Results 7,121-7,140 of 32,610 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy's question my Department spent €22,379 on daily and weekend newspapers in 2015.  There are online subscriptions to the Irish Times and the Financial Times. With over 1,100 staff members in my Department a combination of physical copies and online subscriptions is currently considered appropriate and every effort is made to minimise costs where possible.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 367 together. The number of staff working in the Human Resources section of my Department is 20.8. The HR staffing number is reflective of my Department's mission to, inter alia, deliver the Government's Public Service Reform Plan.  The introduction of PeoplePoint in 2013 was accompanied by the establishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Staff (14 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: On the commencement of each Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices including the permitted staffing levels in the private and constituency offices of Ministers and Ministers of State.  These guidelines are expected to be approved by Government shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Directives (14 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The two Directives referred to by the Deputy have been transposed into national law by way of the following Statutory Instruments: - S.I. 284 of 2016European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016 - S.I. 286 of 2016 - European Union (Award of Contracts by Utility Undertakings) Regulations 2016 The provisions of these Regulations are effective from 18 April 2016. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (14 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The report of the Civil Service Arbitration Board on the introduction of an Underperformance Policy for the Civil Service was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on Monday 23 May 2016. The new policy on the management of Underperformance in the Civil Service has been endorsed by the Arbitration Board as compatible with good HR practice.  The Board has recommended that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies Data (14 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are no semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (14 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: A tender competition for pre-retirement courses was concluded recently and a new service provider is in place.  Administrative arrangements are being finalised and it is anticipated that pre-retirement courses will be in place shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Drainage Schemes (14 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The River Deel downstream of Crossmolina is part of the River Moy Catchment Drainage Scheme which was carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. The OPW continues to have statutory responsibility for the maintenance of this scheme. Earlier this year the OPW initiated a programme of tree cutting from the bank of the river in this area. Further work...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Reports (14 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I note that the Fiscal Assessment Report welcomes the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government in relation to compliance with fiscal rules and reform of the budget process to allow for greater scrutiny. Within the context of ensuring compliance with the fiscal rules, the Programme contains a commitment to spend at least €6.75 billion more on public...

Presentation of Estimates: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I move:That, notwithstanding Standing Order 182(1) or (2) of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business, the following Revised Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31st December 2016, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members on 15th June 2016, being a date later than that prescribed for the presentation of Estimates:Vote 26 —...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes. We are moving as quickly as we can to publish the mid-year expenditure reports because they offer the platform on which the sectoral engagements that Deputy Ryan envisages can take place. We aim to publish as early in July as possible the starting point for each Department for budget 2017. We will outline where they are from a spending point of view at the moment and issues that will...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I read the OECD report and found it a very helpful input into the work we have been doing. Page 27 of the report, in the section relating to principles guiding parliamentary reform, refers to respect for constitutional restraints and the prerogatives of the Executive. The same report does acknowledge the role of the Executive which is a consequence of the design of our Constitution. Within...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I have two points to make on costings. I fully concur with and support the setting up of an independent budget office, an economic service for the Oireachtas. My Department will give any help it can to set up such an office and for the duration of the set-up period. If Deputy Cullinane or any Deputy has concerns on costings that need to be done or concerns about the flow of information to...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As did my Department and I completely agree with the Deputy. We published it on our website a short time after I took office because the Deputy is right.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I will begin with the question put to me by Deputy Donnelly in respect of his appreciation of the no policy change information. That is what we seek to do in the mid-year report. My objective is to be able to produce for each sectoral committee the best estimate as to what we believe are the no policy change figures in order that Members will know the truest starting point for the framing...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I was about to do so. The reason we have had difficulties to date is twofold. First, we have had changes regarding the allocations and set-up of Departments, which, in turn, has had an impact on the Estimates. Second, we had some changes that took place in the spending of individual Departments, as confirmed by the Cabinet last week. I take Deputy Burton's point that the Estimates should...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I answered that. I am in agreement in principle. There is the trade-off, as the Minister, Deputy Noonan, stated already, between the transparency and accuracy of the information. Within that space, however, it is a fair request from the Deputy and I will come back to the committee regarding how we can do that.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: On the budgetary office and whether it should be on a statutory footing, in the spirit of where we are now I would have to say that is a matter for the Oireachtas. I believe it is something that should be considered. On the timing, I suggest it would be worthwhile getting the body up and running for a period of time on an administrative basis to learn from how it works; that could then be...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Chambers for her questions. On information flow, I would hope that we will make a big start on this by the publication of the mid-year expenditure report. We will look to share with the committee where we are for this year and where we believe we will start for next year and will outline in as clear a manner as we can the kinds of factors we think will influence expenditure...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to respond to questions posed by Deputy Chambers.