Results 21,141-21,160 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Other Questions: Government Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I do not think the Deputy is decrying the fact we made more progress than we expected. The economic situation improved more than we prudently forecast in the stability programme update. We did not issue a spring economic statement before this year. We issued a stability programme update, which is a different animal. The update is a technical set of documents prepared for the European...

Other Questions: Information and Communications Technology (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. Efforts aimed at reducing the amount of paper-based processes in the public service have been under way for a number of years. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government approved the ICT strategy for the public service earlier in the year. The strategy has five key strategic objectives which set the future direction for innovation...

Other Questions: Information and Communications Technology (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: There is a lot in what the Deputy is saying. We obviously have to have access for all citizens. We cannot simply decide to do it electronically only and have a whole category of citizens excluded from availing of services or even being frightened to go to a public library or post office. The Deputy will have dealt with people in his office, as I have, who are intimidated by receiving a...

Other Questions: Information and Communications Technology (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome the work being undertaken by Mr. Bobby Kerr's group which has been helpful to us. We, obviously, have to comply with European law in the procurement of any service.

Other Questions: Information and Communications Technology (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: There is no point in having a pilot scheme if it will not impact on people. We need to ensure what we do is robust and actually delivers what is intended. During the Irish EU Presidency we passed three new procurement directives to make the procurement of services simpler. They will be transposed into Irish law in the coming year. We are always looking at new delivery systems that would...

Other Questions: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Anseo.

Other Questions: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Deputy.

Other Questions: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The data are contained in the following table. Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform: Expenses 2011 - 1 July 2015 2011 Location Purpose of Visit Flights Hotel Accommodation Transport Costs Other Expenses* 15 - 16 Dec Brussels Formal meeting for Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy €295.17 €0.00 €430.00 €136.13 2012 Location Purpose of Visit...

Other Questions: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That is what happened; it was sent to every Minister, as I would not have access to data for expenses. I have set out data for every cent I have spent and claimed since I entered office in March 2011. The Deputy has referred to there being unease and disquiet, but there is nothing in the tabular statement that has not been aggregated, published and republished a multiplicity of times under...

Other Questions: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: My goodness, I thought the Deputy would welcome such things. Short of reading the long list of every European Council meeting I have attended and trade mission I have been on, I will give all of the information to the Deputy and hope it will satisfy her. She will also have everybody else's data to compare and contrast. We will then see the modest expenses that have accrued to the Minister...

Other Questions: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: No more than the Deputy.

Other Questions: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy describes the listed expenses as "personal", but they are not personal to me. Many of them relate to hosting meetings or lunches when EU ministerial colleagues visit me. In the normal course, they also involve hiring transport to bring officials to meetings that I am attending. In that regard, they are not personal to me.

Other Questions: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The notion that, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I determine each line Minister's expenses, or that he or she should have to run them past me before booking a flight to Brussels to attend a European Council meeting would not amount to an efficient way to operate.

Other Questions: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: All data are readily available in every Department and published. Most of us receive FOI requests on every cent incurred in expenses every month. Most of us now put everything online to obviate the need to do so. If there is one area that is rigorously exposed to public scrutiny, more than any other I can think of, it is the expenses paid to politicians.

Other Questions: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I actually do not have the aggregate figure, but the Deputy can do her own tot.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2016 (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The fiscal adjustments implemented in order to successfully return sustainability to the public finances required the introduction of significant policy measures. Gross voted expenditure was reduced from its peak of just over €63 billion in 2009 to €54 billion in 2014. Budget 2015 marked a turning point in our recovery when expenditure reductions were no longer required to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Fuel card services are a mechanism by which organisations can leverage their buying power while also reducing their administrative costs and improving visibility and control on fleet costs.  Drivers typically use the fuel card to buy fuel, oil and vehicle washing services through a network of filling stations, with detailed information on vehicle registration number, odometer...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: At a time when our economy is in recovery, investment for equitable and sustainable economic growth is vital. For this reason, the capital allocations published in Budget 2015 included increased investment for social housing in particular, reflecting the Government's prioritisation of investment in this area.  They also provided for continued investment in Education, to meet demographic...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Take home pay is subject to variable tax impacts depending on individual circumstances while future tax impacts are subject to budgetary and expenditure decisions by Government which have yet to arise or be considered by Government. Any changes in income tax provisions apply across the economy irrespective of whether a worker is employed in the public or...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (2 Jul 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware, new multi-annual ministerial expenditure ceilings (both capital and current) for the years 2015 to 2017 were published in the Comprehensive Expenditure Report on Budget Day 2015.  This Budget marked a move away from cuts to overall spending and allowed for some targeted increases in both capital and current expenditure.  On...