Results 20,341-20,360 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That is all right then.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I thank all the Senators for their contributions to this important debate. I warmly welcome Senator Craughwell to this House. I should probably not say this, but I greatly appreciate the kerfuffle that has allowed me to change things fundamentally. Like a presenter of a cookery programme, I had it ready to present when the opportunity arrived. It was important. I will do my best to not...

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Senator should not suggest that no reform has been happening.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: He cynically suggests we are fancifully claiming to be a reforming Government. It is objectively the truth. I am very proud of getting Government support and being able to bring legislation through these Houses. The debate in this and the other House on every piece of legislation I have brought in has greatly improved that legislation. The Registration of Lobbying Bill has just been...

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: They are equally important elements and I am proud of the job done by the Government in balancing the books, which is absolutely necessary if we are to have a sustainable future achieved through reform. I have mentioned political reform but there has also been public service reform. Much of this happens below the water line and it grieves me to see people who should be informed commenting...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (27 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together. There are no centrally imposed requirements for a minimum turnover. The assessment of a tenderer's financial and economic standing is a key part of any procurement process. Establishing the appropriate suitability criteria that are relevant and appropriate to a particular contract is, of course, a matter for the contracting...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Levy (27 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The public service Pension-Related Deduction (PRD), which applies to the pay of pensionable public servants, was introduced in March 2009 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. It continues to provide very important revenue to the State, and as such remains a key constituent of the suite of financial emergency measures affecting public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Data (27 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As outlined in the response to PQs: 73 and 74 of 15 January 2015, 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 .  The contract performance is managed locally and consequently all contract files are retained by the contracting authorities....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (27 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As with Public Servants generally, the pensions of politicians, including Ministers and other Officeholders, have been subject to a range of measures implemented over recent years which have had, and will continue to have, significant downward effects on pensions and pension awards. The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 introduced a new Single Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Measures (27 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 44305 of 18 November 2014. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Valuation Office (27 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Under section 28 (4) of the Valuation Act 2001, a Revision Officer, appointed by the Commissioner, may carry out a revision of valuation in relation to a particular property only if a material change of circumstances (MCC) has occurred since the property was last revised. MCC is defined in section 3 of the Act as a change of circumstances, which consist of a new building, a change in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (27 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The information being sought by the Deputy is not collated by my Department.  Clause 5.3 'Pay and Conditions of Employment' of the public works contracts contains provisions which apply to all workers engaged on the site.  Clause 5.3.6 makes specific provision where the Contractor has not complied with Clause 5.3, that the Employer shall be entitled to estimate the amount that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (27 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: PeoplePoint is the HR and Pensions Administration Shared Service for the Civil Service.  It was established in March 2013 and currently provides services to employees across 21 Civil Service organisations.  Once all remaining inscope organisations transition, PeoplePoint will provide services across 38 organisations.  PeoplePoint began calculating retirement benefits and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Parliamentary Party Allowances Expenditure (28 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in my reply to question number 262 on 21 October 2014 (ref. 40211/14).  The total amounts paid for the year 2014 are as follows: Total amounts paid for the year 2014 Section 17(1)(a), as amended 2014 Fianna Fáil €126,973.80 Fine Gael €126,973.80 Labour €126,973.80 Sinn Féin...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015-2017: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (28 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Vice Chairman and committee for the invitation to meet them today to discuss the 2014 comprehensive review of expenditure. As the joint committee knows, I published the outcome of that review process at budget time in the form of the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015-2017. All the relevant committees of course will have occasion in the coming few weeks to discuss the outcome...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015-2017: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (28 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I have plenty of time for everybody.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015-2017: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (28 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: We have had this discussion previously. My officials asked the clerk whether there were any particular issues committee members would like me to address and nothing came back to me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015-2017: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (28 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The opening statement was going to deal with what committee members wanted. It was only drafted this morning on the basis we got nothing back.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015-2017: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (28 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Could the Deputy put the question again, please?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015-2017: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (28 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: For 2011.