Results 21,841-21,860 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (1 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the table outlines the number of staff under my remit who are classified under contracts of indefinite duration and who are receiving incremental salary payments. Organisation Number of staff Incremental salary payments Public Appointments Service 1 Yes Special  EU Programmes Body 7 Yes The Valuation Office 3 Yes I am informed by the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I was about to thank the Chairman and members of the select sub-committee but I will thank the Chairman and Deputy Sean Fleming as no other members are present. I am here to present a proposal for a net Supplementary Estimate of €16.77 million, gross €37 million, in respect of Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances, and a net Supplementary Estimate of...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is a discreet way of saying that. The average pension benefits - lump sum and pension - that will fall to be payable to new retirees in any given year will vary depending on the grades and years of service of that specific cohort of retirees. If a number of Secretaries General retire in one year and very few senior personnel retire the following year, the costs incurred in the two years...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy is talking about State boards.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy asked about PAS and representatives of that organisation are present.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy asks a valid question as to how we would know whether or not the local superintendent had filled in a form for his cousin.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It could be anybody. I am sure there is a security mechanism to deal with this. On the overall vote, there is a new integrated pension scheme for all public servants which became operable on 1 January 2013. Everybody, a judge, a Deputy, a civil servant or a garda is part of the single integrated pension scheme from that date. The calculation of a pension is different and will be on a...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I will give the committee my briefing.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I will conclude on the valid point about how, in the case of mass recruitment, one can know the person applying online is the real applicant. Every person is required to apply with photographic ID and receives a unique identifier. After the second test, successful candidates are brought forward for supervised tests. There is still an unanswered question. It could potentially give a person...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I am informed it is after second stage. Now that Deputy Fleming has raised it with me, I will see if anything can be done. It will be very hard. There were approximately 25,000 applicants for An Garda Síochána. Online applications make the process very efficient. It is the same with any postal application in that one cannot be sure the person who signs the form is the person he...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Fleming asked me about numbers and I will give him them as well.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I will send Deputy Fleming a table.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: We do not have redundancy.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Yes.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Barry asked a number of questions. We do not have redundancy in the public service in general but we have cost-neutral early retirement. That is simply if one wants to retire before reaching one's retirement age. Actuarially, we have worked out that it is approximately 5% off one's pension and lump sum per year that one retires early so that the cost to the Exchequer is not...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: There is certainly a general discussion about people working for as long as they wish. We must have the predictability of retirement in order that we can plan properly but I can certainly envisage the upward movement of retirement potential at least so that people can stay longer in work. People are healthier and there is no reason they should not. I think that will be a feature of the future.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I wrote to the committee yesterday but I do not know whether the letter has been received yet.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (2 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I see. I just signed the letter yesterday. It is a response to the OECD report in which there are very useful observations. I have said to this committee previously that deep recession is not the best time to ask parliamentarians to engage on spending issues. When the whole trajectory of spending was downwards, there was not much appetite to engage, in my judgment. Now is a very good...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Lansdowne Road Agreement Implementation (3 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Following the acceptance by the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement, I brought forward the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015. That makes provision for the pay increases and reductions in the Pension-related Deduction for all public servants, as set out in the Agreement, regardless of whether they have...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Meetings (8 Dec 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question I receive representations and requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including members of the Oireachtas, local and voluntary groups, private individuals and companies.  While my Office does not maintain a register of all such requests for meetings or invitations received, I can advise the Deputy that during 2015 I have attended over...