Results 21,761-21,780 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question no legislation has been introduced by my Department that contained a provision to amend the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose towards another specific purpose.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Authority Rates (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Inconsistency in the approach to the exemption from rates for childcare and education facilities and calls to exempt all such providers were among the issues raised at a number of stages during the passage of the Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015.  As a result, I secured Government approval for a Seanad Report Stage amendment to insert into Schedule 4 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Data (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will be aware,  I announced the ending of the Moratorium on Public Service Recruitment and Promotion as part of last year's Budget announcement, and at that time I also provided for the recruitment of a significant amount of new staff in the Health, Education and Justice sectors, among others.  As part of last month's Budget, for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Redundancies (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Voluntary redundancy proposals are a matter for management based on the business needs of a particular organisation. Where an organisation wishes to introduce a targeted voluntary redundancy scheme  a business case would be forwarded via the parent Department to my Department for sanction. In the case of a North South Implementation Body, sanction would also be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Valuation Office (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Global valuations of public utility undertakings are an important and integral part of the Local Government rating system and each utility is valued every five years. The public utilities revalued in 2015, or their predecessors, were first valued in 2005 and subsequently valued in 2010.  In line with the 5-yearly cycle prescribed by section 53(6) of the Valuation Act 2001, as amended by...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Since taking office, the Government has made tremendous progress in stabilising the public finances, bringing the national debt down towards the European average and reducing unemployment. It must be acknowledged that public servants and public service pensioners have played a significant part in taking this country off its knees. Five separate pieces of financial emergency measures in the...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Imagine that.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I do not mumble.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is part of the core work agreement.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: By working 30 hours extra a year.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Senator knows they have all been waived.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That is not true.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I will.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It does not specify any group.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, but it does not specify any group.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The biggest teachers' union in the country has provided for those.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is the reverse of that. That is the enabling power to give it to teachers. Without that section I would not be able to restore it.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Senator should get the basic facts rights.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I thank all Senators for their contributions, passionate and otherwise. Most people in this House speak with passion and conviction and believe what they say. I listened with great interest to the views of all Senators. I thank Senator Mooney for his kind comments. It is interesting that sometimes the Fianna Fáil position is that everything we have done is wrong and awful and...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Nov 2015)

Brendan Howlin: There are several plans to do that, for example, I have agreed with the Minister for Health to have an attraction allowance to get midwives because they are particularly scarce.