Results 16,201-16,220 of 33,392 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

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...

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

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy referred to neoliberal ideology. I am not a neoliberal, but I believe there is a role in looking at how we can achieve value for money and ensure a variety of organisations will bid for particular projects. The Deputy referred to the national children's hospital. It is a State-funded project that will deliver services that will be available to citizens, young boys and girls. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 51 together. Arising from the Government decision of Tuesday, 12 February 2019 in relation to capital re-allocations related to the cost overrun on the National Children’s Hospital, the Office of Public Works is reviewing the most appropriate means of achieving the required capital savings of €3 million in the flood risk management area....

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 77 together. On 12 February, I published how the €99 million necessary this year for the timely provision of the National Children’s Hospital will be accommodated with a minimum of disruption to the scheduled roll-out of key infrastructure projects under Project Ireland 2040. I also detailed reforms designed to ensure better project...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Lottery Regulator (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, will be providing us with the report of the interdepartmental working group on gambling very soon. It appears to me that the only way in which we can deal with this issue is to look at how we can review and maybe change the 2013 general scheme of the gambling control Bill. The facts and figures indicate that the current contribution made by the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I never said I was happy with the processes that led to this outcome. I said I was satisfied with the operation of the circular. The Deputy either misinterpreted me, or she deliberately attributed words to me that I did not say. It is up to her to decide which of those possibilities is the case. I never at any point said I was happy with the processes that have led to this. I have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Lottery Regulator (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I have not yet received a formal opinion from the national lottery regulator regarding this topic. As the Deputy may be aware, it falls outside the statutory remit of the Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery. I am aware of the issues in question. The topic has been raised in general discussions as part of the normal engagement my officials and I have with the regulator's office...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Lottery Regulator (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I would like to put on the record of the Dáil some figures regarding the transfers that the national lottery has made to the Exchequer in recent years. I could take any year as a benchmark. In 2011, the figure was €230 million. It decreased to €178 million in 2014. That figure has now rebuilt to €227 million. The contribution the national lottery is making had...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: Circular 12/2010: Protocol for Civil Servants nominated to the boards of non-commercial State bodies lays down a detailed framework for civil servants who are board members to report to the relevant Minister in certain circumstances. The relevant Minister is the Minister under whose aegis the body falls. The purpose of the protocol is to set out the reporting obligations of the nominee...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: I have acknowledged and will do so again that the procedures and difficulties in the latter phase of the national children's hospital project will change and have to change for the future. I have acknowledged and accept my responsibility for the difficulties with the project. In answer to the Deputy's question on whether I am happy with the way in which the civil servant on the board...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: 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. Last March, the Tánaiste met EU budget Commissioner...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: We will be in a position to agree specifics with the European Commission as soon as we are clear on what the specifics of Brexit look like. At this point the Commission, through many Commissioners, has indicated its support in principle and its firm commitment to supporting Ireland in facing this grave difficulty. It will use the flexibility that is open to it to support us in decisions...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (5 Mar 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: It is not just what our future asks will be in the event of a disorderly Brexit but also recognition of what we have already done. There has been considerable effort to get ready for Brexit, with the support of this House and the support of the Deputy's party in various budgets. I hope I am not speaking too soon but I think we should not underestimate the amount of co-operation going on to...