Results 5,981-6,000 of 26,032 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is important the people understand the Committee of Public Accounts has a body of work to do and that this is not personal but members are here to ensure taxpayers' money is spent in an efficient manner. I ask those to whom the committee has written to work with members in a spirit of co-operation. It is an issue that pertains to the entire charity sector. In common with other members,...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I have two points to make. First, 95% of the funding for the two main companies operating, namely, National Learning Network and RehabCare, is coming from the State from taxpayers' money. Second, the committee is undertaking a wider charities module of which Rehab is merely a part. Effectively, people must understand that the committee, on behalf of the taxpayer, will deal with many...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: There is a precedent on a vote.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I want to take up an issue Mr. Watt brought up in his contribution, namely, public service occupational pension schemes. I have a couple of questions and I just want to check that my figures are correct. Mr. Watt said there are 291,000 people employed in the public service currently and there are approximately 140,000 people in receipt of pensions currently. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is 431,000 people. One third are being paid pensions while approximately 66% are being paid wages. Where does Mr. Watt see that ratio going over the next 20 years? He said that accrued liability has fallen by €18 billion from €116 billion in 2009 to €98 billion today. We are obviously talking about the next 70 years. How will that be funded? I mention the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: We will stay in the time path.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: What will that peak at?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: How will that be funded?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is the National Pensions Reserve Fund a factor in that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: What does Mr. Watt anticipate the peak figure will be per annum for public service occupational pensions? It is €3 billion at the moment.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: If it was linked to the CPI what would it be?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: There would be a further €16 billion in savings. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: What does Mr. Watt anticipate with regard to bonuses and so forth within the public sector? Does he have a view on that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: In general, yes. There is a pay freeze in place until 2016. Thereafter, what is Mr. Watt's view, as someone who is ---

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: The issue of the overarching role of the Department vis-à-visall other Departments and the State agencies has come up a number of times. I have raised the matter of State bodies and Departments holding cash balances previously. Has the Department examined this issue? There is a perception that money is being hoarded away in various bodies. Has the Department quantified the amount of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Has the Department examined the historical tendency for Departments and agencies to do an enormous proportion of their spending during the month of December to keep their budgets up? What is the situation in that regard now?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: What is Mr. Watt's view of the stimulus package and the sale of State assets?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: When did it come in?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is that €220 million?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: When is the second moiety due?