Results 32,281-32,300 of 34,956 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure and Reform Vote: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: Are they new increments for next year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure and Reform Vote: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I am looking for the figures.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure and Reform Vote: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Minister for coming before the committee. Commencing a general debate on the Estimates for the coming year at this stage is a first small step in the right direction. I say this despite the fact that the documentation with which we have been presented is based on the policy for 2012 and that the cost of any new policy which might be adopted has not been factored in. We are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I am happy with that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: The Minister of State gets the gist of my question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I wish the Minister of State all the best.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I know it is contracted out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: It is a relevant statistic.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: This is similar to the local authority telling me that we had 100 staff, the work was all motorway projects and the amount of work being done is down by 70% but it still has 85% of its staff. One can talk about the projects being subcontracted out. Estimates should be about the outcome and outputs. The outputs have been seriously diminished but the staff number have not been reduced to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: No. It is a valid perspective. I understand that the work is sub-contracted out. I wish to raise the rent roll. In the course of the statement, the Minister of State stated that rent had been reduced from €131 million in 2009 to €112 million and that he hopes to have the figure reduced by another €3 million-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: Exactly. That sounds good but let me drill into the Minister's figures. Reducing the figure from €131 million to €100 million would be a saving of more than 30%. The numbers employed in the public service during that period will have been reduced from 320,000 to 282,000 and we are well on the road to achieving that, which is a reduction of 12%. As there is 12% fewer staff in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: There has been a 12% reduction in staff in the Civil Service as well as the public service.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I am always supportive of the OPW and the staff know that but I have to look at the figures from a different perspective. I understand the Minister of State has achieved a rent reduction in the case of a break clause and he was able to renegotiate the lease. What we would really like to know is the value of the rent roll that did not come up for rent review. It is great to get a 50%...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Minister of State for giving us that overall view of the situation as we commence the Estimates process for next year. There is no point talking about specific budgetary lines because we know decisions must be made on policy for next year. There are two ways to look at the Minister of State's statement. It was given in a nice, flowery manner but there should be a harsh...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: EU-IMF Programme of Support Issues (16 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the discussions she has had with the Troika in relation to the future of the disability allowance for people aged 16 to 18 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44392/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (16 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress that she has made in the implementation of the pathways to work initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44406/12]

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Compact for Growth and Jobs (16 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: To ask the Taoiseach the discussions he has had to date with the EU officials in respect of Ireland's participation in the Compact for Growth agreed at EU level in June 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44760/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Expenditure (16 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost to date of preparation for the Irish Presidency of the EU; the estimated total cost that will be incurred; the proportion that will accrue to domestic firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43396/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Allowances Review (16 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the approximate cost to his Department of the review of public service allowances that was undertaken during 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44756/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Building Regulations (16 Oct 2012)

Seán Fleming: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is assured that the terms of all Exchequer funded construction projects state that they must be completed in accordance with regulatory standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44758/12]