Results 14,201-14,220 of 32,569 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Public Service Pay Commission was established to advise the Government on public service remuneration policy. In the current phase, which is the second phase of the commission's work, it was tasked by its terms of reference to undertake an examination of whether, and to what extent, there are difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff in key areas of the public service identified in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It has only been a number of weeks since the report was received. I would hope the Deputy would understand that when I receive a report, particularly one that is independent of me, it is necessary that I take time to consider it and reflect on how we can best move forward with the report to a successful conclusion with the Defence Forces. I share pride in the work of our forces with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I appreciate the acknowledgment from the Deputy of the good faith I had in participating in this process. I also note the way in which his party has handled the issue of public pay in the years in which I have been dealing with this matter.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Other members of his party decided to move ahead-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----and form a judgment in relation to the contents of this report-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----before it was published. Fianna Fáil put us in a position where we had to deal with a motion on the Defence Forces' pay and conditions-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----before the report was even published. The Deputy underestimates the difficulty of managing public pay in a sensitive way in our current economy. Both Fianna Fáil and Deputy Cowen have previously shown a responsible attitude to how public pay is managed, and I regret that, on this occasion, they have not been able to maintain that approach when it comes to the Defence Forces. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Project Ireland 2040 Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, I am responsible for setting the overall five-year multi-annual capital expenditure ceilings, and for allocating these resources across Government Departments. My Department is also subsequently responsible for monitoring expenditure on a monthly basis at a departmental level against these agreed ceilings. Decisions on how and where these allocations are then...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not need the Deputy to remind me of my responsibilities. I am well aware of them. The Deputy is not without responsibility.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: If the Deputy feels we have made the wrong decision in the case of the national broadband plan, it is incumbent on him to say at some point what he would do differently. It is clear that he has formed the view that we have made the wrong decision, as he is entitled to do. As already stated, if he believes we are doing the wrong thing, he will have to grapple with the issues with which I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: His party now holds the view that it is of such high value and can make such a difference to people that it is very eager to ensure that it is not affected at all.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: No, Deputy-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I have publicly acknowledged on a number of occasions the role Fianna Fáil has played in maintaining stability at a point of difficulty. I stand by the point to the effect that I heard this plan being dismissed as one of spin even though it is one of substance.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I will be outlining how this plan will be funded. The money is there to make Project Ireland 2040 a reality. That is the truth.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Freedom of Information Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Freedom of Information Act 2014 revised, updated and consolidated the freedom of information regime in this country, removed the upfront fee for requests and made the system in general more user-friendly. The success of this initiative is illustrated by the fact that between 2014 and 2017, the latest year for which figures are available, there was a 67% increase in the number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Freedom of Information Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: That is correct. I am aware of the evaluation that has been formed by some people in respect of the operation of the freedom of information legislation. I do not have any evidence to corroborate the suggestion that predictions of the demise of the freedom of information legislation are being borne out. I have monitored what has happened following the three court judgments to which the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Freedom of Information Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I look forward to seeing and considering the Sinn Féin legislation. The fact that there has been a change or an evolution in the number of requests being granted or denied does not mean that the legislation is no longer working. Rather than believing that the legislation is in some way failing to meet its objectives, surely we should be open to the view that officials who make their...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, I am responsible for setting the overall multi-annual capital expenditure ceilings and for allocating these resources across Departments. My Department is also subsequently responsible for monitoring expenditure, on a monthly basis, at a departmental level against these agreed ceilings. In this context, the precise schedule of multi-year funding of the national...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As part of the budgetary process for 2020 and beyond, I will engage with Deputies Cowen and Michael McGrath on the matter, as I am required to do. I repeat that it is my intention that no other projects will be affected as a result of the decision to move ahead with the national broadband plan. There are other reasons beyond any decision on the national broadband plan that projects can...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equality Proofing of Budgets (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: To further guide the roll-out of equality budgeting, an Equality Budgeting Expert Advisory Group was established, holding its first meeting in September 2018. The group has to date met on five occasions. In line with the Transparency Code it is expected that the minutes of those meetings will be available on the gov.ie website shortly. This group is comprised of a broad...