Results 7,641-7,660 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (18 Apr 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 31. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the flood relief schemes due to be delayed as a result of the €3 million re-profiling of the flood risk management programme. [18053/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (18 Apr 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 86. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the guidance notes or circulars his Department has published and circulated to Departments on the regulation of abnormally low tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18077/19]

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform (18 Apr 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Deputy McGrath asked most of the questions. With regard to how the Department of Finance calculates the structural balance compared with the provisions set out in the Stability and Growth Pact, the Minister referred to negotiations with the Commission. Will the Minister indicate how the negotiations are proceeding? Without pre-empting the outcome, what would be the impact of a failure to...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform (18 Apr 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Even if it is not a negotiation, surely there is some discussion taking place at least.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform (18 Apr 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is there any prospect of the Department publishing five-year projections in respect of the fiscal space, particularly as a general election is approaching? That would create a fair playing field for everyone.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform (18 Apr 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: The best of luck with that. On current expenditure and the projections, I note that we are looking at an increase of around 1.5% over the next years. If we look at the actual growth between 2001 and 2019, it averaged 5% every year. How realistic are those projections given what has been the case in the past?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform (18 Apr 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Health must be a particular worry because it drives some of the expenditure increases. We saw a document last week which showed that health spending is already above what was budgeted for. I cannot predict whether there will be a need to fill another hole in health at the end of this year but in all likelihood there will be some hole to be filled.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform (18 Apr 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Deputy Michael McGrath asked about the capital spend and the likelihood that we can achieve what we set out to achieve by 2040 because of the increased construction costs. To paraphrase the Minister, he said he was not concerned right now about that. It is clear that construction costs are only going one way. I presume, because of the tightening in the labour market, that wages will go in...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform (18 Apr 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: With regard to the national debt, I know that the projection for Government debt over the next five years will not see any great movement to reduce debt. Table A5 on page 65 refers to the general government debt to GDP ratio. It has reduced significantly from 64.8% to 51.6%. Can the Minister explain that given that the closing debt balances in five years will be similar to those in 2018?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Stability Programme Update: Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform (18 Apr 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is the majority of Government debt at fixed interest rates and what proportion is?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Consultancy Contracts Data (8 May 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 120. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of money spent in fees across all Departments to a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2018. [18836/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Consultancy Contracts Data (8 May 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 121. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of money spent in fees by across all Departments to a firm (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2018. [18837/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Consultancy Contracts Data (8 May 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 122. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of money spent in fees across all Departments to a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2018. [18838/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Consultancy Contracts Data (8 May 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 123. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of money spent in fees across all Departments to a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2018. [18839/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Contracts Data (8 May 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 124. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of money spent in fees across all Departments to private audit and advisory firms in each of the years 2011 to 2018. [18840/19]

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: National Competitiveness Council (8 May 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: There is much information in the report, to which I will get. The one issue about which I did not see much discussion is the cost of insurance. It is raised in the media again today in the context of the cancellation of a major festival. Does Professor Clinch have figures for the rising cost of insurance? As I read somewhere in the report that the cost of insurance was decreasing, will he...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: National Competitiveness Council (8 May 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: What were the recommendations made in compiling the data?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: National Competitiveness Council (8 May 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: What can we do with indigenous or home-grown companies to improve their competitiveness and productivity as opposed to foreign direct investment?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: National Competitiveness Council (8 May 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I have another question but I am happy to-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: National Competitiveness Council (8 May 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I refer to some of the barriers to participation in the workforce. Childcare is a big one and the cost of childcare compared to our European counterparts is significantly higher. Government after Government has said it is an issue we need to address but we never seem to address it. How much of a barrier is it and what impact can it have on our competitiveness into the future?