John O'Mahony
Question:179. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review current procurement procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17394/15]
View answerPublic Procurement Regulations
Questions (179, 180)
John O'Mahony
Question:180. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware of the current procurement procedures for goods and services that are applicable to small and medium businesses; his plans to address these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17395/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.
The reform of the procurement system across the public service is a key element of the reform programme for the public service. The fragmented procurement arrangements across the public service have enabled suppliers to charge different public service bodies different prices for the same goods and services. Public Procurement savings are necessary to enable public service organisations deliver much needed services within the tighter budgets that they must now operate.
However, I would point out that reforms in this area are being carried out in a manner that recognises the importance of SMEs. The Government acknowledges the significant role that SMEs play in the Irish economy and is committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged with public sector procurement and the opportunities presenting. Circular 10/14 issued in 2014 by my Department is aimed at opening up opportunities for small businesses that want to tender for public contracts and also to ensure that engaging with government procurement is easy and low cost. This guidance set out positive measures that contracting authorities are to take to promote the involvement of smaller enterprises as well as highlighting practices that are to be avoided because they can hinder small businesses in competing for public contracts.
In terms of revising the procedures that govern public procurement, the Office of Government Procurement is in the process of transposing three Directives into Irish Law. A public consultation process in respect of the three new EU public procurement Directives was initiated at the end of October 2014 and 43 submissions were received by end January 2015. The issues raised in these submissions are undergoing consideration at present. The transposition process is on track to meet the deadline of April 2016.
I would add that the OGP supports the work of Enterprise Ireland and InterTrade Ireland in building awareness of public procurement and supporting training for small suppliers in bidding for public contracts. For example, last year the Office of Government Procurement supported two "Meet the Buyer" events in Belfast and Dublin which were attended by over 1,100 suppliers. The Office of Government Procurement also supported the 'Go 2 Tender' programme run by InterTrade Ireland which was attended by approximately 400 SME's. This year InterTrade Ireland also delivered a programme on consortia building to assist SME's to jointly bid for state contracts.
The OGP will continue to work with suppliers and business representatives to ensure that winning government business is done in a fair, transparent and accessible way and to ensure that Government procurement policies are business friendly.
Public Sector Staff
Questions (181)
Terence Flanagan
Question:181. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding public sector contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17427/15]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has overall responsibility for policy on both recruitment and the management of performance of appointees to the Civil Service. Appointments to the wider Public Service are a matter for each individual sector. The management of performance, including identifying and fostering high performers and dealing with underperformance, is a major priority under the actions included in the Civil Service Renewal Plan. Civil servants may be recruited on a permanent or temporary basis. In the case of an appointment to a permanent established position, section 5(A) of the Civil Regulation (Amendment) Act 2005 provides for completion of a one-year probationary contract. During this period, performance is subject to review by the local management to determine whether or not the officer(i) has performed in a satisfactory manner,(ii) has been satisfactory in general conduct, and(iii) is suitable from the point of view of health with particular regard to sick leave. Prior to completion of the probationary contract, a decision is made as to whether or not the officer will be retained for permanent appointment. This decision is based on the performance as assessed against the criteria set out in (i) to (iii) above. In the event that the officer is not considered suitable, notification in writing of the action to be taken will be issued to the officer prior to the expiry of the contract. Civil servants may also be employed on a temporary unestablished basis on fixed-term contracts. Fixed-term contracts are issued for a number of reasons including to meet seasonal peaks of demand and to provide cover arising from family friendly policies across the Civil and Public Service. A fixed-term contract, in the normal course, may be terminated for a number of reasons such as the arrival at a specific date, the completion of a specific task or the occurrence of a specific event. The employing Department or Office reserves the right to terminate the employment prior to the date of cessation on giving the appropriate notice set down in the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005. The employing Department or Office also reserves the right to terminate the employment for stated reasons. In the event of serious misconduct, the appointment may be terminated without notice and no remuneration or compensation is payable other than that applicable to work carried out. Also, the person appointed may terminate the appointment by giving appropriate notice.
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (182)
Joe Costello
Question:182. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies currently exist, or on which vacancies are anticipated to arise, up to and including 1 January 2016; the number of vacancies in each case; when the vacancy arose or will arise; if the vacancy relates to a chair or a member; the details of the appointment process in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17603/15]
View answerWritten answers
In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are currently two vacancies on State Boards under my remit.
These two vacancies are on the board of the Public Appointments Service (PAS) due to the resignations of the nominees of the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice. A further vacancy will arise on 14 July 2015 when the term of office of one other board member will be completed. The appointment process for filling these vacancies will be conducted by PAS.
The Institute of Public Administration will have one vacancy arising on 1 October 2015 and the process of recruiting a new Director General will be conducted by the Public Appointments Service.
The appointment process for new members of the PAS board is outlined in the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. The act states that I as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (in consultation with Minister for the Environment, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice) should appoint members of the Board of the Public Appointments Service. The Board is meant to be representative of the Public Appointments Service client base. The Act also specifies that in appointing persons as members of the Board I shall ensure that:
- at least 2 of them have either or both civil service and other public service experience and knowledge which I consider relevant, and
- at least 2 of them have expertise in human resource management, customer service and recruitment outside the public service which I consider relevant.
Public Procurement Contracts
Questions (183)
Anthony Lawlor
Question:183. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware that, in spite of his Department's Circular 10/14: Initiatives to assist small and medium enterprises in public procurement, many local authorities are still not applying the principles of the circular in their procurement, and as a result, Irish small and medium-sized enterprises are still largely excluded from Government tenders, with a very high percentage of our procurement going outside the country; the steps he and the Office of Government Procurement are taking to ensure that the above circular is implemented, in order that Irish small and medium enterprises, which find it impossible to compete with foreign multinationals, are not precluded from, or disadvantaged by, tendering for Government contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17803/15]
View answerWritten answers
Public Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. It would be a breach of the EU rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular candidates on grounds such as nationality, geographic location or organisational size, and there are legal remedies which may be used against any public body infringing these rules.
I would point out that the reform of public procurement in Ireland is being carried out in a manner that recognises the clear importance of small and medium-sized enterprises in this country's economic recovery. The recently published report by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) "Public Service Spend and Tendering Analysis for 2013" showed that 93% of public service procurement expenditure was with businesses in the Republic of Ireland. This was based on an analysis of €2.742 billion expenditure across 64 large public service bodies involving over 35,000 suppliers.
The OGP is working with industry representative bodies to promote the engagement of Irish business in public procurement (including ISME, IBEC, SFA, Chambers Ireland, and CIF) as well as the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, InterTrade Ireland, and Enterprise Ireland. Last year, for example, the OGP supported two 'Meet the Buyer' events - one in Belfast and the other in Dublin attended by over 1,100 businesses. In addition, the OGP proactively launched a campaign to get more businesses to register with e-tenders (the national tendering portal) which resulted in 12,300 new supplier registrations in 2014.
It is also important to realise that open tendering is a two way street and provides Irish companies with opportunities to compete in an EU market estimated to be valued in excess of €2.4 trillion per annum. The open market regime offers opportunities for Irish companies to win business abroad and many Irish businesses are successful in this regard.
The OGP will continue to work with industry to ensure that winning government business is done in a fair, transparent and accessible way and to ensure that Government procurement policies are business friendly.
Public Procurement Contracts
Questions (184, 185)
Anthony Lawlor
Question:184. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the total number of Government tenders for the years 2011 to 2014 and 2015 to date; and the number of contracts in each year that were awarded to Irish small and medium-sized enterprises. [17804/15]
View answerAnthony Lawlor
Question:185. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to public procurement, the requirements regarding the publication of awards; the reason only 18% of awards were published in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17805/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together.
It is the responsibility of individual contracting authorities to publish award notices following the signing of a contract. This process is facilitated through the national eProcurement portal www.etenders.gov.ie. This portal is the Irish Government's public platform for advertising public sector procurement tenders. All tender notices entered into eTenders are advertised on this national system but notices greater than a certain threshold value must also be advertised in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU). Under EU Directives on public procurement, public works, utilities, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be advertised (tender notice) and details of the contracts awarded also published (contract award notices) in the OJEU.
The OJEU is an electronic publication where all public procurement tenders above the EU Thresholds, from across all member states must be published. Non-OJEU refers to the tender notices that are below the OJEU public procurement thresholds. The eTenders system facilitates the entry and publication of tender notices and contract award details for both national and EU procurement opportunities. eTenders is set up and approved to automatically send notices of tender notices above threshold estimated values to be published in the OJEU. This allows Contracting Authorities to meet national and EU guidelines for publishing notices and awards in a single system. The current EU thresholds are:
|
Works |
|
|
Contract Notice €5,186,000 |
Threshold applies to Government Departments and Offices, Local and Regional Authorities and public bodies |
|
Supplies and Services |
|
|
Contract Notice €134,000 |
Threshold applies to Government Departments and Offices |
|
Contract Notice €207,000 |
Threshold applies to Local and Regional Authorities and public bodies outside the Utilities sector |
|
Utilities |
|
|
Works Contracts/Prior Indicative Notice €5,186,000 |
For entities in Utilities sector covered by GPA |
|
Supplies and Services €414,000 |
For entities in Utilities sector covered by GPA |
While the EU Directives require publication of tender and contract award notices for above threshold activity, below threshold notices are governed only by national rules. Following the introduction of Circular 10/14: 'Initiatives to assist SMEs in Public Procurement', the entry of contract award details for all contracts above €25k became mandatory since August 2014, however prior to this date it was not mandatory.
The OGP recently published a report titled "Public Service Spend and Tendering Analysis for 2013". It reported that eTenders contained details of 627 contracts awarded by Public Sector Bodies in 2013 for tender notices published in 2013. This is approximately 18% of the 3,518 tender notices published during 2013. However, a contract may take up to 9 months or more to complete from the date of tender notice advertisement to signing of a contract. Therefore, award data might not be available until the following year. The next report on this to be published by the OGP will report on 2014 spend and tendering activity. This information is not yet available.
The eTenders system incorporates a supplier register that holds company information as entered by each supplier. Historically, many suppliers have registered their company multiple times and/or with incomplete business profiles. Significant progress was made during 2014 to clean up supplier data and this work is still on-going.
The information requested by the Deputy relating to tender notices for the years 2011 to date, as entered by contracting authorities on eTenders, is being collated and will be issued directly to the Deputy.
Public Sector Staff Recruitment
Questions (186)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:186. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of recruitment under the aegis of his Department to the public sector since the partial lifting of the embargo on recruitment; if he will compare current figures across each sector of the public sector with the figures before the embargo was introduced; and, in view of the recent spring statement, if he will lift the embargo altogether, and allow staff to be replaced. [17859/15]
View answerWritten answers
As I announced in the Budget, the Moratorium is being replaced in 2015 with a framework which will delegate to Government Departments sanction for management of staff numbers, subject to remaining within binding overall pay ceilings, and other controls. Sanction has already been delegated to a number of Departments, including my own, and negotiations are ongoing with others, with a view to having the agreements in place as soon as practicable.
Tables 1 and 2 set out the recruitment to my Department and those bodies under my aegis since the sanction was issued.
Table 3 sets out the Public Service staffing levels, by sector, at the end of 2014 (which are the latest fully reconciled figures) and the comparable figures at the end of the first quarter of 2009, when the Moratorium was introduced. The end 2014 figures will not reflect the recruitment under the new delegated arrangements.
Further details on Public Service numbers is available on my Department's Databank website at http://databank.per.gov.ie/ .
Table 1 - Recruitment figures for 2015 for Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
|
Post/Grade |
Number of Posts |
Vote Area |
|
Administrative Officer Generalist |
12 |
Public Expenditure and Reform |
|
Administrative Officer Graduate Economist |
1 |
Public Expenditure and Reform |
|
Head of OGCIO |
1 |
Public Expenditure and Reform |
|
Assistant Principal - OGCIO |
3 |
Public Expenditure and Reform |
|
Assistant Principal Payroll Shared Services |
3 |
Shared Services |
|
Assistant Principal National Shared Services Office |
1 |
Shared Services |
|
Clerical Officer National Shared Services Office |
1 |
Shared Services |
|
Clerical Officer PeoplePoint |
127 |
Shared Services |
|
Category Manager |
5 |
Office of Government Procurement |
|
Category Specialist Higher |
18 |
Office of Government Procurement |
|
Category Specialist |
10 |
Office of Government Procurement |
|
Technical Adviser |
1 |
Office of Government Procurement |
|
Clerical Officer |
13 |
Office of Government Procurement |
Table 2 - Recruitment figures for 2015 for bodies under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
|
Offices |
Grade |
Number |
|
Office of the Ombudsman |
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
|
Assistant Principal |
6 |
|
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
|
|
Clerical Officer |
7 |
|
State Lab |
Chemist Grade 3 |
5 |
|
Public Appointments Service |
Clerical Officers |
24 |
|
|
Temporary Clerical Officers |
2 |
|
OPW |
Clerical Officer |
1 |
Table 3 Public Service Numbers 2009 and 2014
|
SECTOR |
Civil Service |
Defence |
Education |
Health |
Justice |
Local Authorities |
NCSAs |
Total |
|
Quarter 1, 2009 |
39,129 |
11,169 |
95,253 |
111,770 |
15,664 |
34,179 |
12,981 |
320,145 |
|
Quarter 4, 2014 |
36,172 |
9,785 |
94,045 |
97,791 |
12,787 |
26,786 |
12,276 |
289,643 |
|
Change: |
2,957 |
1,384 |
1,208 |
13,979 |
2,877 |
7,393 |
705 |
30,502 |
|
Percentage change: |
7.56% |
12.39% |
1.27% |
12.51% |
18.37% |
21.63% |
5.43% |
9.53% |
Public Sector Staff
Questions (187)
Brendan Smith
Question:187. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a non-established long-serving civil servant in the Office of Public Works is eligible for a transfer to another Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17868/15]
View answerWritten answers
The terms and conditions of employment for non-established (State Industrial) employees precludes their transfer to other Government Departments except through open recruitment competitions. The Public Service Management Act was amended in December 2013 to extend the options for redeployment of staff within the public sector. However, this did not include non-established civil servants.
Departmental Properties
Questions (188)
Brian Stanley
Question:188. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to provide permanent office accommodation for staff who located in Portlaoise in County Laois as part of decentralisation, in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and in the Department of Social Protection. [17880/15]
View answerWritten answers
A space audit of the State owned Government Offices on the Abbeyleix Road in Portlaoise is currently being undertaken. When complete, it will be evaluated to establish the potential to increase the occupancy of the building through the re-configuration of the space with a more modern open plan layout and furniture.
The provision of an extension to this State owned property will also be reviewed following completion of the space audit.
The Department of Social Protection opened an additional control office in Portlaoise in 2014 as part of their normal regional structure. This was not part of the Decentralisation Programme.
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (189)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Question:189. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of State boards and agencies where he has the power of appointment but where there is currently no active board or where the board is inquorate, awaiting appointments to be made by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17897/15]
View answerWritten answers
In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that currently the state boards and agencies under my remit have quorate and active boards.
Low Pay
Questions (190)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:190. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to introduce the living wage of €11.45 per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17456/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Living Wage concept is grounded in the idea that a person’s wage should be sufficient to maintain a safe, decent standard of living. At an individual level the resources required to achieve a minimum essential standard of living is very dependent on family circumstances and thus the interaction of individual earnings with household income and supports such as Child Benefit, Family Income Supplement and housing, education and health supports all contribute to an individual's standard of living. In the UK, it is a voluntary code that some employers, who pay in excess of the UK national minimum wage, are keen to be associated with. However, the UK does not have the Joint Labour Committee framework or Sectoral Employment Order framework that in the former case has been re-introduced and, in the latter case, is due to be put on a statutory footing very shortly.
Both frameworks provide or will provide for the setting of wages above the NMW.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in Ireland is relatively high by international standards. The most recent figures published by Eurostat show that Ireland’s rate is the fifth highest among the 22 EU Member States that have a National Minimum Wage. When the cost of living is taken into account, Ireland’s rate is the sixth highest.
The Government’s decision to restore the NMW to €8.65 per hour with effect from 1 July 2011, together with the decision to put the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) on a more secure legal and Constitutional footing represents a significant commitment by this Government to protect the lowest paid and most vulnerable workers.
The establishment of a Low Pay Commission is one of the key commitments in the Statement of Government Priorities agreed in July 2014. The Commission was officially launched on 26th February 2015 to operate on an interim administrative basis. Legislation to provide for the establishment of the LPC on a statutory basis will be published shortly with a view to its enactment by mid-2015.
The principal function of the Low Pay Commission will be, on an annual basis, to examine and make recommendations to the Minister of the day on the national minimum wage, with a view to securing that the national minimum wage, where adjusted, is adjusted incrementally over time having had regard to changes in earnings, productivity, overall competitiveness and the likely impact any adjustment will have on employment and unemployment levels.
I am conscious of the need to balance a basic statutory minimum pay rate that is fair, with one that is sustainable and which allows employers to continue to create quality jobs.
Alongside examining the National Minimum Wage, the Low Pay Commission will also be tasked with examining matters related generally to the functions of the Commission under the Act. This work programme will be agreed by Government and presented to the Commission in February of each year.
The Commission has already commenced its work: submissions were sought recently and I expect that the Commission will submit its first report by the middle of July.
A key focus of the Government’s strategy is to protect the most vulnerable workers and to assist those on low and middle-incomes. In this context, 410,000 low paid workers have been removed from the USC charge over successive budgets. The Government is firmly committed to continuing this policy of targeted tax reductions for workers in the next budget.
At the same time, the Government has introduced targeted welfare supports for people returning to work, and particularly for the low-paid. The Government will pay €30 a week to mothers or fathers returning to work from long-term unemployment for each child for the first year, and €15 per week per child for the second year. The scheme was open to applications from 5 January 2015.
For those trapped on rent supplement that cannot go back to work because they will lose their housing support, a new Housing Assistance Payment is being rolled out. The assistance from the State will be based on how much you earn and not by your employment status.
The Department of Social Protection also supports low-income families in work by means of Family Income Supplement (FIS). That Department avails of every opportunity in its engagement with employers and jobseekers to build awareness of the availability of FIS and how this payment may benefit potential employees with children.
I have a deep interest in the Living Wage initiative, and as I have previously stated, I will host a Forum on the Living Wage later this year, where I will invite employers, trade unions, civil society actors, academics and key organisations involved in this voluntary initiative to examine the concept from an Irish perspective.
Company Returns
Questions (191)
Pearse Doherty
Question:191. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the liquidator for Siteserv has not lodged the E5 and E6 forms with the Companies Registration Office within the seven days permissible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17292/15]
View answerWritten answers
I have made enquiries with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) and can confirm that the liquidator filed the Form E6 - Return of Final Winding Up Meeting (Section 263 of the Companies Act 1963) and the Form E5 - Liquidator's Statement of Account (Section 263 of the Companies Act 1963) on 6 May 2015.
Employment Rights
Questions (192)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:192. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the requirements that currently exist with respect to employers providing insurance for workers on their premises; if these requirements are legally binding or voluntary; and the legal or policy basis of these requirements. [17315/15]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland has a robust body of employment law, encompassing a comprehensive range of employment rights together with both civil and criminal remedies to ensure that individuals can vindicate their rights. This body of law is underpinned by a proactive labour inspectorate. Further, the Workplace Relations Bill 2014, when enacted, will deliver a significantly streamlined workplace relations service which will provide for more effective and efficient means of redress and enforcement within a reasonable period for all users of the service.
There is no provision under employment law that requires employers to provide insurance for workers on their premises. However, employers are required to make social insurance contributions on behalf of employees under the social welfare system. I do not have policy responsibility for public liability insurance.
As regards occupational health and safety legislation, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to ensure that working conditions are such as will protect the safety, health and welfare at work of employees. It also requires employers to manage their business in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that individuals at the place of work who are not employees, are not exposed to risks to their safety, health or welfare.
Media Mergers
Questions (193)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:193. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the date on which he was notified by the Competition Authority of the proposed transaction whereby a person (details supplied) would, through that person's company, acquire Siteserv PLC. [17495/15]
View answerWritten answers
After the acquisition was agreed by the parties involved, the Competition Authority was notified. Following this, notification of the proposed transaction was sent to me, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, in accordance with Section 23(1)(a) of the Competition Act 2002 on the 20th March 2012 as the Competition Authority considered it to be a media merger within the meaning of Section 23(10) of that Act.
I understand this merger notification (M/12/002) was placed on the Competition Authority’s website at the time. The Competition Authority determined that the acquisition should not be prevented from proceeding as, in its opinion, it would not result in a substantial lessening of competition in markets for goods or services in the State.
Firearms and Ammunition Security
Questions (194, 195, 196)
Gabrielle McFadden
Question:194. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on establishing a proof house in Ireland, in view of the fact that, currently, any standard of non-military gun can be imported into the Irish market without sufficient quality control; that such a facility would be used for testing unproofed guns to make sure they are safe to enter the public domain; that it would also provide a central place for destroying and decommissioning old and worn out non-military guns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17527/15]
View answerGabrielle McFadden
Question:195. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if consideration will be given to opening a proof house if there was a credible business person willing to manufacture non-military firearms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17528/15]
View answerGabrielle McFadden
Question:196. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the fact that the Firearms (Proofing) Act 1968 was introduced by the then Department of Industry and Commerce to set up a proof house, specifically for shotguns manufactured by an indigenous firearms company, if consideration will be given to setting up such a facility, if a suitable business proposal were submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17529/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 to 196, inclusive, together.
I am not aware of any proposals being submitted to my Department to establish a Proof House for firearms in Ireland. I understand that Proof Houses are normally only established in States where firearms are manufactured. In that context, I understand that Ireland does not have any firearms’ manufacturers.
Such Proof Houses have been set up in a number of EU Member States which have firearms’ manufacturers. These Member States are signatories to the Commission Internationale Permanente pour l’epreuve des armes feu portatives ("Permanent International Commission for the Proof of Small Arms" – commonly abbreviated as C.I.P.) which is an international organisation which sets standards for safety testing of firearms. I, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, have no proposals for Ireland to join the C.I.P.
The establishment of any such Proof House in Ireland would have security implications which would be a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. Overall responsibility for firearms importation into Ireland, and the licensing thereof, are also the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality. In this context, I note that the Department of Justice and Equality application form for importation of firearms by a registered firearms’ dealer into Ireland includes a requirement to declare if the firearm has a C.I.P. proof status or not. I would remind the Deputy that the Department of Justice and Equality undertook a public consultation earlier this year in relation to the licensing of firearms in Ireland.
Construction Contracts
Questions (197)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:197. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he expects a chairperson for the panel of adjudicators to be appointed under the Construction Contracts Act 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17776/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Government approved the delegation of responsibility for implementation of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 to my colleague, the Minister of State for Business and Employment, Mr. Gerald Nash T.D., last November.
I am informed that Minister Nash intends to appoint a Chairperson of the Ministerial Panel of Adjudicators, which is to be established under the Act, as soon as is practicable, having regard to procedural and contractual considerations.
Regional Development Initiatives
Questions (198)
Pat Deering
Question:198. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made with the identification of the nine advance sites-factories in the different regions, since the announcement some time ago, with particular reference to the County Carlow area; if the vacant Braun site in the town of Carlow will be considered for future use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17895/15]
View answerWritten answers
At the launch of the Regional Action plan for Jobs in February this year, the Government announced that an additional €150m over 5 years would be made available to IDA Ireland for a capital investment programme to help attract more multinational investment and jobs into each region.
The programme will build on the recent investment by IDA Ireland in facilities in Athlone and Waterford and will include investments over the coming years in construction of advance manufacturing and office facilities in Sligo, Tralee, Castlebar, Galway, Dundalk, Limerick, Athlone, Carlow and Waterford. Sligo, Tralee and Castlebar are to the forefront of the 2015 investment programme with others scheduled to follow in subsequent years. Galway, Dundalk and Limerick are earmarked for 2016, while Athlone, Carlow and Waterford are earmarked for 2017. I am informed by IDA Ireland that the Agency has not yet identified a site for the future construction of the facility in Carlow but site options are under consideration.
I am informed that the Braun facility in Carlow was purchased by a private developer in early 2015. IDA Ireland has visited the facility with the developer to assess the plans for the future development of the site and has provided inputs on the marketability of the site for future FDI to Carlow. I understand that IDA will be in a position to actively market the site once minor upgrade works are completed. It is anticipated that these works will be completed by mid-year. In the meantime IDA Ireland has provided information on the facility to a number of potential clients, who are currently assessing Ireland as an investment location.
As the Deputy is aware, officials of my Department and its agencies are actively engaged with regional stakeholders in the development of individual Action Plans for each of the regions, including the South East Region, which will be published in the near future.
Forestry Management
Questions (199)
Helen McEntee
Question:199. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person and-or body responsible for placing dog littering bins in Balrath Forest Park (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17422/15]
View answerWritten answers
Balrath Forest is a forest property owned by Coillte. Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forest properties, are the responsibility of the company. Coillte has advised, however, that the company applies the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles in its forests and, on this basis, litter bins of any sort are not provided in any of the company’s forests as visitors are expected to take home all or any waste they generate while in the forests.
Land Parcel Identification System
Questions (200)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:200. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17221/15]
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A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that a number of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. Following a request for a review from the person named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position was necessary to progress the matter. The finding of the ground verification check was that the person named had an area over-declaration of 22.99 % in the case of both the Single Farm Payment and the Disadvantaged Area Schemes. As the level of the over-declaration was greater than 20% of the established eligible area in respect of both Schemes, regretfully, no payment was due to the person named under the 2013 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes. In view of these findings, the payments already made under the 2013 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes are deemed overpaid and will be offset against future payments made to the applicant by my Department.
The person named was notified of this decision on the 3rd March 2015 and was advised that in the event that they are dissatisfied with the outcome of the verification check, the decision can be appealed to the independent LPIS Appeals Committee, within three months of the date of this letter.
Agriculture Scheme Administration
Questions (201)
Seán Kyne
Question:201. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if entitlements for a deceased person (details supplied) are to be transferred to that person's nephew; and the procedure or information required in the absence of a will being declared by the deceased. [17223/15]
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My Department has been in correspondence with the above named person to advise and assist in relation to the requirements for transferring of schemes in which the deceased herd owner participated and also transferring entitlements held by the deceased person. In order to transfer entitlements from the deceased herd owner to the rightful beneficiary, it is necessary for the rightful beneficiary and the Estate of the deceased person to submit a 2015 Transfer of Entitlement Allocation Right and Reference Value form to my Department. This form is available on the Departments website www.agriculture.gov.ie .
My Department would also require a letter from the solicitor acting on behalf of the Estate indicating all beneficiaries. In the absence of a will, Letters of Administration should also be submitted. My Department can be contacted directly at lo call 0761 064430 if any further information is required.