Results 9,721-9,740 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

National Development Plan. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I agree with Deputy Burton that these are very important strategic decisions, and they will be announced in the budget. The overall amount of borrowing that can be engaged in by the State will also be announced in the budget. It will not be announced in the House this afternoon. It is clear from the figures disclosed to date that borrowing will have to take place for investment in capital...

National Development Plan. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: With regard to decentralisation, a political decision was announced by a previous Minister for Finance after being arrived at by the Government, which the Deputy's party——

National Development Plan. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy's party agreed that a certain designated number of personnel and bodies should be decentralised to particular locations.

National Development Plan. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have never heard that the Deputy's party opposed that particular Government decision unequivocally or opposed the locations selected by the then Government for decentralisation. Value for money then enters the equation, on foot of the political decision, in assessing the buildings at the proposed locations.

Appointments to State Boards. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The arrangements for appointments to the boards of State bodies are normally set out in the legislation establishing the bodies in question and are designed to ensure efficient management of the organisation. Appointments to the boards are generally made by the Minister with responsibility for the body in question, subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance. In making appointments,...

Appointments to State Boards. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Of course I have full confidence in the authorities referred to by the Deputy, although he will appreciate that I did not appoint the persons in question. However, I have confidence in the operation of these authorities. If it falls to me to make appointments I will of course take great care in doing so, as they are of great importance in the financial administration of the State. However,...

Appointments to State Boards. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I indicated, I am open to suggestions as to how we can improve the quality of those appointed to the boards. I do not believe membership of a particular political organisation or party should disqualify persons from appointment to a State board.

Appointments to State Boards. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would deplore any tendency in that regard. Participation in political parties of every type, description and orientation is an important part of the public life of the State and should be esteemed rather than devalued. That is important in making appointments to boards. I do not accept the proposition that because a person is a member of a political party it somehow necessarily...

Appointments to State Boards. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A review and audit of the current membership of a board would, in effect, undermine its position.

Appointments to State Boards. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Members of the relevant boards in the financial authorities have very grave responsibilities. I would not attempt to review their performance other than in the context of fresh appointments being made to those authorities or a public concern being raised about the public performance of their duties. No public concern about their duties has been brought to my attention.

Value for Money Initiative. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I outlined to Deputy Bruton on 4 June, it is important that the Oireachtas should engage with evaluation of spending programmes under the value for money initiative. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the orders of reference for the select committees of the 30th Dáil specifically encompass consideration of the reviews completed under this initiative. The Deputy will also be...

Value for Money Initiative. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am certainly open to considering it, although the public accounts process encompasses some of what the Deputy is referring to regarding the evaluation of value for money. A perusal of the report submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General makes that very clear. Regarding the specific value for money initiative we are discussing, the practice to date has been that the Government...

Value for Money Initiative. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I read the transcript.

Value for Money Initiative. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy began by raising the question of the 800 agencies. My views on the matter are well known. It is under consideration in the budgetary process. I agree that our public administration has become far too fragmented and divided. The Deputy used the term "quango" in reference to these bodies and agencies, all of which are not quangos in the sense that clearly the Central Bank is an...

Value for Money Initiative. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It was agreed in the circumstances of the health reform programme and the demands associated with its implementation, that further value for money reviews would not be initiated until 2006. Two reviews that were scheduled to take place in 2002 on the accident and emergency departments and on the GMS were effectively overtaken by the extensive reviews undertaken in the context of the health...

Economic Competitiveness. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The deterioration in the economy's competitiveness relative to that of our main trading partners has been driven by a combination of factors. These include a strong euro, the global rise in commodity prices and wage increases in excess of productivity. The relatively high rate of inflation we have experienced over the last number of years has also played a role. At this stage, price levels...

Economic Competitiveness. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government collectively has a very important fundamental duty to maintain our cost base under control as much as possible. My Department does not control the cost of electricity in the State, which is one of the cost factors which bears on our inflation. We have established as a State an independent system of regulation to determine energy prices. That independent process is informed...

Economic Competitiveness. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Bruton made the case that I was personally responsible for the price of electricity.

Economic Competitiveness. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I wish to point out that neither I nor my Department is responsible but that the Government collectively has to take the decisions that ensure we have the lowest possible price in the Irish market. The Deputy referred to inflation in respect of public sector costs generally. I can assure him that, as Minister for Finance, I keep a very wary eye on any such increases in public expenditure....

Economic Competitiveness. (25 Sep 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As regards the health service, primary responsibility for the formulation of proposals rests with the Minister for Health and Children. The matter is collectively considered by the Government at regular intervals. In regard to the costs of the health service, I do not accept Deputy Burton's assumption that the for-profit sector is necessarily more expensive than the public sector provision.