Results 9,001-9,020 of 9,648 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: You have to balance that against the public service that is trying to deliver on broader policy objectives, such as decarbonising public transport,-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: -----which is an important public good. You have to balance that against many public servants working in our transport system who want to ensure we advance a major capital project. There are issues with the systems around timelines, sequencing and the delays that happen in public projects, especially those relating to the planning system and the decision-making that happens in that regard....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: -----and trying to deliver on our broader social and public objectives when it comes to many areas of capital expenditure.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: A comprehensive review of the FOI regime has been undertaken and is nearing completion. The review was undertaken in the context of a system that appeared to be operating well on its own terms. Since the introduction of the updated legislation in 2014, there has been a large expansion in FOI usage. The number of organisations covered by the legislation has increased significantly and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: It was prudent that a review took place. It was very open-ended on public consultation and structured stakeholder engagement. There is also the international metric, which is important in that context. It has been established with very strong engagement in the recent period. We want to assess the feedback from the broader political system and, indeed, public interest parties that want to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: I am happy to do that. If we look at the existing scheme, the fact that the requests have doubled is a good sign that people are engaging with the broader FOI system. One thing that also needs to be strengthened across public bodies is the work we are doing with the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, on data and digitalisation. A great deal of public information can be published properly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The more information we can publish and allow academics and the public interest to interact with it, the better it will be for public policymaking. This needs to sit in parallel with the FOI system itself in respect of how we get better proactive publication across the board.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Construction Industry (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The construction sector group was set up in 2018 by my Department. The group ensures regular and open dialogue between government and industry on how best to achieve and maintain a sustainable and innovative construction sector positioned to deliver on the national development plan and Project Ireland 2040. It is made up of representatives of key industry bodies, as well as senior...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Construction Industry (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The latest meeting of the construction sector group received an update on some of what the Deputy mentioned. This included the proposed research on a pathway to having a 30% embodied carbon reduction in the construction sector, the development of a modern methods of construction data dashboard, which is nearing completion and the collaboration between Dublin City Council, DCC, and the Build...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Construction Industry (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The construction sector group is doing an element of that in the context of construction skills. The Planning and Development Act was obviously discussed, and modern methods of construction as well as other priority areas, which I have referenced, around digital adoption and productivity in the construction sector. However, a separate very serious piece of work is ongoing in the Department...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy is aware, we committed to updating the ethics in public office legislation in the recent programme for Government. This is on foot of a wide-ranging review the Deputy referred to on the legislative framework for ethics in public office my Department undertook during the last Government, the findings of which were published in February 2023. The report's recommendations...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The first thing is to take into account the review that has happened and some of the more recent recommendations which have been made, and to have a policy consideration around those. Following that, what is set out in the context of the programme for Government is to give legislative underpinning to that. Once the policy matters have been bottomed out within my Department, which I am...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: That is why it has been set out as a priority in the programme for Government and why, in the first instance, we need to make sure that the policy framework that is developed can be reflected in a general scheme. At that point, we will have pre-legislative scrutiny and cross-party input in the Oireachtas. This is an important matter across the political system in terms of broader...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: During my recent visit to Chile and Argentina as part of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations I had a series of engagements with political, business and cultural stakeholders. On many occasions, I reiterated Ireland’s longstanding commitment to a just, sustainable and lasting peace in the Middle East. Ireland’s focus is on the implementation of the ceasefire and the hostage...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Correspondence (1 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: In the event of an individual school having questions about billing, the first course of action is to contact the energy supplier directly. If the school is dissatisfied after engaging with the energy supplier, the next step can be to contact the OGP help desk. In relation to the issue raised by the school in the detailed correspondence, my officials in the OGP, will contact the school...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (2 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: In relation to the operation of flexi-time accrual in the Civil Service in a post pandemic, blended working environment, a pilot survey to test flexi-time accrual, in the Civil Service, while working a blended pattern, was circulated to all Civil Service Departments/Offices in January, 2023 and closed in March, 2023. The findings of the survey were evaluated and a report was circulated to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (2 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: Departments and Offices are permitted to carryover unspent capital, up to a maximum of 10 per cent of their Voted capital, into the following year. Statutory provision for capital carryover by way of "deferred surrender" to the Exchequer is made under Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004. Capital carryover is an important technical element of the multi-annual capital envelope system which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coast Guard Service (2 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Department of Transport (DoT) is responsible for the investment in the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) building programme aimed at ensuring that Coast Guard facilities along the coast are fit for purpose. The programme is fully funded by the DoT as Approving Authority, with project delivery managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) as the Contracting Authority, from planning and design to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Meetings (2 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: I wish to advise the Deputy that since I took office, I have attended one meeting with my Department’s Management Board. This meeting took place on 4 February 2025 and the next such meeting is scheduled for 7 April 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Protection (2 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for leading and coordinating the implementation of flood relief schemes to protect Ireland against significant flood risk from rivers and the sea. The Government has committed €1.3 billion, to 2030 under the National Development Plan, to deliver some 150 additional flood relief schemes identified as part of the OPW’s Catchment...