Results 7,161-7,180 of 32,610 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (16 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 sets out the rules of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, which is the default pension scheme for new-joiner public servants since 2013. In addition, the Act contains diverse provisions which may affect the pension position of serving and retired public servants generally. These provisions include, at...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Low Pay Commission Establishment (16 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my previous answer on this matter (PQ 10976/16).

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (16 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Legal Services:Prior to appointment to any OGP Legal Services Framework Agreement for Solicitors Services, successful Tenderers are required to demonstrate that they meet the minimum standards laid down in the competition. These standards vary depending on the nature and type of Framework Agreement being entered into. Typically, solicitors are required to demonstrate their compliance to the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (21 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Replies have not yet been received to either the letter sent by the Taoiseach to President Juncker or the letter sent by my predecessor to Commissioner Thyssen, regarding the Government's concerns at the changing approach being taken by Eurostat to interpreting the agreed ESA 2010 rules governing the balance sheet classifications of PPPs. However, I understand from...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (21 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The concerns which were referenced in the letters from the Taoiseach and my predecessor to the European Commission relate to the approach being taken by Eurostat in interpreting the agreed ESA 2010 rules governing the balance sheet classifications of PPPs, which appears to be progressively shifting away from the established and well understood analysis of risk, and how this is shared...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Census of Population Staff (21 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (Single Scheme) commenced with effect from 1 January 2013. Therefore for new employees who come under the Single Pension scheme they must retire at 70 years of age. In the civil service, for which I am responsible, the maximum retirement age of 65 years is applicable to civil servants recruited before 1...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (21 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interests Acts 2009 to 2013 provide for a range of pay and pension reduction measures in respect of serving and retired public servants. The FEMPI legislation is available on my Departments website at . The Lansdowne Road Agreement begins the process of unwinding the financial emergency measures in a prudent and sustainable fashion thereby...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Correspondence (21 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The correspondence referred to by the Deputy has been responded to by my Office. The reply to the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors outlines the circumstances on the appropriate timing for any future meeting to be held between the Association and myself.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (21 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has Ministerial responsibility for the remediation of Haulbowline Island and Cork County Council is acting as his agent to deliver the project. A total of €8m has been provided in his Department's estimate for 2016. The amount to be included for the project in his Department's Vote for 2017, and future years, is a matter to be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Data (21 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Since its introduction in 2011, the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) has applied more significant cuts in both absolute and proportionate terms to public service pensions of relatively higher values while at 2015 year-end, an estimated 33% of public service pensions of relatively lower values were completely exempt from PSPR. Scheduled over three stages...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equality Issues (22 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: My role as Minister in the field of pensions relates to issues affecting the civil and public service. The civil service operates Contributory Pension Schemes which provide benefits to spouses and/or children of deceased scheme members. In summary, when a member dies after retirement, a spouse's pension of up to one-half of the former member's pension is payable. Dependent children are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates Process (22 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. In order to help to stabilise the public finances, gross voted expenditure was reduced from over €63 billion in 2009 to €54 billion in 2014. Against this background, the Government set out Departmental allocations for Oireachtas approval based on ensuring that fiscal targets were met while Departments continued to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Functions (22 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: In reply to the Deputy's question there have not been any occasions where the powers vested by me were exercised without any express act of delegation. As the Deputy may be aware under the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, a number of officials in my Department are authorised to act on my behalf. Under the Public Service Management Act 1997, the Secretary General manages the business of a...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 11 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) (Revised)
Vote 12 (Superannuation and Retired Allowances) (Revised)
Vote 14 (State Laboratory) (Revised)
Vote 15 (Secret Service) (Revised)
Vote 17 (Public Appointments Service) (Revised)
Vote 18 (Shared Services) (Revised)
Vote 19 (Office of the Ombudsman) (Revised)
Vote 39 (Office of Government Procurement) (Revised) (22 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I am joined by my colleague, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and officials from my Department. I am pleased to have the opportunity to present the 2016 Estimates for my Department’s group of Votes. The group comprises a significant number of Votes and is as follows: the Vote for the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 11 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) (Revised)
Vote 12 (Superannuation and Retired Allowances) (Revised)
Vote 14 (State Laboratory) (Revised)
Vote 15 (Secret Service) (Revised)
Vote 17 (Public Appointments Service) (Revised)
Vote 18 (Shared Services) (Revised)
Vote 19 (Office of the Ombudsman) (Revised)
Vote 39 (Office of Government Procurement) (Revised) (22 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Chairman for his views. I agree with some of what he has said but not with all of it. Clearly, it would have been ideal if we had been in a position to begin this process earlier in the year. We would have had time to form broader committees. We would have had an opportunity to work through the Estimates in the detail anticipated by the Chairman, which I am happy to do. A...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 11 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) (Revised)
Vote 12 (Superannuation and Retired Allowances) (Revised)
Vote 14 (State Laboratory) (Revised)
Vote 15 (Secret Service) (Revised)
Vote 17 (Public Appointments Service) (Revised)
Vote 18 (Shared Services) (Revised)
Vote 19 (Office of the Ombudsman) (Revised)
Vote 39 (Office of Government Procurement) (Revised) (22 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 11 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) (Revised)
Vote 12 (Superannuation and Retired Allowances) (Revised)
Vote 14 (State Laboratory) (Revised)
Vote 15 (Secret Service) (Revised)
Vote 17 (Public Appointments Service) (Revised)
Vote 18 (Shared Services) (Revised)
Vote 19 (Office of the Ombudsman) (Revised)
Vote 39 (Office of Government Procurement) (Revised) (22 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I will deal with each of the Deputy's questions in turn. The short answer to his technical question is that, yes, capital expenditure is treated in a different way to current expenditure and smoothed over a four-year period. The figures outlined by the Deputy are approximately correct. That is the way it works and €1 of expenditure would have a smaller effect on how much of the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 11 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) (Revised)
Vote 12 (Superannuation and Retired Allowances) (Revised)
Vote 14 (State Laboratory) (Revised)
Vote 15 (Secret Service) (Revised)
Vote 17 (Public Appointments Service) (Revised)
Vote 18 (Shared Services) (Revised)
Vote 19 (Office of the Ombudsman) (Revised)
Vote 39 (Office of Government Procurement) (Revised) (22 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The principle outlined by the Deputy is correct in that if there is to be a future agreement to replace the current one, we must have the ability to pay for it. We will have that ability but I will deal with the issue of how much of our future financial flexibility could be absorbed by it when we get to the conclusion of the current agreement. I thank the Deputy for acknowledging the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 11 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) (Revised)
Vote 12 (Superannuation and Retired Allowances) (Revised)
Vote 14 (State Laboratory) (Revised)
Vote 15 (Secret Service) (Revised)
Vote 17 (Public Appointments Service) (Revised)
Vote 18 (Shared Services) (Revised)
Vote 19 (Office of the Ombudsman) (Revised)
Vote 39 (Office of Government Procurement) (Revised) (22 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: My understanding is that the Estimates that come out of the budget in October normally come back to the House early in the following calendar year. I would anticipate this happening again. In the past they have been taken through committee at more length than is happening this year. In my previous life as Minister for Transport, I spent many hours in committee dealing with the Estimates...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 11 (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) (Revised)
Vote 12 (Superannuation and Retired Allowances) (Revised)
Vote 14 (State Laboratory) (Revised)
Vote 15 (Secret Service) (Revised)
Vote 17 (Public Appointments Service) (Revised)
Vote 18 (Shared Services) (Revised)
Vote 19 (Office of the Ombudsman) (Revised)
Vote 39 (Office of Government Procurement) (Revised) (22 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes. In the normal cycle I would have secured agreement as part of the budget and would have come into the committee and made a statement on it. When my Estimates are drafted, particularly at sub-Department level, and all elements are clear I come back to the sectoral committee in January or February of the following year with a detailed paper. That is then discussed for quite a while.