Results 20,161-20,180 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Other Questions: Public Private Partnerships Data (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I have given the Deputy all the PPPs that have come on stream since I became Minister. There are, obviously, liabilities from the new Courts of Justice and other things that were built under PPPs under the previous Administration or Administrations. I will give the Deputy the consolidated unitary payments in a written reply.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Since this Government took office, sustainable and far reaching Public Service Reform has been a key element of our strategy to meet the challenges that have faced the country. Public Service Reform will also continue to play an important role in our recovery. As the Deputy will be aware, we published our first Public Service Reform Plan in November 2011. A Progress Report published in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that in September the Government agreed to introduce a new system for State Board Appointments. The Decision, building on the earlier 2011 Decision, required my Department to prepare Guidelines on a new process to be agreed by Government. In preparing the Guidelines the Department sought the views of all Departments, as well as meeting with interested parties and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Capital Review, which was conducted in parallel with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, is now drawing to a conclusion and the report on the review will be published in the coming weeks. The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) issues Irish Government bonds which attract investment from institutions, including pension funds, and from individuals. A number of other financial...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In 2011 the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members. Under those arrangements Departments invited expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis on their websites. It was intended that all members of the public could apply for appointment to these vacancies. In order to facilitate this wider access, a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In Budget 2015, I was pleased to be able to announce that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the Civil Service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills commencing in late 2014 and continuing during 2015. At this stage, in advance of the outcome of various competitions, it is not possible to be definitive about actual numbers. These will be determined by a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Haddington Road Agreement came into effect on 1 July 2013 and forms the cornerstone for public serice pay policy over a three year period. Over the first 17 months of its lifetime, the Agreement has been a key enabler in reducing the cost of the public service pay and pensions bill. The cost reductions and productivity increases, and the reform dividend which the Agreement has...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Under EU and national rules, the public procurement of works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. It would be a breach of the rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular bidders on grounds of nationality and there are legal remedies which may be used against any public body...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The proposals emanating from the mediation process in relation to the Waterford Crystal pension schemes involve a settlement of a legal action initiated by representatives of workers in Waterford Crystal against the Minister of Social Protection. The European Court of Justice had previously ruled that, in the case of the workers concerned, the State had failed to provide adequate protection...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Issues (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: There is a commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 to establish a Low Pay Commission (LPC) on a statutory basis as an independent body to make annual recommendations to the Government about the appropriate level of the minimum wage and related matters. The Minister for Business and Employment, Mr. Ged Nash, T.D., is currently developing proposals to implement this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Commissioners of Public Works have a statutory responsibility under the various National Monuments Acts 1930 - 2004 to undertake the care and maintenance of National Monuments in State care.Additionally, there are a number of Historic Properties under their care which are not designated National Monuments but which are important in a National context for various reasons. Some National...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service Accountability (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I launched the Civil Renewal Plan along with the Taoiseach on 30th October last. The Plan outlines a vision for the Civil Service and practical changes that will create a more unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service, providing a world-class service to the State and to the people of Ireland. All of the actions in the Plan are to be implemented over the next three...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Programme (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: My Department commenced a review of the public capital programme in April of this year in parallel with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. The purpose of the review is to assess all areas of public capital investment and to refresh the existing investment strategy and multi-annual envelopes to ensure that they are in line with emerging Government priorities and that our limited...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Section 9(10) of the Valuation Act 2001 provides that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions. Decisions with regard to the selection of rating authority areas for revaluation is his sole prerogative. Section 19(1) of the said Act empowers the Commissioner to make a Valuation Order specifying a rating authority area over which a revaluation is to be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Housing Provision (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, on 17 October 2014, the Government supported in principle the Second Stage of the Private Member's Social Clauses in Public Procurement Bill 2013, which was put forward by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, and sees significant merit in developing a social clause framework where such clauses are applied in a targeted manner.  The Government did not oppose the Bill. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: North South Ministerial Council (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I attended the Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh on Friday, 5 December 2014.  The Taoiseach led the Irish Government delegation, while the First Minister and deputy First Minister led the delegation from the Northern Ireland Executive.  The First Minister and deputy First Minister chaired the meeting. Among the matters discussed were the joint...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Civil Service Renewal Plan focuses on practical change in creating a unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service.   The Plan is based on a number of practical and specific actions aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Civil Service to deliver services in an effective and efficient manner.  Action 16 of the Plan provides for the redesign of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Meetings (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that my Department's Management Advisory Council meetings take place once a week and the minutes of those meetings including any attended by me  or the Minister of State are available on my Department's website .

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Meetings (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question all details regarding meetings of the Management Advisory Council in my Department since 2011 are currently available on our website at: .  The Agenda and minutes taken at each meeting are also available. Those that have attended include: -Mr Robert Watt (Secretary General) -All officers at Assistant Secretary level -Mr Ronan O'Brien (Special...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Redeployment (16 Dec 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that, since the formation of my Department in 2011, only one member of staff sought redeployment from County Waterford to County Offaly which was approved.