Results 24,141-24,160 of 26,705 for speaker:John McGuinness

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: Have we ever compared ourselves to other jurisdictions? Mr. Moloney mentioned earlier on that in some countries they do it this way and that way. How do we compare with other jurisdictions? Are we at the top end of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: Is there a better model of administration out there or a mixture of how other countries might do their business as a state in order that we can improve ours? Has that comparison ever been made?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: Okay. I refer to the outsourcing of parts of the work of a Department or an agency where, let us say, citizens information or some other organisation like that is created. Is that happening widely now in the organisation where there is a certain shedding of different responsibilities and they are being farmed out with new agencies being created? The big example would be the Department and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: Without naming any particular Department, let us consider a big-spending Department from which the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform wants greater accountability. IT is essential to do that. In such a case, does the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform get involved by telling the line Department we are not getting anywhere, we need greater transparency and accountability in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: Mr. Moloney mentioned the HSE and we can take it as an example. Considering the amount of money the HSE spends, is it not essential for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to demand the type of IT infrastructure that would give the managers in the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform the necessary information? I attended a trade fair when I was Minister of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: That part of it disappoints me a lot. In big organisations, one sometimes has to take steps to make sure the organisation is moving in the desired direction. It sometimes takes an intervention far greater than just cajoling. I would have thought there would be competition among civil servants to make their Departments the key players or the models to follow. I do not get the impression...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: I see. So therefore-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: I am not going to labour the part any further. There needs to be a step change in that area. I have come to the end of my questions and the areas in which I am interested. Does it take much time for officials to prepare for meetings like these?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: Is it a lot of hassle for people?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: It takes time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: I thank everyone for taking the time to be here and for the questions that have been put and answered. It is an interesting topic. I hope we can get this type of change as quickly as we can. I wish the witnesses well in their work.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (19 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: 137. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the applications for an invalidity pension and fuel allowance in the name of a person (details supplied) will be expedited and approved. [52282/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (19 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: 138. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for carer’s allowance which has been approved in the name of a person (details supplied) will be backdated to the date of the original application in 2021; if arrears have already been paid based on the recent approval and the circumstances of the applicant during this period; and if a review of the...

Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: I welcome the fact that this Bill is before the House and that I will have the opportunity to address issues within it on Committee Stage. The Bill is long overdue. We witnessed a massive financial crash from which we are still recovering. That still has consequences for individuals in this State, particularly those trying to raise a mortgage and paying high interest rates. While this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: I thank Mr. Moloney very much.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (12 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: That may be the case but is it the structure and the Civil Service actors within that structure that are required for current and future times, because those times have changed considerably as well? I see a huge effort being made in businesses big and small to ensure IT and reporting are up to scratch and that change can happen immediately. You just have to take the HSE, the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (20 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: 196. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the strategic assessment report submitted by Kilkenny County Council for the next phase of the ring road will be expedited and approved; if approval will be given to the Council to appoint consultants to examine the route options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52559/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (20 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: 227. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the timeframe for processing submissions made to the housing supply clearing house; the status of an application made by a person (details supplied); the number of applications that have been made to date; the number of approved or rejected applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52560/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (20 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: 248. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school building project to be undertaken at a school (details supplied); when her Department will lodge the planning application to Kilkenny County Council; the indicative timeframe for the completion of each stage in the event that planning permission is granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52513/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: 263. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all outstanding benefit payments due to a person (details supplied) will be paid immediately; and if she will confirm the amounts due to the person and the periods in question. [52502/22]