Results 29,641-29,660 of 33,280 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: -----I am not able to determine how many posters were available------
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: -----but I am able to determine-----
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: All the information I have, I have shared.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: As I said, I have not been able to determine the number of posters that were put up but, on the information that has been supplied to me, I have been able to determine the commercial value of the labour that was involved in putting up the posters-----
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: -----and the commercial value of the vehicles that were involved in doing it.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: They form most of the revision that needs to be made from an expenses point of view. As I have indicated to the House, however, a further revision needs to be made with regard to what I now accept was a corporate donation that I have now acted on with SIPO.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy. I agree that ethics and standards do matter. It is why I am so disappointed to be in this position, having to explain who put up my posters, having to explain I assumed it happened on a voluntary basis, and having to take up the time of the House making a justification for it, let alone having to revise my expenses statements with SIPO. Regarding the point the Deputy...
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Nash. I appreciate his recognition of the value I place on integrity and standards. I am so aware of the issues I have created due to postering activity that happened on my behalf at election time. That is the issue. It concerns who put up my posters, assuming it happened on a voluntary basis. On the point the Deputy put to me, I thank him again for recognising this was...
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: -----and my amended expenses I will make available.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy very much for her questions. I want to pick up on the points she made that ignorance of the law is no defence. Of course, SIPO will impartially evaluate what has happened and the consequences of it. Not knowing is not a defence but proportionality in political debate is also a point I would make.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy referred to political experience. I am aware she has very extensive political experience from her many successful election campaigns in the constituency beside mine, but I have some political experience too. I have political experience of being a candidate, particularly in the 2020 campaign, during which I was performing a national duty because of my party.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: I was rarely in my constituency office.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: The reality is-----
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: I will conclude briefly but I am going to answer. If you are in an environment in which the vast majority, if not all, your activities happen on a voluntary basis-----
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: -----the assumption I made was that a small share of it was too.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: I just want to make a final point on it, again to emphasise that my campaign or I was not paying for this-----
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: -----and the mistake that I acknowledge I made was not checking if somebody else was.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: The 2016 one has already been amended, and the 2020 one will be amended very shortly.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: I have already said that I am amending my corporate donations for Fine Gael Dublin Central.
- Statement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (24 Jan 2023)
Paschal Donohoe: I have already said that a revision will be made to take account of a donation that was inadvertently received to the commercial value of the van that was used. I have already said I am willing to do that.