Results 8,001-8,020 of 14,799 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report on the Revised Macroeconomic Indicators: Discussion (28 Feb 2017)

Dara Calleary: This morning we have heard of the sad passing of former Deputy Peter Mathews. On behalf of Fianna Fáil, I extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Susan and his family. This committee and the notion of increased oversight of the budget and national accounts were one of his pet projects that he enthusiastically pursued at all times. Were he a member of this Dáil he would most...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report on the Revised Macroeconomic Indicators: Discussion (28 Feb 2017)

Dara Calleary: I welcome the delegates. To continue Deputy David Cullinane's line of questioning, we are looking at threats to the economy. Whether it be GDP, GNP, GNI or GNI*, one of the biggest blockages being spoken about by delegates to the committee is capital expenditure and our inability to spend money on creaky infrastructure, be it roads, public transport, health services or anything else. There...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report on the Revised Macroeconomic Indicators: Discussion (28 Feb 2017)

Dara Calleary: What is best for the country is that we address our infrastructural bottlenecks, create employment and make long-term investment but not be constrained from doing that by rules, which are needed but which are really focused on short-term, day-to-day expenditure. However, that is another day's debate. Deputy Cullinane mentioned that we took a huge international hit with the phrase...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report on the Revised Macroeconomic Indicators: Discussion (28 Feb 2017)

Dara Calleary: Professor Lane mentioned a spike. There also was a major spike in our corporate tax receipts in 2015. Is there a link between the unreliability of these figures and corporate tax? What consequence would that have for-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report on the Revised Macroeconomic Indicators: Discussion (28 Feb 2017)

Dara Calleary: Can I use the word "distorted"?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report on the Revised Macroeconomic Indicators: Discussion (28 Feb 2017)

Dara Calleary: I have one other question for Mr. Dalton. He mentioned the Statistics Act which is the CSO's guiding body. It struck me that one of its innovations is an information office and a press office. Does Mr. Dalton see any need for changes in the Statistics Act to reflect the different ways of information, the different ways of doing figures now compared to when that Act was introduced?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report on the Revised Macroeconomic Indicators: Discussion (28 Feb 2017)

Dara Calleary: On that issue of co-ordinated corporate effort, is it necessarily in the interests of states or Government-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Report on the Revised Macroeconomic Indicators: Discussion (28 Feb 2017)

Dara Calleary: -----to drill down through the spin of these figures and see where we really are at?

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: Get the bus.

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: The Minister, Deputy Ross, is persistent? That is a bit of an anomaly.

Insurance Industry: Motion [Private Members] (1 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: I too compliment Deputy Michael McGrath on raising not only this issue, but insurance generally over a long period of months. It is a matter of enormous frustration, as I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, is picking up, that insurance costs are rocketing. People are shocked when they go to renew their insurance, yet all they see from this House is debates and reports being...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Properties (2 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: 1. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of properties currently owned by the State or under a long-term lease to the State that are currently vacant; the attempts that are being made to fill them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10593/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Properties (2 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: I want to get a sense from the Minister of the policy around properties, particularly commercial properties, leased by the State or owned by the State and empty. What work is under way to tidy the situation up? I do not want a list of every vacant property in the State but a sense of the policy, bearing in mind the need to get value for our property portfolio.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Properties (2 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: The Minister of State might be getting a bit confused. Only one Member of this House has a specific interest in Garda stations at the moment, and that is the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross. The State has been paying rent since January on the Miesian Plaza on Lower Baggot Street. A 25-year lease was agreed but staff are not due to move in until the middle of the year...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Properties (2 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: I am looking for a sense of what the plan is. Are there areas in the State where empty properties are leased to the State, including to State agencies? Is there a need for property on the part of State agencies in those areas? What work is being done in the Department to root out a waste of money such as this and what is being done to regularise the situation?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Planning Framework (2 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: 3. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the national planning framework and the mid-term capital review will be integrated in terms of approach, objectives and goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10849/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Planning Framework (2 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: The Minister is currently conducting a mid-term capital review and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, when he is not causing trouble elsewhere, is conducting the national planning framework. He is engaged in a relatively wide regional consultation that is provoking all sorts of interesting proposals. Meanwhile, the Minister is pursuing the capital review. What plans are there to integrate the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Planning Framework (2 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Minister for his response. He spoke about the €5 billion additionally allocated from 2018 to 2021. How much of that is already allocated, for example, for housing? Will that particular allocation reflect the priorities in the 2016 to 2021 capital plan announced in 2015? It is already very outdated in some of its ambitions. For example, it has a broadband speed plan...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Planning Framework (2 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: I fear that we are just falling into this capital review and that we are ignoring potential sources of funding outside the traditional sources. The policy on public private partnerships is very conservative and not reflective of modern market trends. I am still at a loss to understand the Government's response to European Investment Bank, EIB, funds. I do not want to know that it has...

Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (2 Mar 2017)

Dara Calleary: 7. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of equalising pay for new entrants and existing public sector workers; the steps being taken towards the equalising of pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10594/17]