Written Answers Nos. 1-8
1. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the costs incurred by the Commission of Investigation into the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation to date by category; the purpose for which the funding was spent in each case; and the beneficiaries in each case. [12844/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra2. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach the projected costs in regard to the Commission of Investigation into IBRC. [12839/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom the date of its establishment to the end of May 2020, the Commission has spent a total of €7,865,848, excluding third party legal costs that have been incurred but not yet paid.
A breakdown of the main categories of expenditure incurred by the Commission to date is set out in the following table:
|
Commission of Investigation IBRC Expenditure from Establishment Jun 2015 - May 2020 |
Amount |
|
Administrative Pay |
€ 1,344,948 |
|
Travel and Subsistence |
€ 15,793 |
|
Training and Development and Incidental Expenses (including legal fees of Counsel retained directly by the Commission) |
€4,903,819 |
|
Postal and Telecommunications |
€ 65,309 |
|
Office Equipment and IT External Service |
€ 812,764 |
|
Office Premises Expenses |
€ 723,216 |
|
Total |
€ 7,865,848 |
The Commission is fully independent in all its operations. Any expenditure incurred by the Commission enables it to progress its investigation and pay for the day to day costs arising. In addition to the Commission’s staff and the legal counsel it has engaged, the Commission has also incurred costs which have been paid to a broad range of suppliers who provide goods or services to the Commission for a range of functions such as IT, office equipment, electricity, office cleaning, etc.
The Commission has estimated that the final cost of the completion of the first module of its investigation, regarding the Siteserv transaction, will be from €11 - €14 million. However, this estimate assumes the investigation is completed in accordance with the timetable stated by the Commission and excludes costs or delays associated with judicial review hearings. The Commission also acknowledges that it involves a substantial degree of uncertainty regarding the amount of costs actually recoverable by parties before the Commission, and it assumes the Commission’s Legal Costs Guidelines are not successfully challenged. The Department of the Taoiseach has given its view on many occasions, including in briefings with Oireachtas representatives, that the final cost is likely to significantly exceed the Commission’s estimate, and could exceed €30m.
3. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach the number of times Cabinet committee F (National Security) has met to date in 2020; and when the committee will next meet. [13138/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cabinet Committee on Security encompasses matters previously under the remit of Cabinet Committee F (National Security) and G (Justice) and deals with justice, defence, Garda Reform and national security issues. It last met on 30 October 2019 and no date has been set for the next meeting. In the intervening period, in the context of the COVID 19 crisis, the Cabinet has received updates on security issues as appropriate.
4. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will clarify the public health guidelines in relation to gatherings for weddings and the numbers permissible in places of worship including wedding celebrations, to allow persons to properly plan and manage their weddings. [13259/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the advice of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, NPHET recommended that for the duration of phase 3 (which commenced on 29 June), indoor and outdoor mass gatherings (including religious events and family events such as weddings) be restricted to 50 and 200 respectively, bearing in mind the following:
- Mass gatherings should be organised in advance to enable adequate planning by organisers so that prevention and control measures can be implemented, and physical distancing can be maintained so as to reduce the risk of transmission and avoid strain on health services;
- The mass gatherings numbers listed above are total numbers of people at mass gathering events including organisers, participants and attendees;
- Mass gatherings operating in line with the limits above should comply with the Public Health Checklist and physical distancing, having regard to the size of the venue;
- Adopting a cautious approach considering the high risk infection spread at mass gatherings, it is recommended that marquees etc be considered indoor venues for the purposes of these mass gatherings restrictions.
These limits will be increased to 100 (indoor) and 500 (outdoor) in phase 4.
However, concerns have been raised regarding the 50 person restriction for indoor gatherings in the context of religious services. In light of this, Government decided to exempt places of worship from the regulations restricting numbers on mass gatherings. The exemption applies to places of worship only and not to any gatherings that may take place after the religious ceremony such as wedding receptions.
Work is ongoing on new COVID-19 Guidance for Religious Services by the HSE/Health Protection Surveillance Centre. This will require plans to be developed for managing attendance at each premises, including an assessment to determine how many people can attend services within the requirements of social distancing.
5. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will convene a citizens' assembly to discuss a shorter working week. [13534/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government provides for establishment of Citizens' Assemblies to consider: the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited to Dublin; matters relating to drugs use; Biodiversity; and the future of education.
There are no plans at present for a Citizens' Assembly to consider the matter of a shorter working week.
A Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality was approved by Dáil Éireann on 9 July and Seanad Éireann on 11 July, 2019. Ms. Catherine Day was appointed Chair of the Assembly and the inaugural meeting was held on 25th of January 2020.
6. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Taoiseach if his Department has established a working from home policy for its employees. [13554/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince March 2020, in line with the public health advice of the Department of Health, the majority of staff in my Department have been working from home with the exception of staff supporting the essential operation of Government Buildings to support the work of the Taoiseach and Government during this period. In line with the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol and to support the recovery of the wider economy, my Department will continue to facilitate staff to work from home for as long as possible.
In supporting staff working safely and effectively from home my Department has been guided by advice and a series of frequently asked questions developed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to manage work arrangements during COVID-19. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has also commenced work on the development of a remote working policy which will address remote working in the longer term for the civil service.
7. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Taoiseach the number of all non-Covid-19 related deaths and cause of death that have occurred for each month of 2020, in tabular form. [13611/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested by the Deputy is not yet available.
All deaths that occur in the State must be registered within 3 months from the date of death; for example, a death that occurred in April 2020 may not be registered until July. Furthermore, all deaths involving COVID-19 are reportable to the Coroner's office and are registered on receipt of the Coroner's certificate.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is scheduled to publish Quarter 1 (Q1) 2020 data in August 2020, allowing time for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 deaths to be registered for that quarter, while Quarter 2 (Q2) 2020 data are scheduled for publication in November 2020.
An additional information note was also published on the CSO website on the implications of COVID-19 on the processing of death certificates and is available at the following link:
https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/in/vs/informationnoteontheimplicationsofcovid-19ontheprocessingofdeathcertificates/
8. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the estimated cost of a new electric target range at the Defence Forces training centre; and when the works will be completed. [13139/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, will provide a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe. The Deputy will appreciate that for commercially sensitive reasons I am not in a position to disclose estimated costs at this point in time.
As part of this programme, I can confirm that the procurement process for the upgrade of the existing Range 3 in the Defence Forces Training Centre at the Curragh Camp is underway. It is expected that the works will commence this year and will be completed within a 12 month timeframe.
