Results 6,501-6,520 of 10,319 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail, in tabular form, the number of students from each county that will benefit from the Student Assistance Fund for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54045/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 6. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his proposals for improved consistency and alignment throughout all tiers of planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53916/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: The complexity of our planning system is evident from the fact that we are putting a Bill through the House which runs to 741 pages. I believe it is the case, but to what extent does the Minister of State believe that the new Bill will improve alignment and consistency within the planning process? It is an issue that, as TDs, we are consistently receiving representations on behalf of our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome the Minister of State's answer. I think it will improve alignment and consistency, as he has outlined. One of the issues that I frequently receive representations on is from constituents who are concerned about delays coming from An Bord Pleanála. As every person in this House will know, in the recent past decisions of the bord have been extremely delayed not just in respect...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (7 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister of State has correctly identified the criminal sanctions that are in place for individuals who seek to abuse the process in a criminal way. The point I was trying to make in respect of An Bord Pleanála is that it can be very difficult for the bord to identify if an appeal is vexatious or abusive. Perhaps the Minister of State and the Minister could give consideration to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all our guests for coming before the committee. I will start by asking Mr. McHugh some questions. He stated that he would like to see legislation enacted to enable the screening of bids to happen. I can appreciate that. However, we enacted legislation here not that long ago, in 2022, and that has been in force since September of this year. What is Mr. McHugh's assessment of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Act that the Houses of the Oireachtas enacted in 2022, the CCPC was given the power in section 35 to affect quite significant types of surveillance. Has that been availed of by the CCPC or is that something Mr. McHugh envisages using in respect of bid-rigging?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am sorry; I should know this. In order to avail of the surveillance powers the CCPC has under section 35, it has to get authorisation from the High Court. Is that done openly or is it done in camera?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Bid-rigging as a specific offence was created in the 2022 Act. Prior to that it did exist but the CCPC used to investigate it as a form of price-fixing or market-sharing. Have there been any prosecutions or investigations in respect of it since the 2002 Act?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: The commission also commenced an investigation into the insurance industry, which has now concluded. Was that in the area of bid-rigging or cartel involvement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: That was not a cartel investigation but rather more general, regarding prices set by insurance companies. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: If the amendment to the law that Mr. McHugh has looked for happens, will that give the commission access to the database the State operates through the OGP, whereby the commission would be able to use data surveillance to identify suspicious behaviour?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Turning to Ms Stewart, in respect of that request, which is ultimately a political decision, am I correct in thinking the OGP would not have any objection to that, or is it an issue of concern?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Although it is not a matter for Ms Stewart, given she is not a politician, the Department ultimately has no objection to legislation coming forward that would facilitate the CCPC in having screening powers over the procurement process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Given the size of the public procurement sector in Ireland, is Ms Stewart concerned about bid-rigging? I presume it goes on here in the same way it goes on in every other country, but is it a matter of concern to the Department of public expenditure that it may be operating?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Preventing Bid Rigging in the Public Procurement Process: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does anyone in the OGP have the function of assessing the bids coming in to see whether they are bid rigged?

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: State Bodies (7 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 29. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans for the restructuring and resourcing of An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53917/23]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Strategies (7 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 188. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions taken to boost jobs and businesses since 27 June 2020. [54389/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (7 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will detail, in tabular form, on a county-by-county basis, as of 30 November 2023, the number of Ukrainian pupils enrolled in Irish schools at primary and post-primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54297/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (7 Dec 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 247. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of the number of families in each county receiving the double child benefit payment; and the number of children in each county in respect of whom a payment was made, in tabular form. [54379/23]