Results 11,361-11,380 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: There are currently 24 persons working in a non-established capacity in my Department, encompassing a combination of fixed term contracts and contracts of indefinite duration. The details are as follows: * 13 Part-time language trainers in the Civil Service Language Unit * Sinead Kane, WAM* * Edmond Hearne, Evaluator * Eoin Dormer, Evaluator * Joan Curry, Accountant * Patricia...

Written Answers — Secret Service: Secret Service (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 53 together. The 2011 Estimate for the Secret Service Vote is €1m, which is the same as the 2010 Estimate. It is not the practice to divulge information or explanations relating to expenditure or how the estimate is arrived at for this Vote. As regards reporting mechanisms, the Appropriation Account of the Vote for the Secret Service is audited by...

Written Answers — Public Service Recruitment: Public Service Recruitment (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The moratorium on recruitment and promotion, introduced by the Government at end of March 2009 allows for certain general exemptions in the Education and Health Sectors for the filling of certain key posts as well as Local Authorities in relation to certain key posts. Information in relation to the posts covered by these general exemptions may be sought from the relevant Minister. As part...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: There have been some recent changes in staffing assignments and responsibilities throughout the Department. The establishment of the Department also involved the integration of some former staff of the Department of the Taoiseach. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, the level of resources assigned to specific policy areas is determined by the business needs of the Department which, I...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Government has reaffirmed the key commitments under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 on pay rates and job security for serving public servants. These commitments are contingent on delivery of the necessary flexibilities and reforms to public service delivery that are required under the Agreement.

Written Answers — Public Sector Recruitment: Public Sector Recruitment (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Programme for Government contains a commitment that 1 in 3 of all Principal level recruitment should be open and restricted to non-civil servants. The commitment gives rise to certain legal difficulties in the context of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and the Code of Practice of the Commission for Public Service Appointments for appointments to the...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I took the opportunity to meet the Chair and members of the Croke Park Implementation Body on 23rd March last, in one of my earliest engagements as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It was a useful opportunity to learn at first hand about the issues arising in the context of implementing the Croke Park Agreement. I was also able to brief the Body on plans to establish the new...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The number of Whole Time Equivalents, grades and location of staff employed in my Department is outlined in the following table. Summary Grade D/PER IT ** Grand Total Secretary General D/PER 1 1 Second Secretary 1 1 Assistant Secretary 7 7 Principal 35.7 35.7 Assistant Principal 78.6 1 79.6 Administrative Officer 18.6 18.6 Higher Executive Officer 51.53 2 53.53 Executive Officer...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) holds competitions for, and advises Ministers and the Government, on appointments to civil service posts at Secretary General, Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary and equivalent levels. Since early 2007, the policy has been that open competitions are held for Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretary and equivalent posts. More recently this...

Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The aim of the ongoing Comprehensive Review of Expenditure is to examine all areas of expenditure. The onus is on each Department to examine every expenditure area within its remit, including all grant and subsidy schemes, and then to identify and efficiently target savings. It is the responsibility of each Minister and Department to bring forward such proposals in the context of their...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government provides for the sale of non-strategic assets up to a value of €2 billion to fund investment in key networks of the economy. This will occur when market conditions are right and when adequate regulatory structures have been established to protect consumer interests. Following publication of the Report of the Review Group on State Assets...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: My Department has not been prescriptive in setting out specific examples of co-payment mechanisms that are expected to be considered by individual Departments and their agencies as part of their overall Review of Expenditure in each area. However there are a wide range of possible mechanisms. For illustrative purposes, Departments may be able to identify new sources of funding for their...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The National Employments Rights Authority which has responsibility for monitoring employment conditions through its inspection services and which can enforce employment rights compliance and seek redress - comes under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation. If anyone is aware of specific instances where firms may not be complying with relevant statutory pay...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform makes no payment directly to any trade union. Since 1982, a small annual contribution has been made towards the operating expenses of the Civil Service General Council Staff Panel. The Staff Panel is the umbrella body for all the civil service unions who participate in the Civil Service Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme (C&A scheme), through...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 122 together. In the past decade, my Department has not made any payments to the companies mentioned in the Deputy's Questions. With regard to the Agencies under the aegis of my Department, I am informed that the State Laboratory, the Office of the Ombudsman and the CPSA also made no payments to the companies covered by the Deputy's question. The...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I take it that the Deputy is referring solely to public relations costs and not to advertising costs that would be incurred by my Department in the normal course of business, such as entries into telephone directories, the placing of advertisements in national newspapers, recruitment advertising, advertising associated with the national development plans, e-tenders etc. My Department has had...

Written Answers — Departmental Functions: Departmental Functions (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Under the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 2011, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was formally established on 6th July. Broadly, the responsibilities of my Department include: * Functions relating to gross voted expenditure management and general sanctioning powers in relation to expenditure * Functions relating to public service functions i.e. superannuation,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The items procured by me in relation to the fit-out of my office, to which the reply to Parliamentary Question 79 referred are set out in the following table. Description 4 LCD TV sets 3 TV Cables 2 x Mount Walls for TV sets 3 x LG DVD Players 2 x Stereos Expresso machine New Kettle Photo Copier Carpet for one room New Furniture charges; supply and deliver of Tambour Units with...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: At present, my Department has engaged one person, from one of the companies listed by the Deputy, to provide expert advice and assistance in relation to the public sector reform agenda. There are no other contracts in place at present with any of the other companies mentioned.

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (14 Jul 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126, 135 and 136 together. Performance Related Award Schemes for the Civil Service, the Permanent Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Health Service and the Local Authorities were suspended in 2009. In relation to those Non Commercial State Sponsored Bodies (NCSSBs) who have approved PRAS in place, decisions on performance-related bonuses for chief...