Results 19,901-19,920 of 26,157 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Whatever way this is analysed, the context here is €10 million as a percentage of the overall budget of €331 million for new projects. Is anyone good at maths? Is that 0.3%? It is a tiny percentage of the overall budget, and yet this has caused a great deal of anxiety. Even without the calculator, my maths are still intact. The percentage works out at about 0.3% of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: In that context, we had representatives from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, with us before Easter. We find that to be a measured type of body. Its representatives came in here and basically told us that the NDP was on fire and under serious threat. They did not do that lightly. We have invited representatives from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to appear before...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does Ms Brogan believe the public works contract needs to be amended, whether temporarily or otherwise, to ensure it takes account of the huge inflation? The 15% sounds great but they cannot put in a claim for 24 months. If someone has a contract and was up and running before 1 January, they cannot put in a claim until they are above 50% inflation and they cannot do that for 30 months. As...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: There is an element of pass the parcel going on here at the moment. As a committee, we will not allow that to happen. This public works contract is too serious. I am not certain of the full details on Roadbridge but, from what we hear, the sector is under serious strain with regard to the contracts. A March 2022 statistic from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association has caused me...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: In that case, I will call Deputy Ó Murchú. I am passionate on this. I am an accountant by training. The figures do not add up at the moment on the public works contract, particularly for major roads projects. It does not add up. Deputy Cathal Crowe will be aware that, with the situation of Roadbridge locally, we have had to re-tender.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Ms Brogan will follow up with correspondence to Senator Buttimer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I call Deputy Ó Murchú.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: It probably operates quite effectively in a low inflationary environment but in the current high inflationary environment, it is not fit for purpose.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: They have one common denominator. They are all being affected by hyperinflation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is the kernel of the problem at present.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: The problem is that it is a double-edged sword. Many of the contractors are chasing cash flow to survive. That is what people do. In many cases even if they are not making a profit they can survive for a period. It is called "liquidity". In essence, they are probably insolvent. At the same time, they cannot make claims for inflationary rents. The bulk are existing contracts and this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I urge the Deputy to be careful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Can we have an update?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I have spoken to representatives of Limerick City and County Council. Am I correct that a negotiated tender is needed to deal with the bridge, as in immediate emergency works, and side by side with that a new tender will be sought to finish the remainder of the road in phase 1?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Canney is next. Even though he is not a member of this committee I will allow him to ask a question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I would like to flesh out that point about potential variations. The Deputy spoke about projects that have been contracted for but not signed

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is that 15%?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is that for new contracts?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: That has been our understanding since 1 January.