Results 13,281-13,300 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Decentralisation Programme (1 Oct 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, there was a Decentralisation Programme announced in December 2003 which set out a goal of relocating over 10,000 civil and public service jobs to 53 locations in 25 counties. The Government decided in 2011 that the Decentralisation Programme be cancelled in light of the budgetary and staffing outlook at that time. Up to that date, about a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (1 Oct 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has not incurred any capital expenditure on projects in excess of €10 million since 1 January 2014.  In respect of the relevant bodies under the aegis of the Department, the National Shared Services Office will respond to the Deputy directly.  The position regarding the Office of Public Works (OPW) is set out in the following tables: OPW Vote Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Issues (1 Oct 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government has always been clear that Brexit, in whatever form it takes, will have a negative economic impact on Ireland.  Since the referendum result, therefore, Brexit has been a central to the Government’s decision-making and in the management of our economic and fiscal policy. The Government has been taking steps to boost the resilience of the economy by balancing our...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Government Expenditure (1 Oct 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 to 177, inclusive, 179 and 181 together. Managing expenditure within allocations is a key responsibility of every Department and Minister. A number of measures are in place to ensure that our expenditure and budgetary targets are being achieved on an ongoing basis. There is regular reporting to Government on expenditure levels and expenditure profiles...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Government Expenditure (1 Oct 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Following a period of consolidation after the economic crisis, over the last number of years there has been modest growth in expenditure. Compared to the end 2014 outturn, gross voted expenditure in 2019 is profiled to be 25% higher as set out in section 2.2 of the Budget 2019 Expenditure Report. Indeed, in 2019, €66.6 billion has been allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Measures (1 Oct 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 286 of 23 July 2019.  PQ Ref: 32195/19: The process of unwinding the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016 – 2018 and will be completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 (PSSA). The PSSA, which was negotiated in 2017, and the provisions of which were...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (1 Oct 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Procurement is governed by EU legislation and National rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has responsibility for developing and setting out the overarching policy framework for public procurement in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (1 Oct 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am happy to inform the Deputy that the significant public service reforms that this Government has undertaken in recent years continue to deliver improved services and value for money across a range of specific areas such as governance, accountability, procurement, shared services, organisational reform and property management. Two notable examples are the establishment of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Brexit Preparations (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am advised by Revenue that there have been more than 17,200 EORI registrations so far this year. There has been a significant increase in registrations since the start of the latest phase of Revenue's trader engagement programme, which commenced in July of this year.  Almost 5,000 businesses registered in August, with an additional 4,418 businesses having registered so far this month....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Brexit Preparations (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It has been ramped up significantly. I have referred to the new programme that has been in place since the summer. The Deputy is correct that a company that does not have this number will face massive challenges in continuing its work in the event of a no-deal Brexit at the end of October. As I said in my initial reply, 90% of exports to the UK, by value, are covered by companies that have...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Brexit Preparations (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I stated in my reply than an "additional" phone call will be made to these companies. They have already been written to by Revenue to tell them they need an EORI number. The programme I am referring to is the additional contact that is now taking place. Revenue is contacting these companies again on behalf of the Government to tell them they need an EORI number. When I have attended...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Illicit Trade in Fuel and Tobacco Products (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The effects of minimum alcohol pricing on the movement of goods and decisions to shop across the Border are well understood by me. I absolutely take the Deputy's point that if there is to be a change in the price of a product that is so inherently mobile and valuable, we need to take great care in assessing its impact on the retail trade in this country. I will certainly take the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Illicit Trade in Fuel and Tobacco Products (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I remember the work the Deputy did in proposing the Private Members' legislation to deal with the issue for Border communities and communities beyond. At the time I had a concern that the Bill, as drafted, would not have the effect the Deputy desired and felt the powers available to the Revenue Commissioners were what were needed and proportionate. However, I entirely agree with the Deputy...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Fiscal Data (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: In the light of the complexities of European fiscal rules, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has adopted a principles-based approach to its assessment of compliance. While it is based on the EU framework, the approach incorporates a number of adjustments to make it more relevant in an Irish context. The council has assessed that the medium-term budgetary objective, MTO, was achieved in 2018....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Fiscal Data (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The answer to the last question is "Yes". I will be studying very closely the September expenditure figures that will be available early next week. Our position at the end of August showed that total Government expenditure was slightly below profile. For the Department of Health it was a bit above profile but far less so than it would have been this time a year ago. If Supplementary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Reports (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I have set out on a number of occasions my view that the economy is closing in on full employment and might be on the verge of overheating in the future.  I have also tempered this view with the fact that an adverse shock to the economy such as a disorderly Brexit would rapidly change this assessment. This was reflected in the question the Deputy has just put to me. He acknowledged...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Reports (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As I understand it, the section of the report in question refers to potential imbalances in the economy that could lead to overheating. As I have told the Deputy, if the economy was to overheat - a case he is not making - measures would have to be considered with regard to credit and spending within the economy to slow down such overheating. I am strongly of the view that we need to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Reports (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We have said that if there were to be a deal, the growth rate in our economy would be approximately 3%. The ability to sustain a growth rate of 3% over a number of years could make a significant difference to our country and to our citizens and would help to address many of the issues the Deputy has raised. Growth has moderated during the lifetime of this Dáil. It was at a very high...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Illicit Trade in Fuel and Tobacco Products (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Revenue has assured me that it has implemented a comprehensive risk-based intervention programme to identify, target and disrupt all forms of cross-Border smuggling and criminality. Revenue’s focus on such activity will continue regardless of the outcome of Brexit. I am satisfied that its focus on cross-Border smuggling is appropriate and well targeted. I know that Revenue keeps...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (26 Sep 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not want the Deputy to think in any way that I am saying that the scheme is not merited. I absolutely think it is and believe it plays an important role in dealing with and supporting applicants who, as the Deputy says, are grappling with severe disabilities. The scheme has been looked at a number of times, including in 2016 and again in 2018. At each point, a number of changes were...