Results 17,101-17,120 of 32,983 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that within the remit of its responsibilities for safeguarding stability and protecting consumers, its approach to mortgage arrears resolution is focused on ensuring the fair treatment of borrowers through a strong consumer protection framework and ensuring that lenders have appropriate arrears resolution strategies and operations in place. ...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Small and Medium Enterprises (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, the courts are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and as Minister for Finance I cannot intervene in matters before them. The Central Bank has published regulations for firms lending to small and medium enterprises, these aim to strengthen protections for SMEs when borrowing from regulated lenders, they set out a framework which regulated...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Growth (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: On the back of the strong growth recorded over the last number of years, our economy has moved from a stage of economic recovery to a more mature stage of development. The recovery in the economy in part reflects improvements in Ireland’s competitiveness over the last number of years. As measured by the Central Bank’s Real Harmonised Competitiveness Indicator, Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU-IMF Programme of Support (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: To grant context to my response, I feel it appropriate to highlight that funding from the EU/IMF Programme replaced Ireland’s long-term bond issuance in 2011. Therefore, while the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) maintained a continuous, albeit limited presence in short-term markets in 2011, the focus of this response is on the funding sourced under the EU/IMF Programme....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the consultant architect has been appointed for this project. Tenders for a Mechanical and Electrical engineer and Civil and Structural Engineer have been received and are currently being assessed. I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that they expect to have the process of appointing a Mechanical and Electrical engineer completed within...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Project Ireland 2040 Funding (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together. The Government has already resolved to allocate funding in line with the objectives of Project Ireland 2040, and the National Development Plan 2018-2027 sets out the resource envelope to that end. In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In accordance with DPER Circular 11/15 - Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets - , a site valuation, as determined by the Valuation Office, is required to set the sale price for a property transaction between public bodies. In this particular case, the property in Kilmore Quay is owned by Wexford Co Co and they have referred the case to the Valuation Office. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Data (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Public Works has put a number of framework contracts in place for the supply of office furniture. The framework contracts were awarded following a public tender process under national and EU procurement rules, through the eTenders website and OJEC as required. The framework contracts have been awarded on basis of the most economically advantageous tender. The contracts are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Expenditure (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Public Works has a number of framework contracts in place for the supply of office furniture for use by Civil Service departments and other public sector organisations. In 2018 a total of €16,664,556.70 was spent on the provision of furniture through these framework contracts. Organisations may purchase furniture through other means and a small amount of specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I have been advised that my Department issued its decision agreeing to the appeal submitted in this case on 7 December 2017, and that the Department of Justice and Equality communicated this by letter on 11 December 2017. If the individual in question did not receive the letter, he would be advised to contact the Pensions Administration Section, Department of Justice and Equality, Deerpark...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (28 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018, which was enacted on the 26 December 2018, provides for an increase to age 70 in the compulsory retirement age of most public servants recruited before 1 April 2004. Under the Act, any relevant public servant who had not already retired on age grounds before 26 December 2018 now has a new compulsory retirement age of 70. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Pay Commission has adopted a modular approach to its work programme for its present exercise focused on recruitment and retention issues in the public service. As the Deputy will be aware, the first module was published by the commission in August 2018 and deals with issues relating to nursing and midwifery, non-consultant hospital doctors and hospital consultants. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The reason is that my own Department has overall responsibility for pay policy. As a result, we are present or involved in the preparation of submissions to the pay commission. The Deputy will know that in addition to the submissions that the employer makes, submissions are also made by those who represent employees, which, one hopes, allows the Public Service Pay Commission to make a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is a matter for the pay commission to determine when it will be able to complete the module. It is independent of my Department and reaches its own conclusions about the report and its processes. Nevertheless, as I have outlined, I expect the commission to indicate soon the timeline of the completion of the work. I hope that its indication of a timeline, which will be the first time it...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Making the case for supporting measures at an EU level that recognise where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy is a key pillar of the Government's response to Brexit. I am satisfied that there is a firm understanding at an EU level of the unique and disproportionate impact that Brexit will have on Ireland. Last March, the Tánaiste met EU budget Commissioner...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We will be in a position to agree specifics with the European Commission as soon as we are clear on what the specifics of Brexit look like. At this point the Commission, through many Commissioners, has indicated its support in principle and its firm commitment to supporting Ireland in facing this grave difficulty. It will use the flexibility that is open to it to support us in decisions...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is not just what our future asks will be in the event of a disorderly Brexit but also recognition of what we have already done. There has been considerable effort to get ready for Brexit, with the support of this House and the support of the Deputy's party in various budgets. I hope I am not speaking too soon but I think we should not underestimate the amount of co-operation going on to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Circular 12/2010: Protocol for Civil Servants nominated to the boards of non-commercial State bodies lays down a detailed framework for civil servants who are board members to report to the relevant Minister in certain circumstances. The relevant Minister is the Minister under whose aegis the body falls. The purpose of the protocol is to set out the reporting obligations of the nominee...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I have acknowledged and will do so again that the procedures and difficulties in the latter phase of the national children's hospital project will change and have to change for the future. I have acknowledged and accept my responsibility for the difficulties with the project. In answer to the Deputy's question on whether I am happy with the way in which the civil servant on the board...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I never said I was happy with the processes that led to this outcome. I said I was satisfied with the operation of the circular. The Deputy either misinterpreted me, or she deliberately attributed words to me that I did not say. It is up to her to decide which of those possibilities is the case. I never at any point said I was happy with the processes that have led to this. I have...