Results 21-40 of 9,090 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (9 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to reviewing the public procurement process to make it more transparent and work to ensure greater participation from SMEs. Working towards this aim, and to set out the strategic direction of public procurement for the next five years, my Department is developing a first National Public Procurement Strategy. On 25 March, the Office of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Sign Language (9 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: My department is committed to implementing the requirements of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. While my department does not provide direct public access to services or statutory entitlements, it is committed to providing interpretation in Irish Sign Language (ISL) where required. For example, ISL accessibility is prioritised at conferences and events hosted by my department. In 2024, six...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (8 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: I am informed by the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) that the decision to cease the routine issue of paper payslips was made prior to the establishment of the NSSO and was part of a wider Government strategy on the digitalisation of Public Services. I understand that the NSSO is responsible for the distribution of staff and pensioner payslips, these payslips are distributed by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. I am advised that the Office of Public Works will reply directly to the Deputy. Public Body Year Capital Projects over €500,000 Total Project Cost Overspend or Failed to deliver Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform 2021 ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (8 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Office of Government Procurement established a Framework Agreement for Stationery and Office Supplies on 13th July 2020. There are 18 Framework Members on the Framework, listed below. All current contracts awarded under this FWA will expire on 15th June 2026. Albany Office Supplies BL Office Services T/A Office Supplies Ireland Codex Ltd. Codex Ltd. Consortium. Consortium...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The relevant information in respect of Ministerial appointees and Department Private Secretaries at my Department is set out in the table below. I am advised that the Office of Public Works will send the relevant information in respect of such staff at that Office directly to the Deputy. Job Title Equivalent Grade Salary Scale of Equivalent Grade ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Meetings (8 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform is aware of progress made to date to implement the Gender Recognition Act 2015 and the recommendations arising from the Review of the Act. This Department is aware that some work has been undertaken to conduct an impact assessment of extending legal gender recognition to people who are non-binary, which was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The first thing is to take into account the review that has happened and some of the more recent recommendations which have been made, and to have a policy consideration around those. Following that, what is set out in the context of the programme for Government is to give legislative underpinning to that. Once the policy matters have been bottomed out within my Department, which I am...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: That is why it has been set out as a priority in the programme for Government and why, in the first instance, we need to make sure that the policy framework that is developed can be reflected in a general scheme. At that point, we will have pre-legislative scrutiny and cross-party input in the Oireachtas. This is an important matter across the political system in terms of broader...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy is aware, we committed to updating the ethics in public office legislation in the recent programme for Government. This is on foot of a wide-ranging review the Deputy referred to on the legislative framework for ethics in public office my Department undertook during the last Government, the findings of which were published in February 2023. The report's recommendations...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Construction Industry (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The construction sector group is doing an element of that in the context of construction skills. The Planning and Development Act was obviously discussed, and modern methods of construction as well as other priority areas, which I have referenced, around digital adoption and productivity in the construction sector. However, a separate very serious piece of work is ongoing in the Department...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: It was prudent that a review took place. It was very open-ended on public consultation and structured stakeholder engagement. There is also the international metric, which is important in that context. It has been established with very strong engagement in the recent period. We want to assess the feedback from the broader political system and, indeed, public interest parties that want to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: I am happy to do that. If we look at the existing scheme, the fact that the requests have doubled is a good sign that people are engaging with the broader FOI system. One thing that also needs to be strengthened across public bodies is the work we are doing with the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, on data and digitalisation. A great deal of public information can be published properly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The more information we can publish and allow academics and the public interest to interact with it, the better it will be for public policymaking. This needs to sit in parallel with the FOI system itself in respect of how we get better proactive publication across the board.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Construction Industry (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The construction sector group was set up in 2018 by my Department. The group ensures regular and open dialogue between government and industry on how best to achieve and maintain a sustainable and innovative construction sector positioned to deliver on the national development plan and Project Ireland 2040. It is made up of representatives of key industry bodies, as well as senior...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Construction Industry (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: The latest meeting of the construction sector group received an update on some of what the Deputy mentioned. This included the proposed research on a pathway to having a 30% embodied carbon reduction in the construction sector, the development of a modern methods of construction data dashboard, which is nearing completion and the collaboration between Dublin City Council, DCC, and the Build...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Freedom of Information (3 Apr 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 appeared 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 has increased significantly and the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: That is very inflammatory language, to be frank.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: You have to balance that against the public service that is trying to deliver on broader policy objectives, such as decarbonising public transport,-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (3 Apr 2025)

Jack Chambers: -----which is an important public good. You have to balance that against many public servants working in our transport system who want to ensure we advance a major capital project. There are issues with the systems around timelines, sequencing and the delays that happen in public projects, especially those relating to the planning system and the decision-making that happens in that regard....