Results 16,041-16,060 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The standard rate of VAT applies to food supplements. However, a Revenue concession allowed the zero rate to be applied to certain types of vitamins, minerals and fish oils. Because of complications in interpretation, the Revenue Commissioners have decided to remove this concession with effect from 1 March 2019 so that all food supplements will be charged at the standard VAT rate. ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff Data (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together. As the Deputy is aware, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established in 2013 with the goal of reducing costs and maximising value for money and operational efficiency through instituting central management of the public procurement function. Staff members of the Department of Finance work closely with the OGP staff on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department, jointly with the Department of Rural and Community Development, published a report on “Local Public Banking in Ireland”. As the Deputy knows, the Report concluded that there is not a compelling case for the State to establish a new local public banking system in Ireland, based on the German Sparkassen model as proposed, for a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Public Works has submitted the proposal for the Glashaboy Flood relief scheme to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for formal Confirmation as required under the Arterial Drainage Act. In all such cases, the Minister is required to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and, in this regard, will procure independent specialists to review the Environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tender Process (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: A National Framework Agreement was set up by the Office of Government Procurement in 2017 for Cleaning Services. This framework was advertised through the e-Tenders portal. The framework was open to all companies to apply for and see appointment to same. The named company did not apply for this framework. The requirement identified is being conducted through the OGP framework and only...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together. The number of staff in my Department, excluding the Office of Government Procurement, was 466 on 31 December 2018. The number of staff in the Office of Government Procurement was 222 on 31 December 2018. Details of 2018 memberships of the professional bodies listed in the PQ are included in the following table: Staff Numbers...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In May 2018 I launched 29 Flood Risk Management Plans for all the main river basins identifying a total of 118 flood relief projects to protect the main flood risk areas throughout the country. These Plans and projects are a key part of the overall flood risk management strategy set out in the National Development Plan 2017 - 2028 involving total investment of almost €1 billion over...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the committee for the invitation to appear before it and discuss the matters it has raised. On the outturn for 2018, for the first time in more than a decade our public finances are balanced in cash terms. This is not an insignificant achievement given where we were only a few years ago. The main budgetary metric for international purposes is the general Government balance, which...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We are looking at that very issue. I outlined in my opening statement some of the difficulties we have from a timing point of view. For the first time of which I am aware, I indicated at the end of last year that we do not believe the amount of the corporation tax collected for 2018 is sustainable. We believe it is a one-off and that figure is €700 million. I am examining proposals...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am certainly happy to consider that. I assure the Deputy that in my engagement with officials in the Department of Finance, it is clear that they are every bit as alive to the risks we face and they are able to provide an independent assessment of it. I am conscious as I answer the Deputy that there is an institution which is independent of Government and which has a role in many of these...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Our most recent modelling exercise was done a few months ago in the context of preparing the Budget 2019 - Economic and Budgetary Outlook. In that analysis, we highlighted our best estimate of what a no-deal scenario would be. It showed that the level of output in our economy would be approximately 3.25% lower after five years than would be the case in a no-Brexit scenario. The analysis...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: No. This is why I have asked that a review of our economic forecasts take place earlier than would normally be the case. As stated, particularly in light of the scale of the vote last night, it is important - from the point of view of the Oireachtas let alone that of myself - to review our forecasts far earlier than normal. When that information becomes available, and I am looking to get...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: That is exactly what we are doing. Our report will contain many caveats because we will be looking at figures that were issued by economic bodies in the UK a few weeks ago. What they are trying to do is form a view of an event that has never happened before. Never in history has an economy as large and as integrated with the rest of the global economy as Britain's left a single trading...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy made a very good point about the link between the money we spend and the effect it can have on people's lives. It is encouraging to see the scale of increase in the number of homes being built. As I am well reminded from my engagement across the country and in my constituency, we still have a long journey to travel in this regard. In terms of how much my Department engages...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Is the Deputy scared to answer it?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I have answered the question.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I will deal with each of the Deputy's points. I agree with her opening sentiment that the result last night in the House of Commons is exceptionally disappointing and concerning. As the Deputy stated, the responsibility sits with the British Government in terms of how it will move the issue forward and deal with the issues that developed in the debate. In so doing, the Taoiseach outlined...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: With regard to whether I believe Brexit will impact on my current expenditure plans, I was referring to this year. The Deputy referred to next year.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I was referring to 2019 in the answer I gave the Deputy. The figures in the expenditure plans I have for 2019 are set. I am confident, as we move through 2019, that they will be maintained. On the question about engagement with other Government Ministers regarding the different Brexit scenarios, all of the engagement we have had to date has dealt with different Brexit scenarios. Most of...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Assessment Report: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (16 Jan 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I was referring to the negative effects we could have in Brexit in terms of the possibility of expenditure being reduced. What happens in any given year and has been the case for the past number of years is we can change our spending profiles within Departments in response to events that occur. There would be a need to engage in that in the event of a disorderly Brexit and there are a couple...