Results 20,501-20,520 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Other Questions: Economic Policy (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I foresee two sets of issues. I have already mentioned one, the external environment. There are obviously uncertainties over eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine. There are uncertainties over the position of Greece and the future inclusion of the United Kingdom within the European Union. Those are matters over which we have very little control, but they may impact on us and we need to...

Other Questions: Economic Policy (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Some 20,000 public servants to be fired.

Other Questions: Economic Policy (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to Deputy Lawlor, he never misses the main chance. I understand exactly the project in which he is interested and I certainly will have regard to that. I will deal briefly with Deputy McDonald's remarks. When the facts of the matter do not suit the case and do not suit the political argument-----

Other Questions: Economic Policy (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: -----she uses generalisms. Medical cards are not being taken. There are more medical cards now than we ever had in our history. That is an undeniable fact. When we have the most strained pressures on our resources, we are providing more medical cards. We will provide free GP care to those aged under six and over 70.

Other Questions: Economic Policy (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In terms of poverty, I do not know if the Deputy had a chance to look at the presentation given to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection two weeks ago. Almost uniquely, we have gone through the most difficult economic environment in our history while reducing inequality. No other country - not Greece, Portugal or Spain - reduced inequality. That is because we...

Other Questions: Economic Policy (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The notion that we have the lowest pay in the OECD is not true; we do not have the lowest pay. One can see what Greece is paying. It wants to increase its monthly minimum wage to something of the order of €750. Therefore, the progress we have made is remarkable. We have put people back to work and have stabilised our economic fortunes. Bluntly, had we followed the path mapped out...

Other Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Government's shareholding in Aer Lingus was one of the assets included in the State assets disposal programme approved by Government in 2012, for which I am responsible.  Accordingly, my Department is represented on the interdepartmental steering group which is currently examining the issues arising from the recent approaches to Aer Lingus by...

Other Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Irish Takeover Panel has deemed that Aer Lingus is now in an offer period. The panel's rules in regard to communications apply to all parties during this offer period. All parties, including the Government as a shareholder, must apply the highest standards of care to any statements we make on the matter. Specifically, shareholders must take care in any of their communications to avoid...

Other Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am always amused by the Deputy's cavalier attitude to the law. I have indicated what the rules are and we are obliged to adhere to them. It is not a matter, like her views on the Constitution, that we can accept or reject it according to the vagaries of the day and the political advantage to be made. Government does not operate like that. As regards the share price, the Deputy can be...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As I stated in response to the earlier question, the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service will be replaced this year with new arrangements, giving Departments delegated sanction for the management of staffing numbers.  This will be subject to Departments remaining within binding pay ceilings and meeting ongoing efficiency and reform objectives. Discussions...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy raised a number of questions. I have indicated previously that over and above matters such as pay savings and the capacity to make decisions at front-line level, there are overarching issues in respect of which we have taken a whole-of-government approach. I refer, for example, to the recommencement of recruitment to the Garda Síochána, the recruitment of 1,700...

Other Questions: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, those are the sort of matters that will be discussed. It will not simply be a matter of discussing pay. I am determined that we will retain the productivity gains that have been made in order that we might ensure sustainable public services into the future.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Decentralisation Programme Data (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that the Government agreed in November 2011 that the Decentralisation Programme, announced in the December 2003 Budget Statement by the then Minister for Finance,  should be cancelled in the light of the budgetary and staffing outlook. It was also agreed that a review of 22 decentralisation projects should be carried out. Following completion of that review in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Recruitment to the civil service is governed by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 and by the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956-2005.  The 2004 Act provides for the establishment of the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) and of the Public Appointments Service (PAS).  PAS - an independent statutory body - provides a centralised...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Pending the introduction of enabling legislation for the establishment of the OGP, on an independent and statutory basis, I have appointed an interim Board of the Office for Government Procurement. The interim Board is chaired by my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Simon Harris, TD. The other members of the Board are: Martin Fraser,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: There are two measures which currently underpin public service pay and pensions policy: the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts (or FEMPI) and the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA).  The HRA, in the Government's view, sets the parameters for pay policy in the public service for until July 2016.  The pay and conditions of members of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: My Department commenced a review of the public capital programme in April of last 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.  This is to help ensure that they are in line with emerging Government priorities and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Disposal of Assets (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The original programme of asset disposals agreed by Government included - The sale of Bord Gais Eireann's Energy business; - The sale of some of ESB's non-strategic power generation capacity; - Consideration of the sale of some assets of Coillte, but excluding its land; and - The sale of the State's remaining shareholding in Aer Lingus, at the right time, for the right price and under...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am glad to report a number of very positive developments in the operation of FOI that have been brought about since the new FOI Act came into force on 14 October 2014. - The upfront FOI application fee was abolished immediately following enactment.  This was accompanied by a significant re-design of the search and retrieval fees regime allowing for up to five...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Levy (11 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: With regard to revising the public service pension related deduction, it is a progressively structured reduction to the pay of pensionable public servants ensuring that those on higher remuneration rates are impacted more adversely than those on lower pay. Given the amounts raised every year, it is therefore a critical component of the public service pay and pension...