Results 941-960 of 2,211 for speaker:Paul Connaughton

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: Mr. Quinn stated that there would be winners and losers in this process. I have no problem with that when there is change, but the SME sector is afraid that the winner will be a large, global company with unbelievable resources that can make a crazily low bid for a public procurement contract, blowing everyone else out of the water. That winner would not give a hang for Irish jobs and so...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: If SMEs grouped together to tender for a job and a much larger organisation tendered at a much reduced price, would the office even investigate why it could be that cheap?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: What is the trigger? How low must the price be before the office suspects there is a problem or believes it should be investigated?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: With all due respect, that answer is vague - the office may or may not investigate a tender and it depends on the product and who is involved. Is the office charged with that investigation? Who in the Department ensures checks and balances?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: If an SME loses a tender due to an extremely low price and the SME does not know the formula, how to report the issue or how the process is policed, for wont of a better word, when will that certainty of protocol be provided to SMEs?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: The office is rolling out. Mr. Quinn used to be with the OPW but has since moved to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Are many people in his office working on this issue?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: Public procurement.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: I wish to cover public procurement. We received a submission from the Irish School Arts Supply Federation in the SME sector outlining its concerns over current Government procurement policy. Mr. Watt's opening statement indicated we aimed to save €500 million over three years. While everyone hopes that can be achieved, we would be somewhat concerned over the impact on small and...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: Mr. Watt referred to €100 million saved so far and he has acknowledged that there will be difficulties with the groups involved in that. If many of these SMEs go to the wall, while the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform might save €100 million, does the Department of Social Protection not have to pay that amount on the other side?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances
Chapter 3 - Financial Commitments under Public Private Partnerships
Chapter 4 - Vote Accounting
Chapter 5 - Vote Budget Management (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: I will come back to the value for money element of it shortly. With the way it is going about it at the moment, the Department may achieve its savings, which would be a success for that Department. However, is there consultation with the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Social Protection to consider the wider picture? I get the impression - Mr. Watt can correct me if I am...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: I agree with the point made by Deputy Deasy but also with what has been stated earlier. The main issue in this regard is that trying to get information has been akin to pulling teeth. Had Rehab been upfront months ago, members would not be here. While the committee may still have had the same issues to face, Rehab has been extremely secretive about the whole thing. No matter what question...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: I have been contacted by Brian Lynch & Associates, Solicitors, on the school transport scheme in connection with an issue relating to Bus Éireann potentially making a profit on the contract. I accept the matter came before the Committee of Public Accounts previously and that he has probably been in contact with other members as well. Could we re-open and re-examine the matter?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: That is perfect.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Fees (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: 79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the circumstances under which arrears can be paid in respect of a remote area grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15756/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (3 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: 234. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the upgrading of the health centre in Portumna, County Galway; the plans that exist for a new primary care centre in Portumna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15692/14]

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: There have been issues over the last number of weeks and they have been corrected, which is very much to be welcomed. It is now important to move on. I have noticed that no Opposition Member spoke about any of the positive things that have taken place in the last three years, including the introduction of personal insolvency legislation which was ground-breaking and badly needed. If we are...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Rebates (2 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: 76. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the fuel rebate for bus owners recently introduced in the budget is limited to those who use over 2,000 litres of fuel per month as this unfairly disadvantages smaller operators, who are commercial bus operators and who use over 1,000 litres per month but who fail to meet the 2,000 litre threshold; if there are plans to remedy this matter to...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion [Private Members] (1 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: There is half an Independent sitting beside Deputy O'Dea.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Exemptions (1 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: 165. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 4 March 2014, if the exemption for capital gains tax in relation to land which has been leased for the past five years is available in cases where land has been rented for five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14800/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (1 Apr 2014)

Paul Connaughton: 218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for a school building (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15074/14]