Results 241-260 of 9,090 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (13 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: A comprehensive review of the FOI regime has been undertaken and is nearing completion. The review was undertaken in the context of a system that appears to be operating well on its own terms. Since the introduction of the updated legislation in 2014, there has been a large expansion in FOI usage. The number of organisations covered by the legislation was significantly increased and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (13 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: Given the nature of its role, my Department does not procure helicopter or air services for its own use. However, the Office of Government Procurement, which is a division of my Department, does assist other public bodies in their procurements, which at times may include such services. Suppliers should monitor the national tendering platform eTenders for all available tenders. A supplier...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (13 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: My Department has responsibility for developing and monitoring overall expenditure policy in line with Government objectives and agreed fiscal strategy. This is done through a number of means across the year, including at regular monthly and quarterly intervals. Every month spending figures are published in the Fiscal Monitor. This is published by the Department of Finance and can be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (13 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Programme for Government has emphasised the delivery of essential infrastructure as a key driver in attracting and retaining investment in Ireland, growing our economy, fostering regional development, delivering on our housing targets and achieving our ambitious climate goals. A key commitment of the Programme for Government is to prioritise an early review of the National Development...

Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I will come back on some of the points raised. First, relating to the section, it is obviously being opposed. As I said previously, the purpose of the Bill is to allow for the appointment of 23 Ministers of State. The importance of Ministers of State is not something new. It was already acknowledged in 1924 with the Ministers and Secretaries Act that first provided for the appointment by...

Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (12 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputies for their contributions and reiterate our intention to ensure the work of the new Ministers of State achieves the whole-of-government approach we are trying to implement and which is reflected in the programme for Government. This will be achieved by many of the Ministers of State presiding over cross-departmental structures and teams, as in the case of the fisheries and...

Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (12 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The purpose of this Bill is to give effect to the decision by the Government to increase the maximum number of Ministers of State from 20 to 23. As the House will be aware, the number has remained unchanged for the last 18 years, since 2007, when Minister of State numbers increased from 17 to 20. The Bill will also allow for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (12 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations was published by my Department in March 2022. The Framework provides broad strategic direction to individual Departments and Offices in the Civil Service in developing tailored policies on blended working that are appropriate to needs of business and employees. The Framework already provides for reviews, in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (12 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: In January 2020, my Department introduced mandatory new procedures for all Departments and Agencies for offsetting the emissions associated with official air travel. The table below gives a summary of my Department's payments from the relevant Votes into the Climate Action Fund (CAF) from 2020 to 2023. The figures for 2024 are not yet available but will be completed in advance of the 28...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (12 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Government has committed €165 billion in capital investment through the National Development Plan (NDP) published in 2021. As a percentage of national income, annual capital investment is now among the largest in the EU. In 2025, €15 billion will fund vital infrastructure in areas such as housing, transport, education, enterprise, sport and climate action. An additional...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (12 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: My Department is responsible for the Infrastructure Guidelines (the Public Spending Code (PSC) prior to end 2023), which sets the value for money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects. Management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks is a key responsibility of every...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Services Provision (12 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: Thank you Deputy for the question. My Department has been responsible for a number of recent reform initiatives, including ‘Better Public Services’ transformation strategy, which aims to deliver inclusive, high quality and integrated Public Service provision that meets the needs and improves the lives of the people of Ireland. This strategy is formed around three core themes,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tax Yield (12 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: On 30 September 2024, the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General published its Report to Dáil Éireann on the results of the examination of the 2023 Accounts of Government Departments and Offices. Chapter 18 of the report, on the administration of carbon tax receipts, included a finding that of the €1.36bn carbon tax revenues allocated over the period...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: The health and well-being of the men and women in the Air Corps is an absolute priority for me and the Government. While I cannot comment on the details or circumstances of individual cases, the Department of Defence is aware of a matter that was recently settled by mutual agreement between the parties involved and that the State did not seek to restrict the disclosure of the terms of the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. I am familiar with that issue in north County Dublin. The National Transport Authority conducted significant work on a fare determination policy, which the previous Government progressed. I will ask Deputy O'Brien, in his new role as transport Minister, to respond to the Deputy's concerns. He is very familiar with north County Dublin, having previously represented the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. I am very cognisant of the need for increased bed capacity and expanded service provision in the mid-west region. I will ask the Minister for Health to respond on specifics relating to timelines. There is consensus across this House on the need for greater investment in the mid-west when it comes to provision of healthcare and bed capacity. That is reflected in the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. The Government recognises the essential work carried out by community and voluntary health and social care organisations and their staff and the reliance of the State on these organisations to deliver important supports and services in the communities we represent. The programme for Government commits to working with the voluntary sector through industrial relations...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: Like the Deputy's, my thoughts are with the woman involved in that case, who went through a shocking series of incidents with that person. I cannot comment directly on the court case. Our thoughts are with her. We need to ensure all legislation we advance is victim-centred. That will be central to the legislation the Minister for Justice advances. I will ask him to respond to the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I am aware that an industrial relations process is under way. I am due to be briefed on the matter relating to the technology university and the staff involved and I will come to the Deputy directly in respect of it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy O'Gorman. I made representations, as I know he did, under the previous Government in respect of reading classes and reading schools. We are both active on the case to which he refers on behalf of many parents of children who attend St. Francis Xavier school. I will ask the Minister for Education to respond to Deputy O'Gorman directly. I know how important reading classes...