Results 2,401-2,420 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Data (6 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: 562. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of adolescent residential beds in Munster both private and public in each of the years 2011 to 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5903/18]

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (1 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: With all due respect, what the Minister of State has just said does not make any sense. She is saying that a review of staffing has been undertaken in consultation with the nursing unions with a view to ensuring safe and adequate staffing levels within the hospital. Anyone reading that would presume that there may not be safe and adequate staffing levels at present and therefore we should...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (1 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: It should not have to go that far.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (1 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I appreciate that.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (1 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: St. Finbarr's Hospital on the south side of Cork city was told in June last year that the agency staff it employed were being let go. As a result, the remaining staff were left to work in extreme conditions. With their union, they have been trying to secure adequate staffing levels to ensure patient safety. Conditions got so bad that on 2 January, they were due to work to rule. At the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (1 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: 50. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reinstating pay equality for teachers within the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53244/17]

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I want to stay on the point about the need for a contingency fund as opposed to a longer-term rainy day fund. In its paper provided to us, the Parliamentary Budget Office pointed out what it referred to as mitigating risks. In other words, having the cash on hand to react to events such as flooding would improve the State's capacity to deal with that after the event. It also refers to...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: No. That-----

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: The question was more about how the Minister evaluates what should be spent in the precautionary stage as opposed to having something in a contingency fund for after the event. I used flooding as an example. We are looking at €1 billion being needed for the flood defences. Obviously, if we had the €1 billion and it was spent, that might mitigate any longer-term risks for...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I have a follow-up question. Regarding the deposit criteria, for example, if we have an increase in tax receipts in a particular area and we are looking at a rainy day fund or a short-term contingency fund, the Minister said he could have the contingency fund for those unusual events like flooding or foot and mouth disease as part of an overall rainy day fund, with particular withdrawal...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I have one particular question on this.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I can address the other issues later. I am developing a bit of understanding from the meeting that we are probably looking at two separate issues. The Minister said that his preference would be a countercyclical approach. The language is important because if we are looking at approximately €500 million, that is not really countercyclical. The Minister would agree with that. We are...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is the Minister looking at the contingency fund being part of the overall rainy day fund but just having different drawdown criteria, or is it better to have two separate funds? I imagine it would be very difficult in primary legislation to specify what an event would be. One could not give a list of potential events.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: My final question is where the consultation goes from here. The committee is looking at a report emerging probably in mid-February.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I wish to just follow up on what the Minister said about PPPs. Is it currently the position that each Department assesses its own PPPs, for example, the Department of Education and Skills examines the PPPs for the building of schools or third level institutions? Is it done on a departmental basis currently? One of the things the IMF included in its recommendations is that the Department of...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I mentioned last week on Question Time that one of the difficulties in terms of the cost-benefit analysis is the commercial sensitivity of companies. How does the Minister propose to evaluate PPPs and can he publish the evaluations?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Proposal to Establish a Rainy Day Fund: Minister for Finance (31 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is there a role for the Comptroller and Auditor General in that regard?

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (25 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Wrap up there.

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (25 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is Deputy Mattie McGrath.

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (Resumed) (25 Jan 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am just saying that Deputy Mattie McGrath's name is on the list.