Results 16,081-16,100 of 32,593 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

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

Paschal Donohoe: The Investment Projects and Programmes Office was established in July 2018, bringing together existing functions relating to Central Exchequer Capital funding, PPP Policy and Coordination of State Assets with new functions relating to NDP reporting, the Construction Sector Group, and the revision of the capital spending elements of the Public Spending Code. There are currently 8.3 whole...

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 93, 95, 96 and 99 together. Since 2015, it has been possible to provide modest, sustainable increases in expenditure each year. The Government’s approach in that time has been based on steady increases in public expenditure, underpinned by stable and predictable tax revenues. This approach is aimed at delivering steady and sustainable...

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 100 together. The process of dismantling the Financial Emergency legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016-2018 and will be completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA). The PSSA, which was negotiated in 2017, and the provisions of which were statutorily provided for under the terms of the Public Service...

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

Paschal Donohoe: Central to the Government’s preparation for Brexit is the prudent management of the public finances so as to ensure the economy remains competitive in the face of future economic headwinds. Since the UK referendum in 2016, all of our national Budgets have been framed to prepare for the challenge of Brexit. Measures being taken include balancing the books, reducing our debt burden,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Policy (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy’s question suggests, we are currently experiencing an environment of significant uncertainty presenting our country with many potential challenges, including those to which the Deputy refers. Central to the Government’s preparation for such challenges is the prudent management of the public finances in order to ensure the economy remains competitive in the face of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Public Procurement is governed by EU legislation and National rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has responsibility for developing and setting out the overarching policy framework for public procurement in Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Shared Services (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Following clarification received that the Deputy is referring to the Financial Management Shared Services (FMSS) Project and not the establishment of the National Shared Services Office (NSSO), I can confirm the following: The expected date of completion for the FMSS Project, and therefore the date when the new Finance Shared Services Centre will be fully established, is not currently...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: PwC will give its professional view as to how the matter developed and how we can ensure the remainder of the project is done well. The appointment of Mr. Fred Barry as the new chairman of the board will be instrumental in that regard. I note to Deputy Ellis that I hope to be in a position next week to clarify the effect on any other spend across 2019.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Given that we have increased capital expenditure for 2019 alone by €1.4 billion, I am confident that we will be able to deliver on the commitments we have made to constituencies and communities.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government and I are well aware of the anger and concern people have with regard to the national children's hospital. We are well aware of the grave concerns people have on the cost escalation. We made the decision, and I take responsibility for the decision, to move ahead with the hospital and ensure that it is built. The reason for that is my commitment to the site and seeing the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We have recruited over 3,000 more nurses into the public health service in the past few years. We have a national wage agreement that prioritises those on low and middle incomes in wage restoration and wage growth. We have a national wage agreement which, on the new entrant issue alone, makes provision for a needed and recognised wage increase of €3,000 to deal with an issue that has...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: There are currently 768 individual traders authorised for the deferred payment scheme. In addition, the Deputy should note that a number of deferred payment authorisations are held by customs clearance agents who can offer this facility to their clients when completing import formalities on their behalf. The application process requires a trader to firstly be approved for a Comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to capital allowances in respect of qualifying private hospitals. I am advised by Revenue that information in respect of the tax cost in respect of this property based tax relief can be found for the years 2011 to 2016 on the Revenue website at . The cost for 2017 will be published during 2019 when all returns for that year have been analysed.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The new administrative arrangements for PAYE (PAYE Modernisation) started on 1 January this year. These new arrangements do not affect the way income tax and other statutory deductions are calculated under the PAYE system, but do change the way employers report payroll information to Revenue. In most cases the new real-time reporting arrangements have seamlessly integrated into...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Firstly, I must point out that the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is independent in the performance of his statutory functions. I have no role in the day to day workings of the office or in the decisions which he takes. One of the main roles of the Ombudsman is to investigate, mediate and adjudicate complaints about the conduct of financial or pension service providers....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The car-park at Grianan Fort, Co. Donegal is not in the ownership of the Office of Public Works, although the keyholding is managed by the OPW-employed caretaker locally. Any queries regarding the use of the carpark should be directed to Donegal County Council which may have licensing or other permission requirements.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together. The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 provides for an increase to age 70 in the compulsory retirement age of most public servants recruited before 1 April 2004. The public servants covered by the new Act are termed "relevant public servants" and that term is defined in Section 2 of the Act. Only those public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Grievance Procedures (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Section 5(3) of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 provides for a broadly based set of relevant wrongdoings that workers in the public or private sector may report which qualify for the protections of the Act. These are: that an offence has been, is being or is likely to be committed; that a person has failed, is failing or is likely to fail to comply with any legal obligation, other than one...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service Code of Conduct (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together. Section 10 (3) of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 (the Act) provides that the Minister shall from time to time draw up codes of conduct for the guidance of persons who hold or occupy directorships or positions of employment in public bodies. A revised Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour (the Code) was published by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Retirements (6 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ 4008/19 on the 29 January 2019.