Results 20,101-20,120 of 36,355 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: Can I ask-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: It is reported it was bought for €70 million.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: They bought all their properties. The gardaí are not using all of Harcourt Street site so there is an argument to be made that if the OPW was only purchasing that part of it, it could have gotten it for less than the reported €70 million. The €70 million figure is out there in the public domain and it has not been disputed. It would cost €80 million for a new...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: That is true but it does not make sense. We are laughing at it now but other people will pay for this, for example in health or coastal protection, because the money has to come from somewhere.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: Can the Minister of State confirm that 22% more rent is now being paid on the Harcourt Street building? The OPW is paying 22% more per year out of its budget.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: It is €6 million.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: Is the €6 million locked down over the six years?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: We are paying €6 million more over the next six years than we would have been paying if there had not been a rent increase. It is roughly about that. I will move on.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: A once-off arrears payment had to be made of €500,000.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: As Minister of State in charge of the OPW's budget, does Deputy Canney believe it represents value for money that the State has had to pay an increase of 22% in rent on a property that was owned by the State just a number of years ago and that the OPW will pay out €36 million over the next six years and is guaranteed to be evicted at the end of the contract?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister of State is dealing with the consequences of this now. From his understanding from looking at the files within the Department, was there any suggestion at any time by the OPW that it should purchase this property from NAMA? Perhaps the Minister of State's officials can help him. We all know about the social clause of the NAMA legislation, which is that it should offer it to...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: I will finish on a very important local issue of the Grianán Ailigh site in Donegal. There are numerous local issues. For example, we are not happy that the OPW is not supporting the funding of the Maghery coastal erosion works. There is still an outstanding request for the Minister of State to visit the dunes to look at what has happened or to meet the committee. I appeal to the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: When the Minister of State comes to Donegal, will he take up the invitation to come to Maghery and meet with the local community? Burt Castle is a site managed by the OPW which is in need of significant restoration work. It is something the Minister of State should engage with the local elected representatives on when he makes his way-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: -----to the best part of the country.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: My first question relates to the initial public offering for AIB. Can the Minister inform the committee prior to executing it? Will the Minister seek Oireachtas approval?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: I agree that the Minister is correct to say Dáil approval is not required in this case. The real question is whether the Minister will proceed to sell AIB without the consent of the Dáil. Is the Minister confident that he would have the consent or support of the Dáil? If so, then why not have a motion? That would be the appropriate thing to do.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: My next question relates to the Minister's statement to the effect that he wishes to ensure free movement of people, goods and services on these islands continue. A report appeared in the media today – I imagine the Minister is aware of it – suggesting the Revenue Commissioners have identified several locations along the Border, including in my county of Donegal, that would be...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: I appreciate that is the stated position of the Government. I have a further question in respect of the contingency plans the Revenue is drawing up. Some years back a campaign resulted in several Border roads being reopened. This is relevant for my county of Donegal. There are numerous roads, including main roads and national roads as well as secondary and local roads, that transcend the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: Okay.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance (Revised)
Vote 8 - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Revised)
Vote 9 - Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revised)
Vote 10 - Tax Appeals Commission (Revised) (15 Feb 2017)

Pearse Doherty: Deputy Noonan spoke about criminal activity in response to Deputy McGrath's question. At this point in time there is a free flow of people crossing the Border in both directions and carrying out their shopping activities because we are in a customs union. We are speculating here but is it a possible outcome, in the event that Britain takes itself out of the customs union and that there is...