Results 20,901-20,920 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Other Questions: Sale of State Assets (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: No, we will get the full amount we have listed, but the Deputy asked me a specific question regarding where the money is now - like a Father Ted question "Is it lodging in your account?" Pending payments of further dividends to the State, Ervia has used part of the remaining proceeds to reduce its debt balances and to restructure its current debt facilities, resulting in cheaper finance...

Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I will not read a prepared reply to this question because we have already covered the ground in a number of other questions. The Haddington Road process was my first direct exposure to the structure of this type of broad-ranging, general public sector talks. These talks are, of necessity, complicated, because we have approximately 290,000 public sector workers, somewhat less than the 300,000...

Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In terms of productivity generally, my Department was set up with two objectives. First, it had a public expenditure role, to work towards a deficit of less than 3% of GDP and this has been the overarching fiscal imperative of the Government for the past four years. Now that we have reached that, we have set a new horizon, in accordance with the fiscal rules voted upon by the Irish people,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Nursing Home Services (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Currently, the Ombudsman's remit extends to patients in public nursing homes only.  In accordance with the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012, it is my intention to extend, by Ministerial Order, the Ombudsman's remit to private nursing homes whose residents are in receipt of state support or subvention.  By extending the Ombudsman's...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Levy (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is understood that the Deputy's question refers to the public service Pension-Related Deduction (PRD), which applies to the pay of pensionable public servants.  PRD was introduced in March 2009 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest  (FEMPI) Act 2009. It continues to provide very important revenue to the State, and as such remains a key constituent of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As indicated in previous responses, following consultation with my Government colleagues I issued an invitation to the representative organisations for public servants to enter discussions with public service management. Those discussions have commenced today, and I am sure that the Deputy will understand, in the circumstances, my reluctance to seem to be engaging in any negotiations in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Semi-State Bodies Dividends (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Historically, there has not been comprehensive central guidelines for State companies regarding dividend policy although, over recent years, dividends of approximately 30% of profits after tax have been expected from most commercial State companies. However, with the establishment of NewERA in 2011, the current Government began the process of reforming how...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Levy (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is understood that the Deputy's question refers to the public service Pension-Related Deduction (PRD), which applies to the pay of pensionable public servants.  PRD was introduced in March 2009 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest  (FEMPI) Act 2009. It continues to provide very important revenue to the State, and as such remains a key constituent of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Growth (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Between 2009 and 2014, gross voted expenditure was reduced from a peak of just over €63 billion to €54 billion. In implementing expenditure reductions the Government was conscious of the need to balance the requirement to return the public finances to stability with creating the conditions necessary for sustained economic growth and job creation. In Budget 2015, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Transport Infrastructure (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. Ministerial responsibility for the Transport, Tourism and Sport areas, rests with my colleagues Paschal Donohoe T.D Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport. Accordingly, the Deputy may think it appropriate to table a question for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in regard to the provision of infrastructure for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Policy (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As outlined in the Spring Economic Statement (SES), it is the Government's intention to hold a National Economic Dialogue in July of this year.  This dialogue will be held over two days. The precise arrangements for the dialogue are being finalised by my Department and the Department of Finance. I am committed to  ensuring that the process is as open and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cycling Facilities Funding (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. Ministerial responsibility for all tourism policy, promotion and development matters,  including the development of greenways, resides with my colleague Paschal Donohoe T.D Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport. As I have no role or function in this matter, the Deputy may think it appropriate to table a question for my colleague, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: NAMA Operations (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) is a public body as defined in Section 6 of the FOI Act 2014, other than in relation to the records of the body detailed in Schedule 1 Part 1 para (x) of the Act. In general, the FOI Act came into operation 6 months following its enactment in the case of a public body such as NAMA, that was not subject to FOI under the 1997 Act but is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Social clauses in contracts encourage suppliers to perform actions focussed on broader policy considerations.  EU law leaves the Member States the option to take social considerations into account provided the general principles of EU law, i.e. the free movement provisions and the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination, mutual recognition, proportionality and transparency, are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As I have already outlined, following consultation with my Government colleagues, I issued an invitation to the representative organisations for public servants to enter discussions with public service management. Those discussions have commenced today, and I am sure that the Deputy will understand, in the circumstances, my reluctance to seem to engage in any negotiations in public. When the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Aer Lingus Sale (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Government's Inter-Departmental Steering Group and its advisers have continued their engagement with IAG, focusing on the key issues of concern to the Government as set out in the statement by the Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport on 24thFebruary. These include: - Legally binding, permanent commitments on the Heathrow slots and term-based commitments on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware from my previous response that the information sought is not collected by my Department and would not be collected by contracting authorities as part of a procurement process. Whilst individual contracting authorities in the public and utilities sectors would hold information in relation to contracts awarded by them, they are not required to collect the details of all...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Shared Services (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The National Shared Services Office within my Department is leading shared service strategy and implementation of Shared Services projects within the overall Reform and Renewal context.  It is responsible for the delivery of Civil Service Shared Service projects and the operation of Civil Service Shared Service Centres. As part of its wider leadership role, the Office provides support to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Service Reform Plan Measures (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The reform programme, as set out in the 2011 Public Service Reform Plan, and its successor the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016, adopts a whole-of-Government approach to reforming our public services across all sectors, including health, education, justice and local government, as well as the Civil Service.  The Reform and Delivery Office (RDO) in my Department monitors the progress...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (12 May 2015)

Brendan Howlin: A substantial review of the effectiveness and efficiency of Ireland's current Ethics framework has been completed by my Department, including consideration of the recommendations of the Mahon and Moriarty Tribunals and other relevant recommendations, as well as international best practice. Development of the Heads of a General Scheme for a comprehensive, reformed and modernised...