Results 20,601-20,620 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is a culture that is not exercised by me, as even a cursory examination of my record will show. I come in here with an open mind. I have had good ideas in Opposition that were seldom accepted. In the 1990s, I spent some time as my party's spokesperson on justice and produced very good legislation on a Garda ombudsman and a Garda authority, all of which was voted down. I knew go...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Could I make a brief comment on amendment No. 2?

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It has indeed.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I have indicated to Senator Mullen that I believe the amendment as crafted is not acceptable because it would do more damage to the Bill. I think the Senator understands that. I have been talking to my officials about whether we could accommodate the essence of the amendment by way of regulation. I would like to make an offer to the Senator before he decides whether to call a vote on this...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I withdraw my offer.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The regulations cannot be drawn up until both Houses have enacted the Bill. The notion that we could not deal with Second Stage until I had draft regulations is impossible. That is the conditionality. I am trying to accommodate the Senator-----

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: -----but obviously the offer of accommodation has not been accepted.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (19 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am suggesting this minor technical amendment to provide clarity around the provision of section 12(4)(f). Section 12(4) of the Bill details the information lobbyists must supply in the returns to the registrar on a tri-annual basis - that is, every four months. Section 12(4)(f) states that the lobbyists must include in the returns "the name of each person who is or has been a designated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Remit (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Freedom of Information Act 2014 came into effect on 14 October 2014.  In line with the Programme for Government, the Act provides for the extension of FOI to An Garda Síochána for its administrative records relating to human resources, or finance or procurement matters, subject to security exemptions. In accordance with Section 1(3)(b) of the FOI Act 2014, in the case...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that my Department, and the Offices under my aegis, have little or no direct contact with members of the public. Despite this, it is a well-established policy of my Department that all officers supply their names in any dealings with the public. I would have no objection to this idea but consultations with my colleagues, staff and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sick Leave Entitlement (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together. The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme came into effect for the generality of the Public Service on 31st March 2014 and for the Education Sector on 1 September 2014.  Under the Sick Leave Scheme, public servants have access to the following paid sick leave a maximum of 92 days (3 months) on full pay in a rolling...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: International Agreements (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 265 together. The Government's priorities in returning stability to the public finances, have been to meet fiscal targets while also ensuring that economic recovery is supported and the most vulnerable in society are protected.  This approach to economic and fiscal policy, through maintaining an acceptable social safety net...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: International Agreements (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently in the process of compiling a Response to the List of Issues drawn up by the United Nations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights in relation to the third periodic examination of Ireland under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) which is scheduled to take place in June 2015.  They...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Pensions (24 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The following table contains the pension amounts payable to former Officeholders in 2014. I would like to advise that, in certain cases, the pension amounts shown do not reflect the actual amount of pension in payment where an individual is 'gifting' all or part of their pension to the State, or where a pension is subject to certain provisions of the Family Law Acts.  It is the policy...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (25 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I assume that the Deputy's question relates to an application for revision of a valuation which has been made to the Commissioner of Valuation. Such applications are considered under Part 6 of the Valuation Act 2001 and a "material change of circumstances" must have occurred since the property was last valued. Each application for revision is considered by a "revision officer"...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses (25 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Social clauses in contracts encourage suppliers to perform actions focussed on broader policy considerations. They can be used in public procurement in cases where they are targeted at factoring into the procurement process consideration of social issues such as employment opportunities, equal opportunities and social inclusion.  In order to be compatible with EU law, they must be made...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of the Ombudsman Remit (25 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Ombudsman Act 2012 represented the most substantial extension in both the powers of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman's remit in over three decades significantly enhancing the accountability of public bodies to citizens.  The administrative actions of some 180 additional public bodies were brought within the Ombudsman's remit under the Act.  In line with the commitment in the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (25 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Recruitment to the Civil Service is regulated by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. The Act established the Public Appointments Service (PAS) as the centralised recruitment body for the Civil and Public Service. The Act also established the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) as the regulator of civil service recruitment. The CPSA publishes...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Levy (25 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to my reply of 11 February 2015 to Parliamentary Question Number 5603.  The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Revised Estimates Publication (25 Feb 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Revised Estimates Volume (REV) is an annual publication that sets out very detailed information in relation to the expenditure allocations that are voted upon by the Dáil.  It contains financial information on voted expenditure across all Government Departments. As part of the reforms we have introduced, the REV also now contains information about the performance...