Results 1,101-1,120 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the development co-operation directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place during the second half of 2007 and will involve the relocation to Limerick of 124 posts. In addition, and in order to help effect the smoothest possible transfer to Limerick, an advance party involving...

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I will deal initially with the first part of the Deputy's question about no progress having been made since 8 February. If he had listened carefully to what I said——

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I said there has been strong progress——

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: ——and I am hopeful that shortly we will have a resolution to the issue involving our development specialists. We value them as being integral to the efficient delivery of the programme. We are hopeful therefore and, as I emphasised in my reply, the negotiations are at a delicate stage. We are on the cusp of a breakthrough and hopefully when that is achieved the Deputies opposite will...

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The expenditure is audited at several specific levels, ranging from the Comptroller and Auditor General to an arrangement we have with the World Bank to audit the programme along with other donors. In addition, we have auditors in our embassies and Irish Aid offices in the programme countries where the money is being spent. Therefore the programme is subject to extensive audits at a number...

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I am sorry about that.

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I do not want to get into a rhetorical ding-dong with the Deputy on this point.

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The net point is that 73% of the required staff we will need to decentralise fully by the end of this year are already in place and ready to move.

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The idea of the early deployment in May is a good one from the taxpayers' point of view. This is an enormous aid programme which is going through its biggest ever expansion in the history of the State. It is imperative that staff be deployed there early to ease the transition involved. Even in my own, very modest, experience of the private sector, prior to my role in politics, I often...

Human Rights Issues. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I am deeply concerned at the continuing deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Iraq and in particular the situation of internally displaced persons, refugees and vulnerable populations. I therefore welcome the decision of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNHCR, to hold the international conference in Geneva on 17 April which will address the humanitarian needs of...

Human Rights Issues. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: Regarding the Deputy's view that we should be appropriately and properly represented at these conferences, I am sometimes present at conferences to pledge financial assistance and sometimes not. Sometimes this is merely a matter of tactics as we might be asked informally by other donors, who are trying to raise money at such conferences, to make our pledge in advance, as the French say, pour...

Human Rights Issues. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy can take it that we have not received any request regarding taking refugees to Ireland under the programme refugee scheme. If we receive such a request we will respond appropriately, however we have not been asked diplomatically or through the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I am not bluffing; I simply do not know whether the Department of Justice, Equality and...

Overseas Development Aid. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The Multi-Annual Programme Scheme, MAPS, is an Irish Aid funding scheme which helps the larger Irish non-governmental organisations, NGOs, to strengthen their development programmes and planning through flexible and predictable funding. The five MAPS partners Concern, Trócaire, GOAL, Christian Aid and Self Help Development International, SHDI, who participated in the first phase of MAPS...

Overseas Development Aid. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: In some cases, organisations receive allocations at different times. Some organisations develop their programmes and have discussions with my officials earlier than others. I do not become deeply involved in these matters and officials generally submit proposals to me to be signed off. I signed off on three such proposals but did not sign off on the Self Help Development International...

Overseas Development Aid. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The Department typically spends €50,000 or €60,000 on the consultants and contractors it employs. These are small amounts when compared with domestic spending on consultants, which is frequently much higher. In addition, consultants tend to be employed on a short-term basis for a specific purpose. For instance, they are commissioned to assess and carry out proper due diligence on the...

Overseas Development Aid. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: The Department must operate in a nuanced way when assessing projects. If there is strong parliamentary support for a project, I will make no secret of it. If a large number of people are lobbying me about a matter——

Overseas Development Aid. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I will have a note issued to the Deputy because I do not have the full details of the case on hand.

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 94 and 167 together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the development co-operation directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place during the second half of 2007 and will involve the relocation to Limerick of 124 posts. In addition and to help effect the smoothest possible...

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: It is not the business of Irish Aid to fund the administrative decentralisation of organisations we happen to fund, whether non-governmental organisations or any other type of body. Irish Aid does not enter into this type of assistance and should not engage in such measures as it would amount to paying for administration, rather than providing financial and other assistance to those we seek...

Decentralisation Programme. (21 Mar 2007)

Conor Lenihan: We received sanction for 20 additional posts as part of the last Estimates round. In the next fortnight, I will enter into a further Estimate discussion with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen. We were grateful that those 20 posts, 16 of which have been filled to date, were allocated specifically for audit, evaluation and monitoring of the programme. Two of those 16 are auditors hired...