Results 7,361-7,380 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (5 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I disagree with the Minister's point that if he did not go with the lowest price, he would be criticised. If we had followed the legislation and had analysed the lowest bid and could prove that it was unable to fulfil the contractual obligations for that price and if the bidder was disqualified on the basis, I do not see how anybody could have criticised the Minister in such a scenario.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Private Partnerships Cost (5 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual cost of public private partnerships through unitary payments; and the reason total unitary payments are greater than the contractual value of projects. [10633/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Government Construction Contracts Committee (5 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 70. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role of the Government Contracts Committee for Construction in derogations from standard forms of public contracts; the person or body that is ultimately responsible for approving the public contract used by contracting authorities for capital projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10632/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Private Partnerships Data (5 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 86. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of procurement officials within the NTMA or across Departments charged with managing and overseeing public private partnership contracts; the average annual cost of salaries in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10634/19]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Staff (5 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 475. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that taxi drivers may not continue contract work with Bus Éireann once they reach 70 years of age despite a continuing demand for drivers; the background to this policy; and if taxi drivers who wish to carry on such contract work can be allowed to do so. [10642/19]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 57. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has sought the waiving of state aid rules from the European Commission to assist the domestic economy from Brexit fallout; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10631/19]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: We will ask Mr. Watt why Mr. Quinn is not here. I think I am up first so I will be asking him that direct question. Mr. Quinn gave written evidence to this committee on 25 February and that came on headed paper from the Office of Government Procurement.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: It did not come from him as an individual or as a member of the hospital development board. It came on the headed paper of the Office of Government Procurement. He made a number of assertions in that written correspondence, which I personally would have liked to have tested today given that he is the person in charge of Government procurement. As far as I am concerned, this is the meeting...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: As a member of the committee, I heard it through the media.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will stick to my time limit because I will be at the finance committee as well after dinner. I can follow up on any questions we miss out on.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: It never ends. May I first ask why Mr. Watt did not think it was appropriate for Mr. Quinn to be here today as one of his accompanying officials?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Was their involvement not at the initiation of Mr. Quinn?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: No?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: We wanted Mr. Quinn here today because he gave written evidence to the committee on 25 January which we wanted to test. I put it to Mr. Watt that contact with the GCCC was initiated by Mr. Quinn but Mr. Watt said that was not the case. The written evidence states the engagement between the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board began at his initiation as a member of that board in...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Mr. Quinn is also head of Government procurement.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Mr. Watt's opening statement does not even reference the national children's hospital, which is bizarre, given that it is the largest capital project in the history of the State. It will be the most costly and has one of the largest overruns so I do not get how Mr. Watt does not even reference it. It is like there is a determination not to discuss it today with the Committee of Public...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I find it bizarre that Mr. Quinn is not here, given his unique position as head of the Office of Government Procurement and the fact that he was appointed by the Minister for Health in the public interest to serve on the development board.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Not with Mr. Quinn. He has not appeared before any committee.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: He wrote to the committee giving evidence as the head of the Office of Government Procurement, not as a member of the board.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: We should be questioning that written evidence at this meeting because this meeting is dealing with procurement, tendering and capital projects, yet we cannot get an opportunity to question him.