Results 20,621-20,640 of 24,376 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank our witnesses for being here today. I ask that we request the committee secretariat to have a further discussion in private about the outcomes of today's meeting. I thank Mr. Justice MacCabe, Ms Logan, Mr. Hume and Ms Healy for being here. If I had read my reports right, I should have looked at table 4 before I asked the question about table 5. I wish Mr. Justice MacCabe every...

Committee on Public Petitions: Engagement with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: That is a worrying trend that we should come back to again. I have one final question. In table 5 on page 7 of the briefing we got for the meeting today, it is stated that 4,615 queries were handled in 2021. The number of allegations dealt with in that the complaints were closed was 2,902. Am I to extrapolate from that that almost 1,700 cases are not closed? Am I right or wrong in that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the witnesses for attending and for the presentation. This is an important meeting and I echo the remarks of Senator Horkan that we should have the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform before the committee as a matter of urgency as part of an ongoing discussion on the reform of public works contracts. Deputy O’Rourke spoke about difficulties that are beginning to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I do not wish to sound pedantic but what does that actually mean in real terms for the projects under Ms Brogan's remit? Deputy O’Connor spoke about CMATS, for example. I commend the allocation and resourcing of a specific office in Cork and Mr. AJ Cronin on his proactivity in that regard. Where lies that project? Ms Brogan told Deputy O’Connor that she did not have the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: What is the implication on the delivery of construction projects in the context of inflation and the whole issue the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, will speak about in the efficient functioning of public projects and their delivery in line with Government expectations in respect of hyperinflation, price inflation, skill shortages and risk transfer? What are Ms Brogan’s...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I am asking about the whole issue around public works contracts and the impact on those of hyperinflation and price inflation. We are going to be told later on that there has been a considerable rise in the different costs of products and in delivering projects. Delivery on time, per schedule and within budget will be difficult, as has been referred to.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Are the Minister and his officials proactively involved in this process or is it being done at arm's length, so to speak?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Does Ms Brogan see this engagement as having a positive outcome?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Ms Brogan for her presentation, presence and responses to my questions. I ask her to send me a copy of the CMATS response being sent to Deputy O’Connor. I wish Ms Brogan every success in what is a flagship Department, as alluded to by the Chairman, in respect of sustainable travel. We have a roads network which we need to address in respect of the issue of active travel. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: No, I am happy to allow Deputy Ó Murchú to proceed. I will make a further comment on funding when I contribute again later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Ms Brogan’s presentation was very interesting. I have a general question on the roads projects. She referred to six projects that were not going to proceed. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: The N25 from Carrigtwohill to Midleton was mentioned, as was the N2 from Clontibret to the Border.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Regarding funding, as mentioned in the Department's opening statement, the figure referred to was €733 million. The issue we have now with cost inflation will have a knock-on impact on that capital funding envelope. Am I right about that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: At €733 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Of that €733 million, given the cost of materials going up and the issue of hyperinflation, and the Chair referred to existing projects earlier, has the Department factored the difficulties that will be encountered in this context into the information presented to the committee regarding the funding envelopes for the national roads network?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Correct. I am sorry Chair, that is why-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: No, the Chair actually said what I was alluding to. For the sake of €10 million, we have stopped six projects. What percentage is that of the Department’s budget? This does not make sense, to be honest, and that is why I am glad the Chair said what he said. I am not picking a row now, but €10 million is not a huge amount of money in the overarching budget of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Chair, but I would like to hear the response to his question. I will then come in again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Okay. I understand the response from Mr. Ebrill in respect of the six projects. This comes back to my fundamental comment, however, and it is one I know many members will be sick of me saying, that the national development plan is the flagship policy. This meeting is about the reform of public works contracts. In that context, I would like to hear what the Department has done in respect...