Results 1,341-1,360 of 2,965 for speaker:Robert Dowds

Topical Issue Debate: Apprenticeship Programmes (1 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: Is there a timescale for the review?

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: 394. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the social welfare payments that are made to persons living overseas; and the reasons for making the payment to an overseas resident in the case of each payment. [40969/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (1 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: 502. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce legislation to address human trafficking for the purposes of prostitution. [40970/13]

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: I welcome Mr. Watt and his colleagues. I have two supplementary questions that arise out of questions asked by Deputy Fleming. Is Mr. Watt satisfied that the Department of Health will not need a Supplementary Estimate this year? When tenders go out, are checks done in terms of the contractor's standing with the Revenue Commissioners to ascertain that the contractor is above board? I ask...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: One of the risks that arises when the State is trying to reduce expenditure is that people who are tendering will be tempted to go below the price they ought to charge. This is something we need to consider carefully. On the sale of State assets, I ask about the status of the sale of the national lottery. Can Mr. Watts comment on whether a claim for compensation has been made by the Rehab...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: Will we continue to get the same benefits from the national lottery money? That should be an easier question to address.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: In respect of the money paid out to sports clubs and other good causes, perhaps we could develop a more transparent system. Allegations are regularly made of political interference in delivering grants. As certain politicians might benefit more than others, it would be welcome if the system was more transparent.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: Perhaps we should discuss it with the Minister. I welcome that Coillte has been saved from sale not only because of the benefits it brings to the State from the harvesting of timber but also because of the social value it offers. Is there any evidence of the company selling some of its land and, if so, what is the nature of it?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: I would be interested in having Mr. Watts investigate the issue. If it has happened, who gave permission for it? As a semi-State company, I presume Government agreement would be required. What exactly has happened in that regard?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: I was asked to raise the issue and I would be grateful if Mr. Watts could report back to me on it. The Haddington Road agreement affects most of us in this room. What is the position regarding final savings? Is it clear what will be saved from each Department and the wider public service?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: Is that an annual figure?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: It is obvious how savings will be made in health if nurses or occupational therapists are working longer hours and the system needs slightly fewer staff. How will that impact in education where the same situation does not arise and there are probably will not be major savings?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: Is the HSE capable of doing that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: How stands the moratorium on recruitment to the public service? There must be great pressure in many areas, such as the Civil Service, health and education, to take on staff.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: When will the moratorium be lifted? There was an allegation in the Irish Independent on 19 August this year that more than 5,000 jobs were filled over the past three years despite the recruitment ban. Is that explained by teachers and nurses etc?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: Mr. Watt discussed procurement with Deputy Fleming, but how satisfied is he that the HSE can deliver in terms of procurement savings? I had a conversation recently with a senior official in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and she indicated that there was evidence that they might have been able to purchase some of their equipment at a lower rate. Some of this was low level stuff, but...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Vote 42 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Chapter 6 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 12 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 13 - Procurement without a Competitive Process (3 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: Are they encouraged to have face-to-face negotiations to get the best deal possible? This relates to the issue raised by Deputy Fleming.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (8 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: 350. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the fact that the agricultural and food sector is worth over €24 billion to Ireland's economy and in view of the widely documented detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking seen in other countries, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking on the Irish agricultural...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (8 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: 351. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the importance of a clean and viable water supply to Ireland's environment and economy, and in view of the widely documented detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking on water supplies seen in other countries, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking with regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (8 Oct 2013)

Robert Dowds: 352. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the value of the tourism sector to Ireland's economy and in view of the well documented detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking on water supplies, health, landscape and ecology seen in other countries, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking on the Irish tourism industry,...