Results 6,361-6,380 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The delay is due to the myriad of issues involving staffing, property acquisition, planning and so on which arise in an exercise of this character. It was wise to be ambitious——

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: However, it is wiser to ensure decentralisation takes place in accordance with the wishes of staff and involving buildings constructed on the basis of value for money and proper contract procedures.

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: We are no longer dealing with priority questions.

Decentralisation Programme. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I did not realise that until now.

Fiscal Policy. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government remains committed to the use of the public private partnership process as a viable Government option for appropriate projects within the overall parameters set out for public investment in infrastructure and public services. PPP procurement is one option to be used alongside traditional approaches for the delivery of public investment projects. In choosing to adopt the PPP...

Fiscal Policy. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Comptroller and Auditor General spoke to the Committee of Public Accounts on this matter on 17 April and he emphasised that it is not the case that PPPs are good and traditional procurement is bad, or vice versa, rather that certain situations are more suitable to a PPP solution. The Comptroller and Auditor General also noted that there are many different types of PPP and he specifically...

Fiscal Policy. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have no difficulty subject to the necessary caution that sensitive commercial information cannot always be disclosed in the House, which is one of the difficulties in ensuring full accountability in this area. I accept there is a difficulty here. However, the envisaged investments through PPPs next year are important. One of the advantages of the PPP arrangement is the rigorous...

Fiscal Policy. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am reluctant to sign off in blood on an item I have not yet examined. However, I am not aware of any circumstances which would prevent it.

Fiscal Policy. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would like to assist the Deputy, but I must observe the rules of the House.

Public Service Reform. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I welcome the OECD review as a major contribution to the ongoing modernisation of the public service. When the Government initiated the OECD review, it requested that our public service be benchmarked against those of other comparable countries and that recommendations be made for the future direction of public service reform. We wanted to know how the decisions the Government is making are...

Public Service Reform. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy asked several questions. First, nothing is ruled in or out on foot of the OECD report. That is the answer to the question tabled. Deputy Bruton is correct that the answer given rather adroitly avoided dealing precisely with that issue. I prefer to use the word "agencies" rather than "quangos". More than 800 such entities were identified in the report. There is certainly a need...

Public Service Reform. (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I share the concerns outlined in the OECD report. That is why the Government has established a task force to consider what reforms can be introduced on the basis of the conclusions drawn in the report.

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises: that the Government has a long-term strategy, as set out in the Energy Policy Framework 2007-2020 and in the programme for Government, to reduce our dependence on imported and finite fossil fuel sources through delivering greater energy efficiency and increasing our use of renewable...

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank the Chair for his indulgence. I am glad we are having this debate on taxation and energy, an important and topical subject. In this debate we must put our current economic position and challenges in context. Since 1997, the rate of economic growth in Ireland has averaged 7.25% per annum. This has facilitated a transformation of the Irish economic landscape. The total number of...

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy O'Donnell spoke eloquently about the need to attract private finance and the need to have equity investment in these projects——

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——but the reality has been, since the foundation of the State, that private equity did not always come forward. The Deputy's predecessor party, which was very sparing when it came to public expenditure, saw in the 1920s that it must make an exception to that rule, and established the Shannon hydroelectric scheme. There is nothing new in providing finance from the taxpayer to ensure the...

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am not disturbed. The motion refers to the issue of carbon-related windfall gains, which was raised by Deputies O'Donnell and Varadkar. The issue of windfall gains to electricity generating companies that arise as a result of the free allocation of carbon allowances under the EU's emissions trading scheme is complex and is faced not only by Ireland, but by all EU member states. The issue...

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Moreover, from 2013 it is proposed that allowances will be auctioned and this issue will no longer arise. However, it remains a matter for consideration for the next number of years. Ireland has a low burden of taxation in respect of labour and capital, a policy the Government is intent on maintaining. It has stood us well up to now and I have no doubt it will continue to provide a sound...

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This is the doctrine of the self-financing tax cut, which various prominent political personalities, to whom Deputy Varadkar refers occasionally in his contributions, have had resort to in the past. Even if the reduction was passed on in full to consumers, the impact on the consumer price index would be only 0.18%. The question arises, and was discussed earlier in this debate, as to whether...

Carbon Allowances: Motion (4 Jun 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: From what I read, Fine Gael is proposing a self-financing tax.