Results 5,001-5,020 of 10,797 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Other Questions: Public Procurement Regulations (26 Sep 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I can give him a more comprehensive answer shortly. In the weeks since being appointed to my role with responsibility for procurement, it has been my concern and that of the Government that we be cognisant of the impact that any procurement guideline, regulation or rule has on the SME sector. On this basis, the Department's SME leadership...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Regulations (26 Sep 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy is probably aware, the majority of procurement contracts awarded by the State in that sector go to Irish companies, which sustains jobs across the country. That is important. The OGP takes a balanced approach to delivering value for the taxpayer and ensures that public procurement is accessible by all businesses, including the SME sector. This is done in a number of ways,...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Sep 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: Deputy Boyd Barrett's question is whether the Minister has plans for new legislation in this area. There are no plans for legislation covering procurement, but I can give a more comprehensive answer when the Deputy asks his more comprehensive question.

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Sep 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will try to answer the question - as it relates to the Department - which is in respect of procurement. I should explain that public procurement already includes provisions for the protection of labour rights.  Public procurement is the acquisition, whether under formal contract or not, of works, supplies and services by public bodies.  National rules governing public procurement...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Sep 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The question Deputy Boyd Barrett is asking now is completely different-----

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Sep 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The question asks the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for new legislation. Deputy Boyd Barrett has raised a serious-----

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Sep 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: It continues, "proper wages and conditions for workers and full tax compliance, with particular emphasis on bogus self-employment, in all public contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter". No details were supplied and there were no details relating to the contracts the Deputy mentioned. The Deputy has raised specific issues on the record of the House. The Department of...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Sep 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: Perhaps the Deputy will let me finish. The Deputy is also asking the question, I presume, in the context of legislation that he and his colleagues have proposed. The Department has serious concerns about the legality of that legislation and that has also been communicated by the Attorney General. I do not disregard the severity of what the Deputy suggested. I have no proof of it. This is...

Seanad: National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: Yes. The chief executive officer's salary is in line with those in the public service. It is at the scale of deputy secretary general of a Department.

Seanad: National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is in keeping with the same proceedings in place for every other grade in the Civil Service. Recently, the avenue of the Pensions Ombudsman has been open to people if they have issues related to their pensions.

Seanad: National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank all Members of the Seanad who participated in Tuesday's debate. It was a very robust debate, and I refer here only to my Fine Gael colleague. I would expect nothing less from him. We are, after all, a party that prides itself on openness, accountability and transparency and it is my colleague's job to hold me to account in the Upper House. He acquitted himself very well, as of...

Seanad: National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Senator never misses an opportunity.

Seanad: National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: One of the ushers had told me this was the last sitting of the House in this Chamber-----

Seanad: National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: -----and on behalf of my Department, because the Office of Public Works comes under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, I wish those who will do the work here to work safely. As the Leas-Chathaoirleach and my good colleague, Senator Burke, know, I attempted to get a seat in the Seanad one time and I lost by one quarter of one vote.

Seanad: National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I do not know if I am better off or worse off. I wish the Seanad and its staff well in its new home.

Seanad: National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Second Stage (18 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The National Shared Services Office, NSSO, Bill is technical in nature. It lays out the legislative basis for the establishment of the National Shared Services Office as a separate Civil Service office under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The NSSO is already in place and has been in operation on an administrative basis since 2014. This Bill seeks to formalise...

Seanad: National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Second Stage (18 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have my breath this time which will be a help. I welcome the support that has been given to the Bill. I apologise for the confusion over the script. We had not been asked to have copies for circulation but I assure the House that in future when I come here to deal with legislation in particular that scripts will be circulated. This is not a quango. A quango in the true sense of the...

National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I accept the intent of what Deputy Cullinane is proposing. We had a bit of a discussion on it on Committee Stage. One of the core functions of the Committee of Public Accounts, as set out under Standing Order 186, is to scrutinise the spending of taxpayers' money through examination and reporting to the Dáil on appropriation accounts. The duties of an Accounting Officer are set out in...

National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy pre-empted me well but, in fairness, I did accept a good number of his amendments already and I thank him for acknowledging it. Government pay policy is the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, who is best placed to establish remuneration rates for board members. This applies across all boards appointed by the Public Appointments Service. Section...

National Shared Services Office Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jul 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: Now.