 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 416. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to instruct local authorities to adjust commercial rates for businesses who can prove financial difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30159/13]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 526. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will release any analysis carried out prior to the cuts of Health Service Executive funding to childminder officers; if she will consider reversing these cuts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30120/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (20 Jun 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I know the Minister of State did not make this decision, but it is very difficult to speak calmly and with parliamentary language about what is happening in the country. Listening to what the Minister of State said, one would not know anything was wrong. He said the Government was maintaining funding. Let us at least do the children and their parents the decency of being honest about this...