Results 14,261-14,280 of 32,569 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Policy (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is important to note that the approach currently adopted in relation to setting out multi-annual expenditure ceilings is informed by lessons learned in the lead up to the fiscal and economic crisis. In the years preceding the crisis, large increases in expenditure were implemented on an annual basis, which ultimately proved to be unsustainable. Reflecting on this, there are clear risks to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Shared Services (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: This query relates to the National Shared Services Office (NSSO), which is an independent Civil Service Office under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I have asked the NSSO to respond to the Deputy directly. The matter concerns personal information and I understand that the NSSO has been in contact with the requester on a number of occasions about the response. I...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Important measures are in place to ensure that our expenditure and budgetary targets are being achieved on an ongoing basis. Managing the delivery of public services within budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Government Minister and Department. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is in regular contact with all other Departments and Offices to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As mandated by Government, my Department’s statutory functions include responsibility to formulate, develop, and coordinate the implementation of policies to further modernise and develop the public service and enable the efficient and effective provision of services by public service bodies. I can therefore assure the Deputy that this reform agenda will continue to be an integral part...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Policy (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 to 94, inclusive, together. Overall our economy is in good shape and is expected to grow this year and next. Indeed modified domestic demand, an underlying measure of growth in the economy, grew by 4.5 per cent for 2018 as a whole. One of the best barometers of the heath in the economy is the labour market. The strong growth in employment over the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has recently published its Annual Report for 2018 on the Gov.ie website ( ). This report provides a comprehensive overview of the work of the Department in 2018 across a broad range of areas of public expenditure management and reform of the Civil and Public Service, as it continues to implement its Statement of Strategy 2016-2019. The report includes sections on managing...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Preparations (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Within my Department and across the public service, preparations for Brexit have been underway since before the UK referendum in 2016. The Government’s Contingency Action Plan, published at the end of last year and updated at the end of January, sets out the comprehensive, cross-Government preparations for Brexit. All Departments have sector-specific plans in place identifying key...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. Managing the delivery of public services within allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department. Important measures are in place to ensure that our expenditure targets are being achieved. Officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are in regular contact with all other Departments and offices to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Expenses (20 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: All Government Departments and public bodies in receipt of public funding must comply, as appropriate, with the relevant requirements of Public Financial Procedures, the Public Spending Code, Government Procurement Rules and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform relevant Circulars. The rules governing travel and subsistence, both domestic and foreign, in the civil and public...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government is well aware of the pressure that is being placed on small companies in particular due to the increase in insurance premiums. I hope the Deputy is well aware that no Government can force a company which is providing a financial service to change its premiums. We had a debate about this issue earlier today during questions to me and a number of Deputies called for more...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We have heard a number of claims about the Labour Court in this session. I am happy to deal with this matter because the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and I are working closely on it. The concept that the Labour Court is in any way being used as a delaying tactic on this issue gives no recognition to how important that institution is and the important role it played, most notably and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: That was an answer I supplied to the Oireachtas yesterday. To put the matter in context, the point that was made in my reply to the relevant parliamentary question was that, up to the end of May, health expenditure was in the region of 6% higher than a year ago, which is approximately what is budgeted for in budget 2019. In the following month, that moved up to just under 9% above the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Howlin will be aware, as much as I am, of the challenges of ensuring that health expenditure is on line for the entire year. While the performance in the early part of the year was very positive, we have to focus on what drove that change in a single month. That is what the Minister for Health and I are now doing. In the context of the public pay issue to which the Deputy also...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Measures (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the impact of this change in the levy. We will track the tax collection as we move through the year. The purpose of the tax strategy group process is to indicate what options there are for budget day decisions.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Measures (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The increase in the betting duty rate from 1% to 2% and the increase in the intermediary duty rate came into effect on 1 January 2019. The last time that the betting duty rate was increased was in 1975. Since then, the rate had gradually decreased to 1%. It now stands at an all-time low. In the course of last year's Finance Bill process, I acknowledged that smaller independent...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Budgets (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is worth making clear that the eurozone's so-called budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness, BICC, will almost certainly only apply to countries in the eurozone. This has been at the heart of the debate on it. Regarding the claims of French newspapers, it is up to other countries' newspapers and governments to decide whether they have made progress on their national...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Reports (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is worthwhile to begin the answer to that question by acknowledging what we have already done. That is why the change in the value added tax, VAT, rate for the hospitality sector was so important. That kind of base-broadening, which never happened in the past, is part of what we need to do to reduce our future reliance on the corporate tax stream. Moreover, for the first time our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Reports (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Regarding the degree of risk, the estimate of €3 billion to €6 billion out of the total figure we are collecting in corporation tax is very high. In regard to its future accuracy, I note that this figure is difficult to quantify at this point. This is because a global process is now under way that will change the background to corporate tax policy in all developed countries....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Reports (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The first and most important thing we can do is run a surplus in our national finances. We will run a surplus this year, provided that we continue to deliver our expenditure plans as we did up to the end of May. If we deliver that surplus it will represent 0.2% of our national income, approximately €600 million of revenue, which we will not spend. The best and most effective thing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: IBRC Liquidation (19 Jun 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy is correct on that. I take her point that the legislation was passed at great speed. I remember the night very well and the circumstances. I do not have any plans to establish a committee of inspection in regard to the liquidation. I am satisfied it has happened in an entirely appropriate way, in accordance with the law and the legislation passed. As the Deputy is aware, a...