Results 15,661-15,680 of 32,864 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We do not have that list. Any measure that we believe we need to change in our tax policy to maintain the status quois contained in this Bill. I am trying to be helpful and I am doing my best to answer the Deputy's question, but it is a fundamental one. I understand both Deputies are saying that, on the basis of good faith, they will facilitate the passage of these sections. If I am not...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: That is the case. Anything that is not contained in this Bill is not by an act of omission. It is because if we find ourselves dealing with a tax policy issue in the aftermath of a disorderly Brexit, it will be because something has happened that we did not anticipate or were not aware of. Any knowledge that we have of any tax matter that needs to be dealt with in the event of Brexit...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Sector High Level Forum (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We do know the size of it. I have shared with the House on a number of occasions the different figures that are involved in this. The key point I would make to Deputy Curran in response to the points he made is that the Government is not the employer. These were companies and organisations that were formed to provide services to which the State made a contribution. I know that Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----from that we have ruled out the State delivering projects, given that it does and we are supportive of doing that. I remind the Deputy that the one time we tried to set up a new State body whose only job it was to deliver infrastructure, that being Irish Water, he fiercely opposed it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reform (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his question. I launched the current framework for public service innovation and development, Our Public Service 2020, in December 2017. This plan is a whole-of-public service initiative that has been designed to build on the success of previous reforms, while also expanding the scope of reform to enable more collaboration, innovation and evaluation. Ensuring...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reform (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: They do that through the PSLB, a new organisation that we have put together. What is notable about it is that it involves leaders from our civil and wider public services. For example, it has the Garda Commissioner as a member in addition to the Secretaries General of Departments. This is the first time that we have brought leaders from across the entire public service together with a view...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reform (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: That is a relevant question. During the economic difficulties, there was a necessity for change in how we did things. Indeed, those difficulties provided a burning reason for why things needed to change quickly. It is fair to ask how we can maintain the same impetus for change when, thank God, we do not have those awful circumstances around us any more. I am satisfied that there is the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Sector High Level Forum (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 78 together. As the Deputies will be aware, this issue relates to a claim by community employment, CE, supervisors and assistant supervisors who have been seeking to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme. The matter was the subject of discussion at the community sector high level forum that was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: External Service Delivery (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, I intend to continue with this process. It is worth emphasising that if these bodies and organisations win the tendering process, they must be in compliance with Government policy. The policy they operate will be Government policy on how employees or citizens are treated, not their own. What we want as an employer is for our employees, the employees of the State, to be treated fairly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: External Service Delivery (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----and that this be done in a way that is in accordance with Government policy. That is the objective that we as an employer want to meet. Every time I hear the Deputy talk about employers, I get a sense that she thinks that employers are always pitched in battle with their employees and trying to get-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: External Service Delivery (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----maximum advantage from them. We, as an employer, want to treat people-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: External Service Delivery (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----who work for us well and the companies that are employed in doing this will have to implement Government policy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The latest review of the public sector spending code is currently under way in my Department. The technical economic parameters for use and appraisal have already been updated. Work is ongoing in updating the requirements as to the different stages involved in the process of selection, appraisal, approval and delivery of capital investment projects. This work will be done with the end of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: One point on which I am absolutely certain is that if we had found ourselves in a position where we had accepted a more expensive bid for the national children's hospital, we would now be facing many different charges regarding why that happened. Had the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, the body that made the decision, decided to go ahead with a bid that was not the cheapest,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I answered the Deputy's question.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We will have to agree to differ as to what might have happened. I have not come across a case yet where if a Government body had been involved in not selecting the lowest price option, that this would not have been a cause of scrutiny and questions here. I believe that would have happened in respect of this project as well. As to what Deputy Boyd Barrett has put to me and the early part...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It will also be met by revision of the schedule for the drawdown of funding in the Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance group of Votes, totalling €3 million; and with €2 million through changes to the timing of payments for certain capital works undertaken by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I have also outlined how we need to change processes in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I have always said we will manage the issue primarily through rescheduling and changing payments for projects. I have shared a list with the House and have previously outlined it publicly. The vast majority are related to how we manage payments that we will make for projects. I have said there will be no delays on any major project as a result. I will work with Government colleagues...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Capital Expenditure Programme (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I will be able to provide clarity for the Deputy a little later in the year. As things stand, budget 2020 is a long way away. Decisions on the allocation of capital funding are many months away from being made. The focus of my efforts now is on ensuring the decision we have made on how we will manage the cost of the national children's hospital this year will not affect plans for 2019. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: External Service Delivery (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Government Procurement, OGP, carried out a competitive tender process for the establishment of a framework agreement for the provision of external workplace investigation services available to Departments and other public bodies. The framework has been in operation since March this year and will expire at the end of March. The framework suppliers for the delivery of services...