Results 8,521-8,540 of 32,864 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: We all know how important the issue of rates is, particularly for the owners of small and medium-sized companies who need predictability regarding the bills they will be facing in the future. In recognition of that, I understand that the heads of that Bill will be presented in April.

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: My understanding is there will be statements on that matter this evening at 6 p.m. The Minister for Finance will be dealing with the matter. The Government has been very clear that issues of public concern relating to Project Eagle had to be dealt with and believed that the Committee of Public Accounts was the appropriate forum for that. It is not my role to speak for others in the House...

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am very much aware of the huge changes in technology that are bringing hope to many families. Clearly, alongside all of that there is a huge need for that area to be better regulated than it is at present. In direct answer to the Deputy, I understand that the heads of that Bill will be available to the Oireachtas in June.

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The matter will be discussed tonight via a Private Member's motion tabled by Deputy Mattie McGrath and others. In answer to the Deputy's question, I understand that the heads of that Bill will be available at the end of April.

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: It is nice to hear the Deputy express the view that I am not responsible for the last Government; it is a view not often articulated by his party colleagues. In response to his question, I understand that the heads of that Bill will be drafted in quarter three of this year, after which the Bill will be available. I was in the Digital Hub at the end of last week and saw at first hand how...

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy is asking me for many guarantees I cannot actually give. The reason is that the Bill is now moving into the Seanad. Obviously, the enactment to which the Deputy is referring is dependent on the Bill passing successfully through the Seanad. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, is very much aware of the importance of that Bill. I am...

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I assure the Deputy that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and his Department have already been on to my Department. They are already engaging with my Department on what they believe to be the future capital needs of our public and land transport network. I imagine the review to which the Deputy is referring will be affected by the industrial relations dispute that is currently...

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am not in a position to update the Deputy on the status of an individual post. I can say, however, that the Government, including the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, is very committed to trying to recruit more speech and language therapists. I do not want the development of our youngest children to be affected by an inability to gain access to speech and language therapy, in...

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am very much aware of the importance of lottery funding and the role it has played in supporting small projects and initiatives across our State. I will engage in the matter myself and seek to understand further the issue to which the Deputy is referring. I will revert to him on the matter.

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Seán Kyne, shall respond to this. He is leading the Government in this area.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Private Partnerships Data (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I should first explain that financial responsibility for individual PPP projects rests with the relevant Sponsoring Agency. My Department's role in relation to PPPs is to facilitate the PPP process centrally by developing the general policy framework (including, where necessary, the legal framework) within which PPPs operate and by providing central guidance to Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts Data (29 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy's question, my Department has not hired any private investigation firms over the past five years.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Legislation (30 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Freedom of Information Act 2014 extended the remit of the legislation to a further 70 public bodies, bringing the overall total to some 600 bodies comprehended by the Act.  The Act provides a very broad definition of public bodies at Section 6(1) and further provides that all new public bodies comprehended by this definition will automatically come under freedom of information...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (30 Mar 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The High Level Forum recently  reconvened under a new Chair and arrangements have been made for this body to meet again at an early date. The issue of pensions for Community Employment Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors whose employment status is that of private sector employees is being deliberated on between the parties involved in the Forum.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (4 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Capital Plan, published in 2015, set out a six year framework for substantial infrastructural investment in Ireland out to 2021. Total state backed investment under the Plan amounted to €42 billion over the period. The substantial progress made in securing sustained economic growth and the further strengthening of the public finances has enabled the Government to commit an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Remit (4 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Freedom of Information Act 2014 extended the remit of the legislation to a further 70 public bodies, bringing the overall total to some 600 bodies comprehended by the Act. The Act provides a very broad definition of public bodies at Section 6(1) and further provides that all new public bodies comprehended by this definition will automatically come under freedom of information (FOI)...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Information (4 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy's question, my Department has not received any requests for material to be made available in braille format in each of the years 2014 to 2016.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (4 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question no. 2701/17 on 24 January 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (4 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together. Procurement is a key element of the Government's Reform agenda. Given the volume of spending, in the order of €12bn per annum on goods, services and works, it is essential that a strategic approach is adopted and value for money is achieved. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established to drive the reform...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Legal Cases Data (4 Apr 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised that there has been one ex-parte application relating to the OGP as part of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform but no other cases. No costs have been incurred in relation to this matter. The Commissioners of Public Works were involved in two cases predating the establishment of the OGP which the OGP, as the successor organisation with responsibility for those...