Results 16,461-16,480 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to address that point. All of the individuals who have been working on this project are competent and professional and have been dedicated to trying to deliver it. There were issues with the project's initial estimate and how the higher cost was shared. As I became aware of this issue in the timings that I indicated to the committee, I met many of the individuals involved. They are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not believe that the figure was lowballed to influence our decision on going ahead with the project. I also do not believe it was lowballed to influence the choice of site. However, it is clear in retrospect that the initial figure was too low versus the cost we have now. When the €650 million figure was identified, which would have been in 2012 or 2013, it was based on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of that and understand that the cost of living is a big challenge for those at the beginning of their careers, particularly in Dublin. That is why we have created the Land Development Agency and why we are seeking to make progress in the provision of affordable housing. On the point about higher costs, I do not believe we will approach the figures the Senator mentioned. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: There will be tendering processes on an ongoing basis. Much of what we are referring to is the key tendering process which will deliver the hospital building itself. The vast majority of expenditure we have referred to has yet to be spent.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator is correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: That will be the subject of engagement we have with the European Commission. If a withdrawal treaty is implemented and has a backstop contained in it, we know that if the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU does not allow the movement of goods between Northern Ireland into Ireland, it is very likely that the backstop will be operational. In that case, there will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator has identified the reason we have been working so hard to make sure there will not be a border. We want to make sure that those trucks are able to move in a frictionless way. In the context of an orderly Brexit occurring with a backstop in place, that process can be managed, which in my opinion is the best option open to Ireland, the UK and the European Union. In the event that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Currently, aviation law for EU member states is covered by the single European skies agreement. In the absence of that, there would have to be an agreement in place to cover how access would be managed and the circumstances under which it would happen. One of the key issues, on which I know the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been engaging, is that a key principle of European...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: That is likely to be the case.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, because if we have an orderly agreement, we will then have a transition period in which all of this can be worked out. In the absence of such an agreement, this would have to be done quicker. A seven-month period is being made available to airlines to allow them to restructure if necessary.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: That is what has been indicated by the European Commission.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The nature of the legislation is really a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, but I will try to answer the Senator's question. Many of the changes necessary in this area will be made by the European Commission. Any changes we have to make domestically are a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Much work has already happened in that area. There are two things happening specifically. The Revenue Commissioners are either organising seminars or are engaging with representative bodies in different sectors of the economy, explaining to those bodies the kinds of requirements necessary to deal with a third country. To be clear, even though the Revenue Commissioners will be able to give...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not agree with that. The other interpretation of the Deputy's comments is that the reason the State was trying to build this hospital quickly was that this particular project had been the subject of much debate and discussion for a long time. One of the benefits of the PwC review that is under way is that it may offer further views and insights on this issue. However, the three...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am not in a position to comment on what people around town are saying about this project. What I can comment on is the work I have done to date in trying to understand the key reasons this project is costing more than had been anticipated. I have outlined those reasons. It occurred to me, as the Deputy outlined what he is hearing elsewhere, that such comments may in part be driven by the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am happy to get that for the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The moment I became aware of the issue, the Minister for Health and I talked to each other immediately about it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I cannot remember now but we had multiple meetings and discussions on this matter. The Deputy will make his mind up on my stewardship or management of public money. I make the point again that we have multiple other projects across the State that are smaller than this but cumulatively far bigger in value that come in on budget and are delivered in the way the country wants. Clearly, we have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I accept responsibility in relation to this. I have responsibility for how the taxpayers' money is spent. Regardless of the different governance questions or the different boards, I accept responsibility for how the public's money is spent. That is why I am doing two things. The first is that I will look at other comparable projects that we have of this size from a tendering and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Is the Deputy asking whether I believe the cost will go beyond €2 billion?