Results 11,121-11,140 of 26,032 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: Many flat-rate expenses have been there for years and many workers are not claiming flat-rate expenses to which they would be entitled. I appreciate the cautious approach that the Government has taken. The relevant term was always that the relevant expenses were wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in the performance of one's duties. Jobs have changed significantly over many years...
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: Section 18 covers the living city initiative. It has been in place for a few years. It is a big issue for us in Limerick city where we have a Georgian quarter. I have spoken to the Minister of State and his officials in the past about the take-up of this scheme, how it has worked and whether he has had an opportunity to review it. The scheme's purpose is beneficial but the practical...
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: Those figures are disappointing. The Minister of State mentioned 228 applications nationally but only 19 came from Limerick. That is low and disappointing. I welcome the extension of the scheme for a further two and a half years. I would like him to commit to reviewing the scheme in some depth to see why there is such a low take-up in Limerick city where there is a much higher...
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: Either Senator Horkan or Senator Conway-Walsh may speak next.
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: Does Senator Conway-Walsh wish to press the recommendation?
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: I was just reflecting when the Minister of State was talking that a significant amount of taxpayers' money went into the banks and is still in them. I would like to see that coming back for the taxpayer. As to what I believe would be the best way for it to come back, we must ensure that the valuations of the banks are held up. The recommendation could provide for a situation where there...
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2019: Order for Report Stage (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: Next Tuesday.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: I was struck by Mr. Watt's comment that there is a huge difference between the issue of the printer and that of the children's hospital. There is one major point in common. Both involve taxpayers' money. Therefore, they have a lot in common. At this stage, no matter what Department we go to, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform comes up. With regard to every item of...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: There are many lines of spending in respect of which I can understand the position of the Department. I am more interested in the process.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: I am more interested-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: I am more interested in the process. If the budget of a particular Department in 2018 was €3 million, is that Department guaranteed that €3 million plus a small increase for the following year?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: Is it possible that there are lines of spending by Departments that are not providing value for money and that there are other Departments that are urgently in need of funding to which they cannot get access because it is embedded in a line of spend in another Department? Do we have an imprest system such that each Department holds the budget they have the previous year?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: I am more interested from the perspective of a range of Departments. Where a Minister wants to spend money in a particular area but from within the Department's existing budget, does he or she require the sanction of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to do so?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: If a Minister wants to reallocate funding from one area of his or her Department to another area, is the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform required to do it?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: Is it fair to say that there is a imprest system in place to allow Departments to hold the budget they have?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: Has a Department's allocation ever reduced?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: Those were times of economic war. I am trying to make a serious point.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: In terms of technical expertise, how many qualified accounts are there in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: I am speaking about the personnel who deal with budgets for Departments.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)
Kieran O'Donnell: What is the background of the staff who are analysing the budgets and options?