Results 16,301-16,320 of 32,864 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

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....

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

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has published the general scheme of legislative measures required in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The draft Omnibus Bill focuses on measures protecting our citizens and supporting the economy, enterprise and jobs, particularly in key sectors of the economy. The Bill complements the steps currently underway at an EU level to prepare for the...

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

Paschal Donohoe: Managing the delivery of public services within allocations and meeting our budgetary targets forms a key part of the responsibilities of every Minister and Department. My own Department is in regular contact with all other Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters. Monthly expenditure profiles for each Government Department for...

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

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has already given a commitment to the Oireachtas to review any PPP policy issues that might be highlighted by the impact of the recent collapse of Carillion, and the subsequent liquidation of Sammon, on the Schools Bundle 5 PPP project. The commitment indicated that the review will be timed to take account of the final outcome of that particular PPP project, and as such will...

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 37 together. As the Deputy is aware, the Civil Service Mobility scheme which comes under the remit of my department, and is administered through HR Shared Services, National Shared Services Office, offers an opportunity for staff members to apply for mobility through an open and transparent system. The establishment of the scheme fulfils one of the...

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

Paschal Donohoe: As I have previously informed the House, significant public service reforms have occurred in recent years that continue to deliver improved services and value for money across a range of specific areas such as governance, accountability, procurement, shared services, organisational reform and property management. The current phase of public service reform - Our Public Service 2020 , which...

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

Paschal Donohoe: The reopening of Ballinspittle Garda Station is scheduled for mid-2019. The Office of Public Works is about to tender for the necessary works that are based on the approved Garda Síochána 'brief of requirements'. It is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána to determine Garda numbers and policing needs for the area.

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

Paschal Donohoe: The EU ‘Floods’ Directive came into force in 2007, and requires the Member States to undertake a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment to identify the areas of potentially significant flood risk within their territories, to prepare maps of the flood hazard and risk for these areas, and then to prepare Flood Risk Management Plans setting out measures aimed at managing and reducing...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Station Refurbishment (7 Feb 2019)

Paschal Donohoe: On 6th December 2018, An Garda Síochána (AGS) confirmed final agreement to proposed plans for the reopening of Rush Garda Station. The Office of Public Works is now progressing with the procurement of the required works and these are expected to be completed and handed over to AGS by mid-2019. The actual opening date will be an operational matter for An Garda Síochána.

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

Paschal Donohoe: All public works projects that are delivered under the Exchequer-funded element of the Government's capital plan must be procured in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). The CWMF is maintained by the Office of Government Procurement in consultation with the Government Contracts Committee for Construction. The CWMF is mandated for use on...