Results 22,521-22,540 of 34,135 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Lansdowne Road Agreement (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Last September the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions endorsed the terms of the recently negotiated extension to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA), on pay and reform in the public service. On Thursday 7 December the Dáil passed the Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill after being debated by members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Data (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 152 together. Managing expenditure within their voted allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and their Departments. As reported in the Department of Finance Fiscal Monitor, at the end of November overall gross voted expenditure of €51.5 billion was 1.3% below profile with current expenditure of €48.2 billion under profile in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 156 together. Public service reform has been a central element in the response to the challenges of recent years and remains an essential part of building for the future. The reform programme has been delivering for the Irish public for 6 years – since the first reform plan was launched in 2011. We have achieved much to transform our public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 159 together. Last September the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions endorsed the terms of the recently negotiated extension to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA) on pay and reform in the public service. On Thursday 7 December the Dail passed the Public Service Pay and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy is referring to private sector organisations in the Voluntary and Community Sector in respect of which my Department has not actual corporate responsibility or direct involvement. As non public servants, the staff of such organisations, which may exceed 100,000 in number, did not, for example, fall within the application of the FEMPI legislation involving as it did the reduction...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Procurement is governed by well-established EU and National rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. Procurement reform is a key element of the Government's overall reform programme and is aimed at delivering increased value for money, more accurate and timely...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The moratorium on recruitment in the Public Service, introduced as a control measure in 2009, was ended with effect from 2015. Since then, a policy of delegated sanction for management of staff numbers has been applied to most Government Departments. Under this policy, subject to remaining within their pay ceilings, Departments can recruit or promote in grades up to and including Principal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Provided in table format, is the headcount of staff within the Office of the Government Chief Information Office as of 31 December for each of the years 2013 to 2016 and current figure for 2017. Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Headcount at 31st December 28 29 34 46 56 Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Headcount at 31st December 28 29 34 46 56

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.  The engagement of service providers by my Department is done in line with procurement policy and within the parameters of value for money, with every effort made to minimise costs. Year Service Provider Event/Occasion Cost 2012 Fennell Photography Irish Presidency European Union Public Administration...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Relations Contracts Data (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy’s question, the public relations firms employed by my Department in the period in question are listed in the following table. I can confirm that the engagement of service providers by my Department is done in line with procurement policy and within the parameters of value for money, with every effort made to minimise costs. Name of Service Provider...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Consultancy Contracts Data (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy’s question the consultant reports commissioned since March 2011 by my Department are listed in the following table: Report Title Company Publication Date Costs Sourcing  Strategy for Mobile Voice and Data Services Analysis Mason Not for publication – internal report only €25,323 Banking services for central government – review...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. Advertising/Information Campaign Name National/Regional/Online Cost Our Public Service 2020 Public Consultation adverts National €3,762.04 Public Consultation Process for Review of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 National €3,641.26 Protected Disclosures Act 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy’s question the expenditure levels in my Department and the organisations under the aegis of the department from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017 on photography, advertising, communications advice, public relations, website development, media interview training and preparation are listed in the following tables: Departments Expenditure Company Name Purpose Cost...

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I draw the Chair's attention to two corrections which I wish to request under Standing Order 163. The first correction is to the reference in the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992 which inadvertently referred to the Act of 1991, which does not exist. I, therefore, request that the reference on page 60, line 12 be changed to read "the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992." The second...

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: This has been a very long process, as the passing of the Finance Bill should be. I thank all of the officials who have been involved in supporting me getting to this point. I also acknowledge Deputies Michael McGrath, Pearse Doherty, Michael Fitzmaurice, Joan Burton and Mattie McGrath because an enormous amount of work has gone into scrutinising this Bill. I acknowledge this and...

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I will respond to the three questions that have been put to me. First, in relation to the timing and as I have said on a number of occasions during the passage of the Bill, if the binding contract was entered into or signed prior to budget day and a conveyance is executed before the end of the year, the rate is 2%. Otherwise, it is 6%. We made that clear in the immediate aftermath of the...

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: If I were to say I was bringing in the measure now and that it would not take effect until 1 January, I would have many interests involved in the holding and selling of property making a swathe of transactions at the lower tax rate.

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Mattie McGrath and others would, justifiably, accuse me in that case of creating a huge loophole which many would seek to take advantage of. I am in the business of trying to close those kinds of loopholes down rather than to open them up.

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I have just answered that question.

Finance Bill 2017: From the Seanad (13 Dec 2017)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank all Deputies for their comments on this section. I will address each in turn, and I will begin with Deputy Doherty's comments. I take his point about the stage of the process at which we are introducing the amendment. It is a fair point. On Committee Stage I had indicated that a further measure would be necessary. It took my Department some time to make sure we could bring in an...