Results 241-260 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Project Ireland 2040 Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I refer again to the capital projects which may or may not be delayed or postponed as a result of the recent decision on the national broadband plan.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Funding (20 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am quite happy to let them argue, to be honest.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Freedom of Information Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 2. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if legislative changes are planned to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25966/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Freedom of Information Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: In light of recent court cases, is the Government planning to propose changes to the existing freedom of information legislation?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Freedom of Information Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I agree that the changes have led to a dramatic increase in the number of freedom of information requests. While the Minister is correct in stating that there has been an increase of approximately 60%, I would like to take issue with the figures he cited when he spoke about requests that are granted. According to information we received in response to parliamentary questions, the percentage...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Freedom of Information Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is correct. We signed off on our Bill yesterday and we look forward to submitting it. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is now denying more requests than it is granting. We are concerned about that trend. The Department received 207 requests last year. Sixty were granted and 67 were refused. We are seeing a gradual trend towards more requests being refused than...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (20 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 22. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the agreement reached in September 2018 on the equalisation of public pay for post-2011 entrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25832/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (20 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 28. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the assessment of his Department of the national broadband plan, the credibility of its cost-benefit analysis and its value for money to the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25834/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Data (20 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 32. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of freedom of information requests made to his Department and bodies under his aegis that were granted, part-granted and refused in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25831/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Summer Economic Statement (20 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 44. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the revisions which will be made to the expenditure projections in the summer economic statement in view of the recent fiscal assessment report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25833/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (19 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 45. To ask the Minister for Finance if funds held in the exceptional contingencies reserve fund, as currently designed under the National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018, could be withdrawn to invest in capital expenditure or fund welfare payments during an economic downturn, exceeding the Expenditure Benchmark under the fiscal rules. [25549/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (19 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 72. To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which he plans to broaden the tax base in a progressive manner further to the criticism of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council of the over-reliance on corporate tax receipts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25550/19]

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Policy and Budgetary Planning: Discussion (19 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: My first question is in regard to the overheating of the economy, which Dr. McDonnell predicted might occur by the end of 2019. First, what areas have the potential to cause that overheating and, second, how do we combat them? All the reports to date that I have seen suggest that the potential for overheating comes from the construction sector, but on the non-domestic side - hotels, office...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Policy and Budgetary Planning: Discussion (19 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will address corporation tax and the tax base in general. We hear much about our expenditure and how Government is trying to control spending while all of the Opposition parties are seeking more spending. We hear very little on the other side about tax. We hear about widening and broadening our tax base but very little about corporation tax, tax breaks for banks, tax incentives, tax...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Policy and Budgetary Planning: Discussion (19 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I ask Dr. McDonnell to comment too. An argument that is given to those of us who call for the corporation tax holidays to be lifted is that there could be unintended consequences. Are there any of which the witnesses are aware were we to deal with the issue of the banks and the tax breaks they get?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Fiscal Policy and Budgetary Planning: Discussion (19 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Chairman might comment on this. The committee has done extensive work-----

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Data (18 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 158. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of freedom of information requests granted, part granted, refused, transferred to an appropriate body or withdrawn or handled outside freedom of information in 2018, in tabular form. [25277/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (12 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 96. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public sector workers working on the post-2011 salary scale disaggregated by pay scale and profession. [24470/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (12 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 97. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the pathway of pay equalisation for post-2011 entrants into the public sector disaggregated by the number of public sector workers who will jump each of the two pay scales in the coming years. [24471/19]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (12 Jun 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: 98. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of full pay equalisation by January 2020. [24472/19]