Results 8,201-8,220 of 32,726 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Whilst the primary focus of public procurement reform has been on achieving value for money and encouraging SME access to procurement opportunities, the Government is also keen to explore to scope for supporting wider policy objectives including social and environmental clauses in public contracts. Social clauses can be used where they are targeted at factoring into...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: An individual who pays Class B PRSI is an established civil servant appointed before 6th April 1995.  As a Class B PRSI contributor he/she pays modified PRSI, he/she does not make the appropriate PRSI contributions towards a contributory state pension (CSP).  Therefore such a person will not be entitled to a Social Welfare pension in respect of his/her Civil Service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Terms and conditions of employees of commercial state bodies (other than the Chief Exective Officer) are generally a matter for the body concerned and I have no direct input in relation to those terms and condition. However, in relation to public servants generally including those in non-commercial state bodies, the Deputy may be aware that an Interdepartmental Working Group, chaired by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Public service pay reductions under the financial emergency (FEMPI) legislation have not altered the value of public service pensions in payment. The particular FEMPI measure which has affected the payment rate of public service pensions is the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR).  Introduced in January 2011 under the FEMPI 2010...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 121 to 123, inclusive, together. Increased investment in public capital infrastructure can support enhanced economic growth. In this regard the Deputy will be aware that I announced on Budget Day that my Department would, by the middle of 2017, complete a review of the Capital Investment Plan published in September 2015. The objective of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: This Government believes in the value of collective agreements and is taking steps to support the continued implementation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement . A collective approach to public service pay is vital to our national interest as it provides for the stable industrial relations environment which has been a pillar of our domestic recovery and restored international reputation....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Capital Plan "Building on Recovery", sets out a €42 billion framework to address our priority infrastructure needs up to 2021. This plan is being reviewed to ensure that capital spending is strictly aligned with national economic and social priorities, consistent with Programme for Partnership Government objectives. This includes...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Update (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Service Reform was a central element of the response to the challenges of recent years and remains an essential part of building for the future. Since the first Public Service Reform Plan was published in 2011, a comprehensive programme of reform has been implemented and this continues to be a key priority.  This is important as the performance of the Public Service has major...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Procurement reform is a key element of the Government's overall reform programme and is aimed at delivering increased value for money, more accurate and timely data and improvement in the capacity and capability of procurement across the public service.  The fragmented procurement arrangements across the public service facilitated amongst other things suppliers charging...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, in my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for workforce planning and recruitment to the Civil Service. In Budget 2015, it was announced that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the Civil Service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills commencing in late 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Within Ireland I, as Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, have overall responsibility for EU Cohesion Policy and primary responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).  The Minister for Education & Skills has primary responsibility for the European Social Fund (ESF). These two Funds, along with the Cohesion Fund (from which Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Trade Missions Expenditure (26 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: As part of the Irish Governments St Patrick's Day trade missions, the then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and officials travelled to Japan and Korea in 2015 and India in 2016. The cost of the trade mission for 2015 was €17,165.09 and €12,970.97 in 2016. The 2017 programme is not finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Sector Transfer Network was set up based on Section 4 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1963. Section 1 (a) of this Act states, "The Minister may by regulations designate organisations as approved organisations for the purposes of this section." Accordingly for a public sector body to join the Network it must be listed in a Statutory Instrument. Since the Network was...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: A Framework Agreement was put in place by the Office of Government Procurement for the provision of Media Monitoring Services for public sector bodies on 22/01/2016.  Prior to the running of the tender process a Prior Indicative Notice (PIN) was published on the eTenders portal on 04/06/2015, five months in advance of the tender process, in order to notify potential suppliers of our...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Public procurement is the acquisition, whether under formal contract or not, of works, supplies and services by public bodies.  National rules governing public procurement must comply with the relevant EU, WTO and national legal requirements and obligations.  Under EU law, public contracts above a certain value must be advertised EU-wide and awarded to the most competitive tender in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In reply to the Deputy's question, the following table outlines the number of Clerical Officers and Staff Officers in my Department and in the bodies under its aegis: Clerical Officers Staff Officers Department of Public Expenditure and Reform 512 31 Public Appointments Service 68* 13 The State Laboratory 7 2 The Office of the Ombudsman 26 0 Institute of Public Administration 21...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Grades Review (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The matter of the amalgamation of the Civil Service Staff Officer grade with the Executive Officer grade is currently under deliberation between the management and union side parties concerned. As this deliberative process has yet to be concluded it is considered that it would not be appropriate in the circumstances to comment on any issues that may arise between the parties...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Following the Labour Court Recommendations on Garda pay in November 2016, discussions between the Government and the Public Services Committee of ICTU under section 6 of the Lansdowne Road Agreement concluded with agreement to an increase of €1,000 in annualised salaries for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 August 2017 inclusive for: public servants on annualised basic...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Appointments (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: A new Chair has recently been appointed to the High Level Working Group Forum on the community sector. A meeting is accordingly being arranged between the parties concerned with a view to scheduling a date in the first quarter of 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: European Fund for Strategic Investments (31 Jan 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I presume the Deputy's question relates to funding provided under the European Fund for Strategic Investments, or EFSI, which is the joint initiative of the EIB Group and the European Commission aimed at mobilising private financing for strategic investments, mainly through loan funding. In Ireland's case, the main potential beneficiaries of EFSI are likely to be commercial...