Results 14,201-14,220 of 26,228 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Seanad: Litter Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (10 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is proposed to sit again at 11.30 a.m. tomorrow for the meeting of both Houses sitting in joint committee. At the conclusion of the joint committee meeting the House will adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 16 May 2017.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I want to welcome Mr. Andrew McDowell, who I know well, and wish him well in his new role. I welcome Mr. Ashmore, Mr. Murphy and Ms Mahon. I do not want to dwell on it but I wish to return to the issue of the investment plan for Europe, or the Juncker plan, in the Irish context. In Mr. McDowell's opinion, what percentage of GDP should an economy spend on capital investment for it to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: With his previous knowledge from his role with Government as economic adviser, could Mr. McDowell put an empirical figure on the level of additional capital investment that could be made in Ireland - not off-balance sheet, but in terms of strictly Government spending - that is not breaching the EU fiscal rules? Has he an idea of the level of scope for an increase in capital spending that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will give a specific example. I am based in Limerick city. The single biggest project on our side of the country on the western seaboard is the M20, which is the Cork to Limerick motorway. The mid-term capital review is taking place. Public consultations were accepted up to last Sunday, 30 April. I expect that many submissions have been made on the M20. The witnesses are probably...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is hands across the wall. We do it with Munster rugby so let us do it as well by bringing the EIB in as a Munster supporter. There is an open invitation to Thomond Park at the weekend, when we play Connacht.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I want to know the criteria of assessment for such a project.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is a 50% limit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is if it is pure State funding.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: It would be a half hour. One would be able to get from Cork to Limerick in an hour. At present, it could take an hour and a half or two hours. Mr. Murphy will know that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: The bank would underwrite an element of the project.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: It could be financed off-balance sheet.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: The witness is saying the capacity may be there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: At this time, have preliminary exchanges of views taken place between the Irish Government and the European Investment Bank on the M20?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: There are two further issues. If an exchange of views takes place and if it is worth exploring the various options for the M20 Cork to Limerick motorway, for example, what would be the timeframe for appraisal and assessment at the EIB level? At what stage would the EIB indicate its support of this project?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is pre-planning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: The witness spoke about discount rates but does the EIB use a specific discount rate? What metrics are used to assess future cash flows in terms of discounting rates?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: In appraising a project and cash flows, what is the longest period for repaid costs? Would it be 20 or 30 years? There is a window now. The mid-term capital review is under way and public consultation has been in train since 30 September. The Government has stated it is looking to appraise this project over a number of months. We expect something in the early autumn. I cannot overstate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: There is engagement with the EIB on a range of matters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I very much appreciate how open the witness has been about how the bank will assess projects. I will communicate with the Government and I hope we get to the point where we can finance the project in a number of ways, with the EIB as a serious partner. Over how many years would it be financed? Does the bank think this must be self-financing over a period? Could Mr. McDowell expand on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Improving Investment Opportunities in the Wider Economy: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: A roadway that is 80 km in length.