Results 1,121-1,140 of 1,776 for speaker:Derek Nolan

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: If I add the allowances I see before me for people serving abroad in 2012, they come to €21.52 million. Dividing that between the 325 people serving abroad at the time to which the allowances were paid, it works out at €66,000 extra per person, which is a considerable amount. It also represents 28% of the expenses element of the Department's budget for staff in 2012. All I am...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: I have the business cases.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: That is it, Chairman. An ambassador obviously does not get rent allowance because as head of the mission his accommodation is paid for. He would receive a not insignificant salary by Irish standards. What is the average salary for an ambassador?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: We pay them significant salaries. What is the tax treatment of the salaries when they are abroad?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: For them.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: They are taxed as if they are domiciled in Dublin.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: They go abroad and receive a cost of living allowance. Is that based on a basket of goods that includes rent? If it does include rent they are being doubly compensated. If not, it is quite fair. The local post allowance averaged approximately €17,000 per annum per person in 2012, and many other costs for which compensation is fair. If education costs are included in the cost of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: I can understand that being an extremely important part of the work of an embassy. Why is it allocated to persons and not on an embassy basis?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: I am confused by the distension, disturbance and temporary accommodation allowances. Could Mr. Cooney explain them?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: That is gone.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: Could Mr. Mythen include the impact of children in his note? That would be very interesting. I am interested in the other services that may be provided to heads of mission or ambassadors to help them with their cost of living. For example, is the ambassador’s food covered by the embassy? Do full-time chefs work in the embassies? Are drivers provided to ambassadors? Are there...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: I appreciate that. I am not for a second denigrating Mr. Cooney's service. His record is highly respected, as are the records of those with whom I have interacted. The purpose of this session is to determine whether we are getting value for money for the State's money. Mr. Cooney may have got himself an unwanted headline with his use of the word "janitors".

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: I have not yet been invited. I ask Mr. Cooney to provide a note on the number of embassies that employ full-time chefs.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: Are there cleaning staff in these embassies?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: I ask Mr. Cooney to provide a written note on the breakdown of grades and how they are affected by allowance. I am not asking for names or even country level information.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chapter 13 - Official Development Assistance (6 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: I have no doubt about that. However, would the witnesses agree that the staff who work in Africa for reasonable salaries and local post allowances are earning more than janitors are paid in those countries?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: 172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a progress report is available for a school (details supplied) in Galway city regarding the site and accommodation details, the projected enrolment figures for the school and an estimated timeline for the school's completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12125/14]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Plaques (11 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: 289. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the process by which a County Galway man (details supplied) who died in the Spanish Civil War could have a plaque marking his death erected in the city; if there are plans to undertake such a process for the man in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12120/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Severe Weather Events Expenditure (11 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: 388. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to apply for EU funding for businesses and homes affected by the recent storm damage; if he will provide any additional information regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12134/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (11 Mar 2014)

Derek Nolan: 426. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if any direct provision centres are owned by companies registered offshore; if so, if he will provide the details of the companies involved and the direct provision centres they run; if he will indicate the amount these companies are being paid by the State on a yearly basis; the reasons for giving a contract of this nature to a company not...