Results 11,541-11,560 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I am aware of the case. The family contacted me some years ago about this matter when I was justice spokesperson of my party. They also contacted the then leader of the Labour Party and we sent a letter jointly to the Garda ombudsman calling for an investigation and outlining some of the matters the Deputy has put. It is a worrying issue and on foot of the Deputy raising it I will ask my...

Leaders' Questions (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Clearly, I am in no position to judge any of the facts and I have no wish to pre-empt any of the issues the Deputy has brought to the attention of the House. On behalf of the Government I have committed to ask my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, to review the papers and determine the next appropriate step to take.

Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: It is proposed to take No. a1, Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges' Remuneration) Bill 2011 - amendments from the Seanad; No. b11, motion re Statement for Information of Voters in relation to the Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges' Remuneration) Bill 2011; and No. 5, National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011 - Order for Second Stage and Second...

Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy will know, the area of mortgage arrears has been a major focus of Government in recent months.

Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: An expert group is due to report to Government within the next two weeks.

Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy knows about the expert group. We have discussed it. It will discover a number of potential tranches of legislation, including the matter to which the Deputy has referred but also issues such as personal insolvency and so on. I imagine that within the next two weeks we will be in a position to have a clearer view of the range of activities required to address the real issue of...

Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy will be aware that this is a productive Government producing a raft of new legislation. Much of it is prioritised because of commitments that are binding within the EU-IMF deal. In truth, some of the urgent legislation - some of which falls within my area of operation - is dislodging other legislation because the physical capacity of the Parliamentary Counsel to do all that must...

Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: There is no new legislation promised to deal with the matter raised by the Deputy. If there are breaches of taxation law, that is a matter for Revenue. If there are breaches of planning regulations, there is robust legislation in place.

Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: If there is a planning issue, the Deputy might pursue the matter with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, or the Minister for Finance on a Revenue matter.

Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Again, the legal services Bill is the subject of a commitment in the EU-IMF deal. We are committed to having the legislation published in this session. I know the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, has worked very hard on this voluminous legislation which is being crafted and should be brought before the House in this session. As far as ministerial oversight is concerned,...

Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: They are both very important Bills dealing wtih complicated issues. They are expected to be brought before the House next year.

Order of Business (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: As the Deputy knows, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to establish a holding company called NewERA to get the best value from State assets. There is a parallel commitment to establish a strategic investment fund to ensure we can use some of the proceeds from the sale of State assets to invest in a new generation of jobs. Both matters are being progressed. The NTMA has...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht (Luach Saothair Breithiúna) 2011: Leasuithe ón Seanad / Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges' Remuneration) Bill 2011: Amendments from the Seanad (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The amendment approved by Seanad Éireann relates to the draft wording of Article 35.3. This is a technical amendment which removes a superfluous expression, namely, "into law", from the first line of the section in order that it now reads "the enactment of this section". The change preserves the norms generally adhered to in the text of the Constitution. The shorter phrase is considered...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht (Luach Saothair Breithiúna) 2011: Leasuithe ón Seanad / Twenty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Judges' Remuneration) Bill 2011: Amendments from the Seanad (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Deputy for his contribution. He is of the view that this legislation has been somewhat rushed, but it has been carefully considered for a very long period. This is a simple enough amendment to make. The deletion of the phrase is not viewed by the law officers as being damaging to the amendment; it is a better phrasing. When I was crafting the legislation to establish my...

Ráiteas faoi Eolas do Vótálaithe: Tairiscint. / Statement for Information of Voters: Motion. (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Tairgim: GO ndéanfar leis seo, d'ainneoin aon ní sna Buan-Orduithe, Rún an 14 Meán Fómhair 2011 ón Dáil i dtaobh Ráitis mar Fhaisnéis do Vótálaithe i ndáil leis an mBille um an Naoú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht (Luach Saothair Breithiúna), 2011 a chealú agus go ndéanfar an ráiteas a leagtar amach sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Rún seo a fhorordú mar fhaisnéis do...

Written Answers — National Lottery: National Lottery (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: While I, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, have overall responsibility for the National Lottery, the appointment of Lottery agents is a matter for the National Lottery Company. I have no role in day-to-day commercial decisions of this nature. Retailers who wish to act as a Lottery agent are advised to contact the National Lottery Company directly.

Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Under the Presidential Establishment (Amendment) Act, 1973, the personal salary of the President is set at the rate paid to the Chief Justice plus ten per cent. In accordance with the Act, the salary of the current President is €325,507 p.a. The President also receives an allowance for entertainment and other expenses related to the Office of €317,434 p.a. The remuneration and allowances...

Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The number of civil servants across the civil service currently on pay scales over €100,000, €150,000, €200,000 and €250,000 is set out in the table below. This is less than 2% of numbers serving. NON INDUSTRIAL CIVIL SERVANTS END JUNE 2011 Headcount Over €100,000 585 Over €150,000 48 Over €200,000 13 Over €250,000 0 TOTAL 646 These figures do not take account of the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The matter of pension arrangements for retiring Secretaries General, heads of other State offices and non-commercial State agencies, is at present the subject of a review by my Department, following which I will bring forward proposals. This review is dealing with the terms of future appointments. The Government will be ensuring that the new terms reflect our changed economic circumstances....

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The vast majority of public service occupational pension schemes are financed on a pay-as-you-go basis with the annual cost of pensions being met from current revenue and therefore do not have funds. The commercial semi-state bodies do have pension funds as they are responsible for their own pension arrangements and funding. Deficits on pension funds are the responsibility of the State...