Results 25,761-25,780 of 32,924 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Data (21 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Since its introduction in 2011, the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) has applied more significant cuts in both absolute and proportionate terms to public service pensions of relatively higher values while at 2015 year-end, an estimated 33% of public service pensions of relatively lower values were completely exempt from PSPR. Scheduled over three stages...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (16 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, under the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact, Ireland's fiscal policy is set in accordance with reaching the Medium Term Objective (MTO). Compliance with this requirement is assessed in two ways. Firstly, until the MTO is reached, a minimum annual improvement in the structural balance greater than 0.5 per cent of GDP is required. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability Programme Data (16 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Programme for a Partnership Government sets out a commitment to spend in aggregate at least €6.75 billion more on public services in 2021 than this year. The fiscal forecasts in the Stability Programme Update for the period 2017 to 2021 were set out on a technical, no-policy change basis, consistent with the approach adopted in the Budget 2016 book published by the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (16 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 sets out the rules of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, which is the default pension scheme for new-joiner public servants since 2013. In addition, the Act contains diverse provisions which may affect the pension position of serving and retired public servants generally. These provisions include, at...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Low Pay Commission Establishment (16 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my previous answer on this matter (PQ 10976/16).

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (16 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Legal Services:Prior to appointment to any OGP Legal Services Framework Agreement for Solicitors Services, successful Tenderers are required to demonstrate that they meet the minimum standards laid down in the competition. These standards vary depending on the nature and type of Framework Agreement being entered into. Typically, solicitors are required to demonstrate their compliance to the...

Presentation of Estimates: Motion (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I move:That, notwithstanding Standing Order 182(1) or (2) of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business, the following Revised Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31st December 2016, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members on 15th June 2016, being a date later than that prescribed for the presentation of Estimates:Vote 26 —...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes. We are moving as quickly as we can to publish the mid-year expenditure reports because they offer the platform on which the sectoral engagements that Deputy Ryan envisages can take place. We aim to publish as early in July as possible the starting point for each Department for budget 2017. We will outline where they are from a spending point of view at the moment and issues that will...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I read the OECD report and found it a very helpful input into the work we have been doing. Page 27 of the report, in the section relating to principles guiding parliamentary reform, refers to respect for constitutional restraints and the prerogatives of the Executive. The same report does acknowledge the role of the Executive which is a consequence of the design of our Constitution. Within...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I have two points to make on costings. I fully concur with and support the setting up of an independent budget office, an economic service for the Oireachtas. My Department will give any help it can to set up such an office and for the duration of the set-up period. If Deputy Cullinane or any Deputy has concerns on costings that need to be done or concerns about the flow of information to...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: As did my Department and I completely agree with the Deputy. We published it on our website a short time after I took office because the Deputy is right.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I will begin with the question put to me by Deputy Donnelly in respect of his appreciation of the no policy change information. That is what we seek to do in the mid-year report. My objective is to be able to produce for each sectoral committee the best estimate as to what we believe are the no policy change figures in order that Members will know the truest starting point for the framing...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I was about to do so. The reason we have had difficulties to date is twofold. First, we have had changes regarding the allocations and set-up of Departments, which, in turn, has had an impact on the Estimates. Second, we had some changes that took place in the spending of individual Departments, as confirmed by the Cabinet last week. I take Deputy Burton's point that the Estimates should...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I answered that. I am in agreement in principle. There is the trade-off, as the Minister, Deputy Noonan, stated already, between the transparency and accuracy of the information. Within that space, however, it is a fair request from the Deputy and I will come back to the committee regarding how we can do that.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: On the budgetary office and whether it should be on a statutory footing, in the spirit of where we are now I would have to say that is a matter for the Oireachtas. I believe it is something that should be considered. On the timing, I suggest it would be worthwhile getting the body up and running for a period of time on an administrative basis to learn from how it works; that could then be...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Chambers for her questions. On information flow, I would hope that we will make a big start on this by the publication of the mid-year expenditure report. We will look to share with the committee where we are for this year and where we believe we will start for next year and will outline in as clear a manner as we can the kinds of factors we think will influence expenditure...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to respond to questions posed by Deputy Chambers.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to answer the final question asked by Deputy Chambers about the level of engagement in a normal year. I believe such engagement should be year-long. If we publish a mid-year expenditure report in July 2017 and start the same engagement that we are about to start now, then we will have all collectively missed a trick. I will outline what should happen. As each Department publishes...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Paschal Donohoe: We could well face simple logistic challenges in that regard.