Results 8,701-8,720 of 34,780 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: The Deputy knows the answer.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: I have two queries. We could say a lot about the Valuation Office, but the valuation legislation will be dealt with in the Dáil Chamber tomorrow so I will reserve most of my views. It was also dealt with this morning during Question Time, so I will revert to my team tomorrow on it. There are two issues I wish to raise. I cannot be blamed for not wanting to pass the bottom paragraph...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: The second thing concerns a reference on page 54. The fees from appeals to the commissioner amounted to €258,000 last year. There is no provision for it for this year. What is the change in the system? What is that about? There must be some change in methodology. It is under appropriations-in-aid. What is the background to that big change?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: It will be an in-house review.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: Every year we speak about the shared services. The outturn last year was €20 million. For shared services, the note states the net Estimate last year was approximately €30 million and the net Estimate this year is €39 million. However, the outturn last year was €20 million. The outturn did not get anywhere near the Estimate last year. Having spent €20...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: The Minister stated that parent Departments paid appropriations-in-aid. They have not lost staff, but the work is being done in the shared services office. Must the Departments carry the staff they always had as well as make the payments? How does it work?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: Do adjustments in the Estimates reflect, for example, ten staff moving from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to shared services?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: We could talk forever about this Vote, but I will ask just one question. There is a substantial increase in the Estimate. Given the new bodies, that is understandable. However, it came to light during the year that the office made a case concerning the troubling situation in nursing homes in County Mayo. That morning, the Ombudsman stated on radio that he had the authority to investigate...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: Very briefly.

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: On a point of order, is the Minister of State's script being circulated?

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: No, but it is bad form.

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: The Bill gives us an opportunity to discuss the rateable valuation system which operates in Ireland. It is a perfect opportunity to see not only whether the legislation is good but whether the system is fit for purpose. Yesterday afternoon we dealt with Revised Estimates with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, including Revised Estimates for the Valuation Office, and as this...

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: Commercial rates are an old legacy from the 19th century and they are still here. This says quite a bit. I do not believe for a minute the Revenue Commissioners, who deal with general taxation and the collection of taxes, could operate a system based on the 19th century. We must look at the entire valuation system, commercial rates and the Valuation Office in this regard. The...

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: They already pay for water, and the public will pay for water, but the motor tax revenue will go to Irish Water as a subvention. That was last week's issue, but I am raising it again today. All other taxes - I mentioned some of the main ones - are related to levels of business activity. If one's turnover goes up one's VAT goes up, and if one's turnover goes down one's VAT goes down. If...

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: The Minister of State is giving him discretion. The Valuation Office has often been in court about revaluations in cases in which the legislation has provided that it shall do something, but that does not mean it ends up doing so. It may win or lose a court case. That should be a direction; it should not come down to whether the commissioner feels like doing it. That might never happen....

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: The Government did not bring in the legislation. The document we received indicated the hope that the legislation published in 2012 - some two and a half years ago - would have been enacted last year. It is only being introduced now. The Government has missed the boat. It has not even bolted the door after the horse has gone, as it was a bad door and bad stable to start with. The horse...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport Provision (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: I wish to raise the role and powers of the National Transport Authority to deal with applications from companies that want to reduce their bus services through various areas throughout the country. I am raising this matter because of a recent letter I received from the chief executive of the National Transport Authority concerning services by Bus Éireann and Kavanagh's Buses through...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport Provision (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: According to his response, the Minister has accepted that the decision is in his hands. He said the NTA will look at a reconfiguration of the public service obligation concerning these routes in such situations. It may also possibly consider a competitive tender for the provision of a route that requires a public service obligation. Taxpayers' money is required to do this and it is stated...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport Provision (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: I did not.

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport Provision (12 Feb 2015)

Seán Fleming: I was referring to the money relating to the routes I mentioned.