Results 16,021-16,040 of 32,593 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It was never the intention of either the Minister for Health or me to be disrespectful to any public service worker. What we were doing was done in light of the fact that questions were being asked about whether we would engage with the WRC. We were indicating our willingness to do so. As the Minister for Health said, nobody in this House has a monopoly when it comes to respecting the fact...

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I will deal with the questions from Deputies Gino Kenny and Bríd Smith while the Minister for Health will deal with the question from Deputy Boyd Barrett. With regard to the question from Deputy Gino Kenny, I still accept and stand by the analysis and recommendations offered by the Public Service Pay Commission. It is independent in composition. Recommendations came from the...

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I am reminded of what Deputy Donnelly said about this matter in July 2018. In case his colleagues in the parliamentary party need to be reminded-----

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----he stated:I also took a look at nursing salaries around the world. In 2013, nurses in this country were the third highest paid. We were still in the top five countries in 2016.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to ensure, as I am responding to the questions put to me-----

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----that everybody is clear on the track record of the differing views in Fianna Fáil on this issue. When it tabled the Private Members' motion on it a number of weeks ago, all it talked about was a commission.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not hear much of a reference to a commission this morning.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: To deal with the different issues and questions put to me by the Deputies-----

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: -----we have acknowledged that there are specific issues in recruitment and retention which need to be dealt with.

Nurses and Midwives Industrial Action: Statements (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: They have been acknowledged within the Public Service Pay Commission. That is why we made specific proposals that we are willing to honour. Deputy Rabbitte asked if we were willing to enter into discussions and negotiations. We are, but we have to be conscious that we have an agreement in place for 291,000 other public servants whom I will address in my concluding comments. In respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Nursing Staff Remuneration (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I would first like to assure the Deputy that all nurses and midwives are benefitting from the dismantling of the temporary Financial Emergency legislation under the terms of the Public Service Stability Agreement. This Agreement is delivering pay benefits of 2-2.5% per annum and will result in the restoration of salary rates up to €50,000 for all public servants (including nurses) by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Commissioners of Public Works, on behalf of the State, manage a large and diverse property portfolio, which ranges from office accommodation to heritage properties, visitor centres, Garda stations, among others. As is typical of such large portfolios, there will always be a number of properties, at any given time, that are vacant. The majority of the properties currently vacant are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Spending Code (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform requires those charged with the delivery of public works projects to comply with the Public Spending Code and the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). The Public Spending Code sets out the high level principles which apply in relation to project governance and, in particular, the procedures that must be followed by bodies with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Protected Disclosures (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Last year, the Department of Justice and Equality sought sanction from my Department for payment of a proposed fee structure to legal Counsel as part of a new independent panel for reviewing allegations of Garda misconduct. The correspondence from that Department noted that the Minister for Justice and Equality had decided to set up this panel to consider allegations made to the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. In April 2017 the Department of Health submitted a Memorandum to Government which included a section on the proposed new governance arrangements for the NCH project. This proposal included the establishment of the Children’s Hospital Project and Programme Board, to be chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Preparations (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Extensive Brexit preparedness and contingency planning has been underway across Government since before the UK referendum on EU membership. In the aftermath of the referendum a Contingency Framework was published by the Government that identified the key policy issues to be managed by Departments. The Contingency Framework was central to the development of Ireland’s position in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Private Partnerships (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Since the late 1990’s, significant infrastructure projects have been delivered on behalf of the State using the PPP approach, including the Pilot Schools Bundle (2002), the National Maritime College (2004), the Cork School of Music (2007), the Criminal Courts Complex (2009), the National Conference Centre (2010), further Schools Bundles and of course a number of major motorway projects...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Staff (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government’s Contingency Action Plan which was published in December 2018 sets out the comprehensive, cross-Government preparations that have been underway since before the UK referendum on EU membership in 2016. This work is continuing at both a national and EU level, and on 30 January 2019 the Government published an update outlining the progress that has been made since the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Preparations (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: On the 19 December 2018, the Government published its Contingency Action Plan which gives an overview of the comprehensive, cross-Government preparations that are underway. This includes putting in place the infrastructure required at ports and airports as a consequence of the UK leaving the EU. The Office of Public Works has been mandated to secure the property required Rosslare...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Supports (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 28 together. Making the case for supporting measures at an EU level that recognise where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy is a key pillar of the Government’s response to Brexit. I am satisfied that there is a firm understanding at an EU level of the unique and disproportionate impact that Brexit will have on Ireland....