Results 61-80 of 2,744 for speaker:Ossian Smyth

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I confirm that the recommendations of the PwC report will be implemented. The shortfalls that were found will be addressed. With regard to who is responsible, the sponsoring authority that wanted to propose this project is the Department of Health. The body that sanctioned it, the approving authority, was the Government. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform provides the public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I thank Deputy Grealish. Strategic public procurement can play a key role in responding to societal, environmental and economic challenges. Therefore, the inclusion of strategic public policy considerations in procurement processes is a key feature of the programme for Government. The Office of Government Procurement, OGP, has been actively engaged in putting in place the necessary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I take the Deputy's concerns on board. I met the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, at the start of my tenure and discussed this issue with him. He impressed on me the importance of the SME advisory group and that there was a perception that it was difficult for SMEs to get contracts despite the fact that 54% of the contract value awarded by the OGP went to SMEs. We must keep engaging...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I have an open mind. I am new to this position and am willing to review with the OGP the €25,000 threshold and any other existing condition to ensure that SMEs have a fair opportunity to win contracts. I want to engage in communication, education and anything that we need to do in order to train people up, advise them on why they are not winning contracts, and ensure that the process...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Ossian Smyth: As Minister of State with responsibility for public procurement and eGovernment, I am very pleased to introduce the 2020 Estimates for the Votes for the Office of Government Procurement and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, OGCIO. The Vote for the OGCIO, Vote 43, is new and has only been established this year. As Minister of State with responsibility for eGovernment, I...

Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 (23 Jul 2020)

Ossian Smyth: Deputy Nash asked about any new financial controls or reforms that may have been put in place. He referred to the national children's hospital. He is absolutely right to ask that question. There was a gross overspend in respect of the national children's hospital. We have a substantial number of large capital projects planned, by which I mean those valued at more than €100 million,...

Ministers and Ministers of State (Successors) Bill: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I commend the Deputy on his energy and diligence in bringing forward this Bill but it is not a proposal the Government can support. The Government is established, appointed and regulated in accordance with the Constitution rather than statute. This is confirmed in Article 28.1, which states that Ministers are "appointed by the President in accordance with the provisions of this...

Ministers and Ministers of State (Successors) Bill: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I have heard the contributions of the Deputies and I thank them, in particular Deputy Nash for outlining his personal experience as a Minister of State who did not retain his seat and his feeling that the last place he wanted to be was back in the Dáil. I also thank Deputy Gannon for his contribution. Something that struck me was the reference by Deputy Tóibín to the lack...

Taxi Industry: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: "notes: — that 19,638 Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSV) are registered with the National Transport Authority (NTA) in 2020; — the 3,059 taxis and hackneys which are wheelchair accessible, with many people relying on these daily; — the very...

Expenditure Response to Covid-19 Crisis: Statements (16 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: As outlined by the Minister, the Government has taken significant action to support our key public services, particularly the health service, and to provide funding for workers and businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The estimated cost of these measures is approximately €16 billion. This leaves overall gross voted expenditure for the year at more than €86 billion....

Expenditure Response to Covid-19 Crisis: Statements (Resumed) (17 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I thank all the Deputies who made constructive comments and suggestions about public expenditure during this debate. It has obviously been a very difficult year. Deputy Naughten suggested that An Post should be able to deliver public services in the same way that it delivers its traditional services, which is a position that I think everybody supports. An Post and its workers shone during...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I will answer the Deputy's question about Macroom Garda station on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, who cannot be here in the Chamber. Since the Garda Commissioner’s announcement of a major reorganisation of An Garda Síochána’s structures and the decision to change the new Macroom station from a district station to a regional and divisional...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The Deputy has asked who the stakeholders are. The OPW has had meetings with the NDFA, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality, which is funding the project on a regular basis to progress it as part of a PPP. Other agencies are involved as well. There were long negotiations with Cork County Council regarding the shared access road. Irish Water has concerns...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: An Garda Síochána has not yet signed off on the design. The project cannot be sent for planning permission until An Garda Síochána signs off on it. The Deputy asked about the form of planning application, who will lodge it and whether we will use a traditional planning application or a fast-track process. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, to contact...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The programme for Government provided for a pilot programme of station reopenings throughout the country, including Bawnboy Garda station. The OPW undertook technical surveys on the building and issued a report to Garda estate management on the works required, the indicative costs involved and a proposed layout. The deliberative process between An Garda Síochána and the OPW to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: One of the problems faced in this project was obtaining approval, due to universal access requirements for building compliance, which, as the Deputy will understand, is necessary. There was also a question about whether these stations should have married quarters attached to them when operational, and An Garda Síochána has yet to decide whether such accommodation is to be part of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Stations (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: I appreciate the Deputy's concerns about security, particularly around the Border area. Six stations were identified for reopening as part of the pilot programme, four of which have thus far reopened, with Bawnboy and Leighlinbridge the two that remain. There has been progress on this but I appreciate the Deputy's point on the concerns of local people about having community policing in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Reform Review (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The plan is that the strategy will be updated in quarter 1 of next year.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, has informed me that he has personally visited all of the areas that suffered from flooding and he would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue. A steering group, comprising of representatives from the Office of Public Works and Kerry County Council, is already in place to progress a number of schemes in County Kerry, including the Kenmare...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Flood Prevention Measures (29 Sep 2020)

Ossian Smyth: On the appointment of consultants by tender, it is scheduled to issue a request for tenders to the engineering and environmental framework in October, with the appointment of a consultant in the first quarter of 2021. On the completion of the Kenmare flood relief scheme, following the appointment of a consultant in early 2021, the programme for delivering a flood relief scheme for Kenmare...