Thank you very much Helena for that very warm welcome. As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I appreciate the opportunity to address your Annual Conference.  As you progress through your second decade of existence, your organisation has brought the … Continue reading →

Association of County and City Councils Annual Conference Friday 11th May 2012   Good morning ladies and gentlemen.   Introduction I am very pleased to have the opportunity to address you this morning at your Annual Conference.   The twin themes … Continue reading →

Private Members Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Bill 2012 Government Position The Private Members Bill put forward by Deputy McGuinness provides for the Comptroller and Auditor General to audit local authority accounts, local authority audits and local auditor reports and … Continue reading →

                                                                             Check Against Delivery I move that this Bill be read a second time. Opening Remarks   As the house is aware the Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce legislation to protect small building subcontractors that have been … Continue reading →

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen   Introduction and Context I am very pleased to join you this morning on the second day of your Annual Delegate Conference.   I am told that I am the first Minister for some time … Continue reading →

Introduction – the rationale for reform I welcome this opportunity to address the National Conference of the Ireland Chapter of the Project Management Institute. The theme for today’s conference of “Driving Value through Project Excellence” is a topical one for … Continue reading →

Introduction I would like to thank the Chair and Members of the Committee for providing me with this opportunity to present the Government’s proposals in relation to “Whistleblower Protection Legislation”.   In addition to hearing the views of the Committee … Continue reading →

A Cheann Comhairle  I had the honour of being elected to this House in 1987.  Throughout my whole time here the spectre of corruption has hung over political life.  While endemic to the system it has not been endemic to … Continue reading →

 Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen. I am delighted to join you here this morning to open this conference and to acknowledge the significant eGovernment successes already achieved by the Irish Public Service.  The Irish Public Service is going through a … Continue reading →

The size of the public service grew significantly in the early years of the last decade.  By 2008, some 320,000 were employed in the Public Service and by 2009 the gross exchequer pay bill peaked at over €17.5bn.  It is … Continue reading →