Results 261-280 of 31,151 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy and recognise that this has not become a political matter, as I said in my opening remarks, in recognition of the concerns local communities have about this. I fully understand the desire of both Deputies and of Deputy Calleary to see this matter brought to a conclusion. I am, in effect, representing the final planning authority with regard to this scheme. For that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I will give a short answer to the Deputy's question, but will hopefully cover all of the key points to facilitate an exchange of views on it. I have covered this matter in questions from other Deputies this morning, I will give a broad answer as to the steps we are taking with regard to the availability of data and information. I highlight three, which I believe can make a difference. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: If any economist thinks their science is an exact science they are probably worth upsetting. The amount of uncertainty and change that has happened in the economy in the past number of years means predictions and forecasts about what will happen have to be humble and acknowledge the degree of uncertainty and volatility in the global economy and the effect it can have in Ireland. We do our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The Minister of State would absolutely agree. His ambition for the mid west is unbounded, as I am sure is the Deputy's.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: More and more. I agree with Deputy Leddin's point. I speak as a representative from the heart of Dublin. I am clear that development of the region the Deputy has just made the case for is absolutely consistent with, and a really important part of, our national economic development. It is not about looking to pit or divide different parts of our country against each other. It is about...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I will again give some brief background on the planning environment relating to this. This scheme was submitted for confirmation by the OPW in August 2018 under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. In early 2021, the scheme received ministerial confirmation under section 7 of the regulations. It was then subject to judicial review, during which a stay was also granted on works being carried out...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 107 together. I refer to the previous updates on this matter I have given to the House regarding the consent process for the Crossmolina flood relief scheme, the most recent of which was on 30 January. As the Minister for public expenditure, I am the consenting authority for flood relief schemes submitted under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputies. I absolutely acknowledge the huge anxiety that the status of this project is causing to the communities both of them represent. It is only fair that I acknowledge that the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, has also raised this issue on a number of occasions in the same way and tone they have. The length of my answer and the references I made to the many...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I am familiar with the Dungloe to Glenties road and can really imagine the benefit that will be brought to commuters and communities when that project is delivered. I will have to follow up with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, about the further extension that Deputy Pringle has referred to. I know the benefit that a change like that would bring to Killybegs and can see how it would be consistent...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not have any such plans. For such a change to be made, there would need to be clear evidence to underpin a very broad change in how we audit a very broad and significant part of the State. As I said in my answer to the Deputy, there are many organisations that are operating in the commercial environment. It is therefore appropriate, as they are operating in the commercial environment,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: When the Deputy referenced layers to dysfunction, what organisations was she referring to?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: We are all well aware of the scandals and the huge difficulty Anglo Irish Bank created. Anglo Irish Bank was a commercial organisation for nearly all of its existence. This is indicative of the general tone of suspicion Sinn Féin has in respect of very important State bodies that do excellent work on our behalf. On the one hand, the Deputy talks about the need for the State to be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for public expenditure, I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at departmental level. The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the national development plan, rests with the individual sponsoring Department in each case....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I take on board that point the Deputy has made there. Given the number of projects that are under way in Donegal, it does appear the county should get a bit more reference in the publication to which the Deputy has referred. As he knows, the minute you start naming one county, it poses difficulties for other counties that are not mentioned. It is very difficult to please everybody all the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Many State bodies classified by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, as commercial are already solely audited by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.  While section 1438 of the Companies Act 2014 provides that companies not trading for the gain of their members may be audited by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, only regulated private sector audit firms can...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for the question. As the Deputy is aware from the various points she has put to me, the Economic and Social Research Institute published its report,The National Development Plan in 2023: Priorities and Capacity, on 12 January 2024. It is important to reiterate the rationale behind why I commissioned this report by the ESRI. A comprehensive review of the national...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: Respectfully I beg to differ. The Deputy asked me the question around how the findings of the recently published report shaped the national development plan in 2023, how we are dealing with priorities and capacities in review of NDP ceilings, and if I would make a statement on the matter. That is the question the Deputy put to me and that is the question I answered. With regard to the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I had the report in draft format earlier on in the year. I cannot remember if it was available in draft format to my Department before or after the budget because the budget season is always so intense. I did not see the actual report itself until far later in the year. As soon as the report was published it was shared with the Minister for Finance but there will be nothing in the report...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department plays a key role in developing and monitoring overall expenditure in line with Government objectives and agreed fiscal policy. Since 2020 external shocks, including Covid, war in Ukraine, and elevated inflation have required Government to take a responsive approach to fiscal policy. This has resulted in a higher level of Supplementary Estimates in recent years. In 2023, 31...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (8 Feb 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: The monitoring and quarterly reporting of actions due under successive updates of the Climate Action Plan is conducted by the Department of the Taoiseach with input from relevant Departments. Progress reports up to quarter three of 2023 are accessible on gov.ie. The Progress Report for Q4 2023 is being finalised and will be made available following consideration by Government. The status of...