Results 1,261-1,280 of 2,211 for speaker:Paul Connaughton

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: I agree with the point made by Deputy Deasy but also with what has been stated earlier. The main issue in this regard is that trying to get information has been akin to pulling teeth. Had Rehab been upfront months ago, members would not be here. While the committee may still have had the same issues to face, Rehab has been extremely secretive about the whole thing. No matter what question...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: I wish to cover public procurement. We received a submission from the Irish School Arts Supply Federation in the SME sector outlining its concerns over current Government procurement policy. Mr. Watt's opening statement indicated we aimed to save €500 million over three years. While everyone hopes that can be achieved, we would be somewhat concerned over the impact on small and...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: Mr. Watt referred to €100 million saved so far and he has acknowledged that there will be difficulties with the groups involved in that. If many of these SMEs go to the wall, while the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform might save €100 million, does the Department of Social Protection not have to pay that amount on the other side?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: I will come back to the value for money element of it shortly. With the way it is going about it at the moment, the Department may achieve its savings, which would be a success for that Department. However, is there consultation with the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Social Protection to consider the wider picture? I get the impression - Mr. Watt can correct me if I am...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: Mr. Quinn stated that there would be winners and losers in this process. I have no problem with that when there is change, but the SME sector is afraid that the winner will be a large, global company with unbelievable resources that can make a crazily low bid for a public procurement contract, blowing everyone else out of the water. That winner would not give a hang for Irish jobs and so...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: If SMEs grouped together to tender for a job and a much larger organisation tendered at a much reduced price, would the office even investigate why it could be that cheap?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: What is the trigger? How low must the price be before the office suspects there is a problem or believes it should be investigated?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: With all due respect, that answer is vague - the office may or may not investigate a tender and it depends on the product and who is involved. Is the office charged with that investigation? Who in the Department ensures checks and balances?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: If an SME loses a tender due to an extremely low price and the SME does not know the formula, how to report the issue or how the process is policed, for wont of a better word, when will that certainty of protocol be provided to SMEs?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: The office is rolling out. Mr. Quinn used to be with the OPW but has since moved to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Are many people in his office working on this issue?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: Public procurement.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: Do any of the 25 people currently engaged in procurement have SME experience?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: There are people currently working in that office who have SME experience and understand, from a business perspective, how this works?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: Would it be possible for Mr. Quinn to provide the committee with information on how many of the 25 staff concerned have SME experience, having worked in small business?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: I would like to know how many of the 25 staff concerned have SME experience which would give them a better understanding of what small businesses are currently going through. What comfort can Mr. Quinn give this morning to SMEs and the Irish Art Supply Federation that their concerns are being listened to and that they will be involved in the new process as it is rolled out over the next...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: I thank Mr. Quinn for his responses.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (8 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: 394. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason he is stating that persons can elect to self-build under the new building control regulations when prospective self-builders in County Galway are being informed that Galway County Council will not accept self-builders as assigned builders unless they are the principal or director of a building company or...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (8 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: 507. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a land parcel identification system, LPIS, appeal instituted by a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16606/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (9 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: 46. To ask the Minister for Finance if land that had to be sold as part of a marriage settlement and which fetched just over €100,000 and was used to pay legal expenses and a marriage separation settlement is liable for capital gains tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16936/14]