Results 49,021-49,040 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: They would be useful. I echo Deputy Humphreys’ call. For what it is worth, I believe the international development funds for the European Union are incredibly important. Europe leads the way in that regard. My understanding is there is pressure on the funds. I lend my unambiguous and full support to the fund not being reduced and to the European Union meeting its 0.7% targets for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: The witnesses are all very welcome. I thank them for their analysis. I have a query on the data in terms of the net receipts. The slides presented were provided by the officials, is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: No source given for these and it was not possible to check them, but Ireland's GNI is much higher than is shown on the graph. Similarly, the data suggest that we have been net recipients but I have analysis from Deutsche Bank - I appreciate none of the witnesses has seen this and I do not expect them to comment on the analysis but they may be aware of it - which uses five different...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Ireland's GNI is well in excess of €30,000. There are no units on this chart and I do not know if the figures are euro, US dollars or another currency but I assume that they are euro. Ireland's GNI is in excess of €35,000 but the chart shows it as being considerably less than €30,000. Perhaps it is for a particular year some time ago.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: The year 2011.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Can I provide it afterwards? The witness might get back to me on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Chairman for that. Let us assume that figures given in The Economist are right, then according to this chart we are somewhat of an outlier. I can imagine the argument put forward by the net contributor countries such as France, Germany, etc., that Ireland in terms of its GDP per capita and standard wealth metrics is as wealthy as they and yet we are on the wrong side of the line...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Issues (29 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 188 of 22 January 2013, if he will supply details of the Content Management System licensed; the terms of the annual support to be provided; the number of staff trained; the areas the training covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4191/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Graduate Nurse Recruitment Scheme (29 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: To ask the Minister for Health the bench marking analysis undertaken in relation to the Health Service Executive’s current graduate nurse/midwife recruitment scheme to arrive at the new starting salary of €22,000 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4217/13]

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: The Bill before the House seeks to reduce the interest rate on a portion of Greece's debt to 0.5% and to lengthen the repayment schedule by up to 15 years. I support the Bill in the hope that it will go some way towards helping the Greek state and people to tackle the painful social and economic crises with which they are dealing. These changes are the latest in a set of financial...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Reform (23 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if officials from his Department will engage directly with front line public service staff, un-mediated by union officials, to identify opportunities for improved service quality and increased efficiency as part of negotiations for the Public Service Agreement that will proceed the Croke Park deal; and if he will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Reform (23 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I am pleased to note the Department is open to engaging with front-line officials. Having been involved in reform for some time, the Minister of State will be aware that the Croke Park agreement, while offering some limited value, is an old-fashioned, centralist and top-down approach to public sector reform. International best practice in the public and private sectors is to engage directly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Reform (23 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: The Minister of State and I appear to be discussing two slightly different issues. The shared services idea forms part of a centralised design approach. While I support this approach on the basis that it can deliver benefits, it does not involve asking front-line workers in Garda stations, schools, operating theatres and so forth to identify opportunities for achieving savings. An entirely...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (22 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 188. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the € 244,741.71 paid to a company (details supplied) for the provision of professional services in relation to Presidency 2013 website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2454/13]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (22 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 189. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide access to the online analytics for the website http://www.eu2013.ie or to release weekly analytics reports for the site, for the full duration of Ireland's Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2455/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Banking Sector (22 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 210. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Permanent TSB is using an autodial facility to phone customers with distressed loans several times per day; if he condones such actions; and if not, if he will immediately instruct PTSB to desist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2500/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Rebates (22 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 212. To ask the Minister for Finance if the excise rebate on diesel announced in Budget 2013 for haulage companies will be extended to passenger transport companies; if excluding transport companies from this is in violation of any EU law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2568/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Upward Only Rent Reviews (22 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: 469. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on upward only rent reviews; if any actions have been taken to date, or are planned on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2855/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bank Debt Restructuring (17 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans during Ireland's presidency of the EU to progress a deal on the bank debt for Ireland, including scheduled meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1978/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Matters Relating to the Economy: Discussion with Governor of Central Bank (16 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Governor. If Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB do what they state they will do, which is to absolutely rule out debt surrender, which Professor Honohan stated is part of the Personal Insolvency Act, what can and will the Central Bank do if it sees that these banks are not engaging in what the Government has deemed to be in the public interest within this legislation?